AIA INDIANAPOLIS

DREAM HOUSES

Dream Houses by People Who Dream Houses was the title of the 2005 AIA Indianapolis architectural home tour. We designed a whimsical, but sophisticated identity for maps, posters, tickets and ads to promote the event.

YEAR IN REVIEW

This publication serves as an annual report of sorts for the American Institute of Architects/Indianapolis chapter, and is a visual representation of a theme developed by that particular years’ president. These covers date back to 2001 and have frequently appeared in Print Magazine’s Regional Design Annual.

ARTS COUNCIL OF INDIANAPOLIS

CHAKIA BOOKER: MASS TRANSIT

Mass Transit is the title of artist Chakaia Booker’s first public art exhibition in Indianapolis. The title is also a nod to the recycled tires that Booker transforms into wondrous, organic-looking forms. Following on the heels of the Julian Opie: Signs exhibit, we were again asked to create a map/brochure for visitors and didactic signage to accompany the art.

GEORGE RICKEY: AN EVOLUTION

These materials were created on the occasion of George Rickey: An Evolution, a public art exhibit mounted by the Arts Council of Indianapolis and featuring the work of Indiana native George Rickey. The look of these pieces was meant to reflect Rickey’s clean, modernist sensibility and also act as a de facto visual identity for the exhibition.

JULIAN OPIE: SIGNS

Julian Opie: Signs was the second in a series of public art exhibitions mounted by the Arts Council of Indianapolis. Opie, a contemporary English artist, utilizes signs and other forms of media communication to convey his ideas. We adopted his color palate and general look for a map that served as an exhibition guide, and for didactic signage that assists viewers in better understanding Opie’s work.

PUBLIC ART INDIANAPOLIS

This publication celebrates the state of public art in Indianapolis by reflecting on its rich history. Contemporary photographers were asked to interpret existing works of public art, thereby producing new works that were used to illustrate this piece. Since the publication of this guide, Indianapolis has played host to notable public art exhibits by Tom Otterness, Julian Opie, Chakaia Booker and George Rickey.

BREBEUF JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL

BYLINES

Bylines is the alumni magazine for Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School. With content ranging from faculty profiles to student trips abroad, Bylines is a crucial tool for keeping school alumni informed of current activites and endeavors. We were fortunate to be able to develop an original design for the publication and have fine-tuned that design throughout the course of the issues shown here.

VIEWBOOK

This booklet/folder is what a prospective student receives when they request information from the Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School admissions department. The look of this piece was designed to visually depict Brebeuf’s positioning statement “Men and Women for Others.” It introduces a bright new concept for admissions and portrays the school as the vibrant and active place it is.

COMMERCIAL ARTISAN

COMMERCIAL ARTICLE 01

Commercial Article began as a self-promotion piece for our studio, but evolved into something else. Once we determined that we would use the publication to pay tribute to the lives and work of Indianapolis designers/illustrators Gene and Jackie Lacy, we found ourselves in the midst of a labor of love. The Lacy’s produced charming and dynamic work for nearly forty years, but were largely unknown outside of the city’s borders. This realization prompted us to begin a search for other Indiana designers who were similarly under-documented. We are particularly pleased that this small, regionally-based initiative has led others to pursue the concept of regional and personal design histories. The first Commercial Article was honored with the 2007 AIGA Origination Design Award of Excellence.

COMMERCIAL ARTICLE 02

Commercial Article the publication, is a bi-product of Commercial Artisan the studio. It is our small attempt to represent a history that might otherwise go undocumented and connect it to the larger graphic design world. Our interest in design history — particularly regional design history, has prompted us to take a look at figures in Indiana graphic design who have been overlooked or under-appreciated. The second issue is a profile of Fred Bower, a tenured professor in the visual communications program at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. In addition to his long academic career, Fred has pursued many individual design interests. Chief among them is the creation of the Morgan Museum of Cultural Phenomenon — a museum with no physical presence that exists as a creative outlet for a wide array of Fred’s personal projects.

