What a delight working with celebrity chef Carrie Nahabedian, opening her second restaurant, Brindille (BRAUN-DEE), in Chicago. Creative assets for the launch included the identity, website design, and photo art direction for notable items on the menu. ART DIRECTION AND DESIGN: Sarah McNerney DESIGN: Shelly Ebnett PHOTOGRAPHER: Howard Bjornson

A group of concerned citizens came together to help raise money for Minneapolis’ iconic FIRST AVENUE. We wanted our beloved independent music venue to survive the pandemic and continue for another 50 years. DESIGN and PHOTOGRAPHY: Sarah McNerney

As Director of Design I had the opportunity to teach the new guidelines across all departments and vendors. In addition, we workshopped the new brand guidelines into proof of concept for all channels prior to execution. My team of 10 designers extended the brand guidelines and executed phase II brand architecture and graphic standards. We designed a library of 100+ proprietary icons for dot com and our native app. BRAND IMAGERY: Human portrait photography of people and Blue Shirts (photos Shawn Michienzi), HOLIDAY PROMO creative, EARTH DAY creative.

It was an honor to be chosen to design General Mill’s 150th-anniversary logo. A logo that would need to visually communicate around the world.

Laysha Ward needed a new visual brand as she transitioned into starting up a new chapter after 32 years as CEO (Chief Engagement Officer) of Target Corporation. BRAND DESIGN & ART DIRECTION: Sarah McNerney PHOTOGRAPHY: John Haynes

Little did I know when I designed the two twos to make a heart at the end of this spot how historically significant seeing the world together would become for all humans around the world in 2020. ART DIRECTION AND ILLUSTRATION: Sarah McNerney ANIMATION: PostMotion SOUND DESIGN: Anoop D’Souza WRITER: Ruth Harvey

Design an identity that feels like it's been here forever.

Putting the fun in virtual fundraising on behalf of artworxLA for their Gala29. I designed a youthful identity and design system that was flexible across all channels.

Angela Sunberg is a beekeeper in Minnetonka, MN. She wanted to create a unique holiday gift for close friends and family. A name like Madam Honey Bee seemed to call for a graphic, sassy script. Execution: screen printing, white bread bags, rubber stamp, and printed digital labels for the cap.

B to B branding overhaul for Portu Sunberg. Identity, new website content and design, shopping bags, business cards, style guide and Power Point template. The design included retail winks with pegged business cards and bar code graphic as part of Portu’s visual vocabulary. CREATIVE DIRECTION AND DESIGN: Sarah McNerney PHOTOGRAPHY: Paul Owen

Erika Szychowski had the brilliant idea to reinvent the animal cracker into SPIRIT ANIMAL CRACKERS. I was fortunate to begin her start-up journey with her. Work included designing the logo and packaging. Brand imagery was informed and endlessly extended by the diagonal line. DESIGN AND ART DIRECTION: Sarah McNerney

Mattress Firm was launching a new bed in a box called Dream Bed. Launch assets designed and art directed included identity, packaging, lifestyle imagery, video and website style guide for the development team. CREATIVE DIRECTION and DESIGN: Sarah McNerney | DESIGN: Shelly Ebnett LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEO: Melanie Acevedo GIVE BACK PHOTOGRAPHY: ANDY RICHTER

Michelle Gayer was an up and coming pastry chef when I got to sit down with her and design her identity and initial website. Sassy meets decadent, un-coifed deliciousness. DESIGN AND ART DIRECTION: Sarah McNerney PHOTOGRAPHY: Jacob Gerber

Designing the identity, the brand and the packaging for such a smart entrepreneur was a pleasure. DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION: Sarah McNerney

Brand refresh: new strategy, creative direction, design, and style guide for Funky Chunky. Holiday promotions: Campaign name, creative asset design, art direction and production to hand off to the digital team for all channels and website re-skin. CREATIVE AND ART DIRECTION: Sarah McNerney DESIGN: Sarah McNerney STRATEGY AND WRITING: Meghan Figueroa

West Paw was needing all new packaging. They came with a great set of challenges: less packaging, sourced and printed in US and more credit to the West Paw identity in the market place. It was an extensive design system that needed to work for multiple pet toys with 3 sizes for each. The cat and dog beds that ranged in shape, sizes and material. Lastly, the packaging needed to accommodate three languages. CREATIVE DIRECTION AND DESIGN: Sarah McNerney DESIGN SUPPORT: Stephanie Hoogerwerf

Kill Kancer is a non-profit dedicated solely to cancer prevention of the 8 most preventible cancers. DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND ANIMATION: Sarah McNerney

CREATIVE AND ART DIRECTION: Sarah McNerney PHOTO: Douglas Friedman and Jon Christenson

I worked with Shea Architects for the interior of a new kind of pawnshop. I created a surreal wall mural with the help of a talented retoucher using stock photography. We also designed the way-finding signing. DESIGN AND ART DIRECTION: Sarah McNerney PHOTO RETOUCHING: Jacob Gerber

Senior Designer to Associate Creative Director: Managed a team of 3 designers, engaged and managed creative agencies locally and nationally. Promotional responsibilities included national television and print campaigns, seasonal campaigns, packaging, in-store and on-line promotions. My team helped usher in designer partnerships such as Shabby Chic, Cynthia Rowley, and Bialetti cookware with brand identity, packaging, and broadcast.

Concept and design for artworxLA’s annual fundraising gala, An Evening of Art. Creative promoted the event across all social media channels, Classy website, online auction, TV monitors, event signage and digital program celebration following the event.

Creative direction and design for Amira’s two dozen + best-in-class senior living communities in Minnesota, Colorado, and Florida. Work has included video art direction, casting talent and real residents, digital quarterly newsletter and anniversary design system that would work for all properties.