Shepard4Port Campaign
PRINT & WEB DESIGN AND BRAND & IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT FOR A FIRST TIME POLITICAL CANDIDATE
2017
The client approached me in 2018 to help his first time political campaign to build a website. The outcome of our first meeting was that the campaign also needed more comprehensive brand and identity development, with some support for how to communicate and message the political platform to voters.
The campaign website and social media presence was completed in a weekend, but we continued to use these digital platforms as a palette for developing visual and written brand conventions through the primary and general election. In addition to the website, we developed a variety of print media in a modular fashion that could be deployed in the often dynamic, changing campaign such as last minute events. Door cards, post cards, event flyers, yard signs, large banners, and promotional gear such as cups, hats, and tshirts could be used interchangeably based on whatever immediate need presented itself.
While the platform ideas were well fleshed out, I continued to work closely with the campaign to refine their messaging and target their communication. I designed three graphics that highlighted the primary platform messages, and devised several taglines that could be used throughout the campaign.
The outreach for the primary election was focused in one district, but the general election required expanding to a three district county-wide campaign with a very different demographic. Bellingham, Washington is liberal bastion with a large state university in relatively conservative Whatcom County, which the Port Commission represents, and at a significant transition time for the region and waterfront. I worked closely with the campaign to better understand the expanded demographics so we could deploy different messaging sets and campaign materials appropriately.
The candidate won handily in the primary election, and narrowly defeated the two term incumbent President of the Port Commission in the general election (51.3% to 48.7%; 59,570 votes cast).
Skills & Deliverables
Web design with social media, contribution portal, and newsletter integration. Brand & identity development, including messaging and communication. Design and produce printed media and promotional materials: door flyers, postcards, event flyers, various sizes yard signs, large scale banners, internal campaign materials, email campaigns.
