An Overview of Work
ABOUT US
We see your potential. Fifth Letter isn’t a typical graphic design studio. We want to do good work, but more importantly, we want to do good and have fun doing it. Founded in the spring of 2005, Fifth Letter was created for a simple reason: do good work for clients we care about. We feel nonprofits contribute to our communities in important ways, and we’re passionate about books, music, and film. We think that education provides the foundation for success, and we applaud the initiative and creative spirit of the entrepreneur.
And we will certainly work with the civic-minded larger company looking to lend a helping hand.
We see design as a strategic tool, an agent for change, and a way to better people’s lives through helping our clients do what they do smarter and more efficiently. We’re not afraid of a good idea simply because it hasn’t been done. In fact, we welcome it. Our goal is to create solutions that delight the senses, increase understanding, provoke action, and just feel right. Consistently.
So if you are an educator, publisher, artist, entrepreneur, or someone who works with nonprofits and socially-responsible businesses and organizations, we’d love to hear from you. Let’s discover what we’re capable of together.
PROJECTS
Chronicle Books
“Extreme Barbecue” is a book that highlights homemade barbecue cookers of all shapes and sizes, the characters who created them, and some of the recipes, secret ingredients, tools, and techniques they use. Organized by region of the country, the book weighs in at 300 pages.
Chronicle Books approached Fifth Letter to design the entire book from cover to cover. We decided to use a rustic letterpress approach coupled with some more modern design elements. The overall result is a book that educates, entertains, and makes stomachs rumble, all while feeding the reader’s wanderlust to travel the country.
PROJECTS
Chronicle Books
“Extreme Barbecue” is a book that highlights homemade barbecue cookers of all shapes and sizes, the characters who created them, and some of the recipes, secret ingredients, tools, and techniques they use. Organized by region of the country, the book weighs in at 300 pages.
Chronicle Books approached Fifth Letter to design the entire book from cover to cover. We decided to use a rustic letterpress approach coupled with some more modern design elements. The overall result is a book that educates, entertains, and makes stomachs rumble, all while feeding the reader’s wanderlust to travel the country.
This spread is one of the chapter openers.
PROJECTS
Associated Artists of Winston-Salem
Associated Artists and DavidsonRoth approached Fifth Letter to craft a giving piece that would appeal to philanthropic decision-makers in large area companies. We decided upon a format that would have some artistic flourishes while still being clean and organized enough for a quick read by an executive.
The format of the carrier is not only intended to provide protection when the piece is mailed, but also a bit of a flourish when a more intimate exchange happens and a brochure simply changes hands.
PROJECTS
Associated Artists of Winston-Salem
Associated Artists and DavidsonRoth approached Fifth Letter to craft a giving piece that would appeal to philanthropic decision-makers in large area companies. We decided upon a format that would have some artistic flourishes while still being clean and organized enough for a quick read by an executive.
The dots on both the brochure and carrier reference pools of paint on a palette, while a wonderful illustration by Leigh Wells depicts the “fire in the belly� spirit that drives people to create.
This piece was printed on Pegasus Super Smooth uncoated papers. The mill liked our design so much that it is being used as a nationwide promotion for their company.
PROJECTS
Melissa Reaves
Melissa Reaves is a multi-faceted musician from Asheville, North Carolina, who has been traveling across the country and around the world to share her rock, funk, and rhythm and blues-based sound. Since Melissa is influenced by a number of different musical styles, we felt a collage was the best visual approach.
We worked with Melissa to develop a leave-behind promotional piece for an audience of record label scouts during a Nashville performance. We also created a poster for Melissa to use at venues across the country to promote her shows. And, of course, Melissa also has souvenirs in the form of custom guitar picks.
PROJECTS
Renaissance Theatre Company
Renaissance Theatre Company was founded in 2005 by three graduates of Guilford College. Based in High Point, North Carolina, their goal is to bring performance art into public spaces and “revive interest in spontaneous and imaginative performances� by using theatre as a mirror for society to examine itself. They hope that this self-examination will help to inspire social change.
The Company began with Shakespearian performances in their first season and have since moved into new material. In addition, they are scheduling performances in high schools to introduce students to Shakespeare in a dramatic and impactful way.
PROJECTS
Travel Mania
Travel Mania is a trivia-based board game developed to provide an entertaining way for players to learn about the world around them.
Ooga Booga!, Inc. came to Fifth Letter to turn their game concept into a true product. We oversaw the design, photography, illustration, and manufacturing production of the game in addition to helping with copywriting and developing custom packaging solutions for the trivia card boxes as well and created an original insert to keep the game contents in place during shipping and storage.
PROJECTS
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity homes are built using volunteer labor and are sold at no profit, with no interest charged on the mortgage. Each year the Winston-Salem chapter has a fundraising event called Birdfest. The goal of the project is to engage people of all ages to create artwork inspired by nature that is donated and then auctioned off to event attendees.
We decided to create a birdhouse with a jazz theme. “Birdland” is a tangible celebration of the spirit of jazz and the songs of nature. Named after the famous club in New York City, our birdhouse pays homage to the jazz joints of yesteryear and to Charlie Parker, also known as “Bird”.
PROJECTS
88.5 WFDD
88.5 WFDD, based in Winston-Salem, is the oldest public radio station in North Carolina. The staff works hard to bring a variety of news, entertainment, and music programs to its listening audience of more than 90,000 in 32 counties covering the central portion of the state and stretching from Virginia to South Carolina.