SEAN DERRY

AN INTERLUDE TO STILLNESS

Artist Sean Derry has created his installation An Interlude to Stillness as a means to return some form of life to areas of New Orleans that remain blighted since Hurricane Katrina. This memento of the installation offers a glimpse of its content and like the locations it depicts, will erode and disappear when exposed to the elements.

GATEWAY FOR CANCER RESEARCH

THROUGH THEIR EYES

Through Their Eyes was the theme for this 2006 annual report. As a means to reinforce a direct connection to the stories of cancer survivors, life-size photos of faces were used to dramatic effect. Gateway (then called Cancer Treatment Research Foundation) is an organization dedicated to providing funding to initiatives that will lead to the eradication of cancer.

HERRON SCHOOL OF ART AND DESIGN

HERRON SCHOOL OF ART AND DESIGN COLLATERAL

These simple promotional materials were designed to be adaptable to any number of applications: prospective student information packets, press releases, inter-office communications. Images were used to depict the atmosphere of the school, while bold type treatments are screened back and only become apparent when their silver ink is hit by direct light.

HISTORIC LANDMARKS FOUNDATION OF INDIANA

EIGHTH WONDER PROGRAM AND INVITATION

Eighth Wonder was the title of an event that capped a massive ten year restoration of the West Baden Springs Hotel in West Baden, Indiana. The hotel and its grounds, originally constructed in 1902, are like something out of the Wizard of Oz. Centered around an enormous domed atrium, the hotel stood as the largest free-spanning dome in the world for many years. Legendary as a vacation spot for early twentieth century gangsters and movie stars, the structure had fallen into dangerous disrepair. We were asked to design an invitation and program for the event that would celebrate West Baden’s return to form as one of the world’s eight wonders. 

PARTNERS IN HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

HOME LESS

This is the annual report for Partners in Housing Development. We attempted to summarized the philosophy of the entire organization through a single graphic device. Lifting the half cover alters the cover headline from HOME LESS to HOME. This report was honored by the Potlatch Paper Company in their annual report design competition. 

VISUAL PROFESSIONAL

VISUAL PROFESSIONAL SHOW BOOKLET

This promotional booklet was designed for Visual Professional, the clothing company created by designer and artist Candace Lorimer. Lorimer, who screen prints fabrics with her own designs, creates original garments that are based on historical shapes and silhouettes. This piece was offered at buying shows and was intended to convey a sense of what the clothing was like without actually depicting that many of the garments.

WALTHER CANCER INSTITUTE

HOPE

The theme of Hope was emphasized by written and photographed profiles of cancer survivors in this annual report. Walther Cancer Institute is an organization that provides funding to universities in an effort to eradicate the disease. The message that is emphasized here is that Hope is a central component of any recovery. The look is intended to have a clean, warm, almost literary quality that conveys a sense of stability and ultimately hope.

INSPIRATION

In an approach similar to the Hope annual report, the design of the Inspiration annual utilized strong portrait photography and profiles of cancer survivors to convey Walther’s goal of advancing cancer research and eradicating the disease in our lifetime. The look of this report is meant to be earthy, but very modern, allowing the photography and clean typography to convey the impact of the message. 

INVEST IN SUCCESS

Invest in Success was the theme that was chosen for the Walther Cancer Institute’s four-year capital campaign. Opening with the Lance Armstrong quote “Many people are alive today because of the research by the Walther Cancer Institute,” this booklet sets the stage for the organization’s fundraising goals. Combining colorful diagrams and portraits of individuals that have benefitted from Walther’s assistance, this piece is the first step in their process of giving.

VISION / ACTION / DISCOVERY / TRANSFORMATION

This annual report sought to portray the chain of events and individuals that will lead to the eradication of cancer. The theme was introduced through a series of pictograms that were later reinforced with photographs of people in the Walther organization and those who benefit from the research it funds.

© 2011 Commercial Artisan