Award-Winning Design

I've posted a lot about Chris's Air Force awards and realize I'm seriously past due on recognizing Dean's accomplishments. It wasn't that long ago that, after an arduous stint as a student, he was graduating from Art Center College of Design and trying to figure out what he was going to do with his BFA degree in graphic design.

After a lengthy time living in Vancouver, B.C., with his wonderful girlfriend Joyce and trying diligently to find work in Canada, he realized he was in the proverbial Catch-22: as an American, he couldn't get a job without a work permit; and without a work permit, he couldn't get a job offer. To everyone's dismay, it was clear he needed to find work south of the border.

Well, it couldn't have worked out better. The distinction associated with his Art Center degree, along with a strong portfolio of student, pro bono and paid professional work, earned him the attention of an outstanding company in Burlington, Wash. Dri-Eaz Corporation was the perfect fit: the one-person graphic design department needed to grow to accommodate the acquisition of new companies and products, and Dean had the chops to take them to the next level. (And Bellingham, where he lives, is only about an hour from Vancouver.)

While other companies across the country are struggling with layoffs and cutbacks, Legend Brands (the brand that now includes Dri-Eaz and other new products) is flourishing. And Dean is at the leading edge of the marketing of those brands. He designed the graphic at the top of this page (click on it to see the full-size version), along with the Sapphire Scientific logo that is part of it. (Notice the hexagonal gem that's inside the SS logo - great stuff!)

As he pointed out during his visit home last week, the company's demographic doesn't change very much from year to year, not does the marketing. As a result, his work isn't the kind of flashy stuff you'll see getting awards at graphic design competitions across the country. But he gets my award for creativity, consistency and for landing a great job with a great company with great benefits.