MICK RUTOWSKI
MICK RUTOWSKI PORTFOLIO
WORDS & GUITAR is a music and photography MICK RUTOWSKI
WORDS & GUITAR LAI THAI KITCHEN COLD BREW WORKERS DESERVE HOMES ROSE THESIS BEHRINGER LOGOS/TYPE DESIGN
zine focused on capturing a small taste of the unique culture of Grand Rapids.
Through a combination of photos taken
around the city and interviews with two
active local bands, the reader is able to
gain a sense of the underground and largely independent musical community that calls
Grand Rapids home, and how those creators have been influenced by the city itself.
MICK RUTOWSKI
WORDS & GUITAR
MICK RUTOWSKI
WORDS & GUITAR LAI THAI KITCHEN COLD BREW WORKERS DESERVE HOMES ROSE THESIS BEHRINGER LOGOS/TYPE DESIGN
LAI THAI KITCHEN is a family owned
Thai restaurant on the east side of
Grand Rapids. This project was focused
on creating an identity and touchpoints that convey the currently understated personality and flavor of this local business.
Lai Thai
LAI THAI KITCHEN
MICK RUTOWSKI
LOGO
MICK RUTOWSKI
Window vinyl helps the storefront stand out from its neighbors, and increases visibility from the street
38
36
LAI THAI KITCHEN
at al e
OUTDOOR SIGNAGE
WEBSITE
Menu
Hours
About
Menu Appetizers
Monday
closed
Tuesday - Thursday
lunch: 11 - 2:30
dinner: 5-9
Friday
lunch: 11 - 2:30
dinner: 5-10
Saturday - Sunday
Hours
About
CHICKEN SATAY marinated chicken on skewers char grilled to perfection. served with peanut or cucumber sauce.
6
BANGKOK ROLLS crispy thai style egg rolls with shredded vegetables and minced chicken. served with cucumber mint sauce.
4.5
CRAB RANGOON minced crab meat with chopped onions, cream cheese & herbs filling inside wonton wrappers, fried until golden brown and served with cucumber mint sauce.
4.5
VEGGIE ROLLS shredded vegetables and vermicelli wrapped in egg roll skin and fried until golden brown. Served with cucumber mint sauce.
4.25
facebook.com/laithaiGR/
Entrees what’s your favorite protein? chicken, tofu, or veggies no additional charge
Menu
Hours
About Us You may be wondering how the Taylor family opened a Thai restaurant. Well its kind of a funny story, I met Sawalee in Florida while I attended a High School reunion. One of my good friends brought her as a date. Long story short, I married her and my friend hasn't talked to me since. I found out through our courtship that she had owned a Thai restaurant in Oklahoma and had hopes of opening up another. Well I was sold on the idea after about a week of her cooking . Now you will see my wife, myself and our kids really trying our best to serve you the best Thai food at a reasonable price. We hope you love it as much as we do...
The Head Chef Sawalee Thamavechmongkol is from Chonburi Thailand. Chonburi is located southeast of Bangkok along the the Bay of Thailand. She attended the Burapa University where she majored in History (mostly at the request of her father who is a history fanatic). She then went on to achieve her Masters Degree in Business. She has worked all over the world in different capacities but nothing quite suited her as much as cooking meals and seeing smiles on the people. So now, here she is, cooking for the good people of Grand Rapids. Do yourself a favor and come try some great Thai cuisine and be sure to say hello to "Gi" (thats her nickname).
About
3.5
5
OH MY GOD (you have to try these) mini basil leaves, carrots & herbs in a cream cheese filling, fried to golden brown and served with cucumber mint sauce.
beef additional $1 shrimp additional $2 seafood additional $5
BUDDHA DELIGHT tofu fried till golden brown served with sweet peanut sauce.
4.25
SPICY GARLIC your protein choice stir fried with carrots, scallion, onion, snow peas and thinly sliced garlic in our chef’s special chili garlic sauce.
