Youth in Focus is an afterschool program that uses intensive photography training as a tool to help disadvantaged teens develop personal voice, positive identity, social skills and artistic skills. They offer free, multi-level classes in both film and digital photography, and advanced students participate in our job skills project shooting assignments for hire. Classes [...]]]>

Youth in Focus is an afterschool program that uses intensive photography training as a tool to help disadvantaged teens develop personal voice, positive identity, social skills and artistic skills. They offer free, multi-level classes in both film and digital photography, and advanced students participate in our job skills project shooting assignments for hire. Classes are taught by professional teaching artists and supported by volunteer adult mentors. In this way they create a community of support around the students that both encourages and challenges them on their journey to a positive adulthood.

During the 2011 summer, Youth in Focus students launched the 20 Paces Project as part of a Storefronts Seattle space near the corner of Second and James in downtown Seattle. Storefronts Seattle is a community-driven effort to help revitalize Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square and Chinatown-International District neighborhoods by bringing vibrancy, activity, and light to otherwise vacant spaces and sparsely populated streetscapes.

For the project the students shoot images of whatever is happening outside on the street within 20 paces of the front door. This included everything from passing pedestrians, daily occurrences to guests invited to participate in the project. During the project the students uploaded their images to a computer connected to a large display screen in the window and digitally worked on the images so people passing by can watch what they’re doing. The finished prints created a growing exhibit of photos inside the gallery space that was presented daily as well as at three First Thursday art events that occured during the run of the project.

To bring attention to the project, I worked with members of the Youth in Focus board to stage the Seattle Storefronts space and tell the story of Youth in Focus and the students’ 20 Paces Project through a set of environmental graphics. This included the window treatments, the interior display of the students’ work, and the inclusion of a set of framed posters describing Youth in Focus’ mission, programs and community impact.

:: Youth in Focus Storefronts Space Exterior

:: Window Display Screen

:: Student Photo Collage

:: Digital Projection of Student Work and Highlights Wall

:: Youth in Focus Mission and Impact Posters

In addition, I used QR codes throughout the exhibit to provide visitors access to additional content through a mobile browsing experience. The mobile site, created in partnership with the Garrigan Lyman Group, provided visitors access to a collection of student work and a video showcasing Youth in Focus as well as an online means to get involved with Youth in Focus. The QR codes also allowed Youth in Focus to track interest generated by the Seattle Storefronts exhibit.

:: Youth in Focus 20 Paces Project Mobile Website

For my wife’s 40th birthday I wanted to do something special for her and I rented out the Butterfly Lounge at Grimm’s on Capitol Hill in Seattle. To play off the “steampunk” aesthetic of the lounge and the milestone of Stacie’s 40th birthday, I decided to model her invitation after and old deck of [...]]]>

For my wife’s 40th birthday I wanted to do something special for her and I rented out the Butterfly Lounge at Grimm’s on Capitol Hill in Seattle. To play off the “steampunk” aesthetic of the lounge and the milestone of Stacie’s 40th birthday, I decided to model her invitation after and old deck of playing cards. The invitation artwork was folded, creased, scraped, scratched, bleached and tea stained to give it an antique look.

The cards were all hand delivered and it was fun to watch our friends’ expressions as they received the birthday invitation. Not everyday is someone handed an ace of spades, at least you hope. The expression on our friends’ faces would quickly change from quizzical and shocked to happily surprised. Everyone loved the idea of marking Stacie’s 40th birthday with the “death card.”

Working with Scott Souchock of G.Scott!Design, Scott and I designed and developed the lobby of the newly remodeled O’Brien Center for Athletic Administration. The building at 1218 E. Cherry Street honors the great Seattle University basketball players and brothers, John and Eddie O’Brien, for their years of supporting the athletics program. The O’Brien Center [...]]]>

Working with Scott Souchock of G.Scott!Design, Scott and I designed and developed the lobby of the newly remodeled O’Brien Center for Athletic Administration. The building at 1218 E. Cherry Street honors the great Seattle University basketball players and brothers, John and Eddie O’Brien, for their years of supporting the athletics program. The O’Brien Center renovation was strategic for Seattle University’s continued progress towards NCAA Division I excellence.

Working with the client we held a series of meetings to explore the possibilities of the space and to uncover the rich history and story of Seattle University Athletics. To facilitate the design development discussions, Scott created a series of architectural models. The models allowed us to test ideas, communicate how SU’s athletics story could be told in the lobby experience and to help the client visualize the design goals.

The final project included an All-American hallway displaying portraits of SU Athletes including the O’Brien brothers and Jim Whittaker, the first American to climb Mt. Everest. Other features were a video wall with reels of current and past sporting events, a trophy wall, ceiling banners and a case displaying the O’Brien brothers’ accomplishments.

Seattle University has a story to tell about it’s sustainability efforts. And it’s a good story, too: four LEED Gold buildings in four years. Mind you this is a private university and does not “have” to achieve such high goals. But sustainability is part of their core belief system, so they do. And they [...]]]> div#slider { width: 590px !important;height: 407px !important; } div#slider_container .nivo_slider .nivo-controlNav { width: 590px !important; }

Seattle University has a story to tell about it’s sustainability efforts. And it’s a good story, too: four LEED Gold buildings in four years. Mind you this is a private university and does not “have” to achieve such high goals. But sustainability is part of their core belief system, so they do. And they want to tell everyone about it.

Working with Scott Souchock of G.Scott!Design, Scott and I were charged with designing a method for presenting the story. Using an external-grade (and Green) digital high-pressure laminate display panel was fairly obvious. But what about the base?

