January 2012
Issue #70

Three new sites

At a given moment, we are working on three to ten website designs at various stages of development. Sometimes, a month or two goes by without a new site going live. And sometimes, two or three can actually go live in a single day. We recently flipped the switch on the following sites:

     The Sustainable Biomaterials Collaborative “is dedicated to spurring the introduction and use of biobased products that are sustainable from cradle to cradle. We advance their development and use by creating strong sustainability guidelines, encouraging markets, and promoting policy initiatives.” The design is simple and clean and leaves room for lots of growth in the coming months. Visit www.sustainablebiomaterials.org.

     The Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group “is one of over 120 Specialist Groups of the Species Survival Commission developed by the World Conservation Union. The members are biologists, conservationists, and zoo professionals committed to the dissemination of information, research, and conservation of asian wild cattle.” Though the site is already rich with information on a number of species, this site, too, was designed with growth in mind. Visit www.asianwildcattle.org.

      The Green Chemistry and Commerce Council (GC3) “is a business-to-business forum that advances the application of green chemistry and design for environment across supply chains. It provides an open forum for cross-sectoral collaboration to share information and experiences about the challenges to and opportunities for safer chemicals and products.” A couple of years ago, we were asked to “throw together” a quick site for the GC3 — which they quickly outgrew. This update better showcases this vibrant and growing organization. Visit www.greenchemistryandcommerce.org.

Here comes the judge

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) offers awards programs to recognize and celebrate outstanding programs and individuals. District awards honor everything from annual reports to websites, distinguished service to new professionals, and everything in between. In December, I served on a panel with several other regional publications specialists to judge the effectiveness of alumni magazines in the Northeast. The magazines pictured above were some of the entries.

     CASE attempts to invite judges who have varied publications backgrounds. Our committee included a college editorial director, an independent school communications director, a director of marketing and communications, and a graphic designer (moi!). In recent years, I have received six silver and three bronze CASE awards for my work in the following categories: newsletters, tabloids, magazines, and calendars. Frankly, I hadn’t realized how hard it is to meet the standards for the various rankings. As a result of having seen the other side, I’m all the more thrilled with my CASE awards!
     For someone who spends too many hours a day in the privacy of my suburban home office, it felt wonderful to get together with colleagues — on the MIT campus overlooking the Charles River — to discuss the finer points of what makes our work effective.

Yes, we design ads

In this (nearly) monthly eblast, I tend to write about some of our larger projects: reports, websites, magazines, fact sheet series. But we try to be a one-stop-shop to meet our clients’ many print and web needs. Though we don’t actively pursue print and web advertising, we actually do quite a lot of it. And it comes to us in so many ways.

     The Local Table is a restaurant owned by a friend in my town. Our sons were in grade school together, and, at the moment, we each employ the other’s kid part-time. Rose recently purchased a local eatery which I help to promote for a variety of print and web-based venues.

     My sister (the violinist) played in the very first Boston Baroque performance. Later, she introduced Marty, the musical director, to Carole, who later became Boston Baroque’s first, and long-time, executive director. By this time, Carole and I were great friends. We collaborated on many programs, posters, a website, direct mail packages, season brochures, and yes, many, many ads.

     I met Carolyn, Farm Aid’s executive director, at my dinner table more than 20 years ago. She was best friends with my roommates. It was some time before I discovered that she worked with Farm Aid and she discovered that I was a designer. She hired me to design Farm Aid’s first-ever annual report. Since then, I’ve designed concert programs, newsletters, posters, direct mail packages, postcards, and many ads — including the one shown above, which will be appearing in a program at the Grammy awards this year.

     Decades ago, I was selling the magazine, Cultural Survival through a traveling, progressive bookstore I helped start and co-manage (Food for Thoughts Books in Amherst, Mass.). Last month, I worked on the magazine’s redesign. On the inside back cover was the ad shown above, which showcased ways to support the work of the magazine’s parent nonprofit organization.

A brief note

Because Amanda, my assistant, is on maternity leave, it is sometimes hard for me to answer calls. I don’t have call waiting. So, if you get an immediate voice message when trying to reach me, I am undoubtedly on another call. The best thing to do is send me an email, including your phone number and good times to get back to you. I am much more likely to see this before I would hear a voice message. Thanks.