LaFleur Studios » Blog

A Singer, A School & And An Infamous Family : Recent Projects

mary — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:19:18 +0000

Freelance designers regularly entertain the challenge of juggling an extreme variety of creative projects. Here is a quick look at three projects that I’ve recently completed … contrasting the skillsets and insights needed to meet client creative demands – and also the knowledge required for quality print and successful web applications.

Vieve Rose logo. Vieve wanted a fresh but feminine logo to be used on her new CD, self-promotions, and show giveaways — like t-shirts and stickers.

USC Rossier School of Education. I worked with Rossier, through IngleDodd Publishing, to create a new name, masthead, and overall design for their biannual magazine.

KCET: Inventing LA promotions. I created the event promotion look for this new program that highlights the infamous Chandler family. The design incorporates the existing logo with graphic images linked to their historic Los Angeles Times newspaper history.

The Greed of Green

mary — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 23:34:48 +0000

It is unfortunate to read reports of greed and materialism, especially when it appears to be on our dime. It has been reported in The Nation, that International Paper has just received it’s first check for $71.6 million for a one-month period from the IRS for the use of ‘alternative fuels’ in processing it’s pulp. Have they been walloped by the economic crisis too? No, it appears that the paper industry has turned the original ‘green’ intentions of a tax credit into big ‘green’ profits – not only from the pay out but also from increased stock prices.

The process of using the ‘black liquor’ from separation of fibers has worked efficiently for the paper mills since the 1930s, but the addition of diesel fuel into the mixture qualifies for the mixed-fuel tax credit — even though it isn’t necessary. In fact, the paper mills proudly produce seventy-three percent of the energy they use without the addition of other fuels. This ‘blackhole’ of going green is paying off with big bucks for the top 10 paper companies to basically make paper. See the article and see the unapologetic response of IP’s vice president for global government relations — it’s terribly disheartening. Read the article ‘Pulp Nonfiction‘ by linking here.

A New Brand of Exotic Beasts

mary — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 04:31:07 +0000

The swirls that I mentioned earlier have finally gone live as part of the updated brand and site design for dvmteam.com. This financial service site for veterinarians wanted a redesign that followed an earlier concept using exotic animals. I created a brightly colored menagerie with a simple two-column layout that allows the right column banners to be visible at all times. The monotone creatures and the content stay clean and simple. Simple but rich textures in the header and the footer all contribute to a lively but pleasingly cheerful site.

Dickens. Huell. And Stalin.

mary — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 22:14:22 +0000

Relationships with freelance clients can easily last through only one or two projects but I just realized that I have been designing the front and back covers for KCET Magazine in Los Angeles since January, 2006 (41 covers). Beginning with a cover featuring Charles Dickens’ Bleak House, this successful run of monthly large format issues is a feat of perseverence for KCET, who are in constant funding battles to maintain a monthly printed publication for their members.

The covers can feature a local favorite like Huell Howser or highlight a prominent production like the May issue’s BBC co-production of ‘WWII Behind Closed Doors’, a three-part series about Stalin. Whether the source artwork is a paltry 72 dpi screen capture, a Frank Gehry scribble, or a beautiful image from the National Archives, the subject matter is always a surprise. Special recognition goes to Kathryn Diaz and Michael Fuller who have successfully kept the magazine alive and interesting. Also thanks to IngleDodd publishing who have helped produce the magazine for more than 20 years and keep me as a member of their creative team.

Thank Heaven for Little Swirls

mary — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 01:38:49 +0000

My first post is a simple shout out to the under appreciated designers of iStockphoto. I can turn to them in a snap for a vast range of vector images and photography — with a price tag that is phenomenal whether we are in a financial crisis, or not. When small business clients cannot afford much more than the costs of web programming and development, royalty-free imagery is an absolute godsend. I recently found the perfect swirls, dots and flourishes in the portfolio of Aleksandar Velasevic — they really made the difference in creating the design that I envisioned. Thanks Aleksandar!