Introducing the fascinating realm of generative AI to my team has been an exciting journey. By organizing a workshops series, I’ve been able to not only educate myself but also infuse a dose of creativity and fun into the learning process.

Comedy Improv with Adobe’s Firefly

To kick off the series, I took a unique approach by blending education with entertainment. Our first workshop was styled after the comedy improv show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” The spotlight was on Adobe’s Firefly, as we explored its capabilities in a lighthearted and engaging manner. This format helped break down complex concepts in a relatable way, ensuring everyone had a great time while getting acquainted with generative AI.

The AI Battle – Midjourney vs. Stable Diffusion

Our second workshop added a competitive twist. It was a head-to-head AI battle, where I—using Stable Diffusion—squared off against another presenter using Midjourney. Each round presented us with a prompt to generate from, and our team members voted on whose AI creation reigned supreme. This approach injected some friendly rivalry into the learning process and showcased the diverse outcomes possible through generative AI tools.

Wordsmiths Unleashed – Dive into ChatGPT

Recognizing the importance of catering to various team roles, our third workshop was tailor-made for our copywriters. I invited a seasoned writer to help present on the inner workings of ChatGPT, shedding light on how interprets text and generates responses. To put theory into practice, we crafted a choose-your-own-adventure story using ChatGPT, exploring its capabilities for creative content generation. The story became engaging enough that the adventure continued through the end of the day in Slack.

Conclusion

The End of HumAnIty series proved to be a fun and engaging approach to introduce generative AI to our team. From improv-style image creation to AI battles and creative writing, each session has showcased the endless possibilities that AI offers. By blending education, creativity, and camaraderie, we’re not only expanding our knowledge but also fostering a culture of innovation and exploration within our team.

Overview

Impressed with the website redesign, Bethany Church sought my assistance in designing materials for their Vacation Bible School (VBS), titled “Mission Possible” which focused on the Armor of God concept utilizing a military theme. The challenge lay in incorporating camo patterns while maintaining a visually impactful design.

Logo, T-Shirts, Flyers, and Passport Design

I began by designing a distinctive logo which captured the spirit of the military and armor themes and would resonate with both children and adults. I then created T-shirts, advertising, and a playful passport for the kids to collect stamps after each lesson. The use of bold color choices and strong typography allowed these materials to stand out from the camo patterns, ensuring maximum visual impact.

Success and Positive Reception

The final designs for the VBS were a hit, resulting in so many sign-ups it set a new record for attendance. The incorporation of engaging visuals, thoughtful thematic elements, and cohesive branding created an immersive experience that brought the theme to life. The kids loved the passport concept, which added an interactive and memorable element to their VBS journey.

Overview

Earlier this year I undertook a website redesign project for Bethany, a local church. They needed a complete transformation to their dated website, which lacked a cohesive look and structure.

Design Concept and Color Palette

The original website lacked human elements and mostly utilized black and white colors. To breathe new life into the design, I selected a color palette inspired by the hues present in Bethany Church’s sanctuary. These warm and inviting colors became the foundation for the revamped website, evoking a sense of warmth, community, and spirituality.

Incorporating Human Elements

Understanding the importance of showcasing the church’s congregation, I scoured the church’s social media posts to find pictures of people actively participating in church activities. By incorporating these images into the website design, I created a visual narrative that captured the essence of Bethany Church’s vibrant community and fostered a stronger sense of connection.

Intuitive Layout and Enhanced User Experience

Recognizing the need for a more intuitive and user-friendly layout, I reorganized the website’s structure, ensuring that information was easily accessible and logically presented. Bethany’s leadership emphasized the need for something stylish yet simple to accommodate everyone in their congregation. Through thoughtful organization and clear navigation, I aimed to enhance the user experience, enabling visitors to quickly find relevant information and engage with the church’s offerings.

Outreach Social Cards

While designing the website I learned about their latest outreach project. They were trying to raise money to build an orphanage in Nepal. So, I created some social cards for their members to share on their social media to raise awareness.

