The Challenge

 

IBEW Local 126 needed an anniversary history and program book that told the story of its members, leadership, and milestones across decades. With a large volume of written content and limited photography, the challenge was to shape a compelling narrative that honored the union’s legacy while managing a complex production with many moving parts—including historical content, timelines, leadership sections, and a high volume of congratulatory advertising.
 

The Solution

 

I began by developing a custom anniversary logo that set the visual tone for the entire book and provided a cohesive foundation for the design system. From there, I approached the project as a storytelling and editorial design effort, organizing content into a clear narrative arc that guided readers through the union’s history. Strong typographic hierarchy, pull quotes, timelines, and graphic elements were used to bring key moments to life and maintain visual interest across copy-heavy pages.

In addition to designing the book layout, I created/edited and placed all congratulatory ads, ensuring they aligned with the overall look and felt intentional rather than interruptive. Ads were strategically positioned on opposite sides of spreads to introduce color, visual contrast, and natural pacing helping keep readers engaged and moving through the publication. From concept through final production, I managed and assembled every piece of the puzzle, delivering a polished, commemorative book that seamlessly balanced storytelling, design, and production.
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