Portfolio

University of Kansas Honors Program — 
A Case Study

When I began working with the University of Kansas Honors Program, one of the most prestigious honors programs in the country, one concern dwarfed all others: the program needed a distinct and instantly recognizable brand, while remaining visually a part of the University’s brand. 

No small challenge. 

I have frequently said that working with the KU Honors Program was, fittingly, quite an educational experience. 

The program needed its own brand; however, it had to abide by the branding standards of the University. I created the first elements of their new brand to find that every element had to be approved by the University’s marketing department. I then found that almost everything I had done up to that point was rejected. 

I have worked in design long enough to understand a seeming paradoxical truth: creation flourishes under constraints. 

Working with the marketing department, we finally arrived at a brand expression that satisfied all parties. 

The work presented here embodies the finalized brand design language I created for the program: gorgeous photography from the University’s marketing department takes center stage, accented by slanting bars of increasing transparency (a riff on another University design element), and the program’s name type treatment. I employed KU’s official color palette of rich dark blue, crimson red, and vibrant yellow. The program’s motto “sic itur ad astra,” “thus one journeys to the stars” received a type treatment that became a staple of the design language. The program’s official seal made a beautiful watermark to create depth.

KU Honors 2-Pocket Folder

For the University of Kansas Honors Program, one of the most critical printed projects they produce is the Freshmen Orientation Packet. This folder, designed to contain the various elements of the packet, embodies the finalized brand design language I created for the program: gorgeous photography from the University’s marketing department takes center stage, accented by slanting bars of increasing transparency (a riff on another University design element), and the program’s name type treatment.  I have frequently said that working with the University of Kansas Honors Program was, fittingly, quite an educational experience.  The program needed its own brand; however, it had to abide by the branding standards of the University. I created the first elements of their new brand to find that every element had to be approved by the University’s marketing department. I then found that almost everything I had done up to that point was rejected.  I have worked in design long enough to understand a seeming paradoxical truth: creation flourishes under constraints.  Working with the marketing department, we finally arrived at brand expression that satisfied all parties.  I employed KU’s official color palette of rich dark blue, crimson red, and vibrant yellow. The program’s motto “sic itur

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KU Honors Development Half-Fold Brochure Front Cover

KU Honors Development Brochure

Development and fundraising are vital functions of any university program. This piece announced a new funded faculty fellowship in the Honors Program and a donation matching promotion. Again, captivating photography takes pride of place, literally framed by the design language I developed for the program. The brochure was mailed to a list of donors for whom images of the KU campus would hold particular meaning and nostalgia. The center of the brochure immediately grabs attention with a dramatically beautiful photo of the university’s signature structure: the Campanile, a 120-foot-tall tower containing 53 bells, constructed as a monument to members of the KU community who gave their lives in World War II. For alumni, at freshman orientation, they walked through the tower to begin their time at KU. When they graduated, they walked through the tower one last time before heading to the stadium for the ceremony. This provided a powerfully nostalgic and persuasive background for the text, and an infographic explaining the challenge. If you look closely, the text area has the program’s official seal as a watermark in the lower right corner. The dramatically vivid interior gives way to a tranquil field of stars, a reference to the program’s

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KU Honors ELE Guide Front Cover

KU Honors ELE Guide

I have frequently said that working with the University of Kansas Honors Program was, fittingly, quite an educational experience.  The program needed its own brand; however, it had to abide by the branding standards of the university. I created the first elements of their new brand to find that every element had to be approved by the university’s marketing department. I then found that almost everything I had done up to that point was rejected.  I have worked in design long enough to understand a seeming paradoxical truth: creation flourishes under constraints.  Working with the marketing department, we finally arrived at brand expression that satisfied all parties.  The freshman orientation packet, of which this brochure is the centerpiece, was the first full application of the completed brand, utilizing the design language of the university but made unique to the Honors Program.  The Enhanced Learning Experience Guide served to introduce brand-new honors students to the heart of the program’s curriculum, which would define students’ journey at KU.  Gallery KU Honors ELE Guide Front Cover The Enhanced Learning Experiences Guide is the most important piece that new Honors students receive during orientation. ELEs are the lifeblood of the KU Honors Program. Honors

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KU Honors Fellows & Staff Guide Half-Fold Brochure Front Cover

KU Honors Faculty & Staff Guide

The freshmen orientation package for the University of Kansas Honors Program is one of the most important printed pieces the program produces. Students interact with the program’s brand for the first time. The packet has to succinctly and effectively provide new students with vital information for the week of their orientation and even into their four-year journey at KU.  This piece introduces new students to the university faculty who work closely with the program, and the staff that will assist them in the years to come.  One glance places this brochure immediately with the other elements of the packet. The design language is pronounced and uniform throughout all parts of the packet, including the folder in which it comes.  Gallery KU Honors Fellows & Staff Guide Half-Fold Brochure Front Cover Another element of the Honors Program’s orientation packet, this piece introduces new honors students to the faculty fellows who work with honors and the staff of the program. The brand design language continues here with the same elements: stunning photography, slanted bars of increasing transparency, and the “KU Honors” type treatment. The design is distinctive to the piece but a part of the harmonious whole of the program’s brand.

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KU Honors HonOread Newsletter Back Cover

KU Honors Newsletter

When I began working with the University of Kansas Honors Program, one of the most prestigious honors programs in the country, one concern dwarfed all others: the program needed a distinct and instantly recognizable brand, while remaining visually a part of the University’s brand.  No small challenge.  It was a learning experience for me, to be sure. One of the first projects I redesigned was their quarterly newsletter, arguably their most important piece as hundreds of alumni and donors received it.  I employed KU’s official color palette of rich dark blue, crimson red, and vibrant yellow. The program’s motto “sic itur ad astra,” “thus one journeys to the stars” received a type treatment that became a staple of the design language.  The name of the newsletter, “The HonOread,” is a portmanteau of “honor” and “Oread,” after Mt. Oread upon which the university was built.  This piece remains special to me as it marks a pivotal moment for the program as its new brand took shape.  Gallery KU Honors Honoread Newsletter Front Cover The HonOread quarterly newsletter is a primary means of communication between the Honors Program and their community of KU employees, parents, alumni, and donors. In this redesign, I

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KU Honors Orientation Schedule

KU Honors Orientation Schedule

This calendar was another element of the University of Kansas Honors Program freshmen orientation packet. This packet is, for most incoming honors students, their first interaction with the program’s brand.  This piece demonstrates the power of communicative layout and design, as well as the importance of bringing the brand design language into every touchpoint between the organization and its audience.  A simple calendar becomes dynamic and exciting to look at, while remaining effortless to read and understand.  Gallery KU Honors Orientation Schedule This single sheet, included in the orientation packet for incoming freshmen, continues the design language of the folder and other pieces, while clearly communicating dates and times of key events during orientation week.

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