Client: School of Art + Design, Ohio University
Deliverables: Notepad Cover Design
Year: 2024

This project involved designing a set of pocket-sized spiral notepads as souvenirs for the School of Art + Design at Ohio University. The goal was to create a functional keepsake that reflects the school’s unique character. I specifically chose to highlight the school’s connection to traditional printmaking through the Don Adleta Type Shop, which houses historic letterpress equipment and movable type in wood and metal.

I saw this as an opportunity to showcase the school’s typographic heritage. My creative strategy centered on incorporating authentic letterpress prints into the design. I hand-printed individual letters using the Type Shop’s vintage presses, then cut, photographed, and vectorized them for digital composition. The final design highlights the distinctive texture, variation, and personality of the printed type.

The composition is intentionally minimal to let the character of the letterforms speak for themselves, creating a design that feels both timeless and tactile, whether rendered in black and white or color. The notepads served as meaningful mementos for students, faculty, and visitors while celebrating the school’s history and hands-on approach to design education.