Overview

I had the privilege of designing display and social media ads for Morningstar MIERS (Morningstar Institutional Equity Research Services). The objective was to grab the attention of potential users and communicate the benefits of MIERS reports. The ads needed to showcase the service’s comprehensive financial data and insights.

Design Approach

I focused on incorporating visually striking imagery that showcased the report topic or benefits of the financial information provided by MIERS. Maintaining brand consistency was crucial, and I integrated PitchBook’s visual identity into a unique layout setting MIERS apart.

Animated Ads

In addition to static ads, I also had the opportunity to design animated ads. Through the use of animation, I was able to create more dynamic and engaging ads.

Conclusion

Designing display and social media ads for Morningstar MIERS was an exciting project that allowed me to show my versitility to showcase the service’s comprehensive financial data and insights.

Overview

SXSW hosts a pitch competition every year which showcases innovative new technology to a panel of industry experts, high-profile media professionals, venture capital investors, and angel investors. And every year, they team with PitchBook to release a PDF report showcasing industry trends and highlighting standouts in the competition. SXSW is an event known for its dynamic and ever-evolving branding, designing a report for them presented an exciting yet challenging opportunity.

Embracing the SXSW Brand

Knowing that SXSW rebrands every year and embraces bold colors and eye-catching patterns, I aimed to ensure that the PitchBook Report reflected the event’s unique identity. By immersing myself in the guidelines and studying previous branding iterations, I gained insights into the key elements that defined the SXSW brand and incorporated them into my approach.

Integrating Personality and Interactivity

I wanted to incorporate as much of their brand’s personality into the report as I could so I added an interactive table of contents and mouseover highlights on hyperlinks throughout the report.

Creative Touches and Visual Appeal

Understanding the importance of visual appeal, I employed the brand’s vibrant colors and patterns to signify specific topics of interest. Also, by incorporating custom icons into the Industry Categories section, I aimed to captivate readers’ attention and evoke a sense of excitement and innovation.

Overview

Every year, Pitchbook updates their “Black Founders and Investors You Should Know” blog post, and after their rebrand in 2022 I was asked if I would like to take on the latest update. Always eager for a challenge I was happy to take this on.

Content and Visual Updates

I was privileged to get to work with Kelly Knickerbocker to ensure that the blog post’s content was current and reflective of the latest information and insights in the industry. Additionally, I aligned the visuals with PitchBook’s new brand guidelines, incorporating a cohesive and modern aesthetic.

Code Optimization

To improve the performance and maintainability of the blog post, I brought the HTML and CSS code up to date with current best practices. This optimization also included implementing responsive design principles, allowing for a seamless experience across various devices and screen sizes.

Featured Image and Social Media Carousels

I also created the hero image and designed carousels for social media featuring standouts from the blog post, allowing for effective promotion and increasing its reach among the target audience.

Improved Navigation

Recognizing the length of the blog post, I implemented jump links that enable users to easily navigate to specific sections of interest. Additionally, I included a back-to-top button for convenient scrolling.

Overview

At PitchBook, I had the opportunity to create a visually engaging logo and email template for the weekly Bacon Bits Newsletter, a valuable sales enablement tool that focuses on key product features to assist our sales and customer success teams in closing deals.

Brand Alignment

We ensured brand consistency throughout the design process, integrating PitchBook’s visual identity and guidelines. This helped strengthen the connection between the Bacon Bits Newsletter and our overall brand experience.

Engaging Logo

To play on the words “Bacon Bits” and convey a sense of familiarity and recognition for the weekly newsletter, I explored various design possibilities for the logo. In the end, we settled on strips of bacon as bacon bits isn’t as iconic visually.

Reference to Previous Bacon Bits Content

Incorporating insights from the previous Bacon Bits content, I was able to optimize the template’s format, structure, and visual presentation.

Business Justification

The Bacon Bits Newsletter has been a proven channel for sales enablement, providing valuable updates on product roadmap, sales collateral, marketing campaigns, and industry trends. The new design aligns with our business goals, enhancing communication and supporting our sales teams.