President’s Holiday Card
CLIENT: Scott & Kelley Olson
President of Winona State University
This annual project is a competition to design the Winona State University holiday card that is sent out by the president and his wife, Scott and Kelley Olson. Each year we are presented with themes during the client brief that gives us some direction. The desired message this year was one of sustainability and resilience. This allowed me to highlight Winona State University’s new solar panels in a unique way. My design shows a progression toward the future while also magnifying the community on our campus.
The Animation
This holiday card was sent to colleagues and alumni. This year we were asked to focus on the sustainability within the campus and tie that in with the holiday season. The card was then translated into an animated version that was sent to the whole university for virtual viewing.
This project allowed me to see what taking the exploration process very seriously can do. I was given a large timeline to prepare for this project, so I decided to use it to my advantage instead of treating it like a future task. I gave it the thought and the attention it deserved because I wanted to create something fantastic for my client. Tight deadlines can sometimes produce the most honest work, but the extra time allows for even more trial and error that can lead to an even better solution.
I went through many brainstorming sessions and sheets of sketchbook paper exploring all the possible avenues. Because of this, I was able to find connections and ways to combine things that I viewed as complete opposites. If I had not played and let my brain run wild for a while, I would have landed on something like everyone else’s. My play, although it may be considered childish, is what set me apart from my competition in the end. Finding these little touches and elements that no one else can find is only accomplished through some serious play.
Serious Play