Justin C Allan-Spencer

Included in this online portfolio, you will find five projects that represent my aesthetic and demonstrate my abilities as a print designer, art director, and conceptual thinker. My personal style is informed by the precepts of mid-century modernist commercial design, which emphasize an economy of style, simple fonts with a bold presence, and precise, intentional shapes, colors, and layouts. The challenge of communicating ideas with just the right amount of these elements is what drives me. Additional projects can be found on dribbble.com. I hope you enjoy.
SCIENCE ON WHEELS - BLOOD AND GUTS
	In 2016, in my role of graphic designer at Pacific Science Center, I had the privilege of updating a traveling interactive exhibit set for the Science on Wheels program. The project included designing 27 pieces—including signage, puzzles, and exhibit pieces—for the “Blood and Guts” program which focuses on anatomy. MORE >>> The exhibit artwork includes a combination of photos and illustration. I used colors to highlight the body system on which the the individual pieces focus - gold for the skeletal system, red for circulatory and organ systems, and blue for the nervous system. A concerted effort was made to include a diverse range of people in the images; content was included in English and Spanish. Pieces are printed on a variety of substrates including durable adhesive vinyl, magnetic sheeting, and clear adhesive. Top: Peripheral Vision Disc. Printed vinyl sandwiched between plexiglass and Sintra. Second: Magnetic Skeletal and Circulatory System Puzzle. Background printed on vinyl adhered to sheet steel; pieces printed on magnetic sheet, protected by plexiglass. Middle: Skeleton Match Puzzle: Puzzle board printed on vinyl adhered to wood. Skeleton square pieces are printed on clear adhesive adhered to plexiglas, with small rubber feet. Bottom left: Organ Puzzle. Printed vinyl on wood. Pieces printed on clear adhesive adhered to wood blocks. Bottom right: Brain Quiz. Printed vinyl on wood.
MAP OF THE KNOWN UNIVERSE
	The Map of the Known Universe was a collaborative project created for and sold in the Greenwood Space Travel Supply Company, a small gift shop that serves as an outreach tool, fundraiser, and gateway to the adjoining writing and tutoring center for kids, The Bureau of Fearless Ideas (formerly 826 Seattle). My primary role for this project was as artistic director; Spencer Charles (now Principal of Charles&Thorn) was the lead designer. Nine designers and writers contributed to the project. The two-sided poster features maps of the solar system, the local galactic neighborhood, and the visible universe, information about the history of space exploration and the universe, and factual information useful to space travelers. The 20" x 30" poster is offset printed on fine 85lb paper sealed with a matte finish. MORE >>> An early ‘80’s map created by National Geographic inspired our Map of the Known Universe. It was designed according to the Greenwood Space Travel Supply Co. style guide, which focuses on mid-century modernist aesthetics. Every pain was made to assure the presented information was scientifically accurate - within the alternative-history concept of the store. In this narrative, humans have been regularly traveling to the stars since last half of the twentieth century; the Map shows colonies orbiting Jupiter, spacecraft expressways, and various “roadside attractions.” The concept was developed in conjunction with the Map. The first edition received the Salt Lake City AIGA “One Hundred Show” Copper Ingot Award in 2010. It was updated and reprinted in 2013 with addition factual details and many reworked typographic elements.
PEOPLE EATING AND GIVING 2014
	The non-profit writing and tutoring center The Bureau of Fearless Ideas (formerly 826 Seattle) is well-known for throwing innovative and exciting fundraisers, the most important of which is the annual dinner, People Eating and Giving. Though the planning of these events is collaborative, I have been instrumental in the development and branding of these events since the first dinner in 2010. In this, the fourth People Eating and Giving, I was more much more involved in the conception, development, and deployment of the thematic elements. I believe it showcases my conceptual thinking and my ability to fully visualize and actualize a complicated project. In addition to the conceptual development, I was the lead designer for all printed and multi-media elements including digital and print invitations, programs, website, and in-show presentation. MORE >>> People Eating and Giving features variety-show entertainment highlighting the work of 826 Seattle students and the evening’s special guests. The event is a noticeable departure from the standard fundraising dinner. Humor, a sense that “anything can happen,” and spotless execution are the key ingredients to success of this event. Every year, a new theme and style is devised and all event collateral is designed from scratch. For the 2014 People Eating and Giving event, the cornerstone of the theme was the notion that reading and storytelling can transport the audience to fantastical destinations. The thrill of adventure is a key element in advertising in the "Golden Age of Air Travel." This proved fertile inspiration for the event’s branding. First, we invented an imaginary airline (826 Seattle Airways), modeled after the stylish PanAm. The invitation to the event resembled a brochure inviting guests to experience the launch of this new luxury airline. On the night of the event, guests were greeted by a registration team dressed like a 1960’s flight crew. VIP guests were presented with single-serve gin bottles and tonic and heated, moist towelettes. The 100+ slide presentation accompanying the event included a short video highlighting the safety features of the event, a flight tracker, and in-flight sounds. As the event rolled to a close, the velvety sounds of Frank Sinatra’s “Come Fly with Me” filled the theatre.
WHAT TO READ IN THE RAIN
	What to Read in the Rain is the annual anthology published by the writing and tutoring center 826 Seattle. It features student work alongside writing from established adult writers and is sold in local bookstores and hotels. I designed and typeset the first edition of What to Read in the Rain. The cover of the book features a photograph by Max R. Jensen of the Port of Seattle and Space Needle, painted with the original 1962 color scheme. The color of the title and back cover summary mirror the Needle’s “galaxy gold” highlights. The book is 6.5" square, perfect bound, 280 pages, and features the writing of over thirty authors. The main body text was set in Chochin with titles and running titles in Gotham. The first and second printings were offset printed on FSC-certified Rolland Enviro 100 paper. MORE >>> The professional publication of student work is an important program for 826 Seattle; since opening in 2005, the non-profit center has published over 15 full-length books. The most popular is the What to Read in the Rain series, which has featured work from over one hundred students and authors such as Dave Eggers, Tom Robbins, Nicki McClure, and Michael Chabon. Highlighting the city’s reputation as one of the most literate in the nation, the anthology is offered to area hotels, to be provided as a unique guest amenity. The book can be found in The Renaissance Seattle Hotel and the Washington Athletic Club – among others. The first edition sold over 5000 copies, with guests from far away as Australia picking up copies. The series continues to be an important fundraiser and outreach tool for The Bureau of Fearless Ideas.
ADVENTURES IN INFINITE SPACE
	This artwork was originally designed for inclusion in a chapbook that accompanies a Bureau of Fearless Ideas writing program called Adventures in Infinite Space. Primary design work was completed in 2013, after a couple of months of development, with collaborative contributions by the programing staff. The artwork has been developed for many different uses including fundraising event collateral, outreach materials, and store displays. A full version of the most completely developed presentation can be found HERE. In relation to my passion for space and education and my aesthetic style, this project represents some of my strongest work. MORE >>> Adventures in Infinite Space is a creative writing fieldtrip developed in 2011. As part of this program, students collaboratively start a short space adventure. The students break into smaller groups and finish the stories individually. The workbook is used in connection with World Wide Telescope, a desktop application that seamlessly stiches together countless images from telescopes to create an immersive environment. As the story is developed, the text is dropped into the chapbook’s InDesign template, printed, and assembled on-the-fly. The design of the chapbook meets the organization’s high design standards and is engaging to students, while remaining flexible, easy to use, and easy to print.