A Mixed Night at the Addys

The Addy Awards are given out each year by chapters of the American Advertising Federation in recognition of the best examples of advertising and design submitted by local creatives to the yearly competition, and last night the Ann Arbor chapter had its annual awards gala. The gala theme this year was the hit TV show Mad Men, and awards were given out to attendees with the best early '60s attire. Unfortunately, my mom threw out my best sharkskin suit along with my treasured baseball cards back in 1965, and so I was shut out of the sartorial awards. Luckily, some of the sting was reduced by the Gold Addys given to the 2009 Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter issues of Findings, the UM School of Public health magazine that I art direct and design. The Spring/Summer issue was also chosen by the judges for the Best of Show award.

The creative direction of each issue is truly a happy collaborative endeavor with Findings editor Leslie Stainton and SPH Director of Communications Terri Mellow, with contributions from SPH writers Mary Beth Lewis and Laura Bailey. The wonderful work of photographer Peter Smith also plays a key role in each issue, and Marilyn Bealafeld and the rest of the folks at University Lithoprinters do a masterful job of putting it all together on press. They all rightfully deserve a share of the awards.

I also want to thank my good friend and fellow designer Mike Savitski for initially matching me up with Findings back in 2002 when I was working at Savitski Design, and for graciously letting me keep Findings as an account when I went out on my own in 2005. I'd be remiss if I also failed to note that Mike's wife Annemarie took home top Mad Men honors at the Addy gala for her glamorous early-60s look—she would have fit in seamlessly with the Kennedy clan at Hyannisport in 1962.

New work for a longtime project partner

O'Neal Construction is one of the oldest building construction firms in the area; their roster of projects is dotted with some of the most recognizable buildings in Ann Arbor, including the recently completed UM football indoor practice facility located on State Street next to Yost Arena. Officially designated the Al Glick Field House in recognition of the primary donor, this massive building is the largest facility of its kind in the country. 

The 4 x 9 brochure was printed by U Litho in Ann Arbor and features photography by Paul Bednarski and Peter Smith.I've worked with Joe O'Neal and O'Neal Construction since the mid-1990s when I began design work on the Downtown Ann Arbor Historical Street Exhibit Program, for which O'Neal Construction has been construction and installation manager. I've just completed a brochure (above) for initial use in an upcoming trade show, and it's anticipated that this piece will serve as a template for future brochures. More detailed information about O'Neal Construction is at http://www.onealconstruction.com/.

Photography on North Campus

Even though my father was a lifelong shutterbug, for some reason I never took up photography myself until I got my first digital camera—a 7mp Canon Powershot S70. I was instantly hooked on the immediacy of the results and the ability to frame an image using the LCD screen on the back of the camera. Eventually I decided I was going to have to take the plunge and acquire a DSLR in order to get an image stabilizing lens, a better flash, and the ability to use a wide-angle lens for architectural photos. In November I came across an offer I didn't want to refuse from Canon, and I purchased the 15mp EOS Rebel T1i with the 18-55mm kit lens with a telephoto lens essentially thrown in for free. The camera has more settings and modes than I will normally use, but suffice to say it's been a lot of fun to use so far. I'll be putting up a some new image galleries soon in the Photography section, and here are a couple of shots from among them.

North Campus Bell Tower

Capital and column in front of the Art & Architecture Building on North Campus.