Whether you’re ready or not, 2022 has come to an end and with that, it’s impossible not to take a look back at all the wonderful things we have accomplished together. The ups and downs, the late nights full of great ideas and the early mornings facing new challenges. We reflect on the people we met, the goals we achieved, the resolutions we simply didn’t get around to, and the simple moments that made this year one of the best ones yet.
As I look back, I can’t help but feel filled with gratitude and joy for the wonderful people that have been put in my life. The exciting projects that we’ve accomplished together, and every second spent bringing inspired ideas into life.
Come with me as I take a look at some of the exciting projects that made this year successful.
Top Projects of 2022
- Loyal Health: This year I had the pleasure of working with Loyal Health on many exciting projects: These luxury dinner invitations for a Chicago-based event and these bobsledding event invitations for a conference at the Utah Olympic Park. Both projects were incredibly fun and allowed me to deliver an engaging invitation that offered an unmatched customer experience for the recipients.
- GAELO: This year I worked with GAELO on designing a new logo and developing a new brand for their organization. At the end of that project, we decided to take the new brand and apply it to a brand new website. This new website was designed from scratch so that the new branding could be expressed and promoted throughout the site. We greatly expanded the amount of information and resources on the new site and created pages for upcoming events and news articles. Take a look at the new site here.
- Paragon Digital: This project for the City of Keene Website redesign was executed along with the Paragon Digital team. It was a new challenge that not only aimed to serve our client, but also the city’s constituents who deserved an easy-to-navigate, accessible site.
- Integras Intelligence: Offering easily-digestible content for prospects and customers is a vital element of a successful marketing experience. This is why I was so excited when Integras Intelligence, a New York based investigation firm, had the great idea to create a collection of blog posts based on subject matter and present them in more of a booklet format. The end result was a great information piece that helps further Integras Intelligence’s position as a thought leader in their industry.
- Atlanta Lyric Theater: I’ve been working with the Atlanta Lyric Theater for many years. This year we worked together to create a more mobile-friendly site that supported easy navigation, landing pages for individual shows, and a focus on customer engagement to drive ticket sales. The result? A beautifully responsive site that’ll support many events to come.
- The Bodyhood: One of my favorite things about my job is playing a role in helping people bring their dreams to a reality. The Bodyhood is a wellness coworking space with members who offer services that include musculoskeletal alignment, visceral manipulation, scar work, chiropractic, physical therapy and much more. The idea was to give practitioners an easy and accessible way to have a physical location while sharing in the costs and eliminating the stress of keeping up with a physical property. Take a look at the website here!
Learn more about these, and many other projects I’ve worked on this year by visiting my site.
Top Trends
One of my favorite things about graphic design is its dynamic nature. The trends are always evolving, the rules are constantly changing, and there is always room to try what we once thought would never work. This year I explored many new trends. Here are the few that stood out.
- Unified branding: If it wasn’t clear in previous years, 2022 only reinforced the idea that creating a quick logo in Microsoft Word simply won’t cut it. Today, consumers expect companies to put as much thought into their branding as they do into their product or service. Whether you’re a brand new company or an old one, or your focus is B2B versus B2C, having clearly defined logos, brand colors, email banners, social media graphics, and marketing assets is a must — simply because your ideal customer expects it.
- Responsiveness: The importance of having a user-friendly, responsive website is not just a trend, but a must for any company that wants to reach their ideal customer online. Whether it’s new content, more engaging graphics, a new blog section, or mobile friendliness, your brand’s online presence can no longer be neglected. If you haven’t updated your website since 2012, it’s time to call me!
- Storytelling: Graphic design is about more than just images, it’s a tool to help tell your brand’s story visually. The colors you use, the videos you create, and the images you select to present to the public share who you are just as much as the content you create. This year we have seen brands create unique stories that support their narrative. This results in more engaged customers that not only believe in what you’re selling — but they also believe in you.
- There are no rules: Graphic design is a space for creativity and trial and error. The colors we once thought would never work together are now becoming staples. The textures that seemed busy and annoying are now part of maximalism, and what once felt like would be too bold, is seen as just enough. We are always testing boundaries and opening the path for more creative liberties that result in unique designs that captivate the end user.
What To Look For in 2023
This year has been nothing short of exciting, but I can’t wait to see what 2023 has in store for the industry. I’m fully expecting to see more color, more playful figures, a constant juxtaposition between minimalism and maximalism — all while keeping the end user in mind.
Let’s Work Together
To all of those who trusted me to bring their designs to reality: Thank you! Using graphic design as a tool to help businesses succeed is pure magic, and I can’t wait to keep bringing this magic into other people’s lives.
Have an exciting new project you’d like to get started on? Or do you have an idea you’re having trouble executing? I’d love to help!
