Work with the Ohio Division of Wildlife (ODOW)
All of the work below has been completed during my time as an Electronic Design Coordinator with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife. All of my designs were created to educate, inspire or promote the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s mission; to conserve and improve fish and wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainable use and appreciation by all.
Wild Ohio Magazine
During my time at the Division of Wildlife I’ve had the opportunity to work on the Division’s magazine - Wild Ohio. This has ranged from designing feature article spreads to leading two issues of the magazine. Wild Ohio is a subscription based magazine that puts issues out 6 times a year.
Designs for my articles always began with reading through the text provided as well as looking at any photos or graphics paired with the article. I would highlight any important portions of the articles, hunt down any photos I wanted in our archives and start iteration sketches.
*Many of the examples provided are my initial designs before they were handed off to a managing designer, where additional changes were occasionally made based on managing designer preference or last minute request.
Ohio First Cast Material Refresh
For this suite of projects I was tasked with refreshing Ohio’s First Cast program curriculum materials. This included content and visual updates to the Beginner’s Manual, a logo design, fish handling and common fisherman’s knot posters, website banner graphics and certificates.
Castalia State Fish Hatchery Pamphlet Redesign
A redesign of Castalia State Fish Hatchery’s informational pamphlet. This pamphlet acts as the hatchery’s main publication to educate hatchery guests of Castalia’s inner-workings as well as provide a map to help guests navigate the hatchery. I worked in collaboration with fishery and communications staff from Castalia to put together this pamphlet, complete with a fully illustrated map.
While we initially approached this project with a base file to work from, this was truly a re-imagination of the pamphlet. Communications staff approached me with a marked up copy of the original, a selection of new text and an inspiration photo for the style of map they wanted and the rest is history. Working from aerial photos, I was able to draw a custom map in Procreate, adding the finishing touches in Indesign.
Popular Ohio Fish Stockings Pull-up Display
A pull-up display designed for one of the Division of Wildlife’s partner events. I was given a word document with the division’s fish stocking statistics, a few desired photos and the ability to take things in whatever direction I saw fit. After a few iterations playing with photo size, order of the fish statistics and a bit of fiddling with the photo featured on the bottom, this was the final product. I felt the ultimate product ended in a design that clearly displayed the desired information and supporting imagery in a way that avoided visual overwhelm.
Ohio’s Wonders of Wildlife:
Identification Guide for
Young Learners
An identification guide aimed at K-2 aged children, with the intent to provide Ohio K-2 educators with a piece to supplement their Ohio Wildlife curriculum. This piece was produced in collaboration with countless educators from the ODOW as well as several of my fellow designers.
Several years in the making, this project went through multiple iterations and phases before lead was transferred to me. Based on field testing feedback I pivoted entirely from the original format to something with smaller, more digestible chunks of information. This was a project I was truly able to take command of and transform based on the feedback we received,
and is something I feel tremendously proud to
have taken part in.
*Stylized animal renderings in this project include a combination of my own work and a colleague’s, who I worked collaboratively with.
Wild Ohio Harvest Event Stationary
A postcard and folder set created for the Division of Wildlife’s outreach community “Wild Ohio Harvest”. I worked collaboratively with the Division’s outreach coordinator to create materials they could use at promotional events, and to send to partners afterwards. The goal was to maintain the right visual identity, while also promoting Wild Ohio Harvest’s mission – to inspire Ohioans to pursue sourcing their own wild food.
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
Promotional Mailers
A two-part mailer series created to promote the ODNR’s CREP program - a program intended to implement environmental restoration practices around prime farmland to boost crop output and land performance overall, while benefiting Ohio wildlife. The goal for these mailers was to create an eye-catching and easy-to-grasp visual representation of what CREP can do for farmers who invest in it. These mailers were shared with farmers and private land owners all throughout Ohio.
LEBT Material Updates
A refresh and new material project for the Lake Erie Birding Trail (LEBT). This project involved updating the pre-existing LEBT rack card, refreshing its look and aligning it with branding guidelines as well as creating a pull-up display and fully editing the LEBT birding locations maps.
With 90 birding locations, I worked closely with one of the division’s communications professionals to establish map changes and implement them accurately.
Mushrooms of Ohio Field Guide
A field guide created in collaboration with mycology professionals at The Ohio State University. Starting from a mere list of species, and a library of hastily taken mushroom photos, this project extended into a challenging but incredibly rewarding feat of collaboration. With the help of our communications team and several wildlife employees with a special interest in mushrooms, we were able to create a field guide that was not only palatable to the general public, but engaging and easy to use for real-life mushroom ID.
Operating under the DOW’s list of field-guide style guidelines, I broke down each species account, planned how best to display the info, and chose from provided photos, supplementing them when needed. I also ideated and expanded on what I felt could use additional elaboration, suggesting we include an “anatomy of a mushroom” diagram as well as step by step diagram of how to make a spore print. I felt we were truly able to make a memorable resource for the public to use for years to come.
“Pass the Torch”
The 2025 Ohio Wildlife Diversity Conference Logo
Each year, the Ohio Division of Wildlife hosts a Wildlife Diversity Conference where conservation and wildlife professionals are invited to speak and educate conference-goers on the current goings on in Ohio wildlife diversity. This is a great opportunity for educators, students and enthusiasts alike to learn more about Ohio Wildlife, and how they can help promote wildlife diversity.
With a rotating theme each year, I had the opportunity to design 2025’s logo. Working with the parameters set by the Chief of Wildlife and the Diversity Conference committee, I put together a logo to represent the theme “Pass the Torch”. I was tasked with creating a logo with three requirements - it had to have a green flame, a golden torch with three rings, and it had to incorporate the shape of Ohio.
Products
A selection of products I’ve had the opportunity to design during my time at the ODOW. The Division of Wildlife has a robust number of cyclical products which each team member has had an opportunity to take a swing at each year. A few of my favorites I’ve done include: 2024 Ohio Wildlife Legacy Pin, ODOW Temporary Tattoos, 2024 Hunt Ohio Hat, 2025 Bird Ohio Hat.
Photography
Occasionally, based on division and project need, I’ll get the opportunity to photograph DOW events or Ohio wildlife. Here are a few examples of photos I’ve had the opportunity to take while with the Division of Wildlife
“Artists for Wildlife”
& other DOW Contests
One of the largest projects I’ve worked on with the Ohio Division of Wildlife is planning and coordinating the DOW’s first (and now annual) juried art show “Artists for Wildlife” . This contest aims to inspire and motivate young artists across Ohio to take notice of and learn more about Ohio’s native wildlife. I feel really proud of the work I’ve done in conjunction with my colleagues on this project and since its initial hosting, has led to further work at unifying the division’s other yearly contests. Just a few of the responsibilities I took on with Artists for wildlife include:
Working in collaboration with my graphic design colleagues to establish brand identity, logo and color scheme.
Writing of entry rules
Contest landing page design
Social media post planning and design
Entry processing and entrant follow-up
Mailing of prizes and designing of materials included in each package.
Planning and display of the show.
