Hello, my name is

It’s a pleasure to meet you

Historical Influences

| 5

The 1800’s English designer and architect William Morris once stated that

“Nothing useless can be truly beautiful”.

This statement, along with the Arts and Crafts movement that he was a part of show his desire to bring production away from the mass industrialization and back into artesian mastery. Nearly 200 years later, there are still designers striving for this same goal. I myself believe in finding balance between beauty and practicality.

Aesthetically, I am largely inspired by the Europium Art Nouveau movement, and specifically Alphonse Mucha, a Czech graphic artist who, like myself, finds inspiration from the work of William Morris. Though my works are not as graphic as his, my love for hand lettering and the play of detailed ornamental elements and typography have been a direct influence from Mucha’s play with type in his poster work. His work involves a lot of symbolism as well, which I admire. Both of these artists embrace the idea that artistry and functionality need to be used together in order to create successful design.

I find the works of contemporary designers Jessica Hiche and Mary Kate McDevitt both the be very inspirational. Both Hiche and McDevitt have found a way to combine uniquely illustrative styles that combine fun color and illustrated typography to create a new message. Hiche, who has worked with clients including Target and Starbucks, has taught me that there is a market to mix studio projects and large scale client work, and that there is the ability to bring an element of joy into each piece of work you do. McDevitt, who does lettering in her studio has taught me that each piece of design should have a voice and personality to it, and each voice should be unique.

As a designer, I make it a goal of mine to connect the meanings of separate objects to create one collective meaning. I believe my work shows a connections to hand-craft and personal interaction, as well as a unique mix of both print and digital mediums. I want to create pieces that speak to the audience with a distinct voice that encourages engagement.

Historical Influences

Table of Contents

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Concept DevelopmentBrand visualizations and system identitiesIn Season Kit• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • pg 10

TYPO Conference• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • pg 16Comb• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • pg 20

Community InvolvementDesign dedicated to helping others

US Ballot Website• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • pg 26

Poster Collections• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • pg 30Auraria Heritage Walking Tour• • • • • • pg 34Volunteer Colorado Website• • • • • • • • • pg 40

Designer IdentityProjects that reflect myself as a designer

Handlettering Book• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • pg 46

Lightness Video• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • pg 50

Table of Contents

Concept DevelopmentBrand visualizations and system identities

| 9

Concept Development

In Season KitBrand Identity • Packaging • Front-End UI Design

In Season | Brand Identity • Packaging • Front-End UI Design | 11

When I think of my mother, I think of her kitchen. I think of the brown box that holds all of her grandmothers’ recipes, I think of a large blue-pot used only for canning, homemade jellies, an old book of “The Joy of Cooking”, our yearly tomato plant, and the colorful back splash of fruit labels that she painstakingly collaged behind her stove. My mother instilled into me that joy can be found through the food we share with others.

I decided to take the lessons about food and cooking and create a kit that can help others find a joy in their own home kitchens. In Season combines my mothers love of fresh food withmy love of local and organic harvests. The goal of the brand is to educate consumers on the benefits of buying produce that has been grown and sold locally, and create interest in the preparation process. It does so through a helpful kit that includes everything you’d need to shop and prepare your own produce, including prep tools, a “Produce 101” accordion book, anda reuseable bag.

Pantone 3-9 U

Pantone 43-16 U

Typefaces Used

Thirsty | Brothers | Archer | Brandon Grotesque

Colors Used

Pantone 3-12 U

Pantone 155-15 U

In Season | Brand Identity • Packaging • Front-End UI Design | 13

LEFT Top: Kit interior, Bottom: Label images

RIGHT Design guide book spreads.

In Season | Brand Identity • Packaging • Front-End UI Design | 15

LEFT (In clockwise order) Produce 101 booklet, Design guide Table of Contents, Made in CO bar-code, In Season bag

RIGHT Kit website home screen

TYPO ConferenceRebranding • Print Collateral

TYPO San Francisco 2013 | Branding • Print Collateral | 17

Self-described as “International Design Conferences. Design, culture and society–with a little bit of kerning”, the Typo Conferences are a gathering of some of the most influential designers of the era. Originally started in Berlin, Germany, the conference has started a secondary event site of San Francisco. Each conference has a theme that dictates the design and atmosphere of the event. The theme of the San Francisco 2013 conference was “Contrast”. I created a conceptual design based around the idea of the history of traditional printing, with the experimental effect of overlay that can happen in a traditional printing press or in offset printing. I was further inspired by the history of design in California. I believe that, because the conference was based originally out of Germany, it was important to create a piece of work that would differentiate the design style of the area. Taking cues from both the history of printing and the history of Californian design, I created a brand that had bright colors, contrasting typography and unique elements.