After numerous studies, rounds of pricing, and some head scratching, we came up with the base shown here. We think it’s kind of sexy even if we do say so ourself! Sustainability is sexy so why shouldn’t the base be too?

The base is curved, one-inch thick aluminum, fabricated and installed by Tube Art Group. The interpretive panel is manufactured by iZone. The layout of each panel is similar with each buildings sustainability story told in an unique way that makes sense for the building.

Working with Scott Souchock of G.Scott!Design, Scott and I created the entry display for the newly remodeled GeoEngineers corporate office. The entry highlights three current engineering projects that can be updated and efficiently changed out while providing a sophisticated presentation that reflects the quality and depth of GeoEngineers’ work. The individual inset project boards [...]]]> div#slider { width: 590px !important;height: 407px !important; } div#slider_container .nivo_slider .nivo-controlNav { width: 590px !important; }

Working with Scott Souchock of G.Scott!Design, Scott and I created the entry display for the newly remodeled GeoEngineers corporate office. The entry highlights three current engineering projects that can be updated and efficiently changed out while providing a sophisticated presentation that reflects the quality and depth of GeoEngineers’ work. The individual inset project boards are created in-house by GeoEngineers’ design staff.

GeoEngineers offers an integrated suite of services for companies looking to build communities, harness and manage the earth’s resources, and move both products and people. They operate at the intersection of earth science and technology, and call on their expertise in both disciplines to deliver results for their clients and to improve the world. Since their founding in 1980, they have successfully completed more than 25,000 projects worldwide for clients in the Energy, Transportation, Water & Natural Resources, Development and Federal markets.

Seattle University, founded in 1891, is a Jesuit Catholic university located on 48 acres on Seattle’s Capitol Hill. More than 7,500 students are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs within eight schools. U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Colleges 2009” ranks Seattle University among the top 10 universities in the West that offer a [...]]]>

Seattle University, founded in 1891, is a Jesuit Catholic university located on 48 acres on Seattle’s Capitol Hill. More than 7,500 students are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs within eight schools. U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Colleges 2009” ranks Seattle University among the top 10 universities in the West that offer a full range of masters and undergraduate programs.

As a senior designer, art director and finally creative director over a 14 year span I worked on and was responsible for many areas of Seattle University’s brand identity. I established the conceptual and stylistic visual design direction for marketing materials including student recruiting, university fundraising, athletics, alumni outreach, and a redesign of the university logotype.

The success I had at Seattle University was due to the fantastic team of designers and writers I worked with. This group included: Terry Lundmark, Helen Kong,Tina Potterf, Cindy Ferguson, Scott Souchock of G.Scott!Design, Joe Orlando, Carly Cannell, James Cary, Jana Mizokawa, Nani Paape, and Matt Diefenbach and Ben Graham of Turnstyle.

:: Advertising

:: Seattle University Identity Guide

:: Seattle University Print Collateral

:: Events Planning, Staging and Graphics

:: Alumni and Admissions Building Lobby

:: Building and Campus Signage

Pepperbox is a studio-based custom design and fabrication company focused on making special objects for clients and for limited production. Michael Prendergast, the principal, draws on a wide breadth of experience and range of materials and disciplines to execute designs that meet clients’ needs and exceed their expectations. Studio furniture, home and office storage solutions, fine decorative [...]]]>

Pepperbox is a studio-based custom design and fabrication company focused on making special objects for clients and for limited production. Michael Prendergast, the principal, draws on a wide breadth of experience and range of materials and disciplines to execute designs that meet clients’ needs and exceed their expectations. Studio furniture, home and office storage solutions, fine decorative objects, and sculpture are all within his scope; the unifying theme is the studios ability to give clients solutions well beyond what is available off the shelf.

Fall Line Winery is an artisan producer of elegantly-styled wines. Specializing in blends of Bordeaux varietals, Fall Line crafts its wines using fruit from some of the most prized vineyard sites in Washington State.

Founded in 2003, Fall Line is owned and operated by Tim Sorenson and Nancy Rivenburgh. The winery is located in [...]]]>

Fall Line Winery is an artisan producer of elegantly-styled wines. Specializing in blends of Bordeaux varietals, Fall Line crafts its wines using fruit from some of the most prized vineyard sites in Washington State.

Founded in 2003, Fall Line is owned and operated by Tim Sorenson and Nancy Rivenburgh. The winery is located in the eclectic Georgetown neighborhood, less than five miles south of downtown Seattle.

The Fall Line Winery logo was inspired by Tim and Nancy’s passion for skiing. In perhaps its most common usage, ‘fall line’ refers to the natural line of descent on a slope.

For Tim and Nancy, both avid skiers since early childhood, ‘fall line’ evokes the image of a perfectly balanced skier, gracefully descending a slope of deep, fluffy powder—leaving behind a beautifully carved swoosh.

It’s what they aspire to on the slopes…and what they instill in their wines: Balance. Grace. Depth.

The Washington Alpine Club was founded in 1916 to encourage the healthful enjoyment of the great outdoors, to preserve its natural beauty and to promote good fellowship among all lovers of nature. Membership ranges from serious expedition climbers, to casual backpackers, to entire families including children and grandparents using the historic Guye cabin on [...]]]>

The Washington Alpine Club was founded in 1916 to encourage the healthful enjoyment of the great outdoors, to preserve its natural beauty and to promote good fellowship among all lovers of nature. Membership ranges from serious expedition climbers, to casual backpackers, to entire families including children and grandparents using the historic Guye cabin on Snoqualmie Pass for weekend ski trips.

:: Before and After