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swiftD E S I G N S T U D I O

Chance drew me to graphic design. I never had the desire to design and honestly didn’t know what it entailed until I was a senior in high school. I can pinpoint the beginning of my entire design career on one specific event - joining my high school’s yearbook staff. Granted, yearbook design isn’t the most sophisticated type of design, but it was where I planted my roots. I joined the staff not as a designer, but as a journalist and pho-tographer. My greatest desire at the time was to write. I wrote many an ar ticle for the book and slowly worked my way into tweaking layouts and setting type. I fell in love. I loved the feeling I got when I designed a page and it just felt r ight. It was a high for me - I felt so accomplished and satis-fied. However, I began college studying journalism and it was months into my education before I realized where my true passion lied. I switched to graphic design and haven’t looked back. While I still write, I know I am a designer at hear t. Now, as I end my education, I can say I believe in the power of design. Design is what moves the world, even though the world does not realize it. That, however, is what makes good design. Design nor-mally isn’t noticed as “good design” per say, but as something that works and keeps everything moving. Without design, we would not be where we are as a society today.

designer statement

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tiffany & co.

crisp–ellert art museum

rachael yamagata

align

total lawn care

tim burton

dexter

whisker’s bakery & cafe

advertising

branding

typography, packaging

typography

branding

typography, direct mail

packaging

branding

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tiffany & co.hip cat

crisp–ellert art museum

garamond type specimen book

rachael yamagata

element

total lawn care

whisker’s bakery & cafe

advertising

packaging

branding

typography, editorial

typography, packaging

editorial

branding

branding

06

CHALLENGE

Create a new adver tising campaign for Tiffany & Co.’snew jewelr y charms. Both print and environmental adsshould be included. The adver tisements will invite shoppers to purchase the new items in stores as wellas online.

SOLUTION

The style created is different from Tiffany & Co.’s existing adver tising, but has everything to do with thecompany. The worldwide company is known for theiriconic color and typeface. Color blocked shapes weremade out of the typeface’s lines and negative space that ser ve as windows for the charms and informationto be seen through. The ads will command attentionin magazines and on billboards.

tiffany & co.

advertising

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CHALLENGE

Create a new typeface for a specific type foundry. The font must be in bitmap form and should be reflective ofthe selected foundry’s style. It should look as though itbelongs to the foundry, but should also stand apar t from their current selections.

SOLUTION

House Industries is a well-known type foundry thatcreates many iconic headline typefaces. Align wascreated to both blend in and stand out. It is a headlinefont meant for large-set type, as are most of House’stypefaces. However, since it was kept in its original geometric bitmap form, it stands apar t from theirother typefaces.

align

typography

“Typography has one plain duty before it and that is to convey information in writing. No argument or consideration can absolve typography from this duty.”

— Emil Ruder

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CHALLENGE

Create a complete brand identity for the Crisp–Eller t Ar t Museum. The museum has quickly becomea hotspot for both local and national ar tists to showcase their latest creations and is in need ofa marketable identity.

SOLUTION

The Crisp–Eller t Ar t Museum is a privately ownedgaller y located in the hear t of St. Augustine, Florida. Taking the past and future of the city and ar t intoconsideration, a logo was created that reaches in both directions. Ar t is constantly looking to its pastfor inspiration while moving ahead into moderntimes and the logo reflects that. To complete thebranding is a stationary set and business cards thatfeature a pattern created from the logo. Bags to besold in the museum shop were made, as well as display banners for the museum’s exterior.

crisp–ellert art museum

branding

A monthly newsletter from the museum would keep visitors informed of new exhibitions and any changes made to the museum, such as new permanent pieces.

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CHALLENGE

Create a new package design for the hit Showtimetelevision series, Dexter. The packaging is a box set of the show’s complete first four seasons, as well asnew special footage not found on the single seasonsets. The packaging should provide an interactiveexperience for consumers.

SOLUTION

In order to make the packaging interactive, severaldifferent “layers” of packaging were created. The exterior shell is a replica of an iconic wooden box from the show. Viewers who see this box with the Dexter logo on the front will immediately know what it is supposed to be. The interior shell housesa copy of the show’s newspaper (The Miami Star)that acts as the episode guide. The DVD discs arehoused in clear flippable panels that are in turn representative of what is kept inside the box onthe show.

dexter

packaging

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CHALLENGE

Create a new package design for Rachael Yamagata’s first studio album, Happenstance. This album is being re-released to help promote Rachael’s newest CD and tour, Elephants. The tourwill be including music from the Happenstancere-release, as well as selling the CD with othermerchandise.

