826 Valencia tutoring programs run on the efforts generously donated by a network of volunteers. Twice a year, they celebrate the volunteers with the most hours by holding a celebration. This year was particularly special, because it is 826's 15th anniversary, so the volunteer team wanted the party to be themed around "looking back 15 years." 

I presented 4 options on how we could interpret this concept. Knowing that some of our volunteers ranged in ages and experiences, I decided that the most universal icon of the year 2002 was the Nokia "brick" phone. Along with the Volunteer Team, we created an event around the ideas of nostalgia, retro tech, parties, and bad hair. 

I created web invites, paper assets for the event, and a giveaway pin for all volunteers. 826 always likes to have ice-breaker games, so volunteers can get to know each other. I created the paper assets for these games as well. 

826 Valencia tutoring programs run on the efforts generously donated by a network of volunteers. Twice a year, they celebrate the volunteers with the most hours by holding a celebration. This year was particularly special, because it is 826's 15th anniversary, so the volunteer team wanted the party to be themed around "looking forward 15 years." 

I presented three options on how we could interpret this concept. The volunteer team liked the dreamy and hopeful quality of the telescope motif. As the guests receive the Save the Date, Invitation, and then see the welcome poster, they get closer to looking through the telescope and looking to space. The runner-up concept was a "space ship in a bottle," so I included that motif as a little detail throughout the event. Activities included a time capsule, People Bingo, letters of appreciation, and a future themed photo booth.

I created web invites, paper assets for the event, and a giveaway pin for all volunteers. 826 always likes to have ice-breaker games, so volunteers can get to know each other. I created the paper assets for these activities as well. 

826 Valencia has two locations in San Francisco where they host tutoring, workshops and field trips. In the front of each center is a whimsical storefront where children are welcome to explore, and adults can learn more about the programming 826 provides. The stores sell unique items from local artists, and all proceeds go to their programming.

Both stores are located near tourist centers of the city: the mission and the tenderloin. In order to get foot traffic into the store, the store manager asked me to create a postcard to bring to coffee shops and hotels in the area. We wanted it to be attention grabbing, and also serve as a somewhat functional map, so visitors could see how close they are to a store.

In the end, we were both very happy with the outcome. I love making maps of SF so it was a dream project.

Each year, The Pirate Store at 826 Valencia produces a letterpress holiday card to sell in the store. I worked with the buyer/store manager to create a card that was festive, non-denominational, and includes a little bit of The Pirate Store aesthetic. 

I presented four initial directions, pictured below. The Design Director and Store Manager preferred the direction with a pattern of pirate-themed icons that surround a central tagline. 

The finished card will be printed at the end of September 2017, so I will add a photo of the finished piece when it is complete. 

Look Closer is a biannual chapbook created by a program at 826 Valencia. The authors are elementary and middle schoolers in San Francisco who have written fictional and non-fictional short stories and poetry. The book is printed with both English and Spanish translations, as many of the students are bilingual. 

Unlike most of the 826 chapbooks, this book's cover is printed in color, and there are three color spot illustrations that introduce each section. I read the book, found a story that exemplified the title of the section, and illustrated a scene from it.  I created digital illustrations, and hand lettered the typography. 

The Writing & Publishing Apprenticeship is an after-school program that high-school-aged students can attend to advance their creative writing skills. These students are self-described writers, so the tone of the cover art had to be a little more sophisticated than other student writing chapbooks. 

The title of the book is Sidekick or Enemy?!, and I noticed that many of the stories were dealing with the insecurity of not knowing who someone is, or if they are on your side or not. One of the poems described a mockingbird imitating a car alarm, and not knowing who was making each sound. I thought that this image would make a great cover for the book, while still illustrating the question: "sidekick or enemy?"

Champions of Change is a group of writing of speculative fiction in which students have imagined the effects of climate change and written stories from the perspective of animals. Some of the stories are pretty heavy, so I wanted to convey the chaos and danger that the wildlife are subjected to in the writing. 

2017 is 826 Valencia's 15th anniversary, so the Design Director wanted to make some logo pins to give out at events all year. The pins had to be adult and kid appropriate, nautically themed, and highlight the anniversary logo.