Cute & Crochet Logo

So, even though I haven't been blogging much lately, it doesn't mean I haven't been working on fun projects! A few months back, Karen from Clare Bear Hats asked me to design a logo and etsy banner for her growing business. It was a great project to work on because all my inspiration was so darn cute. Check out her etsy shop for adorable children's hats and headbands. They're perfect for baby shower or birthday gifts! My favorites are the Chicago Bears and Owl hats.

Arabella On West: Business Cards

I also designed business cards for Emma and her husband from Arabella On West. They wanted a clean, modern design that provided all of the functional aspects of a traditional business card. We landed on a two-sided option that utilized part of the Australian map to pinpoint the hotel's exact location in Adelaide. Emma had the cards printed herself in Dubai. Love them!

South Australia

Australia has always been on my "wish list" of places to visit. I don't know a ton about the "outback", but I do know that it's a long flight from Chicago. I hope to get there one day! Arabella On West (I just designed their logo) is located in Adelaide, SA and is within a block from the beach. The boutique hotel is conveniently located 10-15 minutes from the Adelaide International Airport and city centre. Sounds like Adelaide is great for dining, outdoor markets, museums, parks, beaches, shopping and even golf. Here are a few snapshots from the hotel's grand opening - check out that pool! The hotel opened in 2011 and is currently taking reservations...

©2012 Photos courtesy of Arabella On West

Arabella On West: Logo Design

Almost two years ago now, Emma contacted me about a unique branding project for a boutique hotel she was opening in South Australia. She found Keg Design through a search on the web - I was thrilled and a bit amazed since she lived half way across the world! I jumped at the opportunity to work on the project and have really enjoyed the journey. Emma and her husband renovated the hotel property all the while living in Dubai. That takes some serious dedication and organization! It's funny, I'm just realizing that I've never actually spoken to Emma on the phone, but I do feel like I've gotten to know her over the last two years. She's a great client to work for and is a very talented & ambitious entrepreneur. It's been a privilege to be a part of the Arabella On West project. The final logo design (below), is being utilized in a number of ways, including on the hotel's website and property signage.

The theme Emma challenged me with was "contemporary middle eastern." I took inspiration from Arabic and Moroccan designs, while keeping a "South Beach" modern twist to everything. The hotel offers long term and short term accommodations. More details on the decor and ammenities soon. Here are a few of the "runner-up" designs that I explored for Arabella On West:

Garfield Conservatory Wedding Logo

Claudette commissioned me to design her wedding logo a few months ago. She is getting married at the Chicago Garfield Park Conservatory in September. Here are the three logo options I came up with. I had a lot of fun being inspired by the beautiful images of the conservatory, inside and out. Her bright wedding colors were great to work with too! Which one is your favorite?

Final Wedding Logo: Caroline & Tanner

Last week I shared some of Caroline & Tanner's first round of wedding designs... here's the final wedding logo they chose. It's a monogram of their first names and future surname (obviously starting with "I"). The logo is a representation of rustic elegance - a theme the couple is going for since they're getting married in the mountains of Northern Georgia. This logo will be used on all pieces of their wedding collateral and paper items. I love how versatile it is - it can be used on a variety of different backgrounds, and with numerous colors. Next up, their Save The Date...

Wedding Logo 1: Caroline & Tanner

I've been meaning to blog more about my work... I've been keeping busy lately, designing wedding logos, invitations and more. Caroline and Tanner approached me in early January about designing their full wedding paper suite. They will be getting married this August in Northern Georgia at the beautiful Brasstown Vally Resort & Spa. I was so excited to hear about their wedding plans and I can't wait to see how everything comes together! This first logo design was inspired by the beautiful "city & state" vintage postcards that are part of our American history. I wanted the logo to capitalize on the beautiful location and excite guests about the destination event. Using Photoshop, I made the photograph look like it was painted and incorporated the couple's chocolate brown/red/orange/green color palette. The Save The Date designs evoke the feeling of an old-world postcard while still having a modern touch. These designs almost made the cut, but ultimately the couple went with another look (which I love). Details coming soon!

Eating Soup with a Fork

As designers, we often go to bed at night hoping for some totally awesome assignment to come our way. So when Chris Rathje contacted me last year about designing the cover of his first book, Don't Be Afraid to Eat Soup with a Fork, I was thrilled. Chris and I went to high school together, and, as with most people these days, reconnected via Facebook. His book, composed of a collection of short stories, is very well written. It's about his journey to realize that any dream is possible, and touches on many inspirational moments. Below, are a few of the early cover explorations I designed for Chris. To see the final book design and learn more about the publication, go here.

EcoKnowledge Nexus

Logo development I did for a company that hosts and produces webinars for other companies. A webinar is an online seminar used for sharing knowledge and making connections with industry experts and peers. The color palette for this business logo is one of my favorites... lime and charcoal. The contrast between the two different fonts keeps the logo feeling balanced, while the circular mark has a futuristic edge. For more information on EcoKnowledge Nexus check out their website.

Green Works

Recent branding development I did for a Chicago based contracting company specializing in the installation and maintenance of vegetated green roofs. I think it's amazing that you can construct and grow gardens on the top of city buildings...I wish I had one above me! Check out Rooftop Green Works for more information and some really amazing photographs.

Wedding Invitation: Fall Floral + Custom Logo

Joanna came to me a few months ago looking for a wedding logo for her October nuptials. The above design is one of many that I created for the couple. Overall, they wanted a "fall" feeling, using oranges, greens and browns. They also wanted to incorporate a floral element from something that will be present on their wedding day. The above design is delicate and artsy (hand drawn by me), while still keeping things feeling fresh. As you can see from the above logos, font choice really does matter...a sans serif typeface keeps the logo feeling modern and a bit more informal, while a script face is more romantic and formal.

Save The Date: Christina & Dayne

Check out the new custom wedding logo and Save The Date design I just finished! Christina and Dayne are getting married in Chicago this fall, and wanted a design that reflected the Arts & Crafts period that is a huge part of Chicago's history, including many Frank Lloyd Wright homes.

Christina writes, My fiancé and I will be getting married at a loft space in Chicago this October and we hope to have an elegant, yet effortless and approachable event. For our invitations, we wanted to match the casual nature of our wedding and embody a feeling of "Chicago." So, we asked Keg Design to create an invitation design that captures the style of the Arts & Crafts period, which is highly prevalent in Chicago architecture and décor. With this inspiration in mind, Kelly did a fantastic job translating stained glass & ceramic tile motifs from this period into our invitation and save the date design. Ultimately, I think the end result achieves a very feminine, romantic feeling, while still remaining casual, understated, and masculine. And, to me as a Chicagoan, the design reminds me of home. Perfect!

Postcard Save The Date - Front

Postcard Save The Date - Back

(Please Note: Personal information has been changed to protect the identity of my client)

Brand Development: Molly Meyer LLC

Logo development for a "green roof" solutions and consulting company located in Chicago. Molly Meyer LLC advises design professionals and contractors on technical issues for building vegetated green roofs, offers installers a one-stop shop for green roof products, and guides do-it-yourself-ers through design, installation and maintenance. Molly, the founder and owner of Molly Meyer LLC, chose the top logo design as her final brand mark. For more on her company, go here.

My Business Cards

I wanted to share some photos of my "Keg Design" business cards. I had them printed a few months ago, using 1-color letterpress on heavy weight Crane's paper. I'm very happy with how they turned out! 

Go Team!

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Logo exploration for an Atlanta, GA Lacrosse team. Go Lax Dawgs!

Business Cards: Midwest Creative

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Full color, 2-sided business cards w/ rounded corners