Since late 2022, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to serve as the Lead Graphic Designer and Creative Manager for The Cougar Cottage in Pullman, WA. Working alongside a dynamic marketing team, we continuously push creative boundaries—developing fresh, innovative strategies to showcase menu items, events, and more. As a proud Washington State University alum, The Coug isn’t just a workplace; it’s a cherished part of my journey, making this role all the more fulfilling. Go Cougs!
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INITIAL DESIGN
The first draft is almost never going to be the one and that’s okay!
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FEEDBACK
Looking good! I do my best to take in all the feedback to create a design that aligns with the clients vision.
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Its the little details
A little bit of this and that! By adding texture, different assets related to the design and adjusting spacing, the design has been taken to a different level.
I was tasked of creating a graphic that advertises "Open to Close" events. Open to Close or "O2C" are events held at The Coug where groups (greek life, clubs etc.) Stay at the bar from open till close. A fun traditon that involves themed shirts. Copies of the shirt are painted on the walls of The Coug. I used that as inspiration for this design.
This is an example of an O2C event. The Coug held one for the Mug Club and I was in charge of creating a graphic for social media and the in house slideshow.
Instagram graphics for a social media campaign called "Coug Love Stories" where people can submit stories of when they met their partners whether it was at The Coug or WSU
(2024)Quick turnaround graphic that was made into social graphics and a poster. Purpose of graphics was to advertise Halloween events going on at the bar.
When given creative liberty on a task I like adding some type of nostalgia into the design. For this piece I wanted to alluded to Looney Tunes!
(2024) Completed this project overnight. Given clear instructions on what client want and was able to execute!
Tasked with creating a template that showed Cougar football Saturday games. Something that could be changed easily every week. A design template that I am very proud of!
Every WSU graduation The Coug has a champagne breakfast where graduates can get a free mimosa if they are wearing their cap and gown. I was tasked with creating a simple advertisement for this event.
(2023) St. Paddy's Prefunk graphic made for social media
(2023) The Coug's main audience is current and former students of WSU. Around graduation time I create different "congratulation" posts that fit with the time of year. This is one that was for Winter commencement.
Social Media Campaign:
Coug love stories
Since 2023, we've run a social media campaign called "Coug Love Stories," where people share how they met, whether at WSU or The Coug. Submissions are sent via Instagram DM, and I upload the content using a custom template I designed. The slideshow format includes the couple's story, while the story is shared in the caption on social media.
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INITIAL DESIGN
We knew we wanted a vintage cartoon vibe. This was the direction they were wanting but something less cartoonish and change the format to where you could see the couple in the bar.
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Submission template
Along with the main post I created a template where I inserted the pictures that couples submitted.
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Multiple Dimensions
Running the InHouse Slideshow, I am in charge of keeping the material up to date. That includes formatting any social media graphics for the slideshow!
Social Media Project campaign:
ZODIAC SIGNS AS MENU ITEMS
During the summer of '23, I created a carousel of "Zodiac Signs as Menu Items." My manager provided 12 menu items for the project, and I used Procreate and Illustrator to design the graphics. The post received great engagement, and it was entertaining to read comments from people reacting to their corresponding menu items. Summer at The Coug can be slow with students back home, so we strive to find ways to keep people engaged with our social media while they're away.
It all begins with the coug
I created this vector image of The Coug and have been able to use it in a variety of social media graphics.
xmas at the coug
Every year The Coug has a “Christmas at The Coug” Holiday party. I took the vector image I created and added so festiveness to it!
Boo!
The Cougar Cottage with a spooky twist! Changing the colors and shading makes such a difference and always adds to the vibe you are going for!
The night before break
Announcing The Coug is closed for winter break is a sad so we had to find a way to make it not so gloomy! It’s not a goodbye it’s a see you later!
simple and effective
Not all graphics with the location need to be drastically changed to get a message across!