The assignment was to design an infographic-style illustrated poster that would communicate the striking differences between the performance of Gates iLok™ and standard staple lock fittings in hydraulic assemblies involved in longwall mining.
I decided to depict a side-by-side comparison of Gates iLok™ and the standard competitive product. Visualizing the list of challenges down the middle allowed me to tell the full comparison story—ending in a calculation of the significant savings that could be achieved by converting to Gates.
Both couplings were drawn in Adobe Illustrator using product photos for reference. A combination of stock illustration and icons were customized to further enhance the content.
This infographic was utilized as a selling tool for Underground Mining targets. It was mailed to mine managers and resulted in increased awareness and identified benefits of Gates new iLok™ coupling compared to standard staple lock couplings.
Responding to customer requests and feedback, Dow Corning launched an all-new online platform. To support the successful launch of this initiative, they commissioned a presentation tool for their sales force.
The design process started with a script that was placed into the notes of the deck—offering the sales force an easy-to-use message to follow and communicate. Brand standards were followed for typography, color and imagery. The global diversity of customer demographics was supported and depicted through carefully selected stock imagery. Simple graphics and iconography were used to add visual interest when calling out specific features and benefits.
The resulting presentation was a resounding success—receiving accolades from the sales force for its ease-of-use, completeness of message and visual sophistication.
Here are a few sample slide layouts, along with a screen shot of slide sorter view of the entire deck.
I partnered with the account team, writers and creative director at Slack & Company, Chicago as lead designer/art director to design and produce elements of this campaign.
The objective of this campaign was to have key influencers meet with sales reps of Gates Corporation, a world leader in industrial engineering and the manufacturing of belts and hoses, to discuss the benefits of converting to Gates superior products and solutions in tough mining environments.
Elements of the campaign included:
An infographic-style illustrated poster outlining the many causes and excessive costs of unplanned downtime. Surface mining involves many stages and pieces of equipment. A list of specific machinery used with hard numbers supporting the case for the effect of unplanned downtime on productivity for each was provided (and required) along with the other copy details. After researching photos of surface mining operations, I landed on a simple graphic approach for depicting a mine setting. Beginning with stock illustration for equipment images, I reworked them to fit my vision of the scene. The flags next to each worked as a catchy device to house stats. I added clouds to hold related statistics. The top and bottom areas anchor the scene, while providing areas to open and close the story. Brand standards were followed for color and typography usage.
Featured on Gates website and distributed through social media as a content offer.
A dimensional mailer that highlights various problems encountered in a mining operation—with a missing piece purposefully left out to provoke thought and indicate that a meeting with a Gates sales rep would serve as the solution to the challenges. The mailer was designed to present each pain point and unfold to reveal the Gate’s benefits. Relevant stock photography serves as a backdrop.
A follow-up mailer that put the pieces together—positioning Gates as the missing piece for eliminating downtime and increasing cost savings for their operation.
A brochure and conversion guide were used a part of a nurture stream to help outline broader challenges and concerns—further warming prospect to consider meeting with a Gates sales rep and converting to Gates.
Initial surface mining mailer was sent out to a targeted list of 440 mine managers and maintenance managers across North America. The same 440 leads received the follow-up mailer that put the pieces together.
In 2013, Gates closed/won $1,218,400 worth of business in the Surface Mining end market. By January 2014, Gates had closed/won $175,000 in additional business.
The presenters wanted to use the visual device of a theatre stage and audience as the main visual theme for their presentation —the story of developing a brand through stages. Presented before a BMA audience, the bold, simple graphics emphasized and supported their lively storytelling.
Postitioning, naming, a new visual concept and digital strategy were presented. Here are a few sample slide layouts, along with a screen shot of slide sorter view of the entire deck. To protect confidentiality, I replaced confidential content with greeked text.
The purpose of this infographic was to present the Society of Actuaries’ (SOA) General Insurance Track to Fellowship program to potential candidates.
