Michael Ward
4 REASONS TO GET TO KNOW ME
My passion for visual storytelling and persuasive design.
I’m a lifelong learner, leader, and big-thinker.
I do interesting things, like build houses in other countries.
My ability to know when not to ramble on.
I HAVE GOOD EYES AND DESIGN THINGS
I am a passionate, curious, and strategic award-winning creative leader. I have a unique blend of experience in design, leadership, and teaching at agencies, nonprofits, and higher education. Over the years, I’ve worked with tons of incredible people doing amazing things. It’s their stories and experiences that keep me dedicated to making real, positive growth.
I’ve been fortunate and have experienced lots in my life: from living around the US, traveling with Americorps, leading the construction of homes in the USA and Central America with Habitat for Humanity, to being a teacher in the Peace Corps all while creating and learning. All these have led to my diverse and unique creative perspective.
Latest Projects and Coolest Partners
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Greentopia Dinner on the Bridge Event
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Common Ground Health Speak Life Event
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ROC2025 Case Statement
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Woman's Foundation Appeal
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Teen Empowerment Sponsorship Doc
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YWCA Case Statement
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Action for a Better Community Campaign
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Compeer Friendship Campaign
CASE STUDY
Food Studio North
Client: Food Studio North
Food Studio North Dinner Experience
CHALLENGE:
Dining on campus has a perception of bad food and no sense of community and connection to the college.
SOLUTION:
Reimagine college dining by creating a place on campus for people who love food. Collaborating with SUNY Geneseo, Clark Patterson Lee Architect, and various builders, the dining Director and executive chef and I planned on focusing this Leed Silver certified restaurant on artisan and scratch made foods so we needed a space to match. Designing the brand and decor from collaborating on look and materials to signage and artwork, down to choosing the colors and styles for the pans, pans and utensils everything plays a role.
STYLE:
We choose soft colors and modern elements and materials to elevate and compliment the amazing space and keep the food at the forefront.
To follow the artisan foods theme, each ingredient/station name is hand illustrated and combined to create the Food Studio North mark. This is the foundation and shows the care put into each scratch made meal in the restaurant. This continues with typographic treatments and signage and menus used throughout the space. The impactful yet subtle artwork and signage let the food be the center point.
ROLL:
Creative Direction, Design, Illustration, Photography
Collaborators: CAS Marketing Director Becky Stewart, CAS Executive Chief Jonna Anne, CAS Executive Director Mark Scott, SUNY Geneseo Facilities, CPL: Architecture, Engineering, Planning
Food Studio logo and grill
Logo illustrations
Main Food Studio logo and all sub marks
Signage at each station
Recipe Books and napkin dispenser adds
Special dinner menu and server
Entrance to Food Studio
Food Studio photography
Food Studio photography
NACUFS Gold metal poster and cupcakes
NACUFS Gold metal t-shirts and banners
PROTECT THE VILLAGE
Partners: Action for a Better Community and The Cause Collaborative
CHALLeNGE:
Changing the harsh reality of how many men of color do not get tested for HIV and don’t know the importance.
SOLUTION:
Collaborating with The Cause Collaborative and Action for a Better Community, we developed a campaign, strategy and collateral to emphasize the importance of getting tested for HIV and protecting your community. The powerful messages Know your Status and Protect the Village are included throughout our digital (organic and paid social media, landing page), printed (posters, banners, signage) and swag materials including stickers, pop sockets, condom boxes, and t-shirts). We used peer brand ambassadors in the communities and strategic placement to help deliver the message in the communities.
Household blinds inspired the style, with the idea to stop hiding and do your part to protect the village. The dark colors, simple direct photography and lion illustrations show YOU have the power. In the campaign mark we’ve brought in the Adinkra symbol Owuo Atwedee which is the symbol for mortality symbolizing importance, further tying in the ABC brand. The mark uses the ABC brand colors and a modified version of their brand font to create a strong, bold, and memorable mark and campaign.
My Roll: Strategy, Creative Direction, Art Direction
Collaborators: The Cause Collaborative team: Founder Becca Delaney, Strategist Lauren Morgan, Writer Alexis Russel, Action for a Better Community Board members
BUILDING THE HC3 BRAND
Partner: Healthy Campus and Community Coalition
CHALLeNGE:
A rift between the college campus and community, fueled by misconceptions and mistrust, hindered efforts to build a united community.
SOLUTION:
Revamping a dormant organization with a fresh identity and name was just the starting point. Our initial discovery session revealed a more profound need for a comprehensive brand and design system to facilitate effective communication. To achieve success, I organized two brand workshops and a hero's tale workshop with key stakeholders and board members, as well as distributed community surveys to define the brand's purpose and mission (fostering a connection between the college and community to reduce substance abuse-related high-risk behaviors). These efforts shaped not only the visual identity and messaging but also the name and organization's objectives. Our design system ensured consistent communication, visuals, and brand language.
The new Hc3 mark and identity embody the spirit of community unity. The speech bubble logo symbolizes connection, bonding, and open communication among all community members. The bold, direct yet friendly typeface and design elements are reinforced by a calming color palette of blue, teal, and green, evoking trust and positivity.
My Roll: Creative and Art Direction, Design, Strategy, Facilitation
Collaborators: Shelly Wolanske Hc3 Coordinator, SUNY Geneseo Health and Counciling, SUNY Geneseo Title IX, Geneseo NY Police and Fire Departments, Geneseo Central School District, Geneseo Community Members, SUNY Geneseo Students, Local Business Owners
TELLING THE OCOTAL STORY
Partners: Ocotal Coffee and SUNY Geneseo
CHALLeNGE:
On a remarkable service trip, students had the opportunity to connect with Nicaraguan coffee farmers, an experience that would ultimately lead to a groundbreaking initiative. Through a collaborative effort involving SUNY Geneseo and Campus Auxiliary Services, the students worked tirelessly to establish a direct import of the farmers' coffee, which would eventually be served on campus. Amazing, but nobody knew the story.
SOLUTION:
By putting a face to the coffee, we aimed to forge connections and share the narratives behind it. This meant featuring the names and images of the farmers who grew it, alongside the personal anecdotes of students who had shared a cup with them - a cup that was also served on campus.
To bring this story to life, we conducted interviews with students, professors, and the college communications team, ultimately crafting a comprehensive brand identity and narrative. We then disseminated this story through a multi-channel approach, including press releases, social media collaborations, print advertisements, posters, and point-of-sale designs. The result was a deeply personal and relatable message that fostered a sense of community and mutual benefit among the coffee farmers, the campus population, and the service project that supported them all.
To convey a sense of authenticity and straightforward connection, we opted for a minimalist approach to the brand's name, logo, and color palette. By employing a frame-based design, we were able to incorporate a diverse range of personal photographs, showcasing students, farmers, and families together and weaving their stories throughout all media channels.
My Roll: Creative Direction, Art Direction, Interviewing
Collaborators: CAS Marketing Director Becky Stewart, Photojournalist Kris Dressen, University Professors, SUNY Geneseo Communications Department. Thank you to the El Sauce Service Learning Program and Java Joe.
GET TO KNOW ME ON LINKEDIN
I’m working on a balance between the things that make me happiest: family, design, and giving back. Like most people I only have 24 hours a day, that doesn’t leave time for everything, sorry Facebook.