Me In Sunny Carolina: April 2013

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Pretty Darn Quick (PDQ)

It's the name of the game: silk purse stuff...making something out of nothing...we need it yesterday...you get the picture. Here's a collection of items I've produced at Converse pretty darn quick. Although most communication products usually come with a PDQ deadline, I'm especially proud of these recent quickly produced projects.

The Converse Diversity Club held their 3rd annual Love-In, a day to celebrate acceptance at all levels. This year, they showed the film Bully and sponsored a campus discussion. They wanted to give all the students who came to the film a t-shirt. They decided this just before term break and needed the shirts produced in one week. I created the design in a morning, a positive play off the film's tenet "stand against bullying."

When Converse was advised to alter their affordability message, the admissions department wanted to get a financial guide in the hands of accepted students right away. I was asked to produce a brochure PDQ. The design I developed is half the size of our recruitment brochures (an effort to keep the branding and allow the piece to stand out from other communications but minimize the impression that the process is overwhelming). Because the brochure was produced in one day, I didn't have time to arrange a photo shoot. I bought a royalty free image and in order to make the image look uniquely Converse, I used Photoshop to place the Converse Viewbook on the desk in the image.

A College campus produces many events. Publicity for these events usually has to happen PDQ and at little to no cost. I produced this poster in less than an hour by using a purchased border graphic, photos from the speaker, and a Creative Commons photo of Susan Smith. The photo was a simple mug shot but it worked with the graphic subject matter. I also used a manipulated free typewriter font to reflect the news sensationalism of the subject.

Another PDQ is the 48-page reunion memory book (see older post from 3/25/13). I designed the book and cover in one day. While the body of the book was being proofed on the second day, I researched trivia and alumnae interviews to augment the book. Blurb books only take 7–10 days to print and ship...pretty darn close to magic.

References

I have known and worked for Cindy Faber Smith since 1998 when she, as the art director for Science magazine, commissioned me to do the cover art for the magazine. It was a bit of a surprise since my artwork is geared towards the children’s market. Typical of Cindy, she wanted to bring a different approach to that month’s cover of a rather dry, technical publication. What at first seemed to be a rather impossible assignment (a “hidden picture” type of piece, incorporating many diverse elements) turned out to be one of the most satisfying assignments I have had in my career. She contacted me again a couple of years later with another fresh approach to the cover art utilizing the red queen from Alice in Wonderland as the theme.

I was surprised, when a few years later, she contacted me as the new art director of Highlights. As a child I had a subscription to Highlights, so I had quite an affection for this magazine. Cindy has brought her many skills as a designer to give this 60+ year-old magazine a fresher, more updated look, while still keeping the trademark Highlights style.

Working with Cindy is always a pleasure. She is simply the best art director I have worked with in my 30-year career. She does not over direct and she allows the artist enough freedom to make them feel that they are adding something of their own selves to the illustrations. She is not heavy handed with her suggestions which produces a very positive collaboration.

Because Highlights hosts an annual party for their illustrators, I finally was able to meet Cindy in person. She is a delightful person, filled with humor, intelligence and warmth. I cannot sing her praises more boldly.

David Galchutt

Illustrator

I’ve known Cindy Smith for 25 years. Over the years, I’ve come to rely on her for her humor, earnestness, and enthusiasm in countless situations.

Aside from being an artist, she is a keen observer who thrives on the challenge of dissecting problems and always seems to find a creative solution. She also has the ability to guide others in solving problems that seem insurmountable. In many ways, I’ve become a better person through observing her at work, in our community, and at play.

I admire the way Cindy experiences life and am proud to count her among my closest and most trusted friends. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her for any job. I know she would embrace any challenge and undoubtly rise to any occasion.

Sincerely,
Dolores Motichka

“In the cynical world of illustration, I hold Cindy as a ray of light, a turning point in my hopes of a career in illustration. The über belief she had in my work encouraged me to chase after my dreams. My illustrations have now appeared in The New Yorker, for Major League Baseball, in hosts of magazines and children’s books.”

David Leonard