Graphic Design That Works

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the national illustration conference

Power in Unity

At the first National Illustration Conference, many

illustrators emerged from their studios to unite. It was a

crisis meeting to address industry-related concerns and

discuss potential solutions. This grassroots effort began

a movement of unity and empowerment that has since

gained momentum. “The whole idea behind the

conference was to bring illustrators together to talk

about serious issues facing the industry—fees, stock,

and copyright issues,” reflects art director Mark Murphy.

“We were trying to generate interest and get across

the concept that the future starts with you.”

This illustrated six-paneled self-mailer, designed to

maximize the press sheet and to minimize postage costs,

engages the reader with a variety of visually rich content.

“My idea was to take different styles of illustration, people

that were prominent in the business, and blend them

together in one piece. I chose Cathie Bleck, whose work

is feminine and sensitive, and juxtaposed her with Gary

Taxali, who is a little more irreverent. I had to find a

balance in styles because illustration is such a subjective

art form,” remarks Murphy. “It also helped to attract a

variety of illustrators to the conference.” The interesting

texture that accents the brochure throughout was created

with a Xerox machine. “I scanned in the texture as a

black-and-white TIFF file and kept the resolution high so

that it could be made larger or smaller,” details Murphy.

“I then added color at will and layered it in Quark.” The

designer has, over the years, built an extensive collection

of textures that he utilizes in various assignments.

As the outside excites, the inside spread outlines the

two-day conference agenda—motivating people to

register. The mailer is part of a series. Several postcards

were also created to spread the word and generate

interest for the conference. All of the artwork, design,

paper, and printing were donated.

CLIENT:

The National Illustration

Conference is a nonprofit

organization whose purpose is

to provide a platform for

illustrators to address issues

facing the industry.

FIRM:

Murphy Design Inc.

ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER:

Mark Murphy

ILLUSTRATORS:

Joel Nakamura, Amy Guipp, Gary

Taxali, Cathie Bleck, Vivienne

Flesher, Gerard DuBois, Christian

Northeast, and Mick Wiggins

COPYWRITER:

Anne Telford

ABOVE AND TOP RIGHT: The motiva-

tional brochure features the work

of various illustrators and styles

to generate a broad range of

interest in the conference. The

focus is on empowerment and

reinvention.

Graphic Design That Works

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ABOVE: The inside six-panel

spread houses the schedule of

events and registration form.

What Works

“Because the brochure had a community feel and did

not center on any one illustrator or style, but on many

making up one industry, it excited a lot of people to

connect,” says Murphy. “There was room for 500

people at the conference, and they sold out.”

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