Client: Three Rivers Public Library District

Project Goal:

To design and produce a pair of cohesive, large-format retractable banners for the library’s 50th-anniversary celebration. The goal was to visualize the district’s growth and branding evolution, making the library’s history accessible and engaging for patrons while reinforcing its modern identity.

Key Requirements:

  • Historical Storytelling: Visualize 50 years of growth across multiple branches and decades.

  • Branding Evolution: Showcase the progression of the library’s logo from 1981 to the present day.

  • Visual Consistency: Ensure both banners utilize a shared color palette (terracotta, gold, and teal) to create a unified set.

  • Legibility & Impact: Use bold typography and a clear timeline structure that can be easily read by patrons walking through the library.

  • Portability: Design specifically for retractable banner stands to allow for easy transport between the Channahon and Minooka branches.

Concept & Creative Strategy

Concept: "A Journey Through Service." The strategy focused on a vertical timeline "pathway" that guides the viewer's eye from the library's origins to its current 50th-anniversary milestone.

  • Layout Strategy: The design utilizes two distinct banners to prevent information overload:

    • Banner 1 (Logos): Focuses on brand identity. It uses color-blocked sections to separate eras (1981–2011, 2011–2022, 2022–Present), showing the transition from traditional imagery to the modern "Three Rivers" icon.

    • Banner 2 (Community Growth): Focuses on physical expansion. It features archival photography of the Tri-County, Main, and Minooka branches, connected by a dashed-line "growth path" to symbolize progress.

  • Color Palette: A sophisticated mix of warm earth tones (representing history and stability) and a bright teal accent (representing the "Rivers" and future-facing energy).

50th Anniversary Retractable Banner Designs

Design Process & Role

  1. Asset Curation & Restoration: Selected and organized historical logos and archival branch photos. I ensured the older, lower-resolution assets were treated and framed properly to maintain professional quality at a large scale.

  2. Layout Development: Developed a vertical timeline grid. I prioritized the "50 Years" anniversary logo at the base of both banners to anchor the design and provide a consistent focal point for viewers.

  3. Typography & Hierarchy: Chose a clean, condensed sans-serif for the primary headings to ensure maximum impact within the narrow 33-inch width of the retractable stands.

  4. Production Coordination: Managed the final file preparation for large-format printing, ensuring the bleed and tension margins were exactly calibrated for the retractable hardware.

Final Installation (Library View)

The final banners were successfully deployed at the library entrances. The high-contrast headings are visible from across the room, and the timeline layout invites patrons to stop and engage with the library's history. The 50th-anniversary branding is prominent, creating a celebratory atmosphere for the community.

Real-World Scale & Impact

This project highlights expertise in Information Design and Brand Storytelling. By translating 50 years of institutional history into a scannable, modern format, the banners achieved visual cohesion across the district's branches. The result was a professional, high-impact display that boosted patron engagement and successfully commemorated a major community milestone.