We were graced with Katherine’s presence in our studio for the last 3 weeks. She is very dedicated to say the least, all the way from the University of Delaware, she came out to sunny San Diego to visit her cousin and interned with us during her stay. See what she had to say about her time with us.

“Being an intern at this bright and friendly studio everyday for a month was a great learning experience, as well as a lot of fun. I now have a first hand perspective of what it is like to work at a graphic design studio, which is miles away from working as a student. It was a pleasure getting to know Bobby, Joey, Ryan, and Angie! They prove that creativity, professionalism, and kindness are all equally important in successfully completing projects for their clients. I also had an incredible time getting to know the city of San Diego, as it was my first time visiting California. Taking a break from the East Coast winter was a real treat. I will miss the beautiful scenery, warm weather, and hope to return in the future.”

–Katherine

Every year we try to think of a gift for our clients that is unique, or functional, or memorable, or engaging, or just plain cool.

This year we settled on a design that was created for OrangeTree a couple years back. It’s a personal favorite of mine for many reasons and felt it was a perfect message for 2011. We found a local company to make the pillows and custom embroider them with the Live As One design. Finding the right fabric was tricky but we finally found the perfect texture and color. The best part of it all is that we didn’t need to worry about anything breaking while shipping — although the fear of moisture and utility knives crossed our minds.

The response has been overwhelming and that’s good news since it will be made available for sale on orangetreeproject.com in the spring. Merry Christmas and Cheers to 2012!

- b

About a month ago we decided to start a poster gallery in our office for each new season. For each gallery each of us would interpret the season as a poster using any art medium. In addition, each person would get a color, from a seasonal palette, that they would emphasize in their poster.

For this Winter Gallery, we chose pantone 551, 3025, 877, and 731 as our palette. For those of you who are not designers, these colors equate to a Sky Blue, a Deep Teal, a Silver and a Chocolate Brown. We threw the colors in a hat and each of us drew one. Ryan took on the Sky Blue, Bobby took on the Deep Teal, I (Joey) had Silver and Angiee was left with the Chocolate Brown.

If you find yourself at our studio, be sure to take a look at the posters in person. They will only be up for a few months as the Spring Gallery is just around the corner.

-Joey

The name says it all, there are billions of people around the globe who don’t have access to safe drinking water. It’s unthinkable really, but it’s true. I met the founder of the organization last year when Darcy and I attended their annual fundraiser—Water for Christmas. At that time I was unaware of just how bad things are and the devastating statistics caused by lack of water.

I left feeling helpless but enthusiastic knowing there is a group working hard to make a positive difference. So when the call came a few months later asking if OrangeTree Project, a non-profit we started, could assist with their corporate identity we jumped right in. We also created the new Water for Christmas identity that will be unveiled next week. I will attend this year’s event feeling proud of our work, but more importantly that our contribution will help strengthen the 1 Billion Thirsty brand so they can grow and help so many more people around the world.

What a surprise yesterday when we got a “thank you” package from 1BT— it was a bonsai orange tree! Sooo perfect for the office.

-b