kentucky

Cynthiana Harrison County Public Library

Cynthiana, KY

Word gets around amongst Kentucky librarians! I have done print and web work for Muhlenberg County Public Libraries for years. Because of this, MCPL’s director recommended me to the staff at nearby Cynthiana’s library system. Cynthiana-Harrison County desperately needed a new library web design to replace their dated online presence.

Library web design colors and appearance in Kentucky

Cynthiana’s staff reached out to me with a long list of features to add, as well as content to update. Their existing site was nothing short of a relic. It had not been upgraded in years, and was not compatible with modern users’ phones and tablets. In short, the library web design needed a complete makeover to bring it up to date.

The first order of business was replacing the drab maroon and grey color scheme. I instead used a clean, bright pallet of blues and light greens. These colors lined up nicely with their new “tree and building blocks” themed logo design.

Features incorporated in new library web design

A pleasing, modern appearance is important, but if the site lacks important features, it is worthless. I worked closely with the staff to craft a site true to their slogan “Branching Out Into the Community”. From the top down, Cynthiana’s redesign is feature packed, both for tech savvy users and others who are not. Every important feature sitewide is easy to find from the home page. Whether customers are using tablets, phones, or their desktops, the site is fully responsive. 

Patrons can search the library catalog directly from the search box in the header. They may also drill down by choosing from categories in the site’s menu. The menu also outlines all of the many programs, services, and spaces the library offers. As the user scrolls down this library web design, the menu sticks to the top of the browser window and follows them.

A responsive slider sits beneath the menu. It highlights key content throughout the site with relevant images. I stress to my clients the importance of featuring real people engaging in their products and services. It was evident right away that Cynthiana’s library is a crucial community hub. The photos throughout the site reflect this so well.

Below the slider, three columns of widgets expand on what the library offers. The Announcements section lists excerpts of both library and community news. It links to the library’s blog for further information. In the middle, graphics link to online apps and services. The right column features a list of upcoming events. When users mouse over each listing, a graphic and excerpt pops up. They may click to register for each event and access more information.

Visit the site here.

Hire me to create your new library web design

Kentucky’s public libraries are important to both me and my family. I consider it a privilege to work with library staff to provide their ideal solutions. Does your system need print design or a perhaps a new library web design? Contact me today to get started.

Local Violence

Lexington, KY

I created this band sticker design for a new group based here in Lexington. Local Violence is a pop punk band that includes some friends from my local music scene. I have been designing band merch since 1999, so they reached out to me in order to help promote their band.

Band sticker design story

The band already used a fist icon in their initial branding. They wanted to somehow incorporate it in a parody of the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ iconic logo. I both cleaned up and recolored their existing fist art in red using Adobe Illustrator. Then, I added motion lines in red, so that it would mimic the Dodgers’ “flying baseball” image.

After that, I found a similar script font to replace the word Dodgers with “Violence” in blue. A few adjustments to the text made the font more authentic. Finally, the word “Local” tops off the design in a blue sans serif Varsity font. I spaced out the letters and also warped them with an arch effect. At last, the baseball parody sticker art was complete.

Local Violence loved the finished band sticker design. They took advantage of a special promotion with Stickermule to both print and die cut their stickers. This created a white stroke effect around the design. The precise outline of the shape really stands out amongst other standard square and circle shaped stickers.

Hire me to create your band sticker design

Is your new band just getting your feet wet with merch? Perhaps you have been in the game for awhile and you all just need a fresh new design. Contact me today to hire me for your new band sticker design!

The Dirty Delusions

Nashville, TN

Garage rockers The Dirty Delusions brought their stunning live show to Lexington on tour in October 2018. Their management tapped my band Sempervivi to open, and also employed me as the concert flyer designer. The event was close to both Halloween and Day of the the Dead. Therefore, I decided on a spooky theme for the 11×17″ poster.

Concert flyer designer for Nashville band

Let’s face it. Skulls are awesome. We all have one. They just look cool! Since Mexico’s Day of the Dead was just days away, I employed a stock photo of a woman in costume with a skull face paint design. Then, I added more roses around her to add more weight to the image. I simplified the photo to high contrast black and white and overlaid a scan of some crinkled paper. This gave it the appearance of a rough photocopy. Next, it was time to add information about the event. I rounded up each of the bands’ logos. Most of the time, I do not incorporate band logos, but thought doing so would help this design stand out. I “cut out” rough black rectangles as backgrounds to imitate patches with said logos. To complete the DIY punk rock feel, I set the rest of the text in a “label maker” style font on additional simulated cut outs. I then added sugar skull ornaments to help emphasize the date and location at the top. The QR code let anyone with a smartphone access the Facebook event to learn more and RSVP. Finally, the background incorporates a green to orange gradient to imitate vintage concert posters. I blended in a seamless black and white sugar skull pattern to complete the theme.

Hire me for your band’s concert flyer design

An eye catching poster makes a huge difference in audience perception. Do you want look more professional, as well as draw more fans to your shows? Of course you do! Contact me today.