9-11
RAINBOW PARADISE your protein choice stir fried with sliced mango, pineapple chunks, snow peas, white mushrooms, carrots and chopped lemon grass in sweet and sour chili sauce. BASIL your protein choice stir fried with a lot of basil leaves, white mushrooms, onions, bell peppers in house spicy chili sauce.
9-11
BROCCOLI a generous amount of healthy broccoli and carrot stir fried with your protein choice in our chef’s special sauce.
9-11
SESAME chicken stir fried with pineapple chunks and carrots in our chef’s unique sweet tangy sauce, sprinkled with toasted sesame seed
9-10.5
ORANGE chicken stir fried with pineapple chunks and orange peels in our unique sweet tangy sauce.
9-10.5
CHOP SUEY Your protein choice stir fried with napa, mushrooms, baby corn, broccoli, snow peas and water chestnuts in light clear gravy sauce.
Cold Beverages 2.5
steamed jasmine rice
Thai iced tea
3.5
coconut rice
2
rice noodles
1.95
egg noodles
1.5
peanut sauce
Thai iced coffee iced tea kid’s apple juice soda
2.25
brown rice
brewed coffee
1.5
jasmine tea
1.5
ginger jasmine tea
cucumber mint sauce sweet chili sauce
Hot Beverages
Thai hot tea
9-11
Sides
mango iced tea
green tea
10-11
1.5 1.5 1.95
1.5 3 2 2 .75 .5 1.5 2
LAI THAI KITCHEN
MICK RUTOWSKI
EDAMAME young soy beans steamed for great flavor.
(616) 456-5730
5
FRESH SPRING ROLLS choice of chicken, pork, shrimp or tofu. rice noodles, lettuce, mint leaves & cilantro wrapped in rice paper served with Thai peanut sauce.
dinner: 4-9
GYOZA dumplings with chicken or veggie, served with ginger sesame sauce
1621 Leonard St NE, Grand Rapids
4.25
PRINTED MENU
Appetizers how should we
Lai Thai
CHICKEN SATAY marinated chicken on skewers char grilled to perfection. served with peanut or cucumber sauce.
6
BANGKOK ROLLS crispy thai style egg rolls with shredded vegetables and minced chicken. served with cucumber mint sauce.
4.5
CRAB RANGOON minced crab meat with chopped onions, cream cheese & herbs filling inside wonton wrappers, fried until golden brown and served with cucumber mint sauce.
4.5
VEGGIE ROLLS shredded vegetables and vermicelli wrapped in egg roll skin and fried until golden brown. Served with cucumber mint sauce.
4.25
FRESH SPRING ROLLS choice of chicken, pork, shrimp or tofu. rice noodles, lettuce, mint leaves & cilantro wrapped in rice paper served with Thai peanut sauce.
MICK RUTOWSKI
mango iced tea
2.5
Thai iced tea
3.5
EDAMAME young soy beans steamed for great flavor.
3.5 iced tea kids apple juice soda
1.95
2.25
Entrees
Hot Beverages
what’s your favorite protein? 1.5
jasmine tea
1.5
green tea
1.5
Thai hot tea
1.5
ginger jasmine tea
1.95
1.5
coconut rice
3
rice noodles
2
egg noodles peanut sauce cucumber mint sauce sweet chili sauce brown rice
chicken, tofu, or veggies no additional charge beef additional $1 shrimp additional $2 seafood additional $5
Sides steamed jasmine rice
OH MY GOD (you have to try these) mini basil leaves, carrots & herbs in a cream cheese filling, fried to golden brown and served with cucumber mint sauce.
1.5
2 .75 .5 1.5 2
4.25
3.5
5
BUDDHA DELIGHT tofu fried till golden brown served with sweet peanut sauce.
4.25
SPICY GARLIC your protein choice stir fried with carrots, scallion, onion, snow peas and thinly sliced garlic in our chef’s special chili garlic sauce.
