Hire Imagination: Creative Solutions for Any Design Challenge

SHANNON CALVERT
shannon@hireimagination.com
203-767-9311

Senior Art Director, Senior Copywriter, Marketing Strategist, Macintosh Guru, Production Manager, Photographer, and Web Developer. Whatever the title, I deliver results that normally require an entire design firm. A good one.

Such versatility is an obvious benefit for agencies and corporations trying to do more with fewer resources. More importantly, it's not just the range of technical skills I offer, but focused, category 5 brainstorms that result in fresh ideas and innovative new approaches that nail the target. Hire imagination... the rest comes with the package.

I have over two decades of professional design experience in packaging, advertising, sales promotion, direct marketing, web design and collateral. As part of a design team or handling an entire project from concept to completion, I can analyze client requests to identify the real problem, rapidly generate creative, workable solutions, develop compelling copy and layouts, produce exceptional photography, keep the computers running smoothly, AND create elegant mechanicals that print correctly the first time, every time. Having an active imagination doesn't hurt, either.

Logos are the ultimate distillation of a company's image: the name, product, personality, and basic marketing message all compressed into its simplest form.

I tend to design logos that can function at a small size in black and white and embellish from there. Even if color becomes a key component, a logo that can work in one color forms a strong foundation for corporate identity that can be applied to any graphic situation.

I'm not easily intimidated by a design challenge, and my employers have grown accustomed to the idea that, whatever it is, I'll figure it out. So when a new client first approached us for a corporate web site, they didn't hesitate to accept. Can we add a little Flash animation? Sure. Could you optimize the site for search engines? No problem. How about full e-commerce shopping carts with tax, shipping and variable pricing? You got it. Have you produced any of these things before? No, but I can still do it.

The site went live in two weeks.

As you might expect, I have a lot of fun with conceptual photography. This is my playground– a chance to let the imagination run wild to solve technical puzzles and communicate a specific message. A portrait or landscape captures a single moment in time, but conceptual images tell a whole story. Their beauty comes from an appreciation of the idea as viewers let their own interpretations narrate the scene. As you look through these photos, bear in mind that each scene was captured essentially as you see it with a single press of the shutter button (they're not Photoshop composites). The titles offer a glimpse at what I can do with headlines, too!

Wildlife is ridiculously tough to photograph. You have little control over the animals or composition, so the best you can do is be prepared and have loads of patience. In the wild, you might find a great setting and go out when the light is perfect, but you can't make animals appear on cue (and forget about getting close). Zoo animals present a different set of challenges, with disinterested expressions and scenes limited by fences, poor lighting or unnatural backgrounds.

Oh, but it's SO worth it!

There's nothing tricky about this section– just photos of amazing scenery. The sort of images that make you wish you were there. It's a shame I wasn't as heavily into photography when I traveled to destinations like Hawaii, Mexico, Paris or Switzerland. Opportunities to experience breathtaking places like those are so few and far between that it's a pity to miss even one.

So I'll just have to go back!

Friends constantly suggest that I devote my time to professional portraiture. I'd love to, but my goal is not the typical studio portrait. I want to make something special that will be admired for decades, and I'll often spend an hour or more retouching every shot to really make the most of them. I'm not sure this economy would support fees high enough to justify that sort of effort. Although I am available for local sessions, it's not a big money maker. Maybe some day. For now it's mostly for the satisfaction of presenting a photo to a parent or spouse and seeing the tears well up. In that moment, I've brought joy to someone's life and a gift for generations to come.

L&W used to spend $30,000 a year on professional photography (in addition to the time and expense of travel and art direction). Not any more. For the past few years, I've handled all of our photography needs and turned that expense into another source of revenue. The immediacy of in-house photographic capabilities offers an incredible advantage for design exploration and workflow. Layouts and presentations can be made with final images, and alternate looks are instantly available. Bear in mind that I was also involved in the strategy, design and/or production of many of these products.