There were a lot of moving parts to this infographic. Once I decided to set the “Covering Catastrophes” graph as depicted, the rest of the layout fell into place. I used stock illustration for the cityscapes, flags and icons. Designing the opening and closing FSA track information in a dimensional look similar to the graph, helped give the piece a continuity. Brand standards were followed for color and typography usage.
Featured on SOA website and distributed through social media as a content offer.
I partnered with the account team, writers and creative director at Slack & Company, Chicago as lead designer/art director to design and produce all elements of this award-winning campaign.
Gates Corporation, a world leader in industrial engineering and the manufacturing of hydraulic hoses and assemblies, had the right products and solutions for reducing the hazardous conditions encountered in the continuous mining industry; thus making mining operations more productive in the process. The goal of the campaign was to set meetings, drive inquiries and gain new customers through selling the benefits of conversion.
Campaign elements:
An infographic-style illustrated poster educated and demonstrated how under-recognized concerns regarding safety issues and MSHA compliance seriously hamper mining operations.
Hard stats and figures speak to the gravity of safety issues on mine sites and the negative impact they have on liability, productivity and profits. I sourced stock illustrations, combining and reworking them, to design the custom visual depicting the scene for underground mining. I wanted the audience to see a visual of their work environment, and themselves, clearly represented along with the serious statistics. The worn hose and machinery were custom drawn using source photos in Adobe Illustrator. Infographic was featured on Gates website and distributed through social media and marketing automation as a content offer.
An over-sized tube mailer containing a metal file, a Gates hose and a competitor’s hose so recipient could conduct their own abrasion test on the spot. This mailer presented a unique design challenge. I started mapping this out by first determining how to set up the areas for the “test”. Once that was determined, the rest of the copy and photos were placed to support the main purpose of the mailer. It really helped to have a two-sided piece so that one side was devoted to messaging and statistics.
A brochure and conversion guide designed to reinforce campaign messaging and increase awareness of Gates products.
Using a hybrid approach of direct mail and marketing automation (broadening reach and increasing awareness with end market specific content offers), 199 mailers were sent to a targeted list of mine managers and maintenance supervisors across North America. The program was well received both internally and externally as one of the most captivating and engaging campaigns Gates has executed to date.
Since the launch of Gates Continuous Mining program, $1,365,000 in closed-won sales has been documented with many more opportunities in the funnel.
The Inside Story of Dow Corning® Corporation and its XIAMETER® Brand
A tale of two companies, told through a look back at the history of the parent company and how it saw the need to give birth to a subsidiary as a result of business-model reinvention.
The design process started with a script that was placed into the notes of the deck. Each slide was designed to illustrate what the speaker was scripted to say. The Dow Corning brand colors and typography were combined with the lively, engaging illustrative imagery style of the XIAMETER brand. Custom illustrations were drawn to illustrate specific points detailed in presentation. Slide animations played a key role in the storytelling; adding a much needed dimension of action on-screen as the presenter spoke.
I partnered with the account team, writers and creative director at Slack & Company, Chicago as lead designer/art director to create elements of this campaign.
The objective of this campaign was to have key influencers meet with sales reps of Gates Corporation, a world leader in industrial engineering and the manufacturing of modular beltings and Gates Poly Chain®, to discuss the benefits of converting to Gates superior products and solutions in meat processing manufacturing plants.
An infographic-style illustrated poster served to remind key influencers of meat processing facility challenges—and how they can minimize the things that add cost or bring down efficiency once they convert to Gates products. This was a tough segment to visualize. I decided to use simple icons to pair with the statistics and to treat each statistic individually. The metal background and knives brought familiar tools of the industry into the mix. Stock illustrations were reworked to design the custom visuals. Actual Gates Poly Chain® image was used as blue border element.
A 3D follow up box mailer engaged highly qualified leads, containing two water-filled bottles—a roller chain in one water bottle and Gates Poly Chain® in another. By the time the mailer reached its destination, the difference between Gates Poly Chain® and roller chains was demonstrated in a forceful, convincing way. The piece proved to the audience how Gates superior products and solutions were an answer to washdown woes and offered the unrealized savings they could gain.
