CLIENT:
Kansas City Public Library
Kansas City Public Library
ROLES:
Design / Illustration / Art Direction / Copywriting / Production / Strategy / Program Management
Design / Illustration / Art Direction / Copywriting / Production / Strategy / Program Management
ABOUT:
Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, the 2019 theme of the Library’s annual all-ages Summer Reading Program, "Dare to Discover," featured books and activities with a space or science focus. The three-month initiative encourages both children and adults to read at least five books over the summer to earn a prize. Largely aimed at engaging youth while school is out, the program connects families to educational resources and opportunities; for adults, Summer Reading highlights the pleasure and reward of reading, whether for leisure or lifelong learning.Working with internal staff from the Library's Readers Services team and the Youth and Family department, I help develop and refine the yearly theme for the campaign. I’m responsible for managing much of the yearly promotions for the initiative, which includes crafting a communications plan for campaign rollout and developing marketing strategies and tactics. I oversee production of marketing materials, including a suite of print and digital materials, and I write much of the content.
For the 2019 program, I designed a suite of original illustrations to fit the space theme that were used in the booklet, bookmarks, signage, and digital graphics. The images were also used for the prizes that readers earn after completing their five books.
In addition to designing the materials and managing their production, I wrote the marketing copy and overview information for the promotional materials used in print and digital marketing. Here's the synopsis for the 2019 SRP:
Shoot for the Stars with the Library's 2019 Summer Reading Program
May 29, 2019
The Library’s 2019 Summer Reading Program celebrates the spirit of discovery that half a century ago inspired humanity to do what once seemed only possible in stories: travel beyond Earth’s atmosphere and journey among the stars. As this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, we invite readers to enjoy out- of-this-world books, events, and activities from the final frontier: your local library.Our theme, Dare to Discover, is a nod to our collective spacefaring legacy and ambitions to explore the unknown, but it’s also an invitation – and a challenge – to use the Library and its resources to learn, grow, and endeavor to know more about our world and how it works. Science is the pursuit of knowledge with the goal of giving us greater understanding; libraries provide open access to knowledge so that everyone may pursue it. Discovery happens daily in libraries.
The Library has highlighted a universe of stories appropriate for all reading levels: Kids and teens will cover supernovas and super novels, rockets and robots, cosmic classics and futuristic fiction. Adult readers will go beyond the celestial shelves to explore books that tackle all things science fact and fiction.
Whether your destination is a galaxy far, far away or a better understanding of earthbound issues, your learning adventure launches at the Library. Dare to Discover what awaits.
SUMMER READING: DARE TO DISCOVER - JUNE 1-JULY 31, 2019
YOUTH PROGRAM
The Library has put together a universe of stories for young readers of all sorts: Picture books, young adult fiction, graphic novels, and more. Plus, kids and teens who register for Summer Reading are eligible to have their existing fines and fees vaporized.
The Library has put together a universe of stories for young readers of all sorts: Picture books, young adult fiction, graphic novels, and more. Plus, kids and teens who register for Summer Reading are eligible to have their existing fines and fees vaporized.
ADULT PROGRAM
Adult readers won’t only explore celestial shelves; we’re also tackling all things science fact and fiction. Blast off with books about how our bodies work. Learn about the wonders of the natural world, from amoebas to zebras. Experiment with titles about today’s technology. Open your mind to out-there ideas and theories posed by scholars, artists, and dreamers.
Adult readers won’t only explore celestial shelves; we’re also tackling all things science fact and fiction. Blast off with books about how our bodies work. Learn about the wonders of the natural world, from amoebas to zebras. Experiment with titles about today’s technology. Open your mind to out-there ideas and theories posed by scholars, artists, and dreamers.
The year's theme of space offered an opportunity to include a playful visual reference to the 1902 French short film A Trip to the Moon, directed by Georges Méliès, considered among the first cinematic adaptations of a work of science fiction (Jules Verne's 1865 novel From the Earth to the Moon). I adopted the iconic image of the rocket ship hitting the "Man in the Moon" in the eye, giving it a bookish twist. The illustration served as the primary visual mark for the Summer Reading campaign, used on a variety of materials.
The Summer Reading pint glass has become a popular incentive for adult participants. I introduced the idea of commemorative Library glassware prizes in 2015, and the tradition has become something Library patrons look forward to each year. Many who finish their five books and earn a pint glass enjoy touting their achievements on social media, which helps further promote the Summer Reading program and provides community engagement.
