November 2014

In collaboration with Kevin Ballon

These photographs document a typographic installation project.

The project brief instructed us to “create a site specific artwork that interprets and conveys a given quote while expressing our distinct viewpoint.” From a list of potential quotes, Oscar Wilde’s remark that “Life is too short to be taken seriously” stood out. 

We agreed with Oscar. Life is too short. This theme of time was influential in developing the project. Things shouldn’t be taken seriously. To promote a light hearted and whimsical approach to life, we wrote the quote on a giant three foot white balloon. It’s anchor; time. The balloon and the timer were stationed in the middle of a large path in Central Park.

It was important for us to engage the public with our project. We wanted people to reflect on what they take too seriously and use our installation as an outlet to let those troubles float away, literally.

The timer was set for one hour and the installation began.

February, 2015

A promotional video project with Hyperion Media, for the latest innovation in public relations technology: ROBIN8.

ROBIN8 makes reaching out to reporters and influencers effortless and effective. They are changing the face of PR with technology that’s been years in the making. Predict the success of every pitch you make to a reporter by knowing with confidence they will share your content. It’s simply intelligent.

August, 2014

This is a movie poster commissioned and designed for the film Valley Inn. Valley Inn is "the story of a big city Yankee who lose herself, and the small southern town that finds her."

Plot Outline

“Valley Inn” is the fish-out-of-water story of a Yankee college student who finds herself in a hot, dusty, dying small Southern town selling Christian books door to door for the summer. Emily’s travels take us from the book company’s New Jersey headquarters on the last frenzied day of “Sales Camp” (where the company’s questionable sales tactics and rhetoric are drilled into the heads of over-pumped college recruits eager for the huge summer commissions promised by the company) to the tiny rural towns of Northwest Arkansas and the highly entertaining local country music jamboree, the cattle auction yards of the “Sale Barn” and the biggest event of the year, “Rodeo of the Ozarks” where local hero, Gary Noble, a.k.a. “The Don Juan of Hindsville” will attempt to break his own bull riding record despite his advanced age, previous injury, and the probability of losing, forever, a chance to win the heart of his one true love. 

Through a series of misadventures in “The bookfield” that leave her stranded in a flooded, fish-filled car on a low-water bridge, chased by dogs, confronted by a shotgun wielding meth-head and finding unlikely romance with the local preacher’s son (who has a few secrets of his own), Emily’s growing friendships with the uniquely comical and completely endearing residents of Hindsville teaches her what it really means to follow your heart

Launched: January 2013

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Studio: Kindred Films, LLC

Awards: Chris Spencer: Emmy Award-Winning director

Starring: Jordan Scott, Joey Lauren Adams, David Lansbury, Colley Bailey, Natalie Canerday, Candyce Hinckle

Directed By: Kim Swink and Chris Spencer

Written By: Kim Swink

Screenplay By: Kim Swink and Nelsie Spencer

Produced By: Kim Swink and Samara Yeshaiek

May, 2014

This information design project entitled “Back to the Future” explores the nature of predictions and their predictors. Spanning the start of the 19th century to present day, this piece analyzes the timelines of 20 predictions from their conception to their outcome along with the lifespan of their predictors. Through the use of symbols, color and line, rapid visual comparisons can be made between each prediction and predictor.

This project is executed in two mediums; a card set and an interactive tool. The card set is created for the user to form an intimate and tactile relationship with the information and hone in on the details of each prediction and predictor. More specific knowledge is earned from handling and observing the cards such as a predictor’s nationality, the categorization of prediction as well as written background context of each. The interactive tool explores this information in a broader setting while utlizing the cards themselves. As well, it incorporates the ability to add a prediction to the map and existing card set. Here, timelines are visualized in a larger scale and clicking through different interactive cards and their elements allows for a different form of rapid comparison to take place. 

When were people making predictions? What types of predictions were being made? Who were the people making them? Are they creative visionaries, unfounded mystics, or statistical forecasters? Where are these people from? When in their life did they make these predictions?  How far in the future were these predictions being made? Which types of predictions are accurate? Which are upset? Through visual analysis spanning multiple mediums, “Back to the Future” aims to answer these questions.

May, 2014

This information design project entitled “Infected” explores communicable diseases; their primary characteristics and their frequency. The piece analyzes 40 contagious diseases and the number of cases of each reported in New York State throughout 2012. It provides a detailed look at the symptoms each disease carries, as well as their methods of prevention, transmission, diagnosis and treatment. The data comprising this project is derived from the source “ny.heath.gov.”

When conceptualizing this project it was important to provide both a broad and detailed picture of these diseases. Diseases affect individual people on an intimate case by case basis as well as larger communities through epidemics. As well, application was considered when first conceptualizing and designing the project. Many diseases are misdiagnosed throughout the health care system, so providing a tool for both doctors and patients to cross check symptoms, preventions and transmissions across a substantial amount of contagious diseases could aid accurate diagnosis and, later on, treatment. The project is able to serve as a comparative tool to analyze and cross-check multiple diseases by color codes, labeling and symbols.

This piece is executed in two mediums; a poster and an interactive website. The poster provides a broad view of these diseases, their reported cases in New York and their characteristics, most effectively conveying information through color and symbols. The interactive tool provides a more in depth, detailed and customizable experience in understanding the information.  

Through color, typography, symbols and structure “Infected” aims to visualize the types of diseases that are highly reported and what epidemics New York is facing, as well as the symptoms that are most common, the methods of diagnosis that eliminate which types diseases, ways to prevent most diseases, kinds of treatments to seek and transmissions to avoid. 

May, 2013

Adobe Design Achievement Awards Semifinalist: Motion Graphics Category.

"We Can Be Heroes" is a motion graphics short that captures the essence of the human spirt through a personal narrative on running. My father’s story centers around the idea of man conquering both physical and mental adversity and building a sense of communion with other runners, space and yourself. A runner starts something, steps in some dark spots along the way and comes out the other side stronger and filled with pride. Anyone can be their own hero and a hero to someone else.

The design centers around the theme of a circle. This represents the cyclical nature of running, repetition and oneness. Simple lines represent movement, balance and imbalance. The combination of the two throughout the piece aims to take you on this runner’s journey and illustrates it’s highs and lows.

Narration by: Tony Lardaro

September, 2013

Brief: Investigate a chosen typeface and create a poster that evokes and displays the characteristics of the typeface, its origins and implementations. 

When choosing a typeface for the Type Specimen project, I was immediately drawn to DIN. It’s rational, clean and geometric characteristics were something I wanted to explore in this piece. DIN is a German typeface that is used predominately for signage and wayfinding. My goal with this piece was to highlight the perfect geometry and balance in DIN’s letterforms as well as evoke feelings of movement, relating back to the typeface’s original purpose.