TYPO Logo is property of TYPO International Talks,

http://typotalks.com/

c17 m100 y100 k4

c56 m5 y0 k0

Typefaces Used

Pacifico | Oswald | Josefin Slab

Colors Used

c51 m74 y58 k48

Middle right: Lustig, Alvin. Book jacket for Amerika. 1947.

Lithography on wove paper.

Bottom: Mary Corita Kent, Sister. Wonderbread. 1968. print.

Top: Brand Sketches

Middle Left: Butler, Frances. Bananaman in Switzerland.

1972. Silk-Screened cotton, sewn and stuffed. Smithsonian

American Art Museum

In order to reflect the geographical location of the event, I studied artists who had an impact on design in San Francisco and California.

Artists including Frances Butler, Alvin Lustig and Sister Mary Corita Kent are all examples of influential designers in the history of west coast design.

TYPO San Francisco 2013 | Branding • Print Collateral | 19

CombAndroid Application

Comb | Android Application | 21

As technology grows, people are looking for new ways to connect to information. Podcasts, digital radio shows, are a growing method for indivisuals or groups to share their ideas and views. Though podcasts have grown in interest and subscription, there is currently not a simple way for listeners to communicate with each other while listening. Comb, a conceptual Android application design, provides a platform for listeners to have in-depth, meaningful conversations among other listeners. Mixing elements of a social netowork, a traditional podcast app and a Wiki, Comb provides fans of podcasts everything they’d need to be enganged in their shows and connected with others who share the same interests.

#ff9c73

#fc633d

Typefaces Used

Spinnaker | Droid Sans

Colors Used

#f29442

#f2e36b

#edfc6b

#005faf

#fca870

#facc6e

#fc633d

Comb | Android Application | 23

Hexagon The hexagon shape is carried through the piece to help reinforece the idea of bees and a hive. There are simple reward medals given out for contribution and participation that are in a hexagonal shape, and user icons will have a hexagon mask on them.

IconographySimple flat icons are used to express different elements and options on the app. They are often accompanied with a text description for further clarity.

Passive Progress BarA simple progress bar is at the bottom of the application to provide control of an episode while being out of the way and non-intrusive.

headerbody copyTypographyDroid Sans is used, in both regular and bold, in order to ensure it can work on all android devices.

TOP Public user screen

BOTTOM Podcast main screen

The visual brand of the application was inspired by the idea of a hive of bees. Each bee builds a hive around a central location. The hives are organically shaped, but made of geometric honeycombs. The idea of a community building this organic “hive” of opinions around a key idea, or show, was the inspiration of the piece. This inspiration is articulated in the brand name, color scheme, and key elements. I adapted this idea in to a clean, warm design that feels like a community.

The visual brand of the application was inspired by the idea of a hive of bees. Each bee builds a hive around a central location. The hives are organically shaped, but made of geometric honeycombs. The idea of a community building this organic “hive” of opinions around a key idea, or show, was the inspiration of the piece. This inspiration is articulated in the brand name, color scheme, and key elements. I adapted this idea in to a clean, warm design that feels like a community.

Comb | Android Application | 23

Hexagon The hexagon shape is carried through the piece to help reinforece the idea of bees and a hive. There are simple reward medals given out for contribution and participation that are in a hexagonal shape, and user icons will have a hexagon mask on them.

IconographySimple flat icons are used to express different elements and options on the app. They are often accompanied with a text description for further clarity.

Passive Progress BarA simple progress bar is at the bottom of the application to provide control of an episode while being out of the way and non-intrusive.

headerbody copyTypographyDroid Sans is used, in both regular and bold, in order to ensure it can work on all android devices.

TOP Public user screen

BOTTOM Podcast main screen

Comb | Android Application | 23

Hexagon The hexagon shape is carried through the piece to help reinforece the idea of bees and a hive. There are simple reward medals given out for contribution and participation that are in a hexagonal shape, and user icons will have a hexagon mask on them.

IconographySimple flat icons are used to express different elements and options on the app. They are often accompanied with a text description for further clarity.

