Hillyard creative district
branding & Engagement launch
I’ve been part of launching the Hillyard Creative District — helping shape its visual identity, messaging, and community presence as it becomes Spokane’s first officially recognized Creative District. My work focuses on creative strategy, design, and multimedia storytelling that bring visibility to local artists, small businesses, and the community members driving this effort. This has been a collaborative process built on listening, connecting, and translating a shared vision into a cohesive public identity.
branding & identity
Logo System
Logo Design based on Hillyard’s Roots
Developed the district’s logo system, color palette, font system, and branded materials inspired by Hillyard’s industrial roots and creative future. Designed print, digital, and environmental assets that unified event promotions, social media, and signage under one visual voice.
Logo Adaptations
As the Creative District continues to grow, the brand system can evolve alongside it. The steam plume element, which is already part of the current logo, provides a modern foundation for future adaptations. By simplifying the mark while keeping recognizable elements, Hillyard can stay visually fresh without losing its identity or connection to its industrial roots.
Logo Animation
To bring the new brand to life, I created an animated version of the logo that captures both the industrial movement and creative energy of the district. The motion builds through the steam plume and circular track forms, creating a rhythmic finish that reflects Hillyard’s past and future. The animation serves as a dynamic closing element for videos and presentations, reinforcing brand identity with motion and energy.
website & digital presence
Community Website
Cohesive System and Hub
As part of the district’s launch, I designed and developed the Hillyard Creative District website to serve as both a creative showcase and a practical community tool. The site brings together local artists, small businesses, and event organizers under one unified platform, providing space for directory listings, project pages, and a shared community calendar.
Beyond design, I built systems that make the website sustainable long-term. Integrated forms allow artists, businesses, and residents to submit updates directly, while branded layouts ensure consistency across all listings and campaigns. The result is a living digital home that continues to grow with the district, helping Hillyard stay connected, visible, and creative.
Social Media + Engagement
Awareness + Reach + Engagement
Social media has become an extension of the district’s community, not just a platform for promotion but a shared space for connection. I developed a strategy that positioned the Hillyard Creative District as both a storyteller and a hub where local businesses, residents, artists, and city organizations can interact, tag, and share updates within one connected network.
Each post highlights Hillyard’s creative energy through business spotlights, artist features, event campaigns, and milestone updates while maintaining a consistent, people-first tone. Since launching in May 2025, the district’s channels have grown to more than 900 Instagram followers and 760 on Facebook, with strong engagement on campaigns such as Third Thursdays, the Street Banner Contest, and Haunt the Yard.
Together, these platforms reflect the district’s voice and showcase collaboration, visibility, and community storytelling under one creative identity.
campaigns & events
Third Thursday Event Series
Community Arts Activation: Audience Engagement + Community Impact
Launched as part of the Hillyard Creative District’s summer programming, the Third Thursday Art Walk connects artists, businesses, and residents through recurring monthly events that transform the corridor into a walkable arts experience featuring pop-up galleries, live music, and creative activities.
Working alongside the district’s lead organizer and local partners, I helped refine the event’s structure and designed a cohesive visual identity for consistent communication and outreach. I developed a full collateral system for artist highlights, social posts, and on-site materials, which increased engagement and visibility across the district’s channels. To help visitors navigate the event, I designed a passport system for collecting stamps and created a digital interactive map linking participating businesses and galleries.
To support artist and business coordination, I created submission and agreement forms, artist statement cards with QR codes, and a streamlined process for building monthly artist rosters. I also developed landing pages for each monthly event, an archive page for past participants, and a shared planning document that allowed our team to track marketing progress, brainstorm ideas, and stay aligned on timelines.
During the events, I handled video production and on-site filming while coordinating a photography team for extended coverage. I also designed interactive elements such as a themed photo booth, recruited regional talent, and implemented targeted paid advertising to maximize reach on short timelines.
The result was a repeatable and scalable framework that elevated the district’s visibility, empowered local creators, and strengthened connections between businesses and the arts community, drawing hundreds of attendees and establishing Third Thursdays as a cornerstone of the district’s launch year.
Street Banner Project
Collaboration, Community Voice + District Identity
Originally envisioned by a local organizer, the Hillyard Street Banner Project began as a small-scale effort to bring color and character to the corridor. When I was invited to assist with banner creation, I recognized the opportunity to expand the idea into a district-wide initiative that would engage the broader community and reflect Hillyard’s creative identity.