9-11
RAINBOW PARADISE your protein choice stir fried with sliced mango, pineapple chunks, snow peas, white mushrooms, carrots and chopped lemon grass in sweet and sour chili sauce.
10-11
BASIL your protein choice stir fried with a lot of basil leaves, white mushrooms, onions, bell peppers in house spicy chili sauce.
9-11
BROCCOLI a generous amount of healthy broccoli and carrot stir fried with your protein choice in our chef’s special sauce.
9-11
SESAME chicken stir fried with pineapple chunks and carrots in our chef’s unique sweet tangy sauce, sprinkled with toasted sesame seed
9-10.5
ORANGE chicken stir fried with pineapple chunks and orange peels in our unique sweet tangy sauce.
9-10.5
CHOP SUEY Your protein choice stir fried with napa, mushrooms, baby corn, broccoli, snow peas and water chestnuts in light clear gravy sauce.
9-11
LAI THAI KITCHEN
GYOZA dumplings with chicken or veggie, served with ginger sesame sauce
Cold Beverages
5
LAI THAI KITCHEN
MICK RUTOWSKI
EMPLOYEE UNIFORMS
MICK RUTOWSKI
WORDS & GUITAR LAI THAI KITCHEN COLD BREW WORKERS DESERVE HOMES ROSE THESIS BEHRINGER LOGOS/TYPE DESIGN
SWITCH ON ESPRESSO is a hypothetical coffee company. The touchpoints created include a beverage label for a canned cold brew drink, as well as a run of print ads.
SWITCH ON ESPRESSO
MICK RUTOWSKI
LOGO
SWITCH ON ESPRESSO
MICK RUTOWSKI
BEVERAGE LABEL
SWITCH ON ESPRESSO
MICK RUTOWSKI
PRINT ADVERTISEMENTS
WORKERS DESERVE HOMES is a website and advertising campaign with the goal of
creating a political movement to combat the housing crisis. MICK RUTOWSKI
WORDS & GUITAR LAI THAI KITCHEN COLD BREW WORKERS DESERVE HOMES ROSE THESIS BEHRINGER LOGOS/TYPE DESIGN
This project is the result of an entire
semester of research on the specific causes of the housing crisis, and it’s effects on the working class that forms the backbone of the US economy.
Primary research was conducted through
surveys, direct observation, and interviews with both housing professionals and
the workers themselves that are facing hardships caused by the lack of access to affordable housing.
WORKERS DESERVE HOMES
WORKERS DESERVE HOMES
MICK RUTOWSKI
LOGO
WORKERS DESERVE HOMES
MICK RUTOWSKI
POSTERS
DESERVES A HOME
A renter working 40 hours a week earning minimum wage can afford a two bedroom apartment in zero counties nationwide.
WORKERS DESERVE HOMES wdh.org
WORKERS DESERVE HOMES
MICK RUTOWSKI
BILLBOARD
WORKERS DESERVE HOMES
MICK RUTOWSKI
WEBSITE
WEBSITE
WORK ERS DE SERV E HOME S
HOME
A B OU T
S T ORIE S
WORK ERS DE SERV E HOME S
SIGN T HE PE T I T ION
HOME
A B OU T
S T ORIE S
WORK ERS DE SERV E HOME S
SIGN T HE PE T I T ION
THE PROBLEM DESERVES A HOME
HOME
A B OU T
tell your story...
S T ORIE S
WORK ERS DE SERV E HOME S
SIGN T HE PE T I T ION
My landlords have relinquished all responsibility of the house but even when the ceiling is caving in they only put a wooden board to cover up the hole. My partner’s old house was literally deemed
When the minimum wage was established in 1938
In a 2018 study by MIT professor Dr. Glasmeier,
as a part of the Fair Labor Standards Act, it was
a number coined “living wage” was calculated.
