Hello! My name is Karianne Blank
I'm a Vancouver-based graphic and web designer. This site is a portfolio of some of my favourite projects. Please look around! Projects are listed from newest to oldest, or go directly to contact info and testimonials. If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch: karianne.blank@gmail.com.
UBC Start an Evolution Campaign
Client: UBC Development & Alumni Engagement// Role: Design/Project Management
Awards: CCAE Gold, Cases for Support; CCAE Gold, Best Development Event
During my time as Marketing and Communications Coordinator in the Development and Alumni Engagement department of UBC, I had the privilege of working on many projects for UBC's $1.5 billion Start An Evolution fundraising campaign. DDB was responsible for the branding, from which I derived design treatments for many projects of all sizes. I also wrote a style guide to harmonize the campaign branding with UBC's existing brand. Below, the invitation to the campaign launch events, launch events programs, and a series of publications targeted towards major donor prospects.
Creativity Unleashed report
Client: Action Canada // Role: Designer
Produced by Action Canada Task Force 2011-2012, this publication is intended to inform federal government policy on fostering creativity to improve Canada's economic prospects. My role was to provide a design which expressed the theme of "Canadian Creativity Unleashed" while not disrupting the audience's expectation of a traditional government report.
Front Magazine
Client: Western Front // Role: Art Director & Designer
I designed the quarterly publication from June 2009 until its closure in June 2011. Content was co-curated with the editor, Reanna Alder. Published through Western Front, Front Magazine was a fixture of Vancouver's arts and culture scene for over 26 years. During my tenure as Art Director I fully redesigned the magazine, saving over 50% of previous printing costs and garnering many reader compliments.
A New Deal Fundraiser
Client: Western Front // Role: Design and Illustration
Below, invitations for Western Front's 2010 Auction fundraiser, themed around the New Deal era.
InTheLittleHouse.com
Client: Littlehouse, Inc // Role: Design, Wordpress Setup and Custom Theme
Littlehouse Inc, a local children's toy company, wanted a new web presence to match the simplicity and honesty of their product. I delivered a clean design with easy-to-use management features. You can see it here.
Signal & Noise 2010
Client: VIVO Media Arts Centre // Role: Designer
Signal & Noise is a festival of experimental film and video. The Signal & Noise 2010 identity was applied across multiple platforms including program guide, website, email announcements, and video.
Wong Family Feast
Client: Wong Family // Role: Designer
Written by Joanna Wong, this 100-page book is a crossover between philanthropist Milton Wong's family history and the story of the Chinese community in Vancouver. Accentuated with recipes from Wong family members, the book was illustrated with archival images and family snapshots, incorporating many different types of information in each page.
Access Gallery Branding Update
Client: Access Gallery // Role: Designer
The logo was based on a doodle by a member, which I paired with a suitable typeface and visual treatment. I created easy-to-use templates and branding guidelines so the constantly-changing volunteer roster could come in and easily produce postcards, brochures, and other materials as needed.
The Green Side of Transit
Client: BC Transit // Role: Designer
I was the sole designer on a major ad campaign promoting the greener side of transit. This campaign went on to win an award from the Canadian Urban Transit Association and became Canada's national green transit campaign for 2007, implemented by local designers in all of Canada's urban centres.
About Me
karianne.blank@gmail.com
Linkedin // CV (pdf) // Twitter
Just casual posing with some photo theory books, no big deal. (Photo by Sarah Race)
Currently
I am available for new contracts. If you need help with something, please feel free to drop me a line: karianne.blank@gmail.com. A chat about your project is always free, and I love to hear from all sorts of people.
Testimonials
[We] are thrilled with your speed and accuracy and consider this the best [$x] we have spent on the business that wasn't spent on beads.
-Treats Designs
The chronology* is as good as anything Edward Tufte would design.
-Vancouver Sun Blogs
*Referring to the 4-page timeline of Front Magazine which I created for the last issue.
Karianne's elegant, thoughtful designs are visually stunning and profoundly memorable. Her work makes an immediate emotional impact for lasting brand influence, and her careful attention to client needs and goals creates a seamless and efficient work flow. I could not recommend Karianne more highly.
-Joanna Wong, Principal, FlowCS
Karianne is a brilliant designer. She was a dream to work with in my role as copy-editor of Front Magazine. Her layout and concepts were always inventive, her intentions were clear, and her style of communication was timely and to the point. She was always receptive to suggestions and ideas, and quick to respond. It was always a delight to see what new designs and layouts she'd come up with for each new issue, and I highly recommend her skills if you're after a look that's stylish, precise, and playful, just like Karianne!
-Sarah Caulfield