| Sayles Graphic Design Receives Sappi Grant (Again!)
Sayles Graphic Design was recently awarded nearly $12,000 by the Sappi Fine Paper North America’s “Ideas That Matter” competition to promote Wildwood Hills Ranch in central Iowa. The global competition finances the best creative communications proposals submitted by graphic design firms, advertising agencies or college design students who volunteer their time, energy and talent to partner with non-profit organizations in need of public education print campaigns. Wildwood Hills Ranch is a 400-acre camp that offers programs to low-income Midwestern children who have been abused or neglected. The goal of the camp is to provide life-changing programs and opportunities for these youths, ranging in age from 8 to 16 years old. The grant will help pay for brochures, photography and business materials to increase the overall awareness of the facility and encourage people to volunteer at the camp. This is the second time Sayles Graphic Design has received a Sappi grant. The first, in 2002, was used to develop a new corporate identity and marketing materials for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa. |
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Restaurant design with great taste! Sayles Graphic Design's distinct style can make any type of restaurant a visual feast for all the senses. With two new projects on tap and more cooking, our environment work is extensive and diverse. From a 1920s steakhouse to a sultry coffee bar to a neighborhood bistro, Sayles Graphic Design has what it takes to give your new locations great taste — rehab or all new. And we can handle whatever's on your menu: custom furniture, matchbooks, menus, staff uniforms, and more. If you're looking for a restaurant with a different flavor, pull up a chair and let us take a bite out of your marketing challenge. For a closer look at our work in restaurants, click here to view the 'Environments' section of our portfolio. |
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Sayles Graphic Design’s Retro Oasis! In 1999, John, Sheree, and staff spread out and settled into a “new” building at 3701 Beaver Avenue. The building that caught John and Sheree's eye? A stylish 1956 blonde brick with redwood trim and a flat roof that appealed to the partners' love of mid-century modern design. John spearheaded a painstaking restoration of the building, which included matching 40-year old white oak, re-paning frosted glass windows and doors, and adding unexpected design elements to complement the original building plan. John used fresh, sherbet-bright paint colors including pistachio, peach, lemon, and sky blue in addition to soft tones of oatmeal and grey. John and Sheree have filled the rooms with vintage desks, light fixtures, and furnishings. “Phase Two” of the renovation includes a landscape project that spans the 1000 square feet between the building and Beaver Avenue. If you're in the area, call (515) 279-2922 to arrange a tour! |
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| Look what the cat dragged in! Working in a small office certainly has its privileges. On a cold November evening in 2000, a tiny grey kitten found her way to Sayles Graphic Design’s front door, and the soft-hearted staff provided the skittish stray with a makeshift bed and a bowl of milk, rescuing her from what surely would have been a short existence in the bitter cold and traffic. It didn’t take long for her to feel at home in the vestibule, and now she has the run of the entire studio. As you might expect, Tikee now has her own logo and “office” of her own: a Danish-modern cradle that John discovered at an estate sale. Stop by and meet her… she loves visitors! |
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Coming soon to a city near you! If you've never heard John and Sheree give a presentation, you've missed out on one of today's most "dynamic duos" in graphic design. Whether discussing their firm's Art/Smart philosophy, how to stay personally and professionally inspired, or the importance of effective self-promotion, you'll enjoy their light-hearted banter and hard-hitting advice. Recent presentations have taken place in Reno, Baltimore, Chicago and Washington, D.C. Call us at (515) 279-2922 to find out if we'll be speaking in your area soon, or to arrange a presentation by John and Sheree. |
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Sayles Graphic Design proves that "Art Fights Back!" The artist in John came out in full force after September 11: he chose illustration as a way to express his feelings, and the result was an incredible collection of over 30 powerful and graphic images. John and Sheree knew the posters could have a purpose, and showed the oversized graphics to clients and vendors. The first thought was to plan a fund-raising effort, followed by a suggestion to share the posters with our community. From this enthusiasm "Art Fights Back" was born. The event came together with the assistance of over two dozen partners -- in its own way symbolic of American spirit. Over $15,000 has been raised to date for relief efforts, and there is more to come: one poster is included in the Society of Illustrators' "Prevailing Human Spirit" exhibition in New York City, and corporate and civic friends in other cities are also working to host "Art Fights Back." You can fight back, too -- visit artfightsback.org to view the posters and purchase reprints, as well as buy postcard sets and exhibition catalogs that feature the complete collection of posters. Remember all proceeds go to relief efforts!
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