Commercial services
About Shepard Art Studio
A team designed to fit you (...not the other way around)
Shepard Art Studio is an ODOT and MDOT (Maryland) DBE who specializes in non-profit and governmental clients. Most of us have over 20 years of industry experience in diverse media such as animation, graphic design, web design, web applications, and illustration—just to name a few. But best of all, our team will be transformed to fit your individual needs. Read our bios.
The chops to get it done (...and the war stories to prove it)
Because we work in a collaborative, virtual team, you may get more top-of-their-field professionals than if you go with a provider with a more traditional business model. Throughout this website you’ll see examples showcasing our successes. For example, we helped design and implement a communications program for Benefit Coordinators for the Maryland Supplemental Retirement Plans that resulted in a NAGDCA (National Association of Governmental Defined Contribution Administrators) award in 2014 and 2015. See the case study.
We work great together (...like peanut butter and jelly)
We’ve been working together since 2008. We recently collaborated on a large project for Save the Dream Ohio for the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) that will help thousands of Ohioans keep their homes. We connected the website tool found on savethedreamohio.gov to the back office at OHFA. Other clients we’ve collaborated with are: Children’s Hunger Alliance, Central Ohio Urology Group, Cristo Rey, Green Columbus, and Columbus City Schools. Read more about these projects in our work samples.
The backstory
Shepard Art Studio is a graphic design/creative direction business formed on September 11, 2008. After having the opportunity to manage the creative process at a Fortune 100 Company, Linda Shepard has developed and maintained numerous relationships with professionals in the field. Shepard Art Studio possesses solid real-world experience with the marketing and communications process from start to finish. As a small business entity, Shepard Art Studio often collaborates with other solopreneurs to provide marketing services in a virtual agency relationship.
Our Approach
Sample Project Life-cycles
Revisions to existing print pieces or existing web pages have a simplified project lifecycle compared to communications or campaigns that are brand new. Similarly, once a rhythm is established between client and designer, project lifecycles tend to be more streamlined and less formal.
Sample print life-cycle
- Goals
- Audience/quantity
- Budget
- Due date
- Requirements
- Preferences
- Get print quotes if needed
- Initiate project and supply written content in project management website
- First draft for review within 1 week
- Multiple design options when appropriate
- Revisions within 1-5 days depending on complexity/availability
- Plan for 6 weeks
*The most unpredictable step. Generally, the more reviewers, the longer the cycle.
- Email client approval
- Purchase final photos or artwork if needed
- Package and transfer art to printer
- Plan for 1 week
- Receive printer’s proof within 2 days
- Client signs-off on proof
- 1 week production after proof approval for most print jobs
- Mailings require extra time
- Plan for 3 weeks
- Send samples to designer and client for quality control.
- This helps the designer see how the design looks in real life.
- Source files archived in project management system where client can download.
Sample web life-cycle (re-design or micro-site)
- Initiate project in project management website
- File scope/requirements document: platform, content management etc.
- Identify team
- Budget
- Due date
- Preferences
- Plan for 3 weeks
- Wireframe navigation diagrams
- Suggested technology/development platform
- Plan for 2 weeks
- Non-functional mock-up designs
- Once approved, coding on a development server can begin
- Purchase any resources needed (i.e. licenses, artwork, photography)
- Plan for 4 weeks
- Review and revise working pages on a web development site
- Check responsiveness and make adjustments
- Add comments and fixes through online project management system
- Plan for 6 weeks
- Launch site or portions of the site to your URL
- Train your staff to add/edit content on website if desired
Sample web lifecycle (edit content on existing site)
- Add task to online project management website
- Changes made to existing content
- Notify client that changes are ready for review
- Plan for 1 week
- For new content or pages, links or pages are activated on live website after approval
- Text edits are active on the live site immediately after coding
Work Samples
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MSRP Savings Expo
MSRP collaborated with Maryland Tourism to present “Desination Maryland: Great things to see and do in Maryland while preparing for the future.” Nearly 600 people attended each event. We provided supporting materials that include: a 16-page program booklet, 24x36" posters, formatted emails, video, on-site signage as well as the “MSRP expo” app on Google Play or the App Store.
