Credits:
Will Johnson
ROLE
Creative Director
Graphic Designer
Product Designer
Production Manager
UX/UI Designer
COLLABORATORS
JORDAN DELOACH
Communications Director
State Voices
HANNAH COGSIL
Printer
Taylor Made Experience
TIMELINE
January - June 2024
Key Contributions
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Wearable Merch & Conference Swag
Designed event t-shirts, tote bags, socks, and water bottles, integrating State Voices' brand elements and convening slogans.
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Interactive Event Elements
Branded photo booth prints, 360° video overlays, and digital assets for attendee engagement.
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Print & Vendor Coordination
Ensured all artwork was prepared in vector format and met vendor specifications for seamless production.
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Large-Scale Displays & Signage
Developed stage visuals, banners, and directional signage to create a strong and cohesive event atmosphere.
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Presentation & Slide Design
Designed PowerPoint templates to ensure all event materials reflected the convening’s messaging and aesthetics.
Challenge
Unlike the previous year’s convening, State Voices wanted to maintain brand integrity while removing human imagery from merch and collateral. The goal was to lean into typography, symbols, and layout design to create impactful visuals that still carried the movement’s energy.
Additionally, the organization aimed to elevate interactive and immersive experiences, requiring branded photo booths, digital overlays, and video assets that felt modern and engaging.
With tight print and production deadlines, all assets needed to be finalized and submitted well in advance to align with vendors’ specifications and turnaround times.
SOLUTIONS
To achieve a high-impact yet simplified visual identity, I focused on State Voices’ iconic color-blocking and refined typographic layouts.
Merch & Swag
I created vintage-inspired baseball ringer tees, featuring bold yet timeless typography that highlighted the movement’s rallying cries:
"Democracy Realized: The Time is Now"
"Building Power from the Ground Up"
Event Spaces & Digital Branding
To enhance audience engagement, I designed:
360° video overlays for social sharing
Photobooth printouts tailored for both the event’s 15th anniversary and welcome dinner
Large-scale stage visuals that reinforced the event’s identity across all touchpoints
By streamlining print production and file preparation, I ensured the designs were ready for immediate vendor processing, avoiding any last-minute technical hurdles.
Outcomes
& Impacts
Increased Attendee Engagement
Branded photo booths and social-ready video overlays drove higher audience participation and digital interactions.
Strong, Consistent Brand Identity
By anchoring visuals in State Voices’ signature design language, I ensured a cohesive presence across all event elements.
Merchandise That Resonated
Attendees enthusiastically embraced the new wearable merch styles, boosting brand visibility beyond the convening itself.
Seamless Execution Under Tight Deadlines
Successfully delivered all final assets in vector format ahead of vendor deadlines, ensuring smooth printing and production.
CLIENT FEEDBACK
“Will took our ideas and turned them into something truly special. His ability to capture the essence of our movement—while keeping everything aligned with our brand—made a huge impact on the event’s success. Our attendees loved the merch, the photobooths were a hit, and everything from the stage visuals to the presentations looked incredible!”
— Jordan DeLoach
Director of Communications | State Voices
“Will’s expertise goes beyond design—he understands how to make branding a part of the experience. His strategic approach to our signage, merchandise, and digital content made the convening feel polished, professional, and powerful.”
— Program Manager | State Voices