I have lived at two different houses in the Grand
meant to create a minimum standard of living,
This number is defined as “an approximate income
Rapids area and rent has not been affordable
and to protect the health and well-being of
needed to meet a family’s basic needs.” It
either times, I spent the majority of my time
laborers. Since then the minimum wage has
includes the cost of rent, as well as other
trying to work or do odd jobs to cover just my rent
fluctuated in value. Though the number has
necessities like food, childcare, healthcare, and
and utilities, not including groceries or anything
continually increased from the original 25 cents
transportation. This number is around $16.07 an
else for basic necessity. I have lived with
an hour, when adjusted for inflation it becomes
hour. The minimum wage does not equal the living
multiple roommates and it still was too much for
clear that the actual value of the federal
wage. The result? widespread homelessness,
everyone to keep up with to live. If I paid less
minimum wage peaked in the mid 80’s, and has
severely overworked citizens, and a system
for rent I would be able to afford things like
since actually gone down in value. The median
that reinforce the huge class disparity that
groceries or other necessities such as clothing,
cost of rent across the country however, has only
currently exists.
shoes, underwear, and maybe even a car. I use
ever been increasing, and continues to increase
public transportation to get everywhere including
at a rapid rate.
my job. It would help me save money for the bus and in the future be able to own a car. I go to thrift stores for my basic needs for clothing and shoes, nothing extremely “fancy” or high fashion.
unlivable by the city but their ex landlord still ended up charging rent and has now has the new tentants on a lease. Jobs around Eastown barely
landlords raising rent prices it’s getting harder
significantly impacts my ability to afford basic
a significant detriment to my mental health and physical well-being.
Currently it is more profitable for housing developers to
Grand Rapids, MI. 10/21/2019 4:13 PM
construct high-end apartment buildings and luxury hotels than it is to construct low-income housing. The purpose of this petition is to ask the white house to provide tax breaks for low-income housing projects. This will provide incentive for developers to construct affordable housing.
MICK RUTOWSKI
struggling to meet their basic needs, and are
30
severely overworked. Many of these workers
20
give up on higher education, or don’t even
10
pursue it in the first place because they have to work so much just to pay rent. Rising rents are directly stifling opportunity, this is 2016
Grand Rapids, MI. 10/25/2019 3:36 PM
WORK ERS DE SERV E HOME S
not the American Dream. The existing movements to help fight this issue are doing
% CHANGE IN MEDIAN RENT
good work but it is not enough, this is a
% CHANGE IN MEDIAN WAGES
problem that needs to be solved at the root.
[BOTH ADJUSTED FOR INFL ATION]
WHAT CAN I DO?
This is a problem that can only be solved through political action. The most direct way to reach out to the government is through a petition, however there are other ways to get involved to. Other than signing the petition, the most important
“It’s time we demand fair and accessible living conditions for workers”
thing you can do right now is to simply get the word out there. If we want the government to do something, like provide more funding to go towards construction of affordable housing, or even a whole change in policy, they have to know we mean business. Right now the biggest obstacle is simply the fact that the people with the power to provide solutions either do not know the severity of the issue, or simply do not care. It is our job to spread the word, and to make sure the struggles of America’s workforce do not go unheard. Share your story, tell a friend about the movement, do not remain silent. It’s time we demand fair and accessible living conditions for workers.
WORK ERS DE SERV E HOME S
THE CAUSES A multitude of different factors have caused rent prices to skyrocket. In urban areas, gentrification is a huge contributor to rising rents. Gentrification encourages predatory landlord practices, which puts renters into
evicted so the property they rent may be sold for
PREDATORY LANDLORD PRACTICES
the landlord’s profit. Affordable housing is in short supply in general. Due to rising costs for construction material and labor, it is currently
LACK OF GOVERNMENT FUNDING
more profitable for developrs to build high-income apartments and luxury hotels than it is to build affordable housing. “Not in my Backyard” policies make it difficult for land in urban areas to be set aside for affordable housing projects. Despite the
RISING COSTS FOR CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL AND LABOR
scope of the problem created by these causes, a general lack of federal funding means it comes
SIGN T HE PE T I T ION
WIDESPREAD GENTRIFICATION
situations forcing them to either pay more in rent every year, or move. Sometimes they are even
down to city governments to handle most of
“NOT IN MY BACKYARD” POLICIES
these issues. We need major intervention from the federal government to appropriately address the
WORK ERS DE SERV E HOME S
WORK ERS DE SERV E HOME S
three of us still struggle after bills.