An Exciting Innovation in Sweetness
Launching new BESTEVIA™ Reb-M Stevia Sweetener required a presentation tool for the Ingredion sales force.
Here are a few sample slide layouts, along with a screen shot of slide sorter view of the entire deck.
World Food Day, Ingredion
“Sustainability is not just important to our business agenda, it is a priority. Our teams of passionate employees are dedicated to improving our environment, making a difference in our communities and ensuring that we operate safely.” — Ingredion
Here are a few sample slide layouts, along with a screen shot of slide sorter view of the entire deck.
I partnered with the account team, writers and creative director at Slack & Company, Chicago as lead designer/art director to create elements of this campaign.
To place Gates top of mind of amongst beverage facility decision makers, an integrated campaign was developed and implemented to soften targets, establish awareness and lay groundwork for converting to Gates.
A comprehensive approach for targets included:
An infographic-style illustrated poster served as a leave behind to remind key influencers of beverage facility challenges—and how they can minimize the things that add cost or bring down efficiency once they convert to Gates Poly Chain. Representing the beverage industry using images of the various containers familiar to beverage manufacturing as the dominant visuals helped reinforce the statistics, and showcase the side-by-side comparison image of roller chains versus Gates Poly Chains. Stock illustrations were reworked to design the custom visual representing the various beverage segments. Actual Gates Poly Chain images were used as blue border elements.
A beverage brochure and conversion guide helped further build demand for solutions as sales call leave-behinds and content offers online.
A tube mailer featuring a Gates branded bottle opener inside encouraged targets to “open opportunities” by engaging with a Gates District Sales Manager.
A 3D follow up box mailer engaged highly qualified leads from the tube mailer at a much deeper level, urging facility managers to satisfy their thirst for cutting costly and excessive maintenance. Containing a Gates branded pint glass with the screened-on message “Drink In Success,” the piece reminded the audience of the unrealized savings they could gain from Gates superior products and solutions.
The objective of this infographic-style illustrated poster was to remind key influencers of snack food manufacturing facilities of their challenges—and how they can minimize the things that add cost or bring down efficiency once they convert to Gates products.
Snack food vending machines—one dispensing “Hassle Snacks”, the other “Gates Profit Boosters”—offered a fun way to illustrate this problem. Stock illustrations were reworked to design the custom visuals. Each snack package was individually designed. Actual Gates Poly Chain® image was used as blue border elements.
“Quick guide to silicones” educated the XIAMETER website visitors; detailing this unique material and its nearly limitless potential for use.
“For beautiful haicare benefits, think silicones” continued this education with a focus on the offerings and benefits specific to the haircare industry.
The XIAMETER brand featured a bold color palette and a lively, engaging illustrative imagery style that easily lent itself to an infographic. Using existing brand assets and imagery as a guide, custom illustrations were drawn to illustrate specific points detailed in the infographics. Working from a copy document, the facts written for each infographic were blocked out to flow in a logical and readable story. A call-to-action at the end offered the reader a next step and allowed XIAMETER to collect contact information.
Selling a new smart technology with a branded infographic.
Clients will send me a deck that has been populated with content by the presenter(s). My first step is to begin with a full read through of the deck. At this point, I’ll make a list of any questions or indicate parts of the presentation that seem repetitive or unclear. Once these are clarified, I begin designing. If there are charts or graphs, I’ll make sure they conform to brand standards. Imagery is added to make sure the webinar isn’t all “bullet” slides. My aim is to end up with a presentation that is visual engaging, while still true to the main purpose—educating the audience.
Here are a few sample slide layouts, along with a screen shot of slide sorter view of an entire sample deck.
In this random sampling of slides, I've shown some unique ways to visualize data and statistics in an engaging way.
To protect confidentiality, I've replaced content with greek text.
