How do you lose those smiles?

The hardest part about being in the design and marketing communications business is seeing good, effective, solutions with human appeal become diluted by misplaced "governance." This is a case of exactly that. The cover which was created for this brochure titled "Pathways to the Promise" was decimated by an Executive Director of Marketing Communications who felt that it was "imperative" that the cover share the same messaging and imagery that is soon to be revealed in a TV commercial for the school system. 

Now unfortunately all of the photos were shot for a different purpose--namely individual close-up portraits--not a group. Second from the left shows one of the stunning single portraits done for the media campaign. The problem is it shows just ONE kid. Oh, and remember we've got to make sure this is "inclusive & shows diversity" ( you know, like the ORIGINAL cover) But no, we must use the photos from the ad campaign (even if they weren't intended for this use)--we'll beat them into submission and ruin a cover in the process...the Marcomm Director will sleep better tonight, me I think it's a travesty. 

So how do you get 5 young students to smile?

So, how do you get 5 young students to smile after you line them up in front of an old art director, an old photographer, and their Principal? You hold two fingers above the photographer's head, so only the kids can see them, and they crack up. What a joy it is to work with young kids. This wonderful photography is by Terry Clark.

These students are from Mifflin School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are being featured in a brochure about the "Pathway to the Promise" a descriptive brochure for parents that explains the many programs that the Pittsburgh Public Schools have enacted to make sure that students are "Promise Ready".

The Pittsburgh Promise is an educational scholarship Program funded by UPMC, The Pittsburgh Foundation and individuals, that awards up to $10,000 per year to graduates of the Pittsburgh Public Schools.

Our Grandson Levi

Our first Grandson, Levi James Moran was born June 10, 2009 at St. Clair Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. Levi, his father Evan and mother Megan are all doing well.