Michael Gallen Campaign
- Michael Gallen CampaignContract Graphic Designer (2010)
- In 2010, the Democratic party was incurring midterm losses across the country and local candidates were feeling the heat too. Competing in traditional Republican territory, Michael Gallen was a Democrat and a political newcomer who was courageously challenging a system of corruption in the county he grew up in.
I used my education in politics and background in design to help the Florida teacher defeat a 16-year incumbent, despite being heavily outspent by corporate backers. With every campaign piece being a crucial opportunity to win votes, each design decision was crucial step in what was ultimately an impressively successful campaign. 
This first mailer introduced Michael to many of his constituents. While adhering to a slew of legally-required information, this first image needed to convey the candidate's qualities: friendliness, local familiarity, and youthful passion. This was done using an image of the candidate at a locally known promenade during pleasant weather. Additionally, the choice of typographic style were inspired by the recent Obama campaign and aimed to build on that campaign's success with young voters.
The reverse side of the above mailer, introduce voters to Michael's family and his core values as a candidate. Up against a 16-year incumbent, it was important highlight the context in which Michael was competing.
Later mailers like this one, went further into detail with an address from the candidate himself and pictures of him engaging with members of the community.
The reverse side to the above mailer added pictures to provide further narrative to this political newcomer. To reach voters even more quickly a checklist of values was created.
Description
Using my education in politics and design, I helped a Florida teach defeat a 16-year incumbent despite being heavily outspent. With every campaign piece being a crucial opportunity to win votes, every design decision needed to be a guaranteed win.
Fields
Editorial Design, Graphic Design, Marketing
Date
2011
Other Projects
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Touching A Nonprofit's Heart
Having worked with a number of non-profits through undergraduate school, I felt that administrators and directors for community service groups were the unsung heroes. I wanted to create a video that let them know just how important their work is and that even if the haze of the daily 9-to-5 becomes tiring, they’re making it possible for amazing things to happen.
2012
Graphic Design, Motion Graphics, Product Design
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2012
Editorial Design, Journalism, Print Design
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Charlie Chaplin Chair
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2012
Calligraphy, Crafts, Furniture Design
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Labor Rights Glove
When we ban groups from participating in the economy, we hurt ourselves. When we discriminate and abuse individuals, we trap ourselves in a weaker, less prosperous economy.
2012
Costume Design, Crafts, Fashion
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How to Use An Elevator
For this assignment, I had to describe how to use an elevator without using any words. Having long-admired, but rarely attempted, collage style artwork, I decided to take an off-road journey in describing elevator usage. This scrolling iPad app takes audiences through my MFA program introducing them to the following instructors as floors of a fictional SVA building (in order of appearance): Scott Dadich and Wyatt Mitchell (Condè Nast), Stefan Sagmeister, Gail Anderson, Kevin O’Callaghan, Scott Stowell, Milton Glaser, and the founders of the program: Steven Heller and Lita Talarico.
2012
Animation, Digital Art, Interaction Design
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Little Book of Wisdom
Gail Anderson, a former designer for Rolling Stone, gave us a challenge with hundreds of wood type letters. We were tasked with writing out five quotes about graphic design from five different graphic designers placing each letter individually.
The work was tedious, but ultimately lots of fun. Learning to build type by the letter, instead of just typing with a selected font, forces you to think about typography is a very different way. 2011 Design, Graphic Design, Typography -
La Industria
In my classes at SVA, Milton Glaser had us envision and design a restaurant for the New York area. We needed to find a location, develop an identity, and craft a well-researched menu in the span of a week.
In the last few years, Brooklyn has seen a dramatic rise in beer halls and microbreweries. This resurgence of beer aficionados has opened a new market. After some research, I discovered that my own neighborhood of Bushwick was once a great hub for beer breweries. Capitalizing on the newfound popularity of craft beers, I designed a restaurant that could embrace the roots of the neighborhood while providing an exciting place to eat and drink. The beer hall aspects are blended with a taqueria which can provide food that is culturally relevant to the surrounding hispanic demographic and at an appropriate price point for area's average income. 2011 Branding, Graphic Design, Entrepreneurship -
The Bitter Sweet Summer Tour
Moving away from Tampa to start on my MFA in Design at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, I decided to go out with a bang. I designed some fun invitations, glasses, and menus based around a party that was both bitter and sweet.
Even the beers were selected to reflect a transition from both sweet to bitter flavors, while geographically moving from local Florida beers to distant New York brews. 2011 Graphic Design, Motion Graphics, Branding -
Graphic Design History
About to enter graduate school at the School of Visual Arts, I decided I needed to brush up on my graphic design history. I figured if writing information helps you memorize, then designing a poster out of information must make you a master... here's hoping.
2011
Graphic Design, Typography
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Use Your Powers for Good
The Use Your Powers for Good Project encourages talented creatives to make something that expresses something no one around them seems to be especially interested in. If it is something that promotes the civic good, that's even better.
2011
Graphic Design, Illustration
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AchieveGlobal
Designing professional training multimedia, including graphic design, interactive design, web design, and video production. Pushing several research and redesign intiatives aimed at increasing revenue through more effective visuals in content.
2011
Graphic Design, Motion Graphics, Multimedia
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Holiday Cards 2010
Created several designs for a corporate holiday card delivered by AchieveGlobal. Also created an eCard version for virtual delivery.
2011
Copywriting, Graphic Design, Motion Graphics
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FYI Online Learning
Designed multimedia for one of the first online high schools with University of Miami. Also, trained company designers on tools and methodology behind information design research. Pioneered social learning using games, video, and wikis across the web.
2011
Web Design, Graphic Design, Consulting
