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Client Work: The OASIS Institute

June 29, 2015/0 Comments/in Client Work /by Anna

I was pleased to partner with the team over at Blank Page Consulting to help their client, The OASIS Institute, on their 2014 Annual Report. I had designed their 2013 Annual Report as well, but this year was a bit more robust – in addition to a short print report, we also created a program overview for each of their programs. These overviews will also be used throughout the year to help promote or explain their programs to potential clients, donors or sponsors. Feel free to check out the pieces below!

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Client Work: Painting for Peace

June 10, 2015/0 Comments/in Client Work /by Anna

A few weeks ago I had the chance to work with the team over at Blank Page Consulting to help promote the book Painting for Peace in Ferguson. I was so happy for the opportunity to help, as it highlights some of the amazing artwork created in Ferguson last fall, and how that artwork was a step in beginning to heal.

The author was heading to New York for a couple events and needed a handout to use for sales purposes. There was a lot she wanted to communicate, not only the beauty of the artwork and book design, but also how it was being used in classrooms and in families to start conversations about some challenging topics, like race, and how when communities come together some powerful healing can take place. You can see the final design below!

Client Work: Pi Beta Phi

April 1, 2015/0 Comments/in Client Work /by Anna

It’s officially spring and I’m loving it. As I type this post I have the windows open and am enjoying fresh air and sunshine. It’s fantastic.

Back on a cold day in January, I went over and met with the team at Pi Beta Phi headquarters, which is, surprisingly, located in Town & Country, Missouri. Right in the middle of the St. Louis suburbs they’ve built themselves a sorority house! It’s such a surprise to see when you turn onto their street. I wasn’t just there to reminisce, although it did remind me of the big sorority houses from college. I was there to kick off a project with them – the next issue of their quarterly publication, The Arrow. This magazine is mailed out to chapters, current and alumni members, and the parents of current members. Topics tend to vary, but this particular issue was going to focus on philanthropy.

I love doing magazine design, so I was excited to be helping them out with their main feature. You can see the pages below.

Here’s what the client had to say as we finished the project: “Anna helped us with a feature layout for our quarterly magazine, The Arrow. Magazine design can be a very different beast and requires a talented designer to create a cohesive package. Anna was just that. She brought a fresh perspective to our publication and created a beautiful, professional layout. She understood our challenges going into the project and then came up with creative solutions to those challenges. Thank you, Anna!”

A few things that made winter awesome.

March 20, 2015/0 Comments/in Biz, Client Work, Just for fun /by Anna

Spring officially begins this evening at 5:45PM (Central Time). In honor of the last few hours of winter, here are a few things that made it pretty awesome.

Great projects with great clients like evolve24, Xtra Lease, Doe Run, DuPont, ZeaVision and Pi Beta Phi.
My nephew was born! And he’s cute. You can see him over on Instagram.
This potato soup. The best part is that you start with frozen potatoes, so no cutting and peeling. Perfect winter comfort food.
Celebrating 2 years since I adopted my goofy cat, Punx. He’s over on Instagram, too.
I turned 30! I’m choosing to be excited about a new decade, and not totally freak out about it… although I’d be lying to say I wasn’t a bit freaked out.
Celebrating 1 year since I left my full-time job. I’m so happy to be freelancing now. Get in touch if you need a designer to help you out!

Winter has been pretty fab, but I love spring and so I’m excited for its arrival! Walks to Starbucks, windows open in my house and car, getting out of boots and into sandals… I can’t wait. Happy Spring everyone!

Client Work: Newsletters

January 12, 2015/0 Comments/in Client Work /by Anna

Right before the holidays I wrapped up two newsletter projects. Both were the exact same format – a 4-page 8.5×11 size that folded down to 8.5×5.5 for mailing.

The first was for the Northeast Fire Protection District. This newsletter was sent out to community members in the NEFPD service area. The Chief was excited to share updates about the new firehouse they are planning to build, as well as other community programs.

The second was an internal employee newsletter for Doe Run. This newsletter highlighted their 150th Anniversary celebration and also had lots of information about health plans for the new year.

I really enjoying working on newsletters or publications like this, so I was happy to wrap up my year working on both these projects. Feel free to check out both newsletters below!

