Inspiration & Updates

Apr

Creative campaign for LGBTQ workplace equity

In 28 states, you can be fired from work based on sexual orientation or gender identity. But last week, the Supreme Court announced they will consider if the 1964 Civil Rights Act “on the basis of sex” includes sexual orientation and gender identity. Title VII prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. The court is scheduled to hear three cases for the term beginning in October, with a decision expected early next year.

Recently, LeAnn Locher & Associates designed messages and visuals for a public awareness campaign led by Conway Strategic, on behalf of Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, the world’s leading organization dedicated to achieving LGBTQ workplace equality. The theme, language and visuals we designed were to both celebrate Out & Equal in their 20th year, and to lay the support for a 6 month campaign of raising awareness of their work. Our designs focused on the split lives employees live when they cannot bring their whole selves to work. This duality of home & work, then & now, today & tomorrow, you & I, were built in mirroring the ampersand in Out & Equal while emphasizing the need to do this work together. With twenty years of incredible, hard fought wins, there is still so much to do.

As Selisse Berry, CEO and Founder of Out & Equal says, “Currently, there is no federal law barring employment discrimination on the basis of the sexual orientation or gender identity, and it’s clear that state laws are inadequate. In 28 states, you can get married on Saturday and fired on Monday just for being lesbian or gay – in 30 states you can be fired just for being transgender.”

Mar

Project peek

It’s always fun when a client is able to preview one of our projects in front of their audiences. Maxine Fitzgerald of Portland Community Reinvestments Initiative introduced Pathway 1000 at their recent gala. This initiative aims to educate on the impact of displacement of African-Americans and others from North and Northeast Portland, and inspire to create change through the development of jobs, opportunities, resources and housing. Our project with PCRI includes telling the story of displacement through the weaving of personal narratives, historical photos and maps, and portraits of North and Northeast Portlanders.

Mar

Good morning, it’s time to climb a mountain

At the end of 2014, I flipped through my photos of all of my adventures outside of the studio and realized it had been a pretty good year. The great outdoors feeds my curiosity and inspires my creativity. In 2014 I snowshoed, hiked, paddled and explored through several states, and almost every weekend that summer began an early morning entry Facebook with “Good morning, it’s time to climb a mountain.” I self published a book of just photos of the beautiful places I ventured to, including climbing Oregon’s South Sister, paddling Montana’s Flathead Lake, or packing down Arizona’s Grand Canyon. Nature inspires indeed!

Mar

Hello, Communication Arts Design Annual

LeAnn Locher & Associates is proud to announce our project with The National Crittenton Foundation, Rights & Responsibilities booklet, has been selected as a winner in the prestigious Design Competition for Communication Arts. The competition, now in its 51st year, selected 185 winning pieces from 4,564 entries submitted from around the world. Winners are featured in the 2010 Design Annual in the September/October 2010 issues of Communication Arts.

Mar

Featured in The Design Activist’s Handbook

When I began my career I thought I had to choose between doing creative or doing work that makes meaningful impact in the world. I refused to choose, and today, look how the world has changed—they’re even writing books about socially conscious design. I’m so proud to be featured in this fantastic book, alongside design luminaries and trailblazers who like me, see design as a tool for addressing complex issues, and design that can and should be environmentally responsible.