SOLUTION

Happenstance means “by chance or a mistake” and is most often used in reference to love. The imagery on the front and back of the album is reminiscent of unsurelove and the struggle to find meaning in it. The inside booklet containing the album’s lyrics and a note from Yamagata is done on the crumpled remains of a love letter, which is symbolic of a love gone wrong.

rachael yamagata

typographypackaging

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CHALLENGE

Creat a direct mail piece for a filmographyfestival honoring Tim Bur ton’s 25th year of filmmaking. The piece should be informative, interactive, and something a receiver would wishto keep even after the event has taken place. Because a large number of viewers will be invited,the piece should be able to fit into a small mailingenvelope for lower shipping costs.

SOLUTION

In order to create something that is both smalland interactive, an accordion fold mailer was developed. The piece not only folds out lengthwise, but also opens up fully to create a poster on the backside. The accordion por tion containsinformation about Bur ton’s films and his futureworks. The poster gives the viewer the filmographyfestival’s movie dates and times, as well as a shor tsynosis for each movie. Finally, a postcard extractsfrom a pocket on the back of the accordion thatcan be attached to a calendar or refrigerator asa reminder of the event.

tim burton

typographydirect mail

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CHALLENGE

Create packaging for a new line of cat products. Hip Cat products will include wet cat food, treats, and toys. The company is focusing on creating allnatural, organic foods and products for cats. They will be primarily targeting younger cat owners whowish to purchase something that both looks goodand is good for their pet.

SOLUTION

A typography based package design was created for all of the products. This style helps Hip Cat products stand out from the others in stores. The colors are warm and neutral, providing a naturalfeeling before the product content is examined by the shopper. In addition to the products, a directmailer was created for a Hip Cat sponsored petadoption event. This event will help promote thenew line and establish Hip Cat with consumers.

hip cat

packaging

CHALLENGE

Conduct a complete rebranding for Total Lawn Care, alawn maintenance business based in Central Florida. Thecompany is already well established with an extensiveclientele. This rebranding must give Total Lawn Care an updated, modern image.

SOLUTION

Total Lawn Care is a locally owned small business thatprides itself in personally knowing all of their clients anddoing all they can to meet their needs. A fresh new logowas designed and kept modern and approachable through use of a san serif typeface. A stationary set and business cards compliment the logo, as does a new, professionalmarketing brochure. The addition of a website fur ther enhances marketability and completes Total Lawn Care’s new identity.

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total lawn care

brandingweb design

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CHALLENGE

Create a promotional book for the typeface Garamond. The book should be reflective of the typeface’s shapes and forms, as well as a study ofthe typeface in design. The book will be publishedby Adobe and packaged with their typefacesoftware.

SOLUTION

In order to design a book that is completely reflective of Garamond, a classic stor y was selected to narrate. In this promotional book,Garamond is used to tell the story of the bondbetween a mother and daughter, a stor y that canspan generations, much the same as Garamonddoes in typography. A different typographical structure is present on each page, as well as reflections on weight, space, and movement.

garamond type specimen book

typographyeditorial

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CHALLENGE

Create a complete brand identity for San Diego’snewest locally owned bakery, Whisker’s Bakery & Cafe. As a brand new establishment, they have no current identity. Whisker’s does, however, plan to make a strong impression on San Diego by becoming one of the city’s top eateries, as well as a spot tourists will want to seek out and visit.

SOLUTION

In order to give Whisker’s Bakery & Cafe the presence that it desires, a fr iendly, inviting color palette was the first thing decided upon. The pink and brown colors are trendy and welcoming. The logo’s combination ofscript and serif typefaces give it life , while still maintaining an air of sophistication. Colorful windowdisplays and employee uniforms will attract customersand ensure that they return because they feel comfor table and welcomed. Vehicle decals were alsoapplied to the bakery’s deliver y vehicle, an economicalSmar t Car.

whisker’s bakery & cafe

branding

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CHALLENGE

Create a magazine based on the premise of sustainable design. All types of designers (graphic,interior, industrial, architects, etc.) should be thetarget audience. The magazine will feature material that informs and persuades readers to adopt amore environmentally fr iendly way of designing.

SOLUTION

Element was chosen as the magazine’s titlebecause there are many different elements that encompass what is to be a sustainably-minded designer. Each month the cover and headlining ar ticle will focus on a different field of design, allowing all designers to feel that this magazine has something impor tant to say and offer to them.Other material will include inter views with designers who have already adopted sustainability, product reviews, and steps that can be taken to transform all designers into more environmentally fr iendly workers.

element magazine

editorial

Dedicated to my wonderful husband and family. Without your constant love and support I would be nowhere. You are my inspiration.

“Designers may be the true intellectuals of the future.”– Paola Antonelli