First Place Gold: Winning SEMC's 2026 Publications Competition for Oakland’s Annual Report

My very first project with Historic Oakland Foundation just brought home a major honor. The 2026 Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) Publications Competition jury awarded our 2025 Annual Report First Place (Gold)!

Winning this award for my debut project with the organization is an absolute dream start, and I am so excited to share a peek inside the publication.

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Hands On with the Brand

This project gave me my first opportunity to work directly with Oakland’s brand system, originally designed by Son&Sons. Stepping into an established brand identity can be equal parts thrilling and daunting, but it allowed for a deep dive into creative and strategic storytelling.

My goal was simple: bring the real world impact of the Historic Oakland Foundation to life. Designing the 2025 Annual Report meant finding the sweet spot where clear data, beautiful visuals, and strategic narrative meet. It is a true honor to be the person who got to shape how our community experiences the story of Oakland's past year.

Behind the Pages

An annual report is more than a recap of numbers; it is a creative record of community, preservation, and history. Here are a few highlights of what made this project special:

• Strategic Layouts: Balancing dense financial and operational data with clean, engaging visual design.

• Brand Evolution: Taking existing design elements and pushing them into fresh layouts that feel modern yet respectful of history.

• Impact Visuals: Highlighting the people, restoration projects, and community members who make Oakland a vibrant landmark.

  
  

Grateful for the Recognition

Receiving a Gold award from SEMC validates the hard work, thoughtful planning, and long hours that go into bringing a print publication from concept to reality. I am deeply grateful to the Southeastern Museums Conference jury for this recognition, and to my team at Historic Oakland Foundation for trusting me with such an important piece of our story right out of the gate.