Unfortunately, in the world of B2B, the vast majority of presentations are handled via Microsoft Powerpoint — not the world’s most intuitive or designer-friendly presentation software on the market. It also means that the content is dry and dull.

But whenever a new client opportunity arises, we try to show a lighter, more creative side to the company. And so I try to make some visually appealing title pages for these business pitches. I understand these are not the absolute best examples of graphic design, but I do the best that I can given certain time and creative constraints.

Santa Barbara Bay Card (Front)

Originally uploaded by quartermane

Our client Future Foods is promoting their Santa Barbara Bay® brand of Greek yogurt dips this week at a New York tradeshow.

The PR team came to me at the last minute asking if I could put together a sort of online pressroom for the brand, including recipes and product info, along with a promotional card to be handed out at the show.

Of course, this was an opportunity to add a little creativity to the typically bland world of B2B PR. Since losing Armorsmith, creative jobs for me have been few and far between. I’m often given the task of updating copy on client websites or designing lackluster e-mail blasts, which of course is due to Microsoft Outlook’s severe limitations. When I do get to work on a new client website, I’m usually just given the task of building out an already-designed mockup and launching the final product.

Santa Barbara Bay’s “minisite” may not be the most creative or beautiful thing ever, but it is something I can say I created from the ground up. And the team was pleased.

The promo card was also my first solo print job for a client, and I think it came out pretty well.

Here’s a link to the pressroom: www.santabarbarabaypressroom.com

View the flickr set here: Santa Barbara Bay Pressroom Set on Flickr

All copyrights apply. Santa Barbara Bay is a registered trademark of Future Foods.

View the entire set here.
Originally uploaded by quartermane

MB&A brought me on board because they were impressed with my portfolio, especially the Wikipedia campaign. They said I had a fresh look at modern design — a good complement to my supervisor whose been doing this for 30 years.

They were having a hard time resonating with their new client, Armorsmith, a manufacturer of combat body armor. The look of the campaign was supposed to be grungy, hard-edged and focused toward a younger demographic. My supervisors believed that I had the ability to mesh well with the needs of this client.

Although my supervisor designed the logo for the company, I was given near-complete control over all the other visual marketing for the company. Below, you’ll see the majority of the marketing materials for the campaign.

While for a time, it looked like the Armorsmith was going to be awarded a contract with the US Marines, problems within the company arose and the brand is now defunct. Please keep in mind that all copyrights still hold.

Included in the campaign: A fully-functioning website, product datasheets, promotional t-shirts, caps & window decals, magazine adverts, and posters.

Just wanted to let you know that I’m now living and working in Dallas. I work as a graphic/web designer for the PR firm Michael Burns & Associates. I moved to the Metroplex January 1, and it’s a really great time in my life. I live with the love of my life, we’ve got a beautiful house, our pets, and for once — financial security! That’s not an easy thing to come by during this recession.

I hope to get some new design work up soon, and I’d like to start sharing some great things I come across. In the meantime, feel free to follow me on twitter (username: quartermane) or look me up on Facebook.

Oh, and feel free to watch the little video tour of my very own office!

Rhino Lino: Artist Proof

Originally uploaded by quartermane

Brad’s been planning to sell his t-shirts (http://www.asabranca.net) at the First Friday artwalk in San Antonio for a while now. After getting the proper licensing and paperwork done, he’ll finally be able to set up shop tomorrow.

But since his license includes the sale of artwork as well, I decided to add a few of my own pieces to the pile. I am going to sell copies of “Kelpie” and “Songbirds” — a collage-style reduction print that my friend Kyra and I collaborated on, and the latest print “Rhino Lino” (that’s a working title).

Rhino Lino is a linoleum-carved relief print, done in the style of woodcuts. The basis of this piece is the famous rhinoceros woodcut by Albrecht Durer with some added elements of water flowing from its horn and jaw. I’ve played with the line quality to achieve a blend of lights and darks. I really enjoyed making it, even if it doesn’t achieve the amount of dimensionality I’d hoped for. It’s my first woodcut, and I hope to improve on these over time.

The price on each piece of this limited edition of 8 is $20.
Songbirds will be $40.
Kelpie will be $25.

This street performer had an eclectic look, and one hell of a voice. I considered that maybe she was lip syncing, but I really didn’t want to think about that and destroy the fantasy. It’s pretty amazing.

This was filmed in Florence, Italy in the courtyard between the two wings of the Uffizi Gallery, in June 2008. I spent a month studying art history and drawing in Florence.

The experience was invaluable to my development as an artist and designer. It helped me to fall in love with classical beauty and broadened my horizons with respect to the rest of the world. It was my first time leaving the continent, and it definitely won’t be my last.

I want to see as much of the world as I can. I’d take authentic Italian gelato over Ben & Jerry’s any day!

View my photos from Italy here: http://flickr.com/photos/mikeeperez/sets/72157606074505610/

The “I [edit] Wikipedia” campaign was a school project for Holly Shields art direction 2 class in the Spring of 2008. In this campaign, Jacob Brubaker, Mark Decker and I came up with the concept to show how everyday people can be experts in their fields, thus making them qualified to edit Wikipedia entries.

Because Wiki entries rely entirely on public edits, Wikipedia has long been viewed as inaccurate or prone to abuse. With our campaign, we are showing that most entries have been edited by people well-versed in the that topic.

Happily, this project not only earned our group an A, but it has been selected for the 2008 Art Directors Club of Houston show, and the t-shirt design design was featured at the 2008 international design bienalle EXPERIMENTADESIGN in Amerstam. The entire project has received high praise, especially among the numerous Wikipedia contributors, and even the official Wikimedia Blog.

The campaign consists of two posters, one t-shirt and three print ads.

Art Direction by Jacob Brubaker, Mark Decker and Mike E. Perez
Photography by Mark Decker
Design by Mike E. Perez
Illustration by Mark Decker, Mike E. Perez and Jacob Brubaker
Models: Linsey Metcalf, Darryl Patrick, Nathaniel Arreola, Jacob Brubaker and Tom

A kelpie, in Scottish lore, is a water-horse fairy creature who disguises itself as a beautiful wild stallion. When a traveler approaches the beast, it allows the person to ride it. Immediately, it heads for the nearest loch or sea, drowning and devouring the rider. Sometimes the beast rips its prey to shreds. No one knows the true nature of the kelpie, but it is known as a fierce creature.

I chose this subject for my screenprinting assignment, in which we were to create a print of a mythical beast. It coincides with my independent illustration course, where my theme is also mythical beasts. This is my second-ever screen print, and the first of 5 beasts that I will illustrate for independent study.

Here is the first spread in my portfolio book. I’ve just thrown it together, and it’s in a very rudimentary stage. I would like to hear your thoughts and opinions. What can be improved? What is beautiful as-is? If you’d like to view the full image click on the image. My apologies for the image degradation on the illustration, but I’d like feedback on the actual design of the spread.

Well, I’ve decided to start this blog in order to update the world on my professional status as a designer and illustrator. Also, I wanted to start out by posting work that I’ve done so far in order to get some feedback. As I prepare for graduation, I’d like to know how my work can be improved. I appreciate any feedback. I’ll try to post as often as I can, and will gladly take any design advice into consideration. I hope to hear from you soon!