[email protected]

© 2021 Kirk Alan Johns

For the last several years I’ve helped build brand platforms and visual identity systems internally. It’s a very different environment and experience from working on the agency side. You’re there on ground and have the privilege to see what works and what doesn’t on a daily basis. You also gain a lot of experience making business cases for design as an approach to solving real problems. Overall it has made me a more strategic and thoughtful design professional.

Here are some examples of the how I problem solve with design.

For the last several years I’ve helped build brand platforms and visual identity systems internally. It’s a very different environment and experience from working on the agency side. You’re there on ground and have the privilege to see what works and what doesn’t on a daily basis. You also gain a lot of experience making business cases for design as an approach to solving real problems. Overall it has made me a more strategic and thoughtful design professional.

Here are some examples of the how I problem solve with design.

For the last several years I’ve helped build brand platforms and visual identity systems internally. It’s a very different environment and experience from working on the agency side. You’re there on ground and have the privilege to see what works and what doesn’t on a daily basis. You also gain a lot of experience making business cases for design as an approach to solving real problems. Overall it has made me a more strategic and thoughtful design professional.

Here are some examples of the how I problem solve with design.

For the last several years I’ve helped build brand platforms and visual identity systems internally. It’s a very different environment and experience from working on the agency side. You’re there on ground and have the privilege to see what works and what doesn’t on a daily basis. You also gain a lot of experience making business cases for design as an approach to solving real problems. Overall it has made me a more strategic and thoughtful design professional.

Here are some examples of the how I problem solve with design.

For the last several years I’ve helped build brand platforms and visual identity systems internally. It’s a very different environment and experience from working on the agency side. You’re there on ground and have the privilege to see what works and what doesn’t on a daily basis. You also gain a lot of experience making business cases for design as an approach to solving real problems. Overall it has made me a more strategic and thoughtful design professional.

Here are some examples of the how I problem solve with design.

For the last several years I’ve helped build brand platforms and visual identity systems internally. It’s a very different environment and experience from working on the agency side. You’re there on ground and have the privilege to see what works and what doesn’t on a daily basis. You also gain a lot of experience making business cases for design as an approach to solving real problems. Overall it has made me a more strategic and thoughtful design professional.

Here are some examples of the how I problem solve with design.

For the last several years I’ve helped build brand platforms and visual identity systems internally. It’s a very different environment and experience from working on the agency side. You’re there on ground and have the privilege to see what works and what doesn’t on a daily basis. You also gain a lot of experience making business cases for design as an approach to solving real problems. Overall it has made me a more strategic and thoughtful design professional.

Here are some examples of the how I problem solve with design.

For the last several years I’ve helped build brand platforms and visual identity systems internally. It’s a very different environment and experience from working on the agency side. You’re there on ground and have the privilege to see what works and what doesn’t on a daily basis. You also gain a lot of experience making business cases for design as an approach to solving real problems. Overall it has made me a more strategic and thoughtful design professional.

Here are some examples of the how I problem solve with design.

For the last several years I’ve helped build brand platforms and visual identity systems internally. It’s a very different environment and experience from working on the agency side. You’re there on ground and have the privilege to see what works and what doesn’t on a daily basis. You also gain a lot of experience making business cases for design as an approach to solving real problems. Overall it has made me a more strategic and thoughtful design professional.

Here are some examples of the how I problem solve with design.

For the last several years I’ve helped build brand platforms and visual identity systems internally. It’s a very different environment and experience from working on the agency side. You’re there on ground and have the privilege to see what works and what doesn’t on a daily basis. You also gain a lot of experience making business cases for design as an approach to solving real problems. Overall it has made me a more strategic and thoughtful design professional.

Here are some examples of the how I problem solve with design.

[email protected]

© 2021 Kirk Alan Johns

For over a decade I’ve helped build brand platforms and visual identity systems internally. It’s very different from working on the agency side. Being on the ground, I have the privilege to see what works and what doesn’t on a daily basis. I’ve also gained a lot of experience making business cases for using design as an approach to solving real problems. Overall it has made me a more strategic and thoughtful design professional.

