Kari Perry
Graphic Designer
Graphic Designer
When it comes to design I tailor each piece to its specific need. If it's an academic piece, I keep the design clean, straightforward and as attractive as possible. If it's a piece for prospective students (ie teenagers) I'll put more of a youthful spin on it. Regardless of the audience my goal is to have a hook, to make you look, to suck you in. I guess in a way I'm like the sideshow barker, standing on a box hollering for you to take a look. So, take a look...
I serve as creative director and designer of the William Jewell College alumni magazine Achieve. This is an example of a feature layout. When it comes to the magazine I try to give the designs a little more edge than a lot of the academic marketing pieces that make up the day to day work of a graphic designer for a college. For a more in-depth look at an issue of the alumni magazine please click here
The previous two images are an admission brochure inviting prospective students to a campus visit event. When designing admission pieces I try to keep an academic feel to the piece while maintaining an appeal to the teenage market.
When marketing for a college you not only do pieces geared for prospective students, but also for alumni. The two, preceding images are a brochure appeal targeting alumni who were student athletes or athletic fans. The Cardinal Club raises funds to support the various athletic programs at William Jewell College and allows alumni to designate where their financial support goes.
The "flagship" marketing piece is the academic viewbook. This is the college's chance to show off and really tout what we have to offer. As the institution's graphic designer I worked in conjunction with the admission office and our copywriter to create the piece that introduces Jewell to the world. To see a more in-depth version of the viewbook please click here
As a campus in the 21st Century, William Jewell strives to reduce their carbon footprint in every way possible. One way
has been to utilize "e-vites" or email invitations in lieu of printed invitations. Below are some examples of some "e-vites"
I created.
Higher education means a variety of events from student activities to alumni and the general public, there is always a need for invitations, be they "e-vite" or printed. The following is the hallmark event for Jewell each year called The Celebration of Achievement. This event recognizes alumni who have gone on to attain remarkable goals. Below are samples of some of the pieces that make up the marketing "family" for this event.
The theme was "Americana" so my inspiration was turn of the 20th Century bandstands, barber shop quartets and drugstore soda fountains. Above is the cover of the invitation.
It is part of the designer's job to make sure all pieces work together as a whole for the client. In this case I worked with event coordinators to make sure the pieces that would be placed on the table would create a pleasing aesthetic, in this case a shimmering, silver program and bright, red sponsor insert, on a royal blue tablecloth.
I have had the privilege of working with philanthropic organizations, such as The Harvest Ball Society of Kansas City, doing the pieces for their annual fundraiser, such as this invitation.
Product design/branding is also part of my job. The next few images are proposed branding ideas for a local
honey producer.
This was an opportunity to brand an event starting with the invitation mailing. It included invitation, response card and envelope designs. The organization wanted something "fun" but tasteful.
This is for a college homecoming event. The piece needed to appeal to alums of all ages, be engaging but also informative as it highlights the events of the weekend.
I do pieces for individuals too. This couple came to me wanting an illustrated wedding invitation that focused on venue, an apple orchard. We chose apple blossoms as the main focus. I illustrated a branch of apple blossoms (granted we made them white vs. pink to fit their color scheme) and we created an invitation that unfolded almost like a storybook. It included a detachable response postcard.