Passive Progress BarA simple progress bar is at the bottom of the application to provide control of an episode while being out of the way and non-intrusive.

headerbody copyTypographyDroid Sans is used, in both regular and bold, in order to ensure it can work on all android devices.

TOP Public user screen

BOTTOM Podcast main screen

The visual brand of the application was inspired by the idea of a hive of bees. Each bee builds a hive around a central location. The hives are organically shaped, but made of geometric honeycombs. The idea of a community building this organic “hive” of opinions around a key idea, or show, was the inspiration of the piece. This inspiration is articulated in the brand name, color scheme, and key elements. I adapted this idea in to a clean, warm design that feels like a community.

Community InvolvementDesign dedicated to helping others

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Community Involvement

US Ballot WebsiteFront End UI • HTML+CSS

United States Electronic Ballot | Interactive • HTML + CSS | 27

With the development of personal technology expanding, it would make sense that the Government might modern digital accessibility in a way to connect with citizens. I have developed a user interface for what could eventually be an electronic voting system. The interface was designed to be simple, approachable and clean. with minimal use of imagery, flat and bright colors, and sans-serif body copy, the site will read well on many devices and be legible to a range of voters. Designed with a clean look in mind, the site relied heavily on blocks of color to differentiate sections, and avoids heavy imagery, so it will load regardless of the users internet speed.

#ff646

#ff2828

Typefaces Used

Raleway | Bitter | Tahoma

Colors Used

#ffbe46

#fffffa

#ffdc8c

#005faf

#00417d

#323232

United States Electronic Ballot | Interactive • HTML + CSS | 29

LEFT Website formatting, with design accents

RIGHT Mobile site display adaption

Poster CollectionsPoster Design

Poster Collections | Poster Design | 31

The art poster has for many years been a way for artists to relay a message about causes they care about. In my design career I have created posters both for clients and for personal expression. I created two different posters as concepts for the Theatre Department at MSU Denver as a part of Studio M. Each poster expresses the message of the play. This past summer I created a poster about cyberbulling for the “Cause-Related: The Power of the Poster” show hosted by AIGA Colorado and shown in the VSA Gallery. The piece has negative terms that feel almost toxic surrounding a laptop. The imagery brings to mind the hurtful abilities of words. I also created poster as a part of a SkillShare class on Handlettering, hosted by MaryKate McDevitt. The class focused on the process of hand drawing to vector.

Created for the “Power of the Poster” Show hosted by AIGA and the Access Gallery for their charity auction. The piece encourages viewers to be more self-aware of the messages they are sharing online and how that might hurt others.

Created as part of a SkillShare class on handlettering taught by Mary Kate McDevitt. The piece uses a mix of illustrative typography styles to show a lighthearted message with an upbeat attitude.

Metropolitan State University of Denver s̒ Theatre Department Proudly Presents

A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019. Phone: 212-541-4684 Fax: 212-397-4684. Book by Burt

Shevelove and Larry Gelbart Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Originally Produced on Broadway by Harold S. Prince. www.MTIShows.com

By Stephen Sondheim,Burt Shevelove , andLarry Gelbart

Presented at theEugenia Rawls Courtyard Theatre

Directed byScott Lubinski

2 0 1 4September 25-277:30pmOctober 2-47:30pm October 52:30pm

Tickets: 303.556.2296

Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Theatre Department Proudly Presents

Based on the Myths of Ovid

Written and originally directed by Mary Zimmerman

METAMORPHOSES was originally produced by Lookingglass Theatre Company, Chicago, October 1998, Premiered in New York City byThe Second Stage Theatre, New York, September 2001 Artistic Director: Carole Rothman, Managing Director: Carol Fishman, Executive Director: Alexander Fraser.

OVID’S METAMORPHOSES Translated by David Slavitt, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1994 Rainer Maria Rilke’s Poem ORPHEUS, EURYDICE, HERMES. Translated by Stephen Mitchell, 1995 Modern Library

2014 April 10-12 7:30pm April 17-19 7:30pm

April 20 2:30pm

Kenneth King Academic & Performing Arts Center

MSU Denver Studio Theater, King Center855 Lawrence Way, Auraria Campus

Poster Collections | Poster Design | 33

Created as a Part of Studio M for the play “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” in collaboration with Megan Achilleos-Hobbs and Brandon West. I created an illustrated typography lockup with unique character interacting with each other and the title.

