The Lab School of Washington’s 2022 Annual Celebration was the first in-person gala to be held since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the phrase “There’s No Place Like Home” from The Wizard of Oz chosen as the event theme, the client required a digital invitation as well as corresponding web graphics for an event-specific website.
I created the illustration and chose a type treatment with a modern nod to the movie posters of this era. This illustration features the buildings of Lab School’s campus, which needed to appear as a unified “home” despite their location at two different addresses. The design of the invitation was adapted further for the event website banner, homepage, and awardees page.
Client: The Lab School of Washington
Studio: Comella Design Group
The Zoo and Aquarium All Hazards Partnership (ZAHP) is an initiative created to enhance preparedness for and resiliency to all-hazards that may impact facilities in the exotic animal industry. This initiative — formerly known as the Zoo and Aquarium All Hazards Preparedness, Response, and Recovery (ZAHP) Fusion Center — was formed in 2014 through a cooperative agreement with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and USDA.
After revamping the initiative with a name change, the client wanted to drop the former logotype in favor of a new mark visually similar to its other initiatives (SAFE and WTA). The logo needed to be striking and represent the crucial subject matter of the initiative without becoming cluttered or off-putting. The mark with both terrestrial and aquatic species and natural and biological hazards emerged as an early favorite, since it highlighted ZAHP’s all-encompassing approach in the facilities that it serves and the hazards to which it reacts. Minor changes from the initial concept included exploration of other species and replacement of the natural hazard icon.
The Foundation for Jewish Studies, a long-standing institution for adult Jewish learning in the DC area, changed its name to the Haberman Institute for Jewish Studies in 2018. With a new name, the Institute needed a new logo. The client wanted the new mark logo to reflect the Jewish faith and culture without becoming stereotypical, and contemporary without being so ‘modern’ that it would not reflect the traditions and identity of its members.
During the research phase, I identified several key symbols to focus on in the mark. While the Star of David is the most iconic Jewish symbol, the client did not want it to be the primary focus. I tried several combinations of symbols, patterns and logotypes until the Tree of Life emerged as the favorite. With minor tweaking, the Star of David was reintroduced in a subtle way that did not interfere with the overall design. A serif typeface was chosen to allude to the traditional elements of the Institute.
Client: Haberman Institute for Jewish Studies
Studio: Comella Design Group
Washington Area Women’s Foundation (WAWF) released its “A Blueprint for Action” report on experiences, insights, and recommendations to support young women of color in DC. In order to engage its key audiences—young women of color, policymakers, philanthropists, service providers, and government officials—WAWF needed a visually exciting report that would reflect the work spent by its author and over 80 contributors.
Once the layout was complete, I created 14 custom infographics to complement the text. I was also able to work directly with the lead author which allowed a faster exchange of ideas on the layout and graphics.
View full report.
Thumbnail photo by Jessica Podraza on Unsplash.
Client: Washington Area Women’s Foundation
Studio: Comella Design Group
Ever since I began volunteering with Edu-Futuro in March 2017, I wanted to contribute my design experience in any way possible. After several months of involvement, The President of the Board of Directors and Executive Director approached me to create the 2016-17 annual report.
Without an established marketing design in place, I had plenty of creative freedom. I worked closely with the BOD President and Executive Director to ensure that the report’s design both fit their vision and would serve as a successful foundation for future marketing materials.
Client: Edu-Futuro (Educación Para Nuestro Futuro)
Studio: Kaitlin Wynne
With its 10th anniversary in 2017, Revere Bank chose to create an advertising campaign showcasing its growth and accomplishments since its inception. As the lead designer for financial industry accounts, I was in charge of the design for their 10th anniversary campaign.
A timeline was the best way to convey Revere’s growth and provided the opportunity to inject more creativity. With two successful mergers in the previous year, it was a perfect opportunity to spread the Bank’s name in the D.C. and Baltimore areas. The full timeline was featured in Washington Business Journal, with modified formats for smaller ads.
Client: Revere Bank
Studio: Comella Design Group
I Nengkanno' Guåhan: The Food of Guam is a collection of 20 traditional dishes and family recipes from the island of Guam, an unincorporated U.S. territory in the Pacific known for its stunning beaches and rich indigenous culture. As a person of Chamorro descent, I have been fascinated by the island’s culture ever since I can remember. I created this cookbook in order to learn more about my heritage and explore the gastronomy of my grandmother’s homeland. I Nengkanno’ Guåhan was self-published in 2015 and has since achieved international recognition.
Scope included: writing and copyediting, food photography and styling, layout, vector illustrations, and plenty of hours in the kitchen perfecting recipes.
Following the success of the World Smarts STEM Challenge, IREX developed a college-level challenge for students in the U.S. and Jordan. The Global Solutions Sustainability Challenge was a virtual exchange initiative that enabled American and Jordanian students to collaborate and solve issues facing the hospitality industry in their countries.
The design and content of the workbook is nearly identical to the World Smarts student guides, as the two programs had similar structure. Graphics were updated to appeal to a postsecondary audience. After the workbook was translated into Arabic, I modified the layout and graphics to ensure its design and functionality would remain the same across both languages.
Client: IREX
Studio: Comella Design Group
Rosemount Center holds its annual "Fall Fiesta" fundraising event each fall to raise funds for its programs and the profile of the Center. Rosemount wanted the 2016 invitation to use classic fall imagery and reference Latin American culture to reinforce the bilingual and multicultural aspects of the Center. As someone who has extensively studied Latin American culture, I was thrilled and prepared for the challenge of combining these two different ideas. The final illustration depicts traditional papercut patterns and fall icons in a papel picado.
Deliverables include:
Invitation, reply card, and envelope design
Custom illustration for print and digital marketing
Web graphics and poster
Client: Rosemount Center
Studio: Comella Design Group
I designed all ads and corresponding materials for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ 2016 Annual Conference in San Diego, CA. The panda, rhino and orca images were used throughout the conference branding to represent its sponsor institutions: The San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo's Safari Park, and SeaWorld San Diego.
Deliverables include:
Print and digital ads
AZA branded ads for Program Guide
Self-mailer, insert and jacket cover for CONNECT magazine
T-shirt design
Program Guide and pocket schedule
Client: Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Studio: Comella Design Group
Recognizing the importance and need for STEM studies worldwide, IREX initiated a new program in 2016 called the World Smarts STEM Challenge. By connecting high school students from D.C. and Ghana, World Smarts aimed to inspire cross-cultural collaboration in order to tackle global problems through STEM studies. For its pilot year, World Smarts focused on two issues: energy use and hazardous waste & pollutants.
I designed the students' Innovator Guides, two 10-week workbooks — one for each challenge — with relevant activities and resources that would guide the students to their final solutions. I also created various icons and graphics for use within the guides.
Client: IREX
Studio: Comella Design Group
Covers and weekly header designs by Brigid Cowdrey.
Bronze Award – The Real Show 2014 Student Competition
This dustcover was one of my first graphic design projects created during my undergrad years at Towson University. As part of The Real Show student competition, I opted for a whimsical re-design for the cover of How to Rock Braces and Glasses by Meg Haston. After several brainstorming sessions thinking “What type of design screams middle school girl while still being relatable?”, I had an idea: turn the cover into a diary.
I used illustrations, a handwritten title, and vibrant colors to create a design that would resonate with a 7th-8th grade audience. Coincidentally, it also reminded me of my excessive sticker use in middle school and my days with braces and glasses.
Client: The Real Show (concept)
Studio: Kaitlin Wynne
