Since July 2023, I have proudly served as the Graphic Designer at Peru State College, where I have contributed to modernizing the institution's visual identity. Alongside designing, I take on the roles of photographer and videographer in our dynamic three-person marketing team. During my tenure, I played an integral part in the College's rebranding efforts, transitioning from a dated logo to a fresh, modern brand that reflects our forward-thinking vision.
One of the most important materials we create is the viewbook. Admissions counselors take this with them when they travel to meet potential students. It provides students with their first glimpse of Peru, so making first impressions is crucial.
The viewbooks from previous years all followed the same layout and design. For 2024, we wanted to revamp the look of the viewbook to reflect our new modern approach. I was assigned the task of creating a completely different design for our school. After working with our Admissions team on the content they would like to see in the book, I made the vision come to life.
We chose a horizontally formatted book to distinguish ourselves from our competitors. The theme and title were "Rooted in Success." We decided on a tree and leaf motif, as we are known as "The Campus of a Thousand Oaks." This provided an opportunity to highlight our unique identity in a way that has never been emphasized or utilized conceptually in any print material before.
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One of my most exciting experiences was seeing the billboards I designed in person. This moment held great significance as I reflected on my design career. I have always dreamed of having my designs showcased on a billboard, and I accomplished it with not just one, but two billboards.
One billboard was located in Rockport, MO. We decided to use the phrase "One Rate, Any State" to emphasize that the tuition remains the same regardless of the state you come from. The other was located in Valley, NE. For this one, we used the phrase "Our roots run deep," again utilizing the tree theme. This was the phrase I was given to work with and design around.
This poster was created for a campus event celebrating the connection of our water line to a neighboring town, marked by a "ribbon cutting" ceremony.
For the design, I aimed to create something unique and eye-catching. I illustrated a faucet with flowing water that cleverly spells out the word "Tap." To complement this bold centerpiece, I kept the lower portion of the design clean and minimal, ensuring a balanced and polished overall look.