These award winning Annual Performance Reports were a combined effort between the City of Des Moines, The Greater Des Moines Community Art Foundation, and the Metro Arts Alliance. Information was collected from the City's operating budget, The Center for Performance Measurement of the ICMA, a Citywide Citizen Satisfaction Survey, Strategic Plans, and feedback from previous reports.
To increase interest and media coverage, we held a call-for-entries each year from local artists. This created its own design challenges as each piece of work was drastically different from the previous.
My role:
• Work with the Assistant City Manager to keep the project on schedule
• Propose and execute layout and overall design concepts
• Create easy-to-read charts, graphs, and maps
• Capture and edit photos of public art used throughout the document
• Suggest ways of making government language easy to understand for the general public
• Run copy through grade level filters with a goal of 6th grade or below
• Incorporate edits from multiple sources — created a system for receiving copy and data from multiple departments and authors
• Rework copy as needed to enhance flow and make sure it read as one voice
• Color correct all photos and artwork
• Final proofing
• Prepare RFP's, review bids, coordinate printing and delivery
Another year of the award-winning Annual Performance Report with all new featured artists. This year, the winning cover artist did not submit their artwork in the requested size, making the design a bit more challenging.
Take a look at the 2005 report for additional information
Another year of the award-winning Annual Performance Report with all new featured artists.
Take a look at the 2005 report for additional information
This is the final year of the Performance Report. The City employee that managed this project's funding sources accepted a position in another city and the project was discontinued.
Take a look at the 2005 report for additional information
Developing the initial concept then pitching this guide to the City Manager, was my first attempt at making the government more user-friendly. We applied for grants that covered 80% of the production cost and the remainder was approved from the general fund.
Gathering the list of services included collaboration from City departments, Polk County, Des Moines Public Schools, the Iowa Department of Transportation and local non-profits that offered services to citizens in need.
My role:
• Work with the Assistant City Manager on grant proposals
• Propose and execute layout and overall design concepts
• Information gathering and research
• Suggest ways of making government language easy to understand for the general public
• Run copy through grade level filters with a goal of below 6th grade
• Incorporate edits from multiple sources — within the City and out
• Prepare RFP's, review bids, coordinate printing and delivery
Toro sought a fresh, easy-to-view design as well as shipping ease. The result was this 400-page catalog with tab pages that fold in for shipping. Line art, raw photos, and Excel files were supplied by the client.
My role:
• Import and format all Excel files into InDesign
• Work with the writer, account and creative lead
• Proof for consistency
• Identify and number parts on line drawings
• Prepare for press
Product Development and Launch
In this case, I wasn't just the marketing strategist and designer – I was the client, too. My husband and I invented this student organization system that included a full-size planner, color-coded folders, and a customizable backpack.
My role:
• Initial design of planner and folders
• Prototype design
• Plan and distribute over 400 prototypes to a local school for case study
• Gather and chart case study data
• Use online surveys to follow up with teachers, parents, and administration
• Meet with designers, writers, and website developers
• Hire and work with bag designers
• Research and hire manufacturers and printers
• Manage the logistics, import, and transportation of product
• Manage orders via Amazon.com
• Fulfill and ship product
• Maintain inventory system
• Interview with press and bloggers
• Update website
• Keep a constant social media presence
• Researched and wrote articles
• On-line resource for parents of struggling students
This ad, featured in the Iowan Magazine, is just one of many advertisements and promotional items created while I acted as a one-stop shop for the local chapter, doing just about everything they needed from membership renewals, capital campaigns, major gifts, event planning, controlled burns, and graphic design.
My Role:
• Design and write ad
• Color correct photo
• Purchase ad placement space
• Prepare for printer
• Review success rate
Supporting my community is important to me, on occasion I offer my skills to non-profits who don't have the budget to hire a professional designer.
Blank Park Zoo
Taking content from several sources, creating charts and graphs from raw data, and using personal photos with stock art, I designed this annual report for the Blank Park Zoo Foundation.
Food Bank of Iowa
This invitation to a no-dinner dinner was the Food Bank's last hope for raising funds for the year. This was a one day project I wrote and designed. A local printer donated the paper and printing "if we used the ink and paper they had loaded", we said "yes". The invitations were sent out the next day.
Des Moines Public Library
This is a first draft written and designed from scratch using only information available from their website and by referencing other library systems. It was well received but never printed due to lack of funding.
Designated Neighborhood Action Plans
The creation of these plans was unique because of their size and depth. To keep costs down we chose two-color printing. Each plan featured a small foldout map along with a large removable poster-sized map. These were also my first exposure to GIS technology, where after much experimentation, we successfully exported GIS maps to Adobe Illustrator where I could easily edit them.
Planning and Zoning Deck Brochure
This how-to brochure for building decks in residential areas was printed on the office color printer as inspectors needed them. I both designed and illustrated this piece.
Community Housing Development Corporation
This annual report was designed for digital output with a short turn-around time.
