Less Social Media, More Strategy
JRC designer Jenni Pagano and I attended and completed the 2026 Certificate in Social Media Marketing & Fundraising program, and we’d like to share what we learned with you! The program is led by Tucson-based Heather Mansfield, who is the founder and editor-in-chief of Nonprofit Tech for Good.
What I learned serving on the Chandler Arts Commission
It’s been 8 years, and my Chandler Arts Commission service is done! I served two terms, plus an additional 2 years of someone else’s term. Let me count the ways this experience has been valuable to me:
Mindful Marketing is Strategic Marketing
Everyday we’re bombarded with marketing messages from every direction. Your message is one of many, trying desperately to influence those who would most benefit from hearing it.
2025 Year in Review
As we close out 2025, we’d like to thank our valued clients and partners, and share some accomplishments. It’s been a challenging year for many of our non-profit clients; they faced wildfires, lost grant funding, anti-immigrant actions, and the push against the DEI principles so many of us support. We are inspired by their resilience, flexibility … Read more
Honoring Our Ancestors – Saying Goodbye to Colleagues and Friends
Dia de los Muertos is a time to remember our ancestors, and there are two recent passings on my mind. The first, Peter J. Harris, was a longtime friend and colleague who I collaborated with for 10-plus years, building his websites, designing graphics for his SEE YOU campaign, and working on the Altadena Poetry Review … Read more
Fast Websites: Good for Users and the Planet
We’ve been hearing a lot lately about the environmental toll of AI. While AI, websites and apps appear “invisible” to our eyes, they are powered by giant servers across the globe, consuming huge amounts of energy and resources. We can reduce this toll by creating fast websites, helping the planet while improving user experience and … Read more
Logo Refresh: Time for a Change?
Your logo is more than just a pretty picture. It’s a communication tool that represents your brand’s purpose and personality. If it’s not doing that job, it’s time for a change. Read on to find out whether you need a logo refresh or redesign. File Format Frustrations Do vendors keep asking for “vector files” and … Read more
May 2025 News
Are you trying to keep hope alive amidst the chaos in DC and around the globe? Us too. We’re inspired by positive actions taking place in our neighborhoods and communities. These stories may not generate as much noise but their impact can be huge. Let’s all dig a little deeper to find those nuggets. Read … Read more
Fall 2024 News
Here we are, less than three months until the end of the year. We hope everyone is doing well and, if in Arizona, enjoying the slow cool down in temperature! We’ve had a busy summer here at JRC – see below for what we’ve been up to lately! Gathering Elan – Brand Refresh + WebsiteGathering Elan is … Read more
Summer 2024 News
Summer News!Happy June! It’s hard to believe we are quickly approaching the halfway point of 2024. Read our updates below and be sure to check out our office closure dates! Julie’s UpdateExciting news! Julie has been appointed Chair of the Chandler Arts Commission. The mission of the Commission is to expand the public experience with … Read more
My graphic design career: a not so brief history
Los Angeles, 1994-2004 I graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Community Studies. The dream major for someone who wanted to change the world. A six-month internship placed me at the Constitutional Rights Foundation in Los Angeles, where I worked for six years. There I honed my … Read more
Purpose: Design guide for non-profits
Second in our ongoing series where we discuss some of the issues non-profits organizations face with Jenny and Laura of Alexander | Carrillo Consulting. Purpose is the focus of this post. Not knowing what your publications are supposed to do for your organization.You know you need an annual report, but never know what to put into it. The biggest … Read more
Vision: Design guide for non-profits
First in our ongoing series where we discuss some of the issues non-profits organizations face with Jenny and Laura of Alexander | Carrillo Consulting. No clear vision about what you need before jumping right into a project. Your publications should be planned out ahead of time.You need to know who you are trying to reach, … Read more
Introduction: Design guide for non-profits
We love to work with clients who are changing the world. But they often work with low budgets, over-stretched staff and aboard that changes membership (and direction) every few years. To get a fresh point of view, we called Jenny and Laura of Alexander | Carrillo Consulting. The superheros of Tucson’s non-profit world, their client … Read more