NPR
File Under : That Time I Peaked Too Young
Holder of the NPR Brand, 2008-2014
Buckle up for storytime, folks (…or just browse through the photos, I don’t mind)!
Back in 2008, I applied to be the NPR Creative Services summer intern, and was over the moon when I got the call that I was the selected candidate. I ended up getting to spend 6 years working there, and it was an opportunity I’ll always cherish!
Firstly, you can’t have a good road trip (or commute) without NPR. You just can’t! On the drive from DC to my aunt’s house in New Jersey, we go through four different Member Stations: WAMU, WTMD, WHYY, and WNYC. I’m grateful for each and every one of them and their programming as I’m [probably not] sailing up and down I-95! I laid out a brochure filled with all of the NPR Member Stations, and updated it yearly. I still keep one in my glove compartment!
All departments had different needs, but everything needed to fit underneath the same brand umbrella. This is vital for maintaining any brand. While NPR Music could be more fun and playful….
…items for departments like National Public Media, Policy and Representation, and Development leaned formal or elegant. Nonetheless, they all look like they come from NPR.
I designed buttons promoting NPR’s coverage of the US Presidential Election campaign as an intern in 2008. Four years later, as a staff member, I was given the same project for the 2012 Elections. Both years' buttons were wildly popular and coveted by the public. I love seeing the transformation of this project.
This NPR Valentine’s Day tradition started in 2011 to allow listeners share their love of public radio. I was lead designer, project manager, and sometime-copywriter for this project. The cards were widely shared through social media.
And to spread the love even more, each year NPR creates holiday cards for its employees to share. I was lead designer of the 2009 and 2011 cards. The 2009 holiday cards had three designs to choose from: birds, bunnies, and squirrels, who are all sharing NPR through its various formats. The 2011 holiday card brought in a bit of winter whimsy with a blind embossed snowman, and was a part of the #GoPublic Campaign (see next project!).
Being in-house, you really do take on a wide range of projects. Back in 2011, Congress was threatening to cut federal funding for public media, including NPR. (You can read more on that here.) NPR has loyal listeners—and on the communications team, we came up with the #GoPublic campaign to rally support. In addition to the look-and-feel, I designed customizable print and digital assets for Member Stations. Celebrities visiting NPR could also take photos with the postcards! Thankfully, funding was not cut in the end. (Below, 90% of these amazing celeb photos are by Melissa Kuypers!)
Now I’m sure you can imagine how many of the quintessential NPR tote bags and mugs I did in my time there. But I also got to design things like aprons, and put Carl Kasell’s face on a pillow!:
You can’t say we didn’t jump on trends. Remember this one? Shared on social, this was a photo I took of a Superhuman Energy Attack Carl Kasell. (Yes, my voicemail is indeed him. Message me if you want to call and listen!)
…and one of my photos from the Annual Holiday Party Relay Race made it into a Chronicle book about NPR!
Speaking of Holiday Parties: that was a specialty of the Communications department. Our amazing, hard-working Executive Assistant, Sarah Mueller, would come up with the most clever themes. Check out some items I designed for our British Pub-themed year, The Tuned Inn. Nipper the RCA dog is NPR’s unofficial mascot, and I turned his likeness into the lion-type figure you’ll see in typical pub imagery.
While I still do occasional freelance work for NPR and its shows, I want to leave you with one last project from my time there. These posters hung in the HQ elevators to remind people to wear their employee ID badges while work. While no one would have seen these outside the walls of NPR, looking back, it brings me so much joy. The reasons why are possibly the most important things to me:
1) Collaboration
2) Brilliant copy
3) Hands-on fun
Nipper sat in the lobby of the old HQ, and his head wasn’t well attached. My team got together to give him a makeover including gluing his head back on, a fresh paint job, a glamour shot, and finally, his own employee ID. The internal communications team wrote the copy. We cut up badge lanyards to make the type. I just love the way it turned out.
The copy reads: “Seriously. I’ve seen you like a million times and I don’t know your name. But my window for asking your name passed a few years ago and to ask now would seem gauche. Then again, if you wear your badge I can pretend like I knew your name all along.”
// AWARDS: 2012 NPR Election Buttons won a Silver Addy from the DC Ad Club (2013); 2008 NPR Election Buttons won a Silver DC Addy Award (2009); the 2009 Holiday Cards won a Gold DC Addy Award (2010), a Print Regional Magazine Award (2010), and a HOW InHowse Magazine Award (2010); the 2011 Holiday Cards won a Gold DC Addy Award (2012); the #GoPublic Campaign won a Silver DC Addy Award (2012). //
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