- SP tag
Bios.
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Linda Shepard
Principal
Summary
Linda is a Creative Director with a reputation for making things happen. No matter how nebulous the request, no matter when, no matter what was tried before, she can bring marketing communications to life. She has a talent for asking the right questions to the right people to gain a clear understanding of the desired outcome. She can translate and simplify complex subjects into a single-minded message that resonates with the audience.
What she can do for you
Linda is a generalist. She does a little bit of nearly everything: print design, branding, web design, presentations, motion design (video), and information hierarchy. Linda will get to know your brand and advocate for it. She’ll strive to create communications that drive action. She’ll bring in the right specialists for the right projects at the right time and manage the process to make your job easier.
Linda will be your primary point of contact with Shepard Art Studio, will handle day-to-day operations, communications, graphic design, project management and invoicing.
Background
Linda is the current owner of Shepard Art Studio, a graphic design and creative direction business founded in 2008. Prior to that, she was a creative director for Nationwide, an art director for OCLC and a graphic designer and manager for an in-house print shop at the Columbus Board of Realtors. Linda has a bachelor’s degree in industrial design from Charleston Southern University. She has 24 years of experience in graphic design.
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Brian Greenwood
Graphic Designer & Creative Direction
Summary
Brian is a creative and development veteran of over 21 years, he has become a master of his craft and the many skill sets needed to execute it effectively. He has worked with groups ranging from small non-profit start-ups to sports franchises to a multi-billion dollar corporation.
What he can do for you
If you need a brand developed and then executed in advertising communications ranging from a vehicle wrap promoting a facebook page that links to an ADA compliant responsive web site that is tied directly into your back office...You need Brian. Brian is in the front of the bell curve with technology and has a passion for helping non-profits succeed. He will learn the barriers you face, and help you overcome them. He will understand the limits set forth by legal restrictions and how to work within them. He never gets discouraged when a lawyer, board member or compliance officer says no. He will discover new ways to communicate instead.
Brian will be the primary provider for web planning, coding, design and implementation. He will also be our high-level expert on branding, communication strategy and fulfillment.
The Shepard Art Studio connection
Brian worked as a graphic designer on Linda Shepard’s staff at Nationwide. He was quickly promoted to a management position and left Nationwide about the same time as Linda. They’ve been collaborating on projects ever since.
Background
Brian has worked with Ohio Domestic Violence Network, The Ohio State University, The Medical Group of Ohio, Volunteers of America, Clean Fuels Ohio, The Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, Green Columbus, The Columbus Medical Association and many more. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the Columbus College of Art and Design.
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Dan Holstine
Graphic Designer
Summary
Dan is a creative with more than 20 years of graphic design and writing experience. He began his professional career in public relations, serving as a writer and account executive before becoming a freelance designer—creating graphics for print and web, writing copy and proofreading.
What he can do for you
Dan is a talented designer who can breathe new life into stale communications. If you have some pieces that you use all the time, and like the content, but wish there was a better, fresher way to break-up and communicate the information, Dan is your man. His unique combination of design with writing/editing skills adds value to visual communications.
The Shepard Art Studio connection
Dan worked as a graphic designer on Linda Shepard’s staff at Nationwide. He recently “made-over” a distributions booklet for MSRP. He combined two existing print pieces by merging content, eliminating redundancy and creating a logical flow.
Background
Dan is currently a full-time contract worker. Prior to that he served as the Creative Manager at West Virginia University Institute of Technology. However, he spent most of his career working in the creative department at Nationwide. His early career includes managing freelancers and public relations. Dan has a a bachelor’s degree in communications from West Virginia State University and a bachelor’s degree in web page, digital/multimedia and information resources design from Franklin University.
