CLIENT SPOTLIGHT
KSDS JAZZ 88 FM
For over 10 years, we’ve proudly partnered with KSDS Jazz 88 FM San Diego, stepping in as their dedicated brand manager to support station initiatives and special events. When this iconic station needs to engage its listener base and drive funding, they trust our creative direction to deliver memorable physical and digital touchpoints—whether it’s through comprehensive seasonal pledge drive visuals, exclusive CD and DVD box sets, promotional apparel, or distinct brand identities for their newest shows.
Harmonizing Design & Logistics for KSDS Jazz88.3
Client: KSDS Jazz 88.3 FM San Diego
Project: Seasonal Pledge Drives
Role: Art Direction, Print Design, Production & Logistics Management
Deliverables: Custom Promotional Items, Promotional Visuals, Custom Apparel
For over a decade, we have served as the creative backbone for KSDS Jazz88.3 FM San Diego’s seasonal pledge drives. In the world of public radio, the pledge drive is the lifeblood of the station—a high-stakes, fast-paced sprint where the right "thank you" gift can be the deciding factor for a donor.
Our role is to transform standard promotional items into exclusive, jazz-inspired collectibles that resonate with a sophisticated audience.
The Challenge: High Standards, Tight Timelines
Public radio listeners are discerning; they don't just want a logo on a shirt—they want a piece of art that represents their love for jazz. Every six months, we face the same critical hurdles:
Rapid Turnaround: Sourcing, designing, and approving products within a compressed pre-drive window.
Tiered Value: Creating a visual hierarchy of items—from stickers and mugs to high-end posters and apparel—that incentivizes higher donation levels.
Quality Control: Ensuring that a creative vision translates perfectly across different mediums (fabric, paper, ceramic) through various manufacturing processes.
Our Strategic Approach
Sourcing unique products that align with the station’s brand identity.
Concept & Curation
A curated selection of "must-have" items for supporters.
Developing original, jazz-inspired graphic visuals that move beyond simple logos.
Production Design
High-value aesthetic that drives higher tier pledges.
Prepping technical files for custom posters, apparel, and promotional goods.
Digital Production
100% accuracy in print and manufacturing.
Designing web banners and digital assets for the KSDS site.
Art Direction
A cohesive visual experience from the web to the mailbox.
OUTCOME
PHASE
ACTION
Creative Execution
Our partnership focuses on Art Direction and Print Production, ensuring the "KSDS look" remains iconic yet fresh every year.
Custom Apparel & Goods: We go beyond the "logo slap." We create custom illustrations and typographic layouts that celebrate jazz culture, making the apparel something donors actually want to wear.
Limited Edition Posters: Utilizing high-quality stocks and specialized printing techniques to create archival-quality art.
Factory Liaison: We act as the bridge between the station and the production factories, managing specs and proofs to ensure the final product delivered to the supporter is "perfect."
The Result: A Decade of Rhythm
By removing the heavy lifting of design and production management, we allow the KSDS team to focus on what they do best: broadcasting world-class jazz.
The Impact: Over 10 years of partnership has resulted in dozens of successful drives, thousands of units produced, and a consistent increase in listener engagement through high-quality visual incentives.
Ocean Beach Music and Arts Festival
2010-2011
Role: Art Direction, Print Design, Production & Logistics Signage
Deliverables: Promotional & Directional Signage, Ticket Graphics, Apparel, Merchandise
Key Challenge: Scaling design across diverse mediums while ensuring clear crowd wayfinding
For the 2010 and 2011 Ocean Beach Music and Arts Festivals, KSDS Jazz 88 FM needed a visual identity that matched the energy of live jazz and the eclectic, coastal vibe of San Diego's Ocean Beach neighborhood. The goal was to create a cohesive, immersive festival experience that guided, informed, and excited attendees from the moment they purchased a ticket.
The Design Vision: Visual Rhythm
A festival's brand needs to be loud enough to generate hype but versatile enough to live on a variety of mediums. We developed a vibrant, dynamic aesthetic that captured the improvisational spirit of jazz. This visual language was then adapted across a massive suite of deliverables, ensuring that whether an attendee was looking at a promotional poster, holding a ticket, or buying a festival t-shirt, the brand felt unified, energetic, and uniquely "Ocean Beach."
The Logistical Solve: Scale and Wayfinding
Designing for an outdoor festival means battling the elements, managing crowds, and coordinating with multiple vendors on strict deadlines. The challenge was shifting seamlessly between micro-design (apparel and tickets) and macro-design (large-format directional signage).
Wayfinding & Flow: Directional signage was designed not just for brand consistency, but for immediate readability. We prioritized high-contrast typography and clear iconography to keep foot traffic flowing smoothly through the bustling festival grounds.
Vendor Coordination: Producing this volume of collateral meant managing files and proofs across different print disciplines—from screen-printing promotional merch and apparel to sourcing durable, weather-resistant materials for outdoor stage banners.
Brand Consistency: I maintained strict quality control across completely different substrates to ensure the festival's colors and graphics popped accurately on cotton, paper, and vinyl alike.
Festival Programs
Web Banners
Signage & Way Finding
Station Show Support
Designing web banners for KSDS Jazz 88 requires a cohesive visual strategy that captures the soulful, vibrant energy of jazz while effectively serving multiple promotional objectives. To highlight the station's dynamic lineup of weekly shows, banners should feature compelling imagery of artists and hosts paired with clear broadcast times to keep listeners tuned in. Driving community engagement necessitates dedicated designs that promote membership campaigns with strong, urgent calls-to-action (CTAs) supporting listener-funded radio, alongside inviting graphics that encourage local jazz enthusiasts to explore rewarding volunteer opportunities. Furthermore, promoting special events—such as sponsored jazz festivals or exclusive studio performances—requires striking, high-impact visuals that build excitement and provide seamless ticketing links, ensuring that every digital touchpoint keeps the audience informed, engaged, and deeply invested in the KSDS community.
Station Campaign Support
To complement digital efforts, a strategic printed media campaign provides a tangible touchpoint to deepen audience connection and amplify KSDS Jazz 88's core initiatives. Direct mailers and thoughtfully designed brochures can serve as the cornerstone for membership drives, utilizing compelling storytelling and physical pledge forms to encourage listener support and renewals. For special projects—such as community outreach, educational programs, or capital campaigns—informational flyers and detailed pamphlets can be distributed at local cultural hubs to build grassroots awareness and secure necessary backing. Additionally, eye-catching posters, postcards, and targeted print advertisements in regional arts publications are highly effective for special show promotions, ensuring that premier broadcasts, syndications, or exclusive live performances capture the attention of loyal jazz aficionados and casual listeners alike in the physical world.