Created as a Part of Studio M for the play “Metamorphoses”. The piece pulls inspiration from old storybook covers, as well as the colors and fluctuation of waves mixing with tree branches and golden leaves.

Metropolitan State University of Denver s̒ Theatre Department Proudly Presents

A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019. Phone: 212-541-4684 Fax: 212-397-4684. Book by Burt

Shevelove and Larry Gelbart Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Originally Produced on Broadway by Harold S. Prince. www.MTIShows.com

By Stephen Sondheim,Burt Shevelove , andLarry Gelbart

Presented at theEugenia Rawls Courtyard Theatre

Directed byScott Lubinski

2 0 1 4September 25-277:30pmOctober 2-47:30pm October 52:30pm

Tickets: 303.556.2296

Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Theatre Department Proudly Presents

Based on the Myths of Ovid

Written and originally directed by Mary Zimmerman

METAMORPHOSES was originally produced by Lookingglass Theatre Company, Chicago, October 1998, Premiered in New York City byThe Second Stage Theatre, New York, September 2001 Artistic Director: Carole Rothman, Managing Director: Carol Fishman, Executive Director: Alexander Fraser.

OVID’S METAMORPHOSES Translated by David Slavitt, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1994 Rainer Maria Rilke’s Poem ORPHEUS, EURYDICE, HERMES. Translated by Stephen Mitchell, 1995 Modern Library

2014 April 10-12 7:30pm April 17-19 7:30pm

April 20 2:30pm

Kenneth King Academic & Performing Arts Center

MSU Denver Studio Theater, King Center855 Lawrence Way, Auraria Campus

Auraria Historic Walking TourIdentity • Wayfinding System • App Mockup

Auraria Historical Walking Tour | Identity • Wayfinding System • App Mockup | 35

A lot about a place can be determined withinits history. The Auraria campus is home to three schools, and was founded around existing architecture that has influenced the feel of the entire campus. The Auraria History Committee came to Studio M to create a wayfinding system that could be used in their new walking tours, including a brand for this new signage system. I developed a brand that pulls influence from navigation and the compass rose. The colors for the brand are a mix of old a new, with a warm gray and bright green. The wayfinding signage I created is reminiscent of old gates and antique windows. Incorporating a map system developed byBrandon West I was able to create a cohesive wayfinding system that fits with both contemporary landmarks as well as the historical aspects of the campus.

Pantone 381 C

Pantone 425 C

Typefaces Used

Georgia | Gotham

Colors Used

Pantone 1815 C

Pantone 2755 C

Pantone 2623 C

Pantone 5743 C

Pantone 7421 C

Pantone 3435 C

Pantone 3995 C

We wanted to make sure that the wayfinding signage would stand independently as a system, while still connecting to the historic architecture. As a way to study the architecture, we used photography to document the different architectural elements throughout the campus. Different elements were adapted into the design of the final sign system.

Auraria Historical Walking Tour | Identity • Wayfinding System • App Mockup | 37

BrandmarkDisplayed on a circle to enforce a compass theme, as well as to reflect the circular architectural accents around the campus. Set high to be noticeable over crowds

Location TitleDisplayed in large text for high visibility. Below the title is a established date, and in the upper right hand corner is a number that corresponds to the map. The background is a detailed image of the location displayed in black and white, high contract and overlayed with the color that corresponds to the location on the map.

Sign BodyEach sign has a small paragraph about the historical relevance of the location. It also has a historic image as well as a current image of the location.

System MapDeveloped by Brandon West. The map has a color coated guide, with the location being visited enlarged. Each location has a marker on the map, which is done in the brands colors.

QR CodeQR Code to open to Tour website for more information on the location, the tour and the organization.

SignThe sign itself reflects the architecture. The poles would be a brass to represent the patina of the old bronze structures. The back splash of the sign would be a cream, so it would contrast with its surroundings while not being loud.

Sign Dimensions: 88” x 26”

Auraria Historical Walking Tour | Identity • Wayfinding System • App Mockup | 39

LEFT Contextual mockup

RIGHT Top:Application Mockup, Bottom: Contextual Mockup

Emmanuel Gallery

9th Street Park

St. Cajetan’s Center

Tivoli

Athletic Fields

Speer Blvd.

St. Elizabeth’s Church

Museum Sites

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Emmanuel Gallery

9th Street Park

St. Cajetan’s Center

Tivoli

Athletic Fields

Speer Blvd.

