BRAND EXPRESSION
Express Yourself
Design frameworks come in many different forms, shapes and sizes—be it print, digital, packaging, layout, environmental. My goal is to find the essence to be communicated, and express it in a way that people connect with.
Entrance to Hamilton Elementary in Chicago, in collaboration with Chicago muralist Jeff Zimmermann and interior designer Matt Rorem. Dropping our kids off here everyday for school made us realize that the entryways of many Chicago Public Schools are bleak and institutional…when they should be joyful and inspiring. We decided to take matters into our own hands.
Cover art for several series of wine country romance novels penned by good friend, Kelly Kay.
I met Carlos Dzine Rolon when we were in our twenties, and I was (and still am) amazed by his talent and ability to translate his personal history into unique and unexpected works of art. The Gestalten-published monograph is a collection of ornate bicycles and objects, that pay tribute to low-rider street culture. Varnishes, glosses and debossing were employed to capture the elaborate surface quality of the works.
AIGA poster competition entry “Flags for America” invited Chicago designers to consider the American flag. To me this object represents the freedom to protest, which are expressed in the lyrics to “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Another AIGA poster entry for “Design Beyond the Grid”.
To commemorate 40 years of Steppenwolf Theater, 40 posters were designed by 40 creatives of 40 plays. This is my contribution for Thornton Wild’s “Our Town”—a famously sparse stage production in which characters use simple ladders to emulate second story windows.
In response to the Obama foundation call for submissions, the University of Chicago tasked us with designing their formal bid for the former president and his wife. In addition to identifying several sites on the city’s South and West sides, the proposal included fully articulated renderings by three of the world’s preeminent architects. It was humbling.
Proposed advertising materials for Tock—a restaurant reservation platform taking on the behemoth: Open Table. We imagined the chefs that were with Tock as members of the Restaurant Revolution, using the same provocative and unapologetic language as the founder, Nick Kokonas.
Tony Fitzpatrick has been creating the cover art for Steve Earle records for years. For Steve’s Terraplane record he invited me to collaborate.
In the early nineties my dad told me that Tony Fitzpatrick was his first cousin. He had no idea what a fan I already was. This was a print brochure for an opening at Pierogi gallery in New York, one of many design projects with Tony over the years.
CD packaging and booklet for Dzine “Red Sessions'“ exhibit in NY. The accompanying music was meant to be paired while viewing the work.
Tereasa Surratt is a force of nature. She and her husband are good friends, and constantly working on interesting projects for their Wisconsin boy scout retreat. This monograph chronicles the sourcing relocating and rehabbing of a cottage from Tereasa’s childhood home.
CD packaging for Chicago musician Nicholas Barron.
Promotional mailer sent to interior designers to announce the launch of the Ann Sacks web site, including screen printed specialty tiles unique to the company.