REPORT OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS 16-19
2016–19 Administration & Business Affairs
Reports of Accomplishments
Overview
Over three years, I had the privilege of designing the Administration & Business Affairs (ABA) Reports of Accomplishments, culminating in the 2018–19 edition. Each annual report presented unique challenges and opportunities, from crafting visually engaging solutions for text-heavy content to applying the University’s often limiting brand identity within the context of ABA’s mission.
My role evolved over this period—from executing designs for the first report, to mentoring a student designer and serving as an art director for the second, and finally delivering a refined and cohesive visual solution for the third. This progression not only reflects my growth as a designer but also my ability to lead, collaborate, and foster development in others.
Year 3: 2018–19
By the third year on this annual project, I felt confident in reimagining the visual approach. ABA’s mission focuses on behind-the-scenes operations that support students and the broader University, often without direct visual documentation of their efforts. To address this, I introduced a brighter, more minimalist design. Key elements of the design included:
Geometric Unification: A repeating geometric element was used consistently across spreads—from the cover to headers and subtle background textures—to create cohesion.
Campus Photography: Beauty shots of the campus provided visual interest and helped connect the audience to ABA’s contributions.
Brand Evolution: I used a lighter, fresher interpretation of the University’s brand palette, moving away from darker tones to give the report a distinctive look within the context of University collateral.
The result was a report that not only stood out from previous editions but also felt modern and approachable while respecting ABA’s mission.
Year 2: 2017–18
Designer: Laura Duarte, Art Direction: Jody Helm
The second year marked a significant shift in my role as I took on the challenge of mentoring a student employee. I deliberately chose this project to provide the student with a holistic design experience that extended beyond layout and visual design. I wanted to be able to have the student leave their internship with a pretty substantial portfolio piece. As this document lives and dies in InDesign, I don’t think she was all that happy with how robust a program it is at first but learned to love it in the end. Key mentorship highlights included:
Design & Branding: Collaboratively defining the style, structure, and tone of the report while ensuring alignment with ABA’s operational focus and the University’s brand standards.
Client Relationships: Guiding the student through client consultations, including presenting design concepts, addressing feedback, and managing revisions, to help them build confidence in stakeholder communication.
Project Management: Teaching the student how to navigate deadlines, balance priorities, and refine deliverables to meet the expectations of a professional setting.
Leadership: Delegating design responsibilities while maintaining overall creative control, ensuring the final product aligned with ABA’s needs and my professional standards.
This comprehensive approach not only resulted in a polished and professional report but also provided the student with invaluable real-world experience that extended well beyond the classroom.
Year 1: 2016–17
For the first ABA report, I focused on aligning the design with the University’s formal brand standards, which heavily emphasized dark greens and structured layouts. Given the text-heavy nature of the content, I leaned on strong typographic hierarchy and carefully curated campus photography to enhance readability and visual interest.
