With a foundation in graphic design from production work at Chicago Internet, I went on to assume much greater design responsibilities at the National MS Society and Willow Springs.

One of the most “public” duties of the Willow Springs managing editor is producing the magazine. Using Adobe InDesign, I did the typesetting and layout for two issues (Willow Springs 67 and Willow Springs 68), and also designed the covers in Adobe Photoshop and InDesign. During my two years at Willow Springs, I also designed ads, a broadside, fliers, and a new template for the quarterly e-mail update. I am currently doing page layout for PANK, and I’m in the process of finishing an e-book project for Willow Springs which aims to sell electronic copies of current and back issues for the Kindle, iPad, Nook, and other e-readers.

I produced the widest array of design work, however, while at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society – Greater Illinois Chapter. The largest project was the redesign and implementation of a new chapter website in 2006. We launched the new site in conjunction with the first MS Awareness Week campaign and my own chapter-level branding initiative, “I Fight MS.” Before the national organization kicked off their own branding effort in 2007, I had integrated I Fight MS into communication vehicles for both the development and programs departments—designing folders, brochures, letterhead, t-shirts, logos, and more. With the unveiling of the “Join the Movement” brand in 2007, the website was easily updated via CSS and I immediately began implementing the new identity standards in designs for posters, newspaper inserts, postcards, banner ads, and other marketing materials.

Links
See an Internet Archive screengrab of msillinois.org in 2006

Read excerpts from Willow Springs 67 and Willow Springs 68