Events – Lauren Meranda Design

Wabi Sabi: Design in Nature Retreat

Posted on June 7, 2018November 30, 2022 by laurenmeranda

Wabi Sabi: Design in Nature Retreat

Event Branding
Judson University, School of Art & Design Creative Retreat, 2017

In the fall of 2017, Judson University’s Art & Design Department took their students to Camp Wandawega in Elkhorn, WI, for a weekend retreat exploring the idea of Wabi Sabi. The Japanese aesthetic of Wabi-Sabi is a beauty of things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete. It is a beauty of things modest and humble. Wabi-sabi is a beauty of things unconventional.

Branding & Promo

Created the year prior at the camp site, this logo was made with the assistance of students by projecting text onto the leaves while selectively moving branches for long exposure photographs. The images were then digitally manipulated for color. Multiple images were then compiled to create an animated logo, which was used for social media marketing for the event.

Info Booklet and Program

Before the To guide the students through the weekend experience, everyone was given a handmade book. Its contents included reference information, such as a daily schedule and meal information, as well as a workbook leading students through the weekend curriculum. With quotes from artists, historical figures, and poets, and imagery created in the same way as the logo, the book set the tone for their stay.

Setting

To set the scene, signage was placed throughout the camp, students were given branded swag, and the meal area was decorated with brand colors and aesthetic.

Logo design developed with the assistance of Katie Dunbar and Andrés Chavez.

Photographs by Kate Heard and Rachel Loomis.

Open Engagement — JUSTICE

Posted on December 18, 2017November 30, 2022 by laurenmeranda

Open Engagement — JUSTICE

Print, Web, Collateral, and Site Design
Open Engagement, A Socially Engaged Art Practice Conference
Chicago, 2017

Open Engagement (OE) is an annual artist-led conference dedicated to expanding the dialogue around and creating a site of care for the field of socially engaged art. The conference highlights the work of transdisciplinary artists, activists, students, scholars, community members, and organizations working within the complex social issues and struggles of our time.

The design for 2017’s design, the theme of JUSTICE was explored through the phrase, “No Justice, No Peace” and imagery from Chicago’s Torture Justice Memorial. Using a two color printing process, all print materials were printed locally and with sustainable materials.

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Design assistance from Ricardo Garcia, Amanda Sanchez, JJay Eden, Hannah Kyle, and Andrés Chavez
Select images taken by Jaclyn Rivas, Mollie Nye, and JJay Eden

Laser Cut Invitation

Posted on July 20, 2016November 30, 2022 by laurenmeranda

Laser Cut Invitation

5.25″ x 5.25″
Laser cut star chart invitation

A personal project, this invite was for a dear friend’s 30th birthday bonfire.

Instead of using ink to build color, three layers of colored paper were adhered together and etched away with a laser cutter to expose the different layers of colored paper.

Folk Nite: WunderKammer

Posted on July 10, 2016November 30, 2022 by laurenmeranda

Folk Nite: WunderKammer

This was the intro video for Folk Nite:WunderKammer. Folk Nite is a community arts event in the suburbs of Chicago where accessibility to the arts is minimal and finding creative spaces to participate is quite difficult. Events are themed and include community-generated artwork and short-set performances.

Video was announced a Judge’s Choice for the 2014 Chicago Design Archives.

The introduction video was projected on an entire wall to signal to attendees that the event was starting. The video began playing while guests were mingling in the main event space. The sounds are comforting, evoking the memory of a lullaby. Type is manipulated in water similarly to how a scientist would mix chemicals in a beaker, referencing the scientific and exploratory notions of historic WunderKammen without literally visually presenting them.

Other event materials, such as the poster, wayfinding, and event set-lists were created from the same process as the video.

Attendees were encouraged to bring an item to contribute to a growing WunderKammer installation.

Chorus and Coffee

Posted on July 9, 2016November 30, 2022 by laurenmeranda

Chorus and Coffee

18″ x 24″

Show Poster, 2015

Getting messy, imagery for this poster was made with actual coffee and creamer and digitally manipulated later. It was designed for a show/fundraiser at a local coffee shop. Proceeds from coffee sales went to Venture Corps.

Art & Design in Nature Creative Retreat Booklet

Posted on November 30, 2015November 30, 2022 by laurenmeranda

Art & Design in Nature Creative Retreat Booklet

Booklet
Judson University, School of Art & Design Creative Retreat, 2015

Accompanying a wondrous weekend away, this booklet guided students from Judson University. Imagery was created using images of nature—water, clouds, honeycomb—revealed through images of found shadows. The booklets contained essential information for the students, including a map of the grounds, camp rules, room assignments, and meal prep teams. It also served as a workbook for the development of their nature installations.