Happy Homecoming week! I worked on this eight page booklet project in conjunction with Mounds Park Academy. MPA runs an incredible Homecoming operation that engages their entire community. Not only are there major JV and Varsity-level athletic events, there's also a fun run, 5k, food trucks, alumni campus tours, and more. Each year they send out a beautiful eight page mailer to a wide constituent group in an effort to inspire current families and strike up a bit of nostalgia for their alumni. This self-mailer was printed offset on uncoated paper.
Marin Academy is an incredible school located in San Rafael, California. They are a joyful, diverse, rigorous, and compassionate institution that provides a challenging academic experience while simultaneously encouraging their students to push the envelope. At MA, students:
- Learn with joy
- Think critically and creatively
- Work with, rather than compete with
- Welcome diverse voices
- Imagine a better tomorrow
I immediately connected with this list — especially given recent research that supports the concept of collaboration over competition. This NAIS article predicts that in the future, collaboration will be the focus of successful independent schools.
I worked with Marin Academy to complete a series of four admission brochures that answer some of the key points they wanted to emphasis in their enrollment packet. The end result is a 7x7" square with vibrant, eye-catching content on the front, and detailed information and statistics on the back. Easy to use at recruitment events, affordable to print, and incredibly impactful.
Be the Nice Kid is an inspiring company owned by Bryan Skavnak of the Happiest Golfer. Bryan is an energetic, optimistic, glass half full kinda golf instructor whose wisdom about life went viral within the education space. Bryan reached out to me to help create a visual for his new brand. This included a custom mark and alternate marks, icons and patterns. Stay tuned for the official launch within the next few weeks!
Some kids are smarter than you. Some kids have cooler clothes than you. Some kids are better at sports than you. It doesn't matter ... you have your thing too. Be the kid who can get along. The kid who is generous. The kid who is happy for other people. The kid who does the right thing. The kid who tries his best. Be the nice kid.
One of my most helpful things I have designed for myself in the past year is this daily planner printable. I am someone who relies heavily on written organization tactics to keep my business on track, and this has been invaluable for me over the course of the past several months.
When I was working as a Marketing Manager for an independent school, I was overwhelmed by the number of tasks that fell on my plate each day. From photographing student activities, to planning and executing an advertising strategy, to carrying all design projects from inception to completion — I was a one woman show, and I was drowning. I asked our head of school for advice, and he recommended I start each day by writing down my three most critical tasks.
These tasks, however big or small, needed to be completed on a specific timeline, and needed to be crossed off by the end of the day. After a few weeks, I discovered that my three most critical tasks tended to be the type of project I would find myself putting off until the last minute. Undesirable tasks with firm deadlines. With my three critical tasks top of mind, even if crossed nothing else off, I could still feel confident that I had a productive and purposeful day.
I designed this daily planner with that in mind — it can be overwhelming to look at a list of 20–30 tasks each day with no hierarchy. Now, I print out this PDF (two-sided of course!) and save my completed planners to look back on as well.
