Better Brochures for Boys (& Girls)

Better Brochures for Boys (& Girls)

by   |  November 25th, 2009
4:59 Workshops, Collaboration, News


 

 
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Yesterday we presented our design recommendations — the result of fifty-plus hours of work — to folks at the Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis. Gotta admit, I was a bit nervous going into the meeting with their staff and board. It was the first time for any of them to see what we had created. Truen Pence joined me for moral support (it was, after all, his fault we got into this).

Rewind three weeks to Nov. 6, when we kicked off a two-part 4:59 workshop to benefit the Boys and Girls Club. Seven of Corvallis’ most creative, kid-lovin’ designers showed up to volunteer that Friday night. With pizza in hand we spent the next couple hours attempting to sort out the mess on the table in front of us. The pile of brochures were intended to attract new kids to participate in the Club’s many programs and services like academics, sports, art, leadership programs… lots of good stuff.

Trouble was, other than size (8.5×11) and folding pattern (tri-fold) there was nothing consistent about them. Different fonts, different colors, all designed by different staff or volunteers over the years. And perhaps worse still, most weren’t very functional. It was impossible to know which programs applied to Johnny (age 7) versus Jenny (age 17) by the brochure covers.

What we ended up with, three weeks later, was a flexible new brochure system that will accommodate each of their diverse program types. The Club will continue to design and print the brochures in-house, but now they’ve got a shiny new InDesign template (complete with a few dozen paragraph styles) to keep them on track. Also, we created a toolbox of other design elements including program icons, tagline artwork and a new color palette.

Oh, and the Boys & Girls Club board and staff? Smiles all around.

Jeff Jimerson

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Reader comments (1)

 

I thought you said I was joining you because I could distract everyone with my good looks just incase it was needed? Either way, we are lucky that wasn’t necessary.


Truen | December 15, 2009
 


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