Welcome back! Below is my first blog post in a few years. I love talking about all things design, and while I’m not sure how long this return will last, feel free to explore a few other throwback posts as well. If I continue, I may eventually migrate to another blogging format—but until then, enjoy this go-round here.

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(This story is from 1997, with a recent full-circle moment)

I’ve been feeling a little nostalgic about undergrad design school lately, thanks in part to a hearty clean-up and finding my undergrad archives including this poster—I have kept a lot of my work; and of course a current obsession with Love Story…90s vibes are in.✨ 

In my senior year (Kutztown U. in PA) I took a capstone course that mirrored a freelance experience, designing for campus initiatives. Professor Emeritus John Landis’ classes were coveted… not only were they loads of fun because of his welcoming and witty banter, but you also knew you’d be challenged and end up with a solid portfolio piece.

I was selected to design a folded poster to be mailed to prospective students interested in the crafts major. Renowned fiber artist and Professor Emeritus Barbara Schulman dept. chair of the program at the time was my "client" for the course—I was nervous but she was also super-cool and inspiring throughout this experience.

It was memorable for several reasons: it was collaborative and tangible—my idea had students hand-create each part of the flag; and it was the first time I had the opportunity to use our newly learned PMS ink and paper knowledge. I spec’d a duotone with warm gray and black on an uncoated heavyweight stock, with a full-bleed matte varnish to boot (!)…I thought I was so cool to be able to select all these special extras.

But most importantly it has been a design thinking moment—I hadn’t seen this project for several years and finding it made me appreciate that even with this rapid evolution in technology, my personal inspiration has remained consistent, including my affinity with analog mediums.

It has been a great pleasure to remain in touch with John and Barbara over the years, recently seeing Barbara at a show opening in the Lehigh Valley. Our conversation brought me great joy, and a reminder to share these experiences—beyond storytelling about vintage processes—nostalgia is genuinely good for the soul!  -CG
(about the author Christina Galbiati)

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As a huge tennis fan I couldn't pass up the opportunity to create a submission for Wimbledon's poster call 2016. I have no idea how the entries will be valued, if the 'likes' will be a factor or not (check out my entry here, I believe you do need a talenthouse account to 'like' however)... Regardless, I am super-pleased with the outcome. It's hanging on my office wall and that's a win-win already, #designerperks I suppose. 
 
I worked up a few other concepts before choosing this direction but was late to the party, only seeing the call on their FB page late last week. So with finals, grading and a bunch of other things to accomplish, I am glad that I completed and submitted at least one design for the heck of it. (I hope to do a blog post at some point about thumbnailing and idea generation process, crowdsourcing, and design tips, stay tuned.)
 
A note on the maze: it's functioning, not decorative. I specifically designed it so it would be a viewer experience, carefully crafting only one path to 'greatness'. However, in my haste to submit I posted one earlier version to the talenthouse page with one blocked path; below is the correct version. The call states that the winner(s) could slightly modify the final submission if chosen, and obviously that would be my one tiny edit  of course it is a worldwide call, so there's a good chance the only place you'll see it is here. 

Overall, I believe the design would make a memorable poster keepsake for Wimbledon. Its modern, elevated aesthetic embodies exactly what this iconic tournament is, plus it's highly conceptual, what better way to graphically interpret 'pursuing greatness' by with the maze  experience. Not to mention a possible boost in sales, purchase multiples, one to keep and one to complete. I also have many additional ideas on other iconic tournament elements that could be maze-ivied, an entire series of poster and marketing elements to brand using this design. I'm excited about the possibility and remain cautiously optimistic. I know I'm getting way ahead of myself, but a woman can dream, right?... I don't envy those who must decide. Even if you don't have a Talenthouse account to 'like', make sure you click on the call link to view the entries from around the globe - some really awesome stuff! 
 
Game, set, match - enjoy!

-CG

 

(c) Christina Galbiati, 2016.  All rights reserved. 
 

On press, the 2012 Trexler Trust Annual Report....below, some spreads from this year's report. I have had the honor of designing the report the last several years, and each year we highlight the initiatives of some of the grantees. This year's theme focused on change, featuring historic photos of some of the prominent grantees and the results of the money distributed to their organizations. 
-CG

The Trexler Trust or is a philanthropic effort of General Trexler, "who died in 1933 leaving a residuary estate of approximately ten million dollars. His will directed that the residue should be help upon a perpetual trust, the income from which would benefit his wife during her lifetime and the citizens of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania after her death. At present, the value of the Trust's assets is approximately $100 million dollars. During the 75+ years of its operation, the Trust has aided the work of Lehigh County charities by providing them with over $100 million in funding including nearly $35 million to the City of Allentown for the 'improvement, extension and maintenance of all its parks.' General Trexler's generosity toward the citizens of Allentown and Lehigh County continues through his Trust."