Client Work: Visualizing Big Data

January 7, 2015/2 Comments/in Client Work /by Anna

Did you know that more data has been produced in the past 2 years than in the entire rest of the history of mankind? It boggles the mind!

One client I work with regularly, evolve24, works to help companies make sense of the big media madness. Since their business is data, and incredibly complex data, they often find it challenging to find the right visuals to use on their website, in their client presentations, etc. One project I did with them toward the end of 2014 was a presentation deck focusing on their methodologies. In addition to the graphics, I also created templates for all company powerpoint presentations, including cover slide, section break slide, and a few variations of content slides. Here are a few of the slides and the graphics I created for them.

I really enjoyed working on this project with them! I really enjoy the creative challenge of trying to figure out how to create a visual interpretation of a complex topic. Maybe since I am a visual learner myself, I know the importance and impact of having graphics to help someone understand something. You can be offering clients the most amazing product in the world, but if they can’t understand what you’re offering, you’ll be way less likely to make those sales.

If any other businesses out there want some help creating impactful graphics to help promote their business this year, I’d love to help. Shoot me an email at anna@annakeith.com and let’s talk about how I can help you.

Small things in 2015

January 2, 2015/0 Comments/in Biz, Freebie or Printables, Just for fun /by Anna

It’s 2015! In the 90s, the idea of 2015 sounded so futuristic. But here we are, still driving cars, not flying spaceships, and living on Earth, not Mars.

As always, this time of year makes everyone both reflective on the past and eager to make resolutions for a better year to come. I’ve decided this year to not make too many big resolutions, but rather to make little ones. I found a Van Gogh quote that says “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together” and so that is my plan for 2015.

Feel free to download and use the following desktop wallpaper featuring that quote. And Happy 2015 to you!

Do I know it’s Christmastime at all?

December 12, 2014/0 Comments/in Freebie or Printables, Just for fun /by Anna

Christmas has absolutely crept up on me this year! I can’t believe that it’s less than 2 weeks away. My family likes to really go all out for the holidays, but for whatever reason, I’m just not feeling it this year. Maybe too many distractions? Whatever the reason, I put on some Christmas music today and made some Christmas goodies to hopefully get more in Christmas mode. Feel free to download, use and share!

First up, holiday gift tags. Some of these tags are inspired by rejected designs or edits of some Christmas card designs I did for a client this July.

Just some fun Christmas tags to use for your holiday gifts!

One year ago

November 19, 2014/0 Comments/in Biz, Just for fun /by Anna

It’s the Wednesday before Thanksgiving week. One year ago today, I realized I was probably going to be leaving my full-time job.

I spent over 4 years at Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis. The organization has a great mission. I started out as the Marketing and Communications Associate (aka marketing department of one). After 2 years, I presented my boss with a proposal to promote me to a management role and let me hire someone underneath me. I shared some of the goals I thought we could achieve with a team of two. She agreed.

There were lots of changes in the next two years – a new boss, a new employee (twice), new goals and new challenges.

The Monday of the week before Thanksgiving, my boss asked me to meet with her and the CEO. In that meeting, I was told budgets had passed, but that (surprise!) my employee’s position was being eliminated and my current position no longer existed, either. Apparently this was something that had been planned for months and other staff knew, but they were just telling me now. I was handed a new job description with a new title and a plethora of new fundraising responsibilities. They told me to schedule a meeting for the next day to tell my employee, and that I would meet with them again on Wednesday to ask questions I have about the new role.

I was pretty shocked.

Web updates and a Thanksgiving-ish wallpaper

November 10, 2014/0 Comments/in Client Work, Freebie or Printables /by Anna

You might notice a few differences around here at annakeith.com. I’m still finessing things a bit, but you can probably already tell that I’ve made some updates to the site and this blog section. So, I hope you like the new look and take a little peek around.

Meanwhile, I decided last week sometime that I wanted to make a fall wallpaper for my computer desktop. I wanted it to be kinda of Thanksgiving themed but not too literal… partly because I didn’t want to feel obligated to take it right down after the Thanksgiving holiday. As I was thinking about ideas I remembered this concept of finding joy in the everyday, and the idea of being joyful feels very similar to be thankful in my mind. Hence, the wallpaper below was created! Feel free to use on your desktop as well if you’d like.