I proposed turning the project into a public design contest, inviting local artists, students, and residents to submit banner concepts inspired by the neighborhood’s heritage and creative future. To make the process accessible and engaging, I developed branded submission materials, digital entry forms, and a structured voting system that included business voting, community voting, and final judging.
Working closely with the project’s original organizer, I also created a detailed timeline that balanced design time, voting periods, and production deadlines to ensure the banners could be printed and installed before winter.
While design contests can sometimes raise concerns within creative communities, this initiative was structured with intention and care. The goal was not to ask artists for unpaid work, but to create a transparent, community-driven process that invited participation and built ownership. By giving residents and businesses a voice in selecting the final designs, the contest strengthened local trust and ensured the outcome reflected Hillyard’s collective vision.
I designed and managed all supporting visuals and communication tools, including a dedicated landing page, social media campaign, and community voting interface, ensuring that every phase of the contest was cohesive, transparent, and inclusive.
After finalists were selected, I produced promotional materials announcing the winners and coordinated the rollout leading up to the public unveiling event, where the completed banners were installed along Market Street.
The campaign transformed a single beautification effort into a collaborative celebration of local art, giving the community a voice in shaping how their district is represented. It became a visible milestone in the Creative District’s launch, uniting residents, artists, and businesses around a shared sense of pride and identity.
Third Thursdays: Haunt the Yard Event
Collaboration, Community Voice + District Identity
Recognizing Hillyard’s rich history and creative energy, I saw an opportunity to position the district as a natural destination for fall festivities. I took the lead in shaping the event’s identity and named it Haunt the Yard, inspired by the neighborhood’s industrial roots and strong sense of character.
To bring the concept to life, I reached out to local historians and creative professionals to help ground the event in authentic storytelling. I also organized a paranormal investigation experience led by Amanda Paulson, managing all ticketing logistics and directing proceeds back to support the Creative District.
Local businesses took ownership of their roles and developed their own activities within the shared theme. The event spanned the corridor with Irish dancers, pumpkin carving contests, tarot readings, horror trivia, and live music, turning the neighborhood into a lively and walkable Halloween experience.
As part of National Arts and Humanities Month, I created an Arts and Heritage Passport encouraging attendees to explore the district’s landmarks and creative spaces. Through historical research, I wove Hillyard’s rail-era past and cultural evolution into an interactive “scavenger hunt” with clues, printed materials, and digital maps.
The result was an immersive and collaborative celebration that blended arts, heritage, and Halloween into one community-driven event. Haunt the Yard not only expanded the district’s seasonal programming but also strengthened its identity as a cultural destination rooted in local storytelling.
Video storytelling
relationship building
A collaborative post demonstrating how authentic relationships and shared storytelling expand reach. The addition of a high-profile creative collaborator helped the content achieve over 18,000 views organically.
strategic collaboration
Partnered with creative producer and storyteller Amanda Paulson to expand visibility for Hillyard’s creative community through shared storytelling and cross-platform engagement. This collaboration leveraged Amanda’s 200K+ audience to highlight local art, history, and neighborhood revitalization while emphasizing authentic creative connection over promotion.
city-wide initiatives
Campaigns that align with Spokane’s broader creative-economy goals. These efforts amplify city-level visibility for the district, encouraging collaboration among organizations, artists, and civic partners.
community recognition
A community highlight post recognizing the artists, musicians, and collaborators featured in Hillyard’s creative events. By tagging and uplifting individual contributors, this campaign encouraged cross-promotion, built excitement, and fostered a sense of shared ownership within Spokane’s creative network.
I first got involved in Hillyard while helping a local business with marketing and design. I was invited to a community meeting where people were talking about creative projects they wanted to bring to life in the neighborhood. After hearing their ideas, I introduced myself, shared my background, and offered to help however I could. From there, I began attending meetings regularly — listening, learning, and finding ways to contribute through design, storytelling, and strategy. What started as a small introduction turned into a much bigger effort to help Hillyard build its creative identity and share its story as Spokane’s first Creative District.
Social media & Cross promotion
Thoughtful storytelling, audience insight, and consistent engagement form the foundation of every campaign. By combining clear messaging with authentic partnerships, these posts demonstrate how intentional social strategy can turn creative ideas into measurable impact.