Nate Creates LLC :: Nate Sullivan, Designer, Illustrator, Artist

The RadiSys Product and Application Guide was a semi-annual, 30+ page magazine, that was poly-bagged with leading industry magazines. We also distributed the magazine to channel partners, sales teams, and other marketing venues. The magazine covered many of the key technologies RadiSys was engaged in, and helped introduce readers to more in-depth technology white papers.

The cover for each edition was abstract, often derived from a key technology discussed in the magazine. I had a diverse role, serving as editorial/art director, as well as writing many of the headlines (my favorite, “Need for Wirespeed”), and completing the brand illustrations throughout.

The magazine content was leveraged on a microsite that included 360 degree photos, personalization features, such as font-size adjustments, and email-to-a-friend, as well as other user interface enhancements.

Base Camp Brew is a fictional beer label that I developed during my senior year at Portland State. The project entailed a deep level of research on the key demographic – outdoor and extreme sports enthusiasts – and I used this research to devise a company name, logo and brand identity, a product naming scheme, copywriting and packaging.

The logo design idea came from trying to consider how a stamp or logo mark could possibly be made with only the materials found at base camp. You’d likely only have scraps left behind by others, and while I’m not sure how many bottles of beer litter base camps, a bottle seemed likely necessity – especially for a base camp of beer lovers.

The logo is essentially the mark made by the bottom of a bottle dipped in some marking agent – be it candle wax, blood, iron water or other dye.

The beer name, “Twisted Navel Bitter Ale”, was inspired by the naming conventions used by rock climbers to identify specific routes. Future beer names for the Base Camp Brew label would follow this same inspiration.

The packaging followed the same approach as the logo design – package the beer with materials found at base camp. From tattered pieces of yellow Gore-tex®, to torn bits of photos and notes, to a healthy fix-all dose of Duct® tape, the 6-pack holder looks like something truly made from found materials.

UPCOMING PROJECT NOTE: Over the next few months I’ll be developing a video series based on the Base Camp Brew ideation process. The series will explore how one goes about finding ideas, researching, and project development. In addition, I’ll be developing accompanying tutorials for new pieces developed for this personal project, as I extend the project beyond logo and packaging. Follow CodeSecrets on Twitter for updates.