Here are some examples of how I problem solve with design.

[email protected]

© 2021 Kirk Alan Johns

Expanding Horizons

Objective

To allow a larger audience the ability to explore and understand the benefits and workflow of a new enterpise software platform on their own, at their own pace, without needing a formal expert-guided demonstration.

Solution

An interactive, user-friendly tablet presentation was created to introduce the platform and illustrate how it brings value to customers (healthcare payers). This is accomplished with thoughtful, informative detail and clearly stated business goals and user benefits. The interactive product tour is designed to be fast and easy to use, driving home the idea that using the platform is the same way.

View the product tour

For over a decade I’ve helped build brand platforms and visual identity systems internally. It’s very different from working on the agency side. Being on the ground, I have the privilege to see what works and what doesn’t on a daily basis. I’ve also gained a lot of experience making business cases for using design as an approach to solving real problems. Overall it has made me a more strategic and thoughtful design professional.

Here are some examples of how I problem solve with design.

[email protected]

© 2021 Kirk Alan Johns

|

Showing We Care

Objective

To develop unique lead-up communications at events that demonstrate brand values and company personality in an engaging and memorable way. Show, don’t tell.

Solution

A routine, pre-event mailer is transformed into a simple and useful tool that is highly pertinent to time and place. A fun map with recommendations for handy and exciting local places near the event venue demonstrates all the brand experience principles: shows we care, smooths the way, and expands horizons.

For over a decade I’ve helped build brand platforms and visual identity systems internally. It’s very different from working on the agency side. Being on the ground, I have the privilege to see what works and what doesn’t on a daily basis. I’ve also gained a lot of experience making business cases for using design as an approach to solving real problems. Overall it has made me a more strategic and thoughtful design professional.

Here are some examples of how I problem solve with design.

[email protected]

© 2021 Kirk Alan Johns

|

Encouraging Behavior

Objective

Energize, encourage, and equip employees to have more effective and efficient meetings in a newly renovated office full of opportunity for various types of collaboration.

Solution

A new set of meeting guidelines that demonstrate behaviors and habits conducive to innovative thinking. These cards were unveiled during a larger employee engagement event when employees were introduced to the new office and its new offerings for the first time, including how to use the technology in each type of space.

For over a decade I’ve helped build brand platforms and visual identity systems internally. It’s very different from working on the agency side. Being on the ground, I have the privilege to see what works and what doesn’t on a daily basis. I’ve also gained a lot of experience making business cases for using design as an approach to solving real problems. Overall it has made me a more strategic and thoughtful design professional.

Here are some examples of how I problem solve with design.

[email protected]

© 2021 Kirk Alan Johns

|

Promoting Innovation

Objective

To create more opportunity for the creative exploration of ideas and the support they need to be fully realized.

Solution

Worked with the operations team to develop and implement a structured free time program to encourage everyone company wide to ideate and experiment with new ways to solve problems outside of their normal workload.

“Idea Day” also included processes to make sure everyone’s ideas were fully considered including special training for managers.

For over a decade I’ve helped build brand platforms and visual identity systems internally. It’s very different from working on the agency side. Being on the ground, I have the privilege to see what works and what doesn’t on a daily basis. I’ve also gained a lot of experience making business cases for using design as an approach to solving real problems. Overall it has made me a more strategic and thoughtful design professional.

Here are some examples of how I problem solve with design.

[email protected]

© 2021 Kirk Alan Johns

|

Learning More

Objective

To build a strong, unique and durable brand and gain a lasting competitive advantage as well as market share.

Solution

An extensive worldwide client feedback study was created and conducted to gain a better understanding of the client’s actual needs and a more accurate snapshot of the organization’s current strengths, weaknesses as well as opportunities for growth.

The findings would then serve as the foundation for defining a specific level of value, quality and service to solve client’s real problems and exceed their expectations.

For over a decade I’ve helped build brand platforms and visual identity systems internally. It’s very different from working on the agency side. Being on the ground, I have the privilege to see what works and what doesn’t on a daily basis. I’ve also gained a lot of experience making business cases for using design as an approach to solving real problems. Overall it has made me a more strategic and thoughtful design professional.

