originalia is the design studio of julie mader-meersman, a practitioner in the field of graphic design since 1991. originalia was founded in 2004 to focus on its mission of creating high-quality design for the public good — specifically, for non-profit, community, and arts-based organizations. originalia takes an inquisitive and informed approach to the design process that banks on tangible research, and invents insightful ideas through visual experimentation and artistic sensibilities. originalia strives to maximize the potential and create appropriate visual outcomes for each organization and project with whom it works. in its practice, originalia values:
originality — a drive for unique, creative perspectives and authenticity fuel the production of memorable and impactful visual outcomes
professionalism — focused, strategic planning with a personal, collaborative approach that is accompanied by the sophisticated, well-crafted, efficient execution of all projects
passion — commitment, high energy, and love for its work go into every originalia project
responsibility — originalia is conscientious of maximizing precious human, natural, financial, and industrial resources
advocacy — originalia is an advocate for the clients it represents, organizations of social and cultural worth, the practice of fine arts, as well as design through higher education
Julie Mader-Meersman is a graphic designer, visual artist, and design educator. She earned her mfa in Visual Communication Design from the University of Washington School of Art, Seattle, in 1996. For four years following, she was the senior designer at Whittington & Company, a marketing and communications firm in bustling Austin, Texas. There, she did design, art direction, and project management encompassing the entire creative process for editorial, informational, and commercial print projects including corporate, institutional, and product brochures; magazines; identities; catalogues; annual reports; posters; billboards; newsletters; trade show exhibits; and self-promotional items.
After moving to Minnesota, she telecommuted for Whittington & Company before becoming Assistant Professor of Graphic Design at Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2000. There she also served as Design and Production Director of New Rivers Press, a non-profit literary small press. A native of Kentucky, she was invited in 2003 to begin her post as Program Coordinator of Graphic Design at her undergraduate alma mater, Northern Kentucky University (bfa Graphic Design, 1993), where she is an associate professor. She has extensive freelance experience, having done work for clients spanning entrepreneurs to major corporations, universities to mid-sized companies, and nonprofit organizations.
As an extension of her love and interest in typography, publication and book design, in her independent fine art, she produces mixed media works that swirl around thoughts and questions on the definition and conveyance of meaning; personal narrative/experience; the visual/physical properties of words and books; and the processes of recording, cataloging, mapping and documenting meaning and experience.
Her art and design have been presented in many forms, including how magazine, the Arts + Literature Laboratory Gallery (New Haven, Connecticut); manifest creative research gallery and drawing center (Cincinnati, Ohio); Communication Arts Magazine; the aiga/Cincinnati Origination Design Competition; Print Magazine; Plains Art Museum (Fargo, North Dakota); the aiga/Minnesota Design Show of Excellence (Minneapolis, Minnesota); the National Design Educator’s Exhibition (Stillwater, Oklahoma); the gallery of nbbj (Seattle, Washington); in the book, Teaching Graphic Design: Course Offerings and Class Projects from the Leading Undergraduate and Graduate Programs, edited by Steven Heller; and in A/B/C: An Exhibition of Altered Books and Experimental Artists’ Books (The Gallery, University of Northampton, Northampton, uk).
Contributor, How Magazine: Special Focus – Handmade Design cover story, “A Show of Hand,” August 2008 (Tiffany Meyers, author)
big book of design ideas 3 collins design publishing, august 2008 (David E Carter and Suzanna mw stephens, authors)
best business card designs 8, rockport publishers, March 2008 (sibley/peteet design, editors/authors)
Contributor, how magazine: designer’s good business guide, design&creativity: your creative life feature, “Hey Good Lookin',” December 2007 (Compiled by Megan Lane Patrick)
How magazine self-promotion design annual, award of merit, designer promotions category, october 2007
originalia takes three awards at the aiga origination competition awards ceremony at the 20th century theater in oakley > the studio earned an award of design merit for its letterpress stationery system; an award of design achievement for the cover of the book hill country and other poems; and a coveted award of design excellence for the cover of the book, around the square — that's mason by renée walker, may 2007
“Chamber Unveils New Logo, Tagline,” kentucky post, April 27, 2006 (Katie Weitkamp, Reporter)
Contributor, “Too Many Grads or Too Few Competencies? The Design School Dilemma,” voice: aiga journal of design and business week, August 2005 (Steven Heller, author)
“Winter Wonderment,” (Exhibition review), cincinnati enquirer weekend, January 21, 2005 (Sara Pearce, reviewer)
Juror, Horvath Student Exhibition Rike Center Gallery, University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio, Spring 2005
Contributor, teaching graphic design: course offerings and class projects from the leading undergraduate and graduate programs, Allworth Press, October 2003 (Steven Heller, editor)
Contributor, communication arts, “Great Ideas on Limited Budgets,” MSUM gallery poster, Volume 45, No. 2, p 48, May/June 2003 (Rebecca Bedrossian, editor)
Fargo/Moorhead Ad Federation Silver Award, MSU Moorhead president's report, Fargo, North Dakota, 2003
Panelist, “Women in the Visual Arts: Practices & Territories” Red River Valley Women’s Studies Conference, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, 2002 (anna arnar, panel leader)
Design Educators’ National Exhibition Best of Show award, Rosedale Ride poster, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 2000
Austin Ad Federation Silver Award, Victor Emanuel Nature Tours newsletter series, Austin, Texas, 1999
print's regional design annual 1998, Whittington & Company holiday booklet, Print LII:V, p137, September/October 1998.
