Arts, Culture & Environmental Projects
Programs & Organizations
Creative Leadership
Publications, Guides, Interpretive & Exhibits
Creating memorable experiences has a deep impact on story. As a creative developer, graphic designer, illustrator, and editorial collaborator, Karen works with creative professionals, community builders, publication editors, program leaders, and teams. From creative development for print publications, interpretive signs, exhibit display panels to nature-based and community-building projects and public awareness initiatives, she helps clients define stories and bring creative projects to life. Karen is an excellent communicator, highly connected to local community, and fosters strong relationships with clients and creative professionals.
The following are clients that Design for the Arts has worked with to provide consult, planning, and creative for programs, publications, and exhibit features. PM: Project Management for teams
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)
Minnesota Humanities Center
We Are Water MN Traveling Exhibit
Audio Tour Script Writing & Display Panel Writing
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Metropolitan Council
Environmental Services (MCES)
Sustainable Landscapes Program
Roles: Template Design & Illustration for Program Materials, Signs, and Interpretive Signs, Copy Editing, Accessibility for downloadable PDFs
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Hamline University
Adopt-a-Drain Program
Brand Advisor, Design & Illustration,
Marketing Guide Design (46 pages), Marketing Website Design & Site Architecture, File Name Convention & System Design (this national program has an expanding library of standard and custom marketing materials that expand as more partners join from new cities and states), Multimedia Gallery consult and icon design for Adopt-a-Drain K-12
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University of Minnesota Extension
Minnesota Master Naturalist Volunteers
20-Year Annivrsary Publication Design,
Illustration for a Timeline Feature, Design of Graphs, Accessibility for downloadable PDFs (archived at the University Digital Conservancy)
Hand Papermaking
Hand Papermaking Magazine
Magazine Design (since 2017), Print Production Management, Creation of Brand Guidelines, Magazine Production Documentation, Adaptation for Digital PDF
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Minnesota Historical Society
Foshay Tower Museum
Interactive Kiosk Design & PM
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Minnesota Education Equity Partnership
Logo Refinement & Color Palette, Web Design, Site Architecture & PM, Higher Education Toolkit Design, Creative Direction for Key Images, Annual Report Design
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Hamline University
Center for Global Environmental Education
Multimedia Gallery UX consult and icon design, Newsletter Style & Strategic Planning
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Melinda Vaughn School Pollinator Fund
Brand Development, Web Design,
Pollinator Guide Design & Creative for Events
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Tanner Barnharst, Microbiologist
Minnesota Lichen Guide (Free PDF)
Field Guide Design & Copy Proofing —
2nd Edition (100 pages)
For over 26 years, Karen has worked with hundreds of people to plan, consult, design, and illustrate for print initiatives, publication design, and packaging as well as online and interactive projects. In publication and interpretive sign design, Karen brings awareness to conceptual theme as well as the smallest of details. Balancing visual flow with typographic and editorial knowledge, she can lead on story refinement or take great care to preserve editor or program leader wording while making suggestions for visual impact. This work extends to interior and exterior environments and exhibits—from illustration and design for outdoor interpretive signs to understanding flow for nature center exhibits within a visual and physical context.
As a visual artist and writer, Minnesota Master Naturalist Volunteer, and a member of Climate Land Leaders, Karen brings unique knowledge to arts publications and projects and environmental and nature-based initiatives.