Shown below is my handmade paper collage illustration shown at the "Art Takes Times Square" show in NYC on June 18th. Much thanks to Michelle Hunter, (http://twitter.com/artcoholic) for taking the picture. (Direct link to her photos: http://a.yfrog.com/img861/8692/dppf.jpg)

Show below is the full image, a 12" x 12" paper collage; subject/inspiration for the piece was  Monotype Imaging, s global font company. They provide "text imaging and graphical user interface solutions to consumer electronics devices." They also offer "font solutions to independent software vendors who develop applications and operating systems." 

Since they specialize in all things type, I decided to create a custom handmade illustration using their name, and also using as inspiration for the main type/image, the individual metal type characters that were used to set type on old-school letterpress printing machines (Vandercook/Linotype, etc). 
The background pattern was created via the xerography process; using their name in 11pt Goudy Type, and repeatedly copied using a photocopy machine. (Materials used: French Paper, Grape Jelly and Razzle Berry (28/70lb text), French Paper Construction, Steel Blue (28/70lb text), solid black toner ink.)

The result is a handmade paper collage illustration, which symbolizes the importance of tangible print media/type communication in today's digital dependent society.

-CG

(Original artwork is available for purchase; email: [email protected] with subject of email "Monotype" for pricing.)

Essence Fine Arts and Literary Magazine is a collaborative effort of Kutztown University students who share and express personal feelings, philosophies, and views through the artistic media of photography, illustration, life drawing, painting, fine metals, sculpture, crafts, poetry and short stories. The works contained within (this publication) are considered, by the Essence staff members, to be some fine examples of creative art and literary expression of Kutztown students.

In its 19th year, I was honored to partake in this legacy, and become  faculty design advisor for this 2012 issue. The project begins in the fall when the literary staff puts a call out for submissions; the design staff follows suit in the spring, seeking fine art submissions. After jurying, the design staff gets to work; creating a layout that supports their concept, while successfully integrating all of the art and literary works accepted. 

The result is a beautifully designed, 32-page publication; 3000 copies are printed and distributed throughout campus and the downtown area. Capping off the two-semester effort, is the finale, a launch party at Eckhaus Gallery.

Designers Rachel Hickey and Jenn Haskins crafted a statement that summarized their inspiration for this year's design: "The word. Essence as light captures the definition of essence as, the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something, especially something abstract, that determines its character. Light is the root of how we see, how we interpret, how we discover and most importantly how we experience life. The background photography is heavily influenced by the photographer Uta Barth. As our inspiration developed, we hoped to capture various environments that surround us by transforming them from the recognizable to the mere essence of the space."

I would like to take the time to acknowledge the hardworking 2012 staff: Senior Designers: Jenn Haskins, and Rachel Hickey for their wonderful concept and beautiful design; Co-Editor's: Philip Baily and Kyle Yadlosky; Secretary: Caitlin Romascavage; Treasurer and Junior Designer: Lenny Marchica; as well as Literary Advisor: Dr. Tony Bleach; and Professor Kate Clair  ( on sabbatical this semester, her role as design advisor for the past 18 years has made this organization a success).

The Essence staff expresses appreciation to all its contributors and readers for sharing in this student publication.

We invite everyone to attend the launch party at Eckhaus Gallery, 157 Main Street, Kutztown, tonight from 7-9pm. 

-CG

(above) poster design for launch party, designer: Lenny Marchica

(below) cover and interior spreads from the 32-page publication, designers: Jenn Haskins, Rachel Hickey

(left) Jason Rowles: Memorial Chamber, Pricetown, Pa. 2011, Oil;  Amy Patt: "What Occupies My Dreams" 

(right) Gillian Beck: Tacazze Sunbird, Watercolor; Olive Pegler: "When A Hearts Of No Use"

(below, left) Jacob McCauley, Nowhere In Kutztown; Katie Marrone, "The Box"

(below, right) Diana Balderson: Is That George Washington or Is It Your Grandmother?, Oil; Amanda Glenlast: "Not So Hopeless After All"

(below, left) Daniel Warnander: Untitled, Intaglio Etching; Devin Shingle: "Sunday"; (right) Amanda Quevedo, Identity, Photograph

(below, left) Daniel Green: Conflict, Linocut; Janna Adams: "The Trend"

(below, right) Katie Hosler: Reclining Nude, Acrylic & Oil; Caitlin Romascavage:"Exhale"