Project: National League of Cities, 2018

I was tasked to lead the implementation of a dynamic web page that communicated the challenges of the recycling landscape nationally and internationally. We assembled a team of internal project managers, writers, and hired a digital agency to see the work through. My role was to assemble an internal team that could aid the agency in design and development. My vision was to create a dynamic ‘scrolly-telling’ page that could be engaged in roughly 1-2 minutes, utilizing javascript-driven animation techniques to keep the user engaged. In addition to communicating a broad design vision, I played a valuable role in keeping the team and agency on vision, particularly during one inflection point where the copywriting was challenged. I re-communicated my broad vision to the agency and team during a meeting, which was instrumental in re-fashioning the copywriting to meet the requirements of the dynamic storytelling medium we had envisioned.

Creative Direction: Soren Messner-Zidell

Design and Development: Aten Design Group

Project: National League of Cities, 2018

Working with our health team and internal videographer, I guided the creative direction and script writing for our Cities of Opportunity animation project, which culminated in a very elegant easy to to understand animation, not to mention very pleased internal and external stakeholders.

Creative Direction: Soren Messner-Zidell

Design and animation: Dany Green

Project: Greater Baltimore Urban League, 2017

Art Direction & Design: Soren Messner-Zidell

Copywriting: Nicolette Louissaint

Project: National League of Cities, 2017

Working with my very close colleague JoElla Carman, we created a JQuery-driven dynamic interactive tour of how the modern smart city works. This project was directly related to the work we did with San Diego Union Tribune, and the idea was to have this run on the Sunday digital edition alongside the static print version of the visualization. Overall, it enhances on the static visual by allowing users to explore the nested elements of a smart city with a bit less information in one’s face.

Creative Direction, Art Direction & Illustration: Soren Messner-Zidell

Product Design & Development: JoElla Carman

Project: National League of Cities, 2017

Art & Creative Direction: Soren Messner-Zidell

Design: Dany Green

Project: National League of Cities, 2017

Art & Creative Direction: Soren Messner-Zidell

Infographic Design: JoElla Straley

Cover Illustration: Freddy Trejo

Project: National League of Cities, 2018

Art Direction & Design: Soren Messner-Zidell

Copywriting: Brian Derr

Project: National League of Cities, 2017

I worked with my colleague designer JoElla Carman to implement a vision I had for our monthly local jobs report that presented BLS jobs report data specific to local government employment. Our model was the Washington Post monthly jobs report scaled down utilizing a minimalist data visualization component with a limited color palette. The design was developed using d3.js to include the functionality to auto-update through the BLS API so a designer/developer would not need to update the data monthly.

Creative Direction: Soren Messner-Zidell

Design and development: JoElla Carman

Project: National League of Cities, 2018

In early 2018, I was tasked with the leading the incorporation of the Congressional City Conference look into the NLC master brand. I worked with my team of designers to concept and execute the CCC identity which culminated in our 2018 annual conference.

Creative Direction & Art Direction: Soren Messner-Zidell

My team worked with ClearChannel Outdoor to produce digital billboards that promoted NLC’s Rebuild With Us infrastructure campaign. The billboards ran across the country and were viewed by 19,000,000 individuals.

Project: National League of Cities, 2018

Creative Direction & Design: Soren Messner-Zidell

Design: Dany Green

Project: National League of Cities, 2017

Art Direction: Soren Messner-Zidell

Project: National League of Cities, 2017

Creative Direction: Soren Messner-Zidell

Design and videography: Dany Green

Project: Healthcare Ready, 2018

Art Direction & Design: Soren Messner-Zidell

Copywriting: Sarah Baker & Nicolette Louissaint

Project: National League of Cities, 2016-2017

Art Direction & Design: Soren Messner-Zidell

Project: National League of Cities, 2016

Art & Creative Direction: Soren Messner-Zidell

Design: Chris Katalinas

Project: The National League of Cities, 2017

Art & Creative Direction: Soren Messner-Zidell

Design: JoElla Straley

Working with a team of writers and an expert sound editor, I conceptualized, designed and animated this After Effects motion graphic that tells the story of how cities are the impetus for the sharing economy.

Project: National League of Cities, 2015

Design, concept, animation: Soren Messner-Zidell.

Writing: Tom Martin, Brooks Rainwater, Nicole Dupuis and Soren Messner-Zidell.

I worked with the HCC Insurance marketing team to create an eBook for foreigners traveling to the United States that focussed on the fundamental cultures and customs of the United States. We created a light, airy and accessible content marketing product that offered insight and tips to getting around the USA while also promoting essential insurance products for those traveling abroad.

Project: Tokio Marine/HCC Insurance, 2016

Art Direction & Design: Soren Messner-Zidell

Writing: Kelli Vorndran