“The minimum wage does not equal the living wage”
current housing crisis.
SIGN T HE PE T I T ION
WORK ERS DE SERV E HOME S
WORKERS DESERVE HOMES
cities in the future. Low income families are
40
2010
WORK ERS DE SERV E HOME S
I have roommates to help cover the rent and all
see the same things happening in many other
50
2000
One of the most direct ways to address the affordable
to get worse if something isn’t done about
York have it the worst, but we are going to
1990
state
The issue of affordable housing is only going
it. Cities like LA, San Francisco, and New
1980
city
street address line 2
housing issue is to construct more affordable housing.
Grand Rapids, MI. 10/21/2019 4:02 PM
1970
last name
necessities like clothing and food, which itself is
any other resources for that.
1960
first name
street address
The amount of rent I pay, in addition to bills,
don’t have family nearby to go back to or have
-10
PROVIDE TAX BREAKS FOR HOUSING DEVELOPERS WHO CONSTRUCT LOW-INCOME HOUSING email address
Grand Rapids, MI. 10/21/2019 11:52 PM
and work several jobs full time and pay rent. I
0
SIGN T HE PE T I T ION
and harder to even get by.
school because I couldn’t afford to go to school
60
S T ORIE S
A B OU T
pay and are mostly only seasonal and with
I try my best to work with what I have. I left
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS DISAPPEARING
HOME
WORKERS DESERVE HOMES
MICK RUTOWSKI
SHIRTS
ROSE is a rock band from Grand Rapids MICK RUTOWSKI
WORDS & GUITAR LAI THAI KITCHEN COLD BREW WORKERS DESERVE HOMES ROSE THESIS BEHRINGER LOGOS/TYPE DESIGN
With a sound inspired by 90’s alternative rock and shoegaze. An identity needed to be created with a visual aesthetic that
mirrored the band’s sonic aesthetic. A logo was created, as well as an album cover and CD booklet for their debut LP, along with shirts for merch. The photos used in the
ROSE identity were created by Danny Sein, the band’s drummer.
ROSE
MICK RUTOWSKI
LOGO
ROSE
MICK RUTOWSKI
ALBUM ARTWORK
ROSE
MICK RUTOWSKI
CD JEWEL CASE LAYOUT
ROSE
MICK RUTOWSKI
SHIRTS
My thesis project is meant to explore the link between personal relationships and memories. Our understanding of others
is inherently based on our experiences
My goal was to visually represent the
Depending on the nature of those memories,
particular experience or individual.
with them, which are stored as memories. our perception of others can change. LAI THAI KITCHEN COLD BREW WORKERS DESERVE HOMES ROSE THESIS BEHRINGER LOGOS/TYPE DESIGN
For this series, I prompted the three
subjects to tell me their most vivid memory
Each of these three progressions tells a
unique and emotional story, which is framed by the subject’s memory of that event.
of an experience shared with someone close
It is my hope that viewers will find ways
I immediately took a snapshot of them.
begin to examine their own memories as they
to them. After sharing their story with me, I then typeset sections of each subject’s
to relate to these individuals, and will consume the pieces.
story, as well as creating illustrations
I believe that it is through examining
story. I used these visual and typographic
who we want to form and maintain meaningful
that highlight a particular detail of the elements to create the following nine digital collages. The collages are
organized into three compositions for each of the three subjects, creating three progressions.
these kinds of memories that we determine relationships with, and how we learn to manage and understand our own emotions.