Westin Hotels and Resorts, “Smart Dining” campaign, global food and beverage division competition Winner, Seattle, Washington, 1995
out of the box, traveling group exhibition curated by paige wideman, 2008 (upcoming)
modest in scale, abecedarian gallery: artists' books and prints, denver, colorado, 2008 (upcoming)
fs08, fs07, fs06, fs05, fs04 (faculty exhibitions): main gallery, Northern Kentucky University, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004
exhibition coordinator, hatch show print: work by the nashville letterpress poster shop, main gallery, Northern Kentucky University, highland heights, kentucky, September 27 – october 26, 2007 (coordinator of co-sponsorship with aiga|cincinnati)
curator, on its feet: contemporary letterpress book arts — a national invitational exhibition, third floor gallery, Northern Kentucky University. exhibiting artists include macy chadwick, Julie chen, carrie galbraith, alisa golden, susan king, ellen knudson, emily martin, drew matott, jeff morin, michael skjei, and jessica spring, September 27 – october 26, 2007
visions from voices: Art Inspired by Kentucky Poetry, Prose and Songwriting, kentucky museum of art + craft, louisville, kentucky, July 7 – october 6, 2007 (brion clinkingbeard, curator/juror)
Magnitude 7, manifest creative research gallery and drawing center, cincinnati, ohio, june 6 – july 3, 2007 (read the reviews in citybeat and the cincinnati.com art blog)
AIGA Origination Design show*, Cincinnati, Ohio, 2007 (michael hodgson, monica little, christopher simmons, jurors) *award of design excellence recipient
A/B/C : Add/Book/Collaborate — An Exhibition of Altered Books and Experimental Artists’ Books, The Gallery, University of Northampton, Northampton, uk, 2007
texture, ALL (arts + literature laboratory) gallery, new haven, connecticut, 2006 (howard el-yasin, juror)
the state of design: selections of alumni work, Jacob Lawrence Gallery, School of Art, Division of Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 2006 (in conjunction with icograda design week, seattle)
word-Art, University galleries on sycamore, cincinnati, ohio, 2005 (Gary Gaffney, Kelly Malec-Kosak, Harry Campbell, jurors)
dialogue between art and design: works by northern kentucky university graphic design alumni, Ross Art Museum, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, 2005 (David Knight, curator)
fargo/moorhead literary festival book exhibition, Plains Art Museum, Fargo, North Dakota, 2004
AIGA Origination Design competition, Cincinnati, Ohio, 2004 (Marc English, Debbie Millman, Sam Shelton, jurors)
NKU Faculty Exhibition, University of Cincinnati College of Nursing Library, 2003
On/Of Paper 2, Adams State College, Alamosa, Colorado, 2003 (Dale Leys, juror)
AIGA Minnesota Design Show of Excellence, International Market Square, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2002
Design Educators’ National Exhibition, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 2002 (Anne Richardson, juror) and 2000* (Barbara Dunn, juror) *best of show recipient
Art on the Plains, Plains Art Museum, Fargo, North Dakota, 2002 (Lucinda Barnes, juror)
Faculty Exhibitions: Roland Dille Center for the Arts Gallery, minnesota state university Moorhead, Moorhead, Minnesota; 2000, 2001, 2002
MFA Thesis Exhibition: julie mader-meersman and yiu-hung li, The Gallery of NBBJ, Seattle,Washington, 1996
Designer as Author: Voices and Visions, Northern Kentucky University, 1996
Open 11, Jacob Lawrence Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 1995
Work in Progress, Jacob Lawrence Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 1995
american institute of graphic arts / cincinnati chapter, member (board member and co-chair, events and education, 2003-05)
cincinnati book arts society, member
design can change, member
