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Portfolio
You’ve got approximately 30 seconds to attract a potential client’s interest (and that’s if you’re lucky). That’s just the first step. The second is even harder - keeping that interest and moving that prospective client or customer to action. Will your printed materials and web site get the results your business is looking for, or will prospective customers move on?
Whether it’s writing, graphic design, or web site development, none is as easy as it looks. Finding the right words and visuals that grab a reader’s attention, sell products and services, and attracts new clients takes patience, creativity, and skill. In a world where competition for our attention is keen, too often businesses accept the fallacy anyone in their organization can write or design a brochure, business card, newsletter, press release, or web site. By the time many businesses realize this; their products and services are buried in an already cluttered marketplace.
That’s why I chose to focus my own business endeavors on the three-pronged approach of writing, graphic design, and web site development. By offering a variety of services, businesses can, for example, get a brochure designed, have the copy written, and make sure the design and message corresponds with the company web site. One stop-shopping when time is, in fact, money.
My educational background is always expanding as learning is truly a life-long endeavor. Currently, I’m working towards an AA Degree in Graphic Design through Dakota County Technical College. The program has provided me with myriad design skills and experience with software including: Dreamweaver, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Quark Xpress. Additionally, I’m familiar with HTML code and have developed web sites using either Dreamweaver or by writing code. I have a BS in Journalism from Iowa State University and an MA in Mass Communications from Fresno State.
I also possess more than 15 years writing experience working for organizations as diverse as Fortune 500 companies to smaller non-profits. In addition to corporate experience, I’ve been published both regionally and nationally. You've got 30 seconds - make every one count!
Examples of the work I've done and projects accomplished are listed below:
Airport Community Counseling Office (St. Paul, MN) Web site: http://www.mspchaplaincy.org
Michelle Sparkles - Handmade jewelry with a flair (Aliso Viejo, CA) Web site: http://www.michellesparkles.com
Red Wing Collectors Society Foundation (Red Wing, MN) -Developed organization's initial web site in 2006
Savvy Spaces - Interior Design firm (Burnsville, MN) - Business cards
Schleich Red Wing Pottery Museum (Lincoln, NE) - Business cards, brochure, web site: http://www.schleichredwing.org
Commercial Investment Properties (Lincoln, NE) - CIP Reporter monthly employee newsletter
DeKalb Chamber of Commerce - (DeKalb, IL) DeKalb Visitor's Guide, tourism materials, grantsLewis University (Romeoville, IL) - Magazine and newsletter articles, academic catalogue sheets, reports
The Pillsbury Company (Minneapolis, MN) - Reach quarterly newsletter
Other publications that I've written for include:
Christianity and the Arts Magazine (Chicago, IL)
Newman Now (DeKalb, IL) - Alumni newsletter articles
The Observer Newspaper (Rockford, IL - Diocesan newspaper for the Catholic Diocese of Rockford, IL
Schleich Red Pottery Museum Brochure (2006)
This brochure was designed to highlight the one-of-kind Schleich Red Wing Pottery Museum located in Lincoln, NE. Showcasing a collection of over 5,000 pieces, the brochure offers a glimpse into this unique collection, how to schedule tours, contact information, and directions.Backpack Countdown Flyer - Guardian Angels Catholic Church (2006 - 2007)
After several years of declining numbers, this flyer was developed to help increase awareness of the yearly Backpack drive, sponsored by the St. Paul Council of Churches. Along with a backpack display, the colorful flyer helped Guardian Angels not only meet their goal of 120 backpacks, but actually exceed it. Guardian Angels collected a total of 195 backpacks, plus seven boxes of school supplies, one of their most successful drives ever. In 2007, the numbers weren't quite as high, but Guardian Angels still surpassed their goal of 140 backpacks.Savvy Space Business Cards (2006)
This business card was designed for Interior Designer, Nita Sherwood. The original slogan was too long and limiting. The client liked the idea of revising the slogan to reflect interior design solutions for any environment. An example of writing and design experience working together for the greatest impact.DeKalb Illinois Visitor's Guide
This guide was published for the first time in 1999 highlighting DeKalb’s man attractions, shopping, businesses, recreation, and other aspects of a growing community. As home to Northern Illinois University it was important to emphasize some of the school’s achievements. Known for its excellent theater department, NIU has such notable alumni as Oscar-nominated actress Joan Allen and Dan Castellaneta, the voice of the world’s goofiest dad, Homer Simpson.The Magazine of Lewis University
Dedicating the 2000-2001 academic year to cultural diversity, this in depth article interviewed those people at Lewis University who had helped establish such a culture well before many other academic institutions.Ben & Jerry's Traveling Show Comes to Newman
Vermont’s favorite ice cream makers Ben & Jerry’s brought their traveling show to the Newman Catholic Student Center located on the campus of Northern Illinois University. The variety show of music, dance, magic, and comedy entertained a standing-room-only crowd of over 500. And of course, everyone got to indulge their sweet-tooth with free Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream!Christianity and the Arts
As with Hollywood and Catholic Women this article examined the portrayal of Christian women in Hollywood films. Titled Extreme Images: Christian Women in Film this piece looked at four films - At Play in the Fields of the Lord, The Rapture, Agnes of God, and Sister Act – and studied how Christian women are often stereotyped into narrow categories by Hollywood.
Kathryn Schleich © 2006
10220 Country Club Curve
Woodbury, MN 55129
