Jason Duerr - Portland Oregon Graphic Design, Web Design » Art Direction

Columbia Forge Website & Identity

Jason — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 21:27:16 +0000

Through initial design explorations, it became apparent that the existing logomark for Columbia Forge and Machine Works would be a limiting factor in the creation of an improved design concept.

A company that’s been around as long as Columbia Forge and Machine Works deserves to be represented as such. The existing mark didn’t convey any of the experience and expertise that comes with time. The updated mark utilizes key imagery from the existing mark in a more polished and clean way. This pairs with more unique type that strengthens the overall look and lends a bit of heritage to the mark.

The design concept for the website incorporates the refined logo as part of a more unified identity with strong type and striking photography.

Kettle Chips Crunch-O-Meter

Jason — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 03:17:05 +0000

Kettle Foods wanted something to engage people at their tradeshow booth. Behold, the Crunch-O-Meter!

Built with a healthy dose of ActionScript 3 and Flash, the setup uses a large diaphragm microphone feeding into a small preamp, then into a computer running the Crunch-O-Meter application. The whole thing displays on a large tv monitor.

Allied Cardiac Imaging Identity

Jason — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:18:24 +0000

Allied Cardiac Imaging is a newly formed heart diagnostic and imaging facility in San Francisco. They’re a team of sonographers and physicians who saw a lot of substandard images being done by clinics that are just out to make a buck without concern for quality. Allied decided to do it right. More than marketing speak, they really do have the absolute best in technology and patient care.

Allied came to me wanting a simple, well-designed logo. The only requirement was that it include some manner of stylized heart.

The result strikes a balance between sturdy and classic and modern and friendly. The somewhat severe slab-serif type complements the softer corners and curves of the logo, while the logo has enough structure to not look out of place.

Lux Lucidus Identity

Jason — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:47:05 +0000

Lux Lucidus is the name of the visual wizardry created by San Francisco-based producer and VJ, Sean Siegler. He creates and mixes amazing projected video for DJ’s, live bands and events. He’s also a filmmaker and skilled designer, so I was flattered when I was asked to create a graphic identity for him.

Both the logo I created and the colors I chose are an attempt to capture and convey some of the visual excitement of his performances.

The logo is built up around a stylized orb that reads as both an eye and a crystal ball. The feel I was going for is mystical and psychedelic, but still cool and edgy.

Allianz Life Websites

Jason — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 23:33:46 +0000

Allianz needed to redesign and combine all of the public-facing websites for their North American business units.

The new look and feel is consistent – yet flexible – through the use of a modular grid system and tightly focused style guidelines. The result is a vast improvement in brand consistency and usability.

Production involved integration with both new and legacy .NET functionality and CMS while maintaining consistent builds across multiple staging, QA, production and failover environments.

I was initially contracted to redesign their public sites, but took on subsequent projects working in conjunction with the Allianz in-house team including Flash development for interstitial pieces and online video presentation, DVD interface design, and design of a comprehensive e-mail marketing system.

NSF International Website

Jason — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 10:55:43 +0000

NSF International has been the world leader in standards development, product certification, education, and risk-management for public health and safety for more than 60 years.

Minneapolis agency Olson+Co orchestrated a sweeping brand refresh and awareness campaigns.

I was contracted as lead designer on the project to consolidate NSF’s multiple and wildly inconsistent websites. A strong brand reinforcing design is carried through the entire site.

A Flash-based interactive CD–Safetytown–was produced as part of the same the same consumer awareness campaign.

I concepted, storyboarded, illustrated and worked with another developer to develop the functionality of the CD, parts of which have also been leveraged as web content.

A+J Invitations

Jason — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 19:36:09 +0000

Shortly before we moved to Portland my then fiancee and I had been engaged with no specific wedding date for quite a while. We weren’t avoiding anything, we’re just extraordinarily busy people sometimes.

When we had a date for moving, we realized we also had a deadline to get married with our friends and family around. A couple of weeks later, we were sending off these invitations.

I also built a small website with a custom RSVP application to help hurry that process along. I wasn’t sure how people would react, but it worked out great.

We had a very nice short ceremony and great party at the art gallery where we met for the first time. A simple hitch indeed.

HOTCOM Identity & Packaging

Jason — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 14:38:14 +0000

Hot Communication is a music production and licensing firm based in Minneapolis, MN. They needed an identity package that could translate well across multiple media.

Beginning with a clean, modern brandmark as a foundation, I created a flexible media package that can be used for distribution of both demo material and final deliverables.

CDs are blanks, screen printed for a more expensive look. Inserts can be modified with an overprint to suit the specific application.

Business cards printed on 14pt stock with two passes of matte varnish make a bold statement visually and have an sleek, refined feel in the hand.