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Emily Shepard
Illustrator/Photographer
Summary
Emily is one of our millenials who is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree from Morehead State University with a minor in art. She's the Morehead State Equestrian team's social media maven/historian/photographer.
What she can do for you
Emily can bring a fresh perspective to your communications. She is strong at concepting and creating illustrations that range from whimsical to evocative.
The Shepard Art Studio connection
Emily is Linda Shepard's daughter. Her meticulous nature makes her our go-to proofreader. She also does illustration and concept work for our clients.
Overview
Maryland Supplemental Retirement Plans (MSRP) provides 457(b), 401(k), 403(b) and 401(a) plans for Maryland State employees. Across the state, 300+ Benefit Coordinators are the first point of contact for employer-sponsored benefits like healthcare, pensions, leave etc. Supplemental retirement plans are not easily understood, so MSRP created Benefit Coordinators’ Academies to help Benefit Coordinators understand how they work and why they’re needed.
Strategy
MSRP invited Benefit Coordinators to half‐day events to learn more about the Plans, network and have fun. Door prizes, games and giveaways were be used to boost attendance. The Academy was offered in seven different locations, each with a different date, across the state. Each was run by the Team MSRP members who service that portion of the state. Attendees left with a package of materials to help them support the Plans.
Getting the word out
MSRP maintains a database of contact information of Benefit Coordinators and staff who administer benefits for state employees. This list was used to:
- Mail a formal, printed invitation one month prior to the first event date
- Email two weeks prior, one week prior and two weeks beyond the first date encouraging people to RSVP for an event
- Call Benefit Coordinators who had not responded
A series of emails sent prior to the events.
The events
Each Benefit Coordinators’ Academy began at 8:30 a.m. with a complimentary hot breakfast with the official program beginning at 9:15 and concluding at 12:30. The program included:
- Introduction of Team MSRP members and explanation of their roles
- Overview of MSRP plans and why they can have a profound impact on employees’ financial readiness
- MSRP education offerings broken down by early‐, mid‐, and late‐career employees
- Role‐play between Team MSRP and Benefit Coordinators
- “401k Feud” game based on “Family Feud”
- “What you can do to help” asking Benefit Coordinators to:
- Schedule on‐site education workshops/visits
- Participate in the Step‐by‐Step enrollment process
Materials distributed during the events.
Follow up
- Benefit Coordinators left the Academy with a tote bag full of supporting materials including:
- A wire‐bound description of resources available through the website and a listing of available workshops
- A Spectrum of investment options to help participants diversify and choose funds
- The Basics enrollment kit
- A Step‐by‐Step enrollment form with Step‐by‐Step booklet
- MSRP updated the Benefit Coordinators’ section of their website on MSRP.maryland.gov to include a copy of the slide deck from the Benefit Coordinators’ Academy and a 2‐minute video on the Step‐by‐Step Enrollment process.
- An online survey was emailed to each Benefit Coordinator on the mail list
- Retirement Specialists visited each Benefit Coordinator to go over the Step‐by‐Step enrollment process:
- Ask all new employees to fill in the contact information on the form regardless of whether or not they’re ready to join the plan
- Provide new employees with the Step‐by‐Step welcome booklet
- Fax completed forms to MSRP office
Each Retirement Specialist left behind a supply of welcome booklets, a fax cover sheet with the agency number and work address already filled in for Step‐by‐Step forms and a Team MSRP Contacts flier developed especially for Benefit Coordinators.
Results
This campaign resulted in a NAGDCA (National Association of Governmental Defined Contribution Administrators) Leadership Award.
- Nearly half, 126 of the 316 Benefit Coordinators across the state attended an event.
- 88% of survey respondents indicated they learned useful information to use in their job
- 71% scheduled a workshop or site visit
- 88% indicated they understand their role in the new enrollment process
- New plan enrollments increased by 43% over the previous quarter