flashback friday | diabetes awareness month

Project | Rock for Diabetes Invitation
Client | Childrens Hospital Los Angeles

Several years ago I was approached to help design an invitation and event materials for a fundraiser to support juvenile diabetes. I had long been involved with the Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles and was happy to lend my design services for this cause. The proceeds from the Rock for Diabetes event would support the Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles in raising funds for the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes. This “Flashback Friday” I thought I would resurrect this design in honor of National Diabetes Awareness Month.

flashback friday | remembering japan

Project | Support for Japan

At the wake of the devastating 2011 tsunami that caused a chain reaction of tragedy for the people of Japan, I was asked by several friends in the community to help in the efforts to send financial assistance to the victims and survivors of the quake. Very quickly a focused group of individuals, with the support of the Mayor of LA was formed. I created a logo that connected LA to Japan, a bold statement that said the heart of the people of Los Angeles and the city’s governing bodies wanted to help. This, however was not my first task at creating a stir for support. At the first break of the news story my local Japanese Community Center, ESGVJCC, whom I had supported for years had reached out asking if I could design a t-shirt that could be sold with all proceeds going to the victims and families of Japan’s hardest hit. Overnight I created a design that melded together inspired imagery into Japan’s rising sun,..an image that, in my eyes, reflected the dawning of a new day and therefore hope. Within the rising sun were images that were both indicative of the beauty of Japan, the culture and the people intertwined with images of the tragedy that struck on its’ soil. The tragedy in the design is not readily seen and this was an intentional vision of mine to make the greater symbolism and message be that the strength and beauty of Japan would overcome the tragedy. Years later there are still remnants of the tragedy that continue to wash upon our shores reminding us that Japan has not yet fully recovered or healed. This “flashback Friday” I ask you to remember Japan.

flashback friday | merry marry

Table Number

Wedding Suite

Invitation

Menu and Escort card

Candy Table

Candy Table

Project | Wedding Suite
Client | Christine + Rick Roessler

My flashback Friday continues with weddings now on my mind. This bride knew exactly what she wanted. With a specific theme and direction in mind, I was there just to help execute the details of her vision. Her willingness to do a lot of DIY made this project such a pleasure to work on. Doing the small things like candy bag labels, favor labels and a custom specialty drink card helped bring together the color palette and event design. I think that in the end it really helped to capture the fun, feminine sophistication of the bride and it was my honor to have been a part of it all.

Professional Photography | Peter Roessler of Shoot Me Peter

flashback friday | wedding suite

Project | Wedding Suite
Client | Scott + Jamie Sakamoto

Today’s flashback Friday moment is inspired by the birth of my nephew Kelton Tomatsu Sakamoto who was born at 8 lbs, 1 oz on February 2 to my twin sister Jamie and her hubby Scott. It was just over a year ago that Jamie and Scott wed in the beautiful fall air of La Jolla, California. I had the great pleasure and honor of serving both as the maid of honor and their designer.

More beautiful photos of Jamie and Scott’s wedding can be viewed on the Fortuna Photography website.

Professional Photography | Lauriana Fortuna of Fortuna Photography

 

a logo | redefined

project | logo redesign
client | scmg

In 2011, the company that I work for made the decision to change its’ name from Southern California Magazine Group to the Southern California Media Group in order to better define the scope of work that our company does. We’re not just magazines…we are so much more: online magazine, events and custom publishing!

The challenge was to create a modern and sleek design that would represent the face of the company. Using typographical hierarchy I wanted to bring attention to the key word that changed in our name so that our clients and future clients would begin to associate us with more than magazine publishing. The original comps utilized the CMYK/RGB colors to represent the color palettes of the mediums that we work in. As you can see, the square swatches which are symbolic of color chips and digital pixels eventually evolved into what you see here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In order to continue with the branding around the color swatches and using that idea as a repetition in my design, the final business cards helped to communicate the image of the company into something more indicative of our creative culture. It has gotten interesting responses over the years especially as the clients that we work with run the gamut of agencies, corporate to sole proprietors but I know our staff is proud to hand out their business card which reflects the sophisticated, clean and modern product that we produce both in print and online.

ads | a gallery

Project | Print Ads
Client | Various

One of the things I love most about my job is the opportunity to work with a lot of different clients that run the gamut of retail, restaurant and entertainment. Some clients are fairly small and do not have access to professional photography, others have a direct and clear vision. But whatever,…whoever the client, each come with its’ own set of challenges. This is what I love most about my job!

This is just a small sampling of work that I’ve done in the last year or two. Each design had its’ own set of challenges, but overall I enjoyed working with what I had while still trying to give our clients a design that spoke to their concept, their clientele as well as their marketing goals.

branding | web campaign

Project | Brand Web Campaign
Client | WHERE Magazine

Last year the company I currently work for, the Southern California Media Group [SCMG] partnered with KCRW and I was asked to come up with a brand campaign to feature on the KCRW website. Most of my design work with SCMG is limited to layouts and designing for information. This, however, was a chance to really think outside of the box about brand marketing and a call to action. It is what I love most about design…the challenge of the message and how every line, color and word conveys. The goal was to position WHERE as an authority to curated events in the local region. Using a play on the magazine title WHERE I created a bubble quote campaign but used strong imagery to tell a story. I wanted to give WHERE a voice and to position WHERE as if a friend telling an out-of-town guest where the locals go. This is just a small sampling of the messages that went live in 2013.

newsletter | thames discovery

Project | Newsletter Template
Client | Museum of London Archeology

This past month I had the great pleasure of working on a newsletter template for Courtney Nimura, PhD.  This project was a fun challenge that proved that there is power in the internet to connect people. Without a single spoken word, Courtney and I created a newsletter template that was flexible in meeting the needs of the Thames Discovery Programme and the hundreds of volunteers that support their mission.

event programs | g’day usa

Project | Gala Programs
Client | G’DAY USA

“G’DAY USA is an annual program designed to showcase Australian business, innovation, tourism and government policy in the United States – Australia’s closest ally and largest trade and investment partner.

The 2014 G’DAY USA program will be one of the most targeted, effective and far-reaching promotions to date. With 14 events already confirmed in six cities over 12 months in 2014 (Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Houston, Chicago and Washington DC) and more being planned around the US, the opportunity for sponsors to participate and create business and investment outcomes is unmatched.”

I had the great pleasure of working with Audrey Nimura, to create the custom programs for seven of G’Day USA’s prestigious scheduled events for this year. It was a fun endeavor that pushed me creatively. Though in past years the programs may have used stock illustrations or photography for the cover art, this year I was charged with the task and decided all art would be custom. Each of the designs took careful consideration of the tone for the event while also drawing inspiration from the technology, beauty, history and culture of Australia.