St. Elizabeth’s Church

Museum Sites

Rehendit pa volorum invelitam quae nobis sinum natemol uptate nist, com-nihil id quam nis mo ex eritiust ea eatempo restem. Sitiure ssequist, quid ut que eum facestissiti sequos volup-taquodi sincium esero voloritatem ea quia pa nossequias dipsam,

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Volunteer ColoradoInterface Design

Volunteer Colorado | Interface Design | 41

Every year, around one in four Americans volunteer. With peoples’ busy lives, it is harder to donate time on a regular basis, yet many of the major volunteer organizations list volunteer positions that are for long-term, weekly or hourly positions. Volunteer Colorado is a conceptual site dedicated to connecting potential volunteers with organizations for one-time events. Based out of a local area and developed to create a local community, Volunteer Colorado aims to help increase community involvement though volunteering. The site itself is created with two sides, one for volunteers and one for organizations. Volunteers can sort though events by location, date or event type. Organizations can list their events to be added to the collection of events. Though the site was developed based in Colorado, the layout and theme was kept bright and simple so it could be expanded into different areas of the country.

# 00a4a1

#80b300

Typefaces Used

Sansita One | Tahoma | Oswald

Colors Used

Site layout planned in moqups.com.

See more at: https://moqups.com/sierradawn/I5UEyjex

Volunteer Colorado | Interface Design | 43

LEFT website home screen

RIGHT Top: Billboard campaign to draw attention to the site. Bottom: Webside flow.

Personal InterestProjects that reflect myself as a designer.

| 45

Personal Interest

Handlettering BookTypography • Illustration

Handlettering Book | Illustration | 47

In the last year or so I have become inspired by the beauty and personality of hand lettering. I fell in love with the minor imperfections that come from creating typography by hand and enjoy the thought that each piece created took time and planning to be completed. In order to improve my own hand lettering skill I started creating small pieces of work inspired by my everyday life and documented them through the photo sharing app Instagram. These pieces were often created around what I was eating or a movie I have seen, or even something someone said to me that day. These pieces give a glimpse into my everyday life. I decided to create a book that would be reminiscent of these daily posted image. The book is small, with nothing other than images, and the sketched work is displayed in a way that feel like Polaroid pictures, which are also reminiscent of daily instances in life.

Handlettering Book | Illustration | 49

LightnessVideo

Lightness | video | 51

What I find most interesting about narrative design is its’ ability to tell a story, although this story might not be a traditional one. Often times the story is not about characters or goals, but rather, the significance of the passage of time. In Italo Calvino’s Six Memos for the New Millennium, he discusses in a series of lectures what will be important to future writers. I was particularly inspired by one quote in his first memo, which dealt with the theme of lightness.

Whenever humanity seems condemned to heaviness, I think I should fly like Perseus into a different space. I don’t mean escaping into dreams or the irrational. I mean that I have to change my approach, look at the world from a different perspective, with a different logic and with fresh methods of cognition and verification.

I explore this theme of lightness though the process of removal in a narrative video. The piece is set in a way that through cutting away at the darkness, lightness is revealed. The piece becomes both physically and visually lighter. Filming was done in a way to draw attention to the physical labor of the work.

Video can be seen at: https://vimeo.com/75172886

Quote from the Book Six Memos for the New Millennium by Italio Calvino.

1985. ISBN-13: 978-0679742371

Music by Giles Lamb, “One To One” off of the album Transformation 2011

Lightness | video | 53

Thank YouThank you to my mother who provided a perfect balance of comfort and sternness.

Thank you to my father, who provided insight and wisdom when I had clouded myself in doubt. For being open to listening and advising when I needed it.

Thank you to all of my professors who encouragedme to push the boundaries of what I was possibleof and supported me in all aspects of the explorative process of design. For teaching me that failure (and a lot of it!) is part of the design process, and that you need to dig through the pile of obvious ideas to get to the core of a solid design.

Thank you to my friends, who ventured with me as my academic career grew and influenced me to be the person I am today.

And thank you to you, for looking through my portfolio. I appreciate it.

Typefaces

Univers ( 45 Light, 55 Roman ) designed by Adrian Frutiger

Klinic Slab ( Book, Light, Medium ) designed by Joe Prince

Digital platform mockup templates by shrdesign

Book printed and bound at Dilley Printing in Englewood, CO

| 55

Thank You