Here are some examples of how I problem solve with design.

[email protected]

© 2021 Kirk Alan Johns

|

Designing Culture

Objective

To develop a set of truly genuine, unique, applicable and actionable company values.

Solution

A group of non-executive volunteers from across the organization were selected to collaborate on the project. They first identified their own personal beliefs which were then organized to find common themes that would serve as the foundation for developing the values.

The end result was a group of four meaningful and descriptive principles. The group decided to refer to the final as “principles” instead of “values” because the later is more transient by definition whereas principles are fundamental truths.

Icons were also designed for each individual principle to add a visual element to help easily identify principle-related initiatives.

For over a decade I’ve helped build brand platforms and visual identity systems internally. It’s very different from working on the agency side. Being on the ground, I have the privilege to see what works and what doesn’t on a daily basis. I’ve also gained a lot of experience making business cases for using design as an approach to solving real problems. Overall it has made me a more strategic and thoughtful design professional.

Here are some examples of how I problem solve with design.

[email protected]

© 2021 Kirk Alan Johns

|

Saving Time

Objective

To increase the quality and reduce the time and cost of producing covers from scratch for every proposal—freeing more time to develop better content.

Solution

An in-depth analysis of workflow as well as resource and technical requirements was conducted first. The results yielded a proposal “packaging” system that provided a predictable and high level of graphic quality that was time saving and cost-conscious.

A combination of preprinted materials, easy-to-use templates and guidelines were implemented and reduced production time to half an hour per cover from 40 hours—freeing more than 1,800 personnel hours per year.

For over a decade I’ve helped build brand platforms and visual identity systems internally. It’s very different from working on the agency side. Being on the ground, I have the privilege to see what works and what doesn’t on a daily basis. I’ve also gained a lot of experience making business cases for using design as an approach to solving real problems. Overall it has made me a more strategic and thoughtful design professional.

Here are some examples of how I problem solve with design.

[email protected]

© 2021 Kirk Alan Johns

|

Getting More

Objective

To avoid the impersonal effect of using one generic pocket folder for a variety of interactions.

Solution

A transparent polypropylene envelope with a zip top closure, expandable gusset and front slip pocket was produced. The front slip pocket allowed for different covers to be inserted easily. It was custom printed with the company logo and contact information so it would remain branded even when cover inserts were taken out and used to carry other items.

Considerations included:
  • High quality
  • Cost
  • Flexibility
  • Efficiency
  • Durability

For over a decade I’ve helped build brand platforms and visual identity systems internally. It’s very different from working on the agency side. Being on the ground, I have the privilege to see what works and what doesn’t on a daily basis. I’ve also gained a lot of experience making business cases for using design as an approach to solving real problems. Overall it has made me a more strategic and thoughtful design professional.

Here are some examples of how I problem solve with design.

[email protected]

© 2021 Kirk Alan Johns

|

Creating Experiences

Objective

To create a memorable trade show experience centered around thoughtful service—one of the company’s core values.

Solution

The exhibit area was designed to be a café with free barista services, Internet stations and snacks. It was purposefully designed as a no-pressure environment that people would find approachable and enjoy spending time in while getting to know the company.

For over a decade I’ve helped build brand platforms and visual identity systems internally. It’s very different from working on the agency side. Being on the ground, I have the privilege to see what works and what doesn’t on a daily basis. I’ve also gained a lot of experience making business cases for using design as an approach to solving real problems. Overall it has made me a more strategic and thoughtful design professional.

Here are some examples of how I problem solve with design.

[email protected]

© 2021 Kirk Alan Johns

|

Capturing Information

Objective

To find a way for business development to consistently capture necessary information from potential clients.

Solution

Collaborated to design a business card sleeve, pre-printed with information necessary for a proper needs assessment when meeting and collecting business cards from potential clients.

Considerations included:
  • Ease-of-use
  • Accessibility/portability
  • Users of varying experience
  • Professional appearance