WFDD was looking to boost its image through a redesigned website, promotional materials, printed and outdoor advertising, and premium item giveaways in addition to their first-ever annual report. The theme of "Join the Conversation" was coined by the station manager in a brainstorming session and has served as the cornerstone of all their outreach. The annual report, which folds into a poster, echoes the interesting twists that public radio uses to deliver information. This side of the report touches on financials.
PROJECTS
88.5 WFDD
88.5 WFDD, based in Winston-Salem, is the oldest public radio station in North Carolina. The staff works hard to bring a variety of news, entertainment, and music programs to its listening audience of more than 90,000 in 32 counties covering the central portion of the state and stretching from Virginia to South Carolina.
WFDD was looking to boost its image through a redesigned website, promotional materials, printed and outdoor advertising, and premium item giveaways in addition to their first-ever annual report. The theme of "Join the Conversation" was coined by the station manager in a brainstorming session and has served as the cornerstone of all their outreach. The annual report, which folds into a poster, echoes the interesting twists that public radio uses to deliver information. This side of the report touches on volunteers, business underwriters, and stationrelated events.
PROJECTS
88.5 WFDD
88.5 WFDD, based in Winston-Salem, is the oldest public radio station in North Carolina. The staff works hard to bring a variety of news, entertainment, and music programs to its listening audience of more than 90,000 in 32 counties covering the central portion of the state and stretching from Virginia to South Carolina.
WFDD asked for business underwriting materials based around our “Join the Conversation� theme. We decided that testimonials would be the best way for business people to be convinced that public radio is an attractive medium for promotional efforts.
PROJECTS
Smart Start
At Fifth Letter, we have started a grant program that offers design services to deserving nonprofits in our community. One of our first year recipients was Smart Start of Forsyth County.
Smart Start asked us to overhaul their website by making it more user-friendly for both their staff and the parents and professionals in the community who turn to them for support. The revised site is entirely searchable, has a content management system providing an easy mechanism for website updates, and allows teachers and parents to upload photos of their children to make this a site with true community participation.
PROJECTS
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University, a well-regarded private, coeducational university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, approached Fifth Letter to create a commemorative logo and materials for the 50th anniversary of their move from the town of Wake Forest (hence the name) to Winston-Salem.
A commemorative poster was created to be hung on campus and around town, as well as being handed out as a keepsake during events. The images focus on four areas of interest: the move of the campus to Winston-Salem, scholarly events and presidential visits, athletics, and community service, all surrounding an image of campus with the city skyline in the background.
PROJECTS
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University, a well-regarded private, coeducational university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, approached Fifth Letter to create a commemorative logo and materials for the 50th anniversary of their move from the town of Wake Forest (hence the name) to Winston-Salem.
A handful of materials were created for the event, including an invitation sent to special alumni and guests, a program for the first evening’s keynote speeches, and buttons for attendees to wear throughout the weekend and hold onto as a keepsake.
PROJECTS
Algonquin Books
“Seasoned in the South” is a book of recipes from Bill Smith, the chef at Crook’s Corner, a wellknown restaurant in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Arranged by season, uncomplicated, easy-tocreate dishes are combined with interesting narratives told by Smith in the first person.
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill approached Fifth Letter to create a dust jacket exemplifying the approachable and down-home (with a pinch of sophistication) nature of the book. The pig that appears on the cover is perched above the restaurant and serves as a landmark to guide hungry patrons.
PROJECTS
Whirlpool Corporation
Whirlpool Corporation approached Fifth Letter with the task of designing a promotional poster for their “Spirit of Cooking� contest. The recipe competition is a partnership with AfricanAmerican churches across the United States. The winning entrant received a complete suite of kitchen appliances from Whirlpool, and her church was able to have CeCe Winans, a wellknown gospel singer, perform for its members.
PROJECTS
Logos
These are examples of some logos we have created for our clients. They include marks for a technical consulting company, a real estate developer, and a toy company; a university, a baby products company, and a neighborhood association; plus a middle school, a podcast focusing on politics and entertainment, and a design industry conference.
OUR SERVICES
We specialize in one thing: creativity. Sure, we provide graphic design services, develop ads, and take the time to sit down with a client to simply discuss marketing strategies. While our solutions manifest themselves in many different ways, they are always appropriate when it comes to meeting a client’s creative challenges.
Brand Development and Strategy
Interactive
• Logo, Icon, and Wordmark Development
• Websites and Web-Based Advertising
• Letterhead and Identity Systems
• Media-Rich Emails
• Graphics Standards and Guidelines • Communications Plans (including
Environment (Interior and Exterior)
advertising, outreach, and public
• Signage Systems
relations strategies)
• Murals and Large-Format Artwork
Nonprofits
• Book Covers, Book Interiors, and
• Internal and External Initiative Creation
Editorial Design • Viewbooks and Annual Reports • Posters and Point-of-Sale Materials • Direct Mail and Advertising • Product Packaging
• Capital Campaigns
NEXT STEPS
Let’s talk. It’s never possible to show an entire collection of work or answer questions with a one-way conversation. Let’s discuss your creative challenges, strategic goals, and the tools we can use to take your business or organization to a new and better place.
For more information, please contact Elliot Strunk by calling 336.723.5655 or drop a message to info@fifth-letter.com.