THESIS
MICK RUTOWSKI
WORDS & GUITAR
process of remembering or forgetting a
MICK RUTOWSKI
THESIS
MICK RUTOWSKI
THESIS
MICK RUTOWSKI
THESIS
Behringer is an international manufacturer of professional audio equipment. Despite the size of the company,
their identity system lacks a unified
LAI THAI KITCHEN
voice and personality.
COLD BREW
After a thorough audit of the company’s
WORKERS DESERVE HOMES ROSE THESIS BEHRINGER LOGOS/TYPE DESIGN
current brand, a target audience and core
brand values were identified and then used to create a new integrated brand identity. This solution includes a new logo and
color scheme, a print and social media ad
campaign, a new website, packaging design, product design, and apparel.
BEHRINGER
MICK RUTOWSKI
WORDS & GUITAR
LOGOS
BEHRINGER
BEHRINGER
BEHRINGER
MICK RUTOWSKI
BEHRINGER
DEFINEYOUR SOUND
OWN YOUR SOUND
LOVE YOUR SOUND
BEHRINGER
MICK RUTOWSKI
PRINT ADVERTISEMENTS
BEHRINGER
MICK RUTOWSKI
SOCIAL MEDIA ADVERTISEMENTS
PRODUCTS SUPPORT COMMUNITY ABOUT
Mixers Computer Audio Pedals Drums Keyboards Loudspeaker Systems
CL9 Compressor/ Limiter
DD600 Digital Delay
EQ700 Graphic Equalizer
HM300 Heavy Metal
NR300 Noise Reducer
FX600 Digital Multi-FX
HD300 Heavy Distortion
OD300 Overdrive Distortion
Portable PA Systems Headphones Microphones Signal Processors Power Amplifiers Lighting Systems Wireless Systems
CS400 Compressor sustainer
DR600 Digital Reverb
Accessories
PRODUCTS
BEHRINGER
MICK RUTOWSKI
WEBSITE
BEHRINGER
MICK RUTOWSKI
PACKAGING
BEHRINGER
MICK RUTOWSKI
PRODUCTS (GUITAR PEDALS)
BEHRINGER
MICK RUTOWSKI
APPAREL
MICK RUTOWSKI
MICK RUTOWSKI
WORDS & GUITAR LAI THAI KITCHEN COLD BREW WORKERS DESERVE HOMES ROSE THESIS BEHRINGER LOGOS/TYPE DESIGN
FLAT
MICK RUTOWSKI
MICK RUTOWSKI
WORKERS DESERVE HOMES
MICK RUTOWSKI
Lai Thai
LAI THAI KITCHEN COLD BREW WORKERS DESERVE HOMES ROSE THESIS BEHRINGER LOGOS/TYPE DESIGN
ARCANA is an all-caps display font inspired by type found on tarot cards. The name ARCANA is derived from the two categories of tarot cards, major and minor arcana.
ARCANA
MICK RUTOWSKI
WORDS & GUITAR
MICK RUTOWSKI
ARCANA
the sun Ten of swords eight of cups ace of wands king of coins wheel of fortune the moon
MICK RUTOWSKI
ARCANA
MICK RUTOWSKI
ARCANA
LAI THAI KITCHEN COLD BREW WORKERS DESERVE HOMES ROSE THESIS BEHRINGER LOGOS/TYPE DESIGN
INTEGER MONO is a fixed-width font for programming. It includes both upper and lowercase characters, as well as essential symbols used for writing code.
INTEGER MONO
MICK RUTOWSKI
WORDS & GUITAR
MICK RUTOWSKI
INTEGER MONO
MICK RUTOWSKI
INTEGER MONO
MICK RUTOWSKI
INTEGER MONO
MICK RUTOWSKI
INTEGER MONO
CONTACT:
MICKRUTOWSKI.COM MICK.RUTOWSKI@GMAIL.COM @MICK_RUTOWSKI 616.307.1286