Advancing the Mission. Delivering Impact.
Creativity in Government Deserves to Be Recognized.
Friday, March 1, 2019
Learn more about Ken Bodine
My work history includes advertising agency management, municipal communications, freelance content management, and major-market television news production experience. I'm a Partner for the Colure Media and Advertising Agency located in the SoHo neighborhood of Lower Manhattan, New York City. Additionally, I oversee the daily operations of the employee intranet and produce the municipal podcast for the City of Roseville, CA. During my 20+ years as a television news photojournalist, my work appeared on multiple affiliates and network news programs including an opportunity to have my work aired on CBS News' "60 Minutes." I spent 13 of those years shooting for WRAL-TV in Raleigh, NC. This work was recognized with three Emmy Award Nominations. While working at WRAL, our crews collectively built the nation's first high-definition television station. Northern California provides a stunning backdrop to those lucky enough to call it home. Lake Tahoe, the redwood forests, Yosemite National Park, Napa Valley, and the San Francisco Bay are so close, each within a morning's drive. The natural diversity in this corner of the country is amazing. I love hiking a new forest or discovering a unique winery hidden in the hills of the surrounding valleys.
Monday, February 4, 2019
Q & A with Adobe Creativity Award Winner: County of San Diego
Live Well San Diego is the County of San Diego’s vision for a region that is Building Better Health, Living Safely and Thriving. The Live Well San Diego Support Team won the Adobe 2016 Creativity in the Public Sector Award in part because of the collaborative spirit of its partners and the innovative use of design and technology to make a lasting impact in their community.
The Live Well San Diego 31-Day Challenge is a daily digital notification via a smartphone or computer to help participants try new things and accomplish simple tasks each day for a month. Each challenge was sent using an email marketing tool or Google calendar notification and connected participants to Partner resources to help them incorporate positive behavior changes into their lives and create positive habits. A bonus challenge also connected participants to another Live Well San Diego signature event called Love Your Heart and helped participants learn more about heart health and grow towards a healthy, safe and more thriving life. Social media channels offered additional resources in conjunction with the day’s challenge. Each numbered challenge on the attached checklist is linked to the email marketing newsletter that offers additional resources to support the participant in completing the challenge.
Here’s how the vision came about. This is an interview with Lana Findlay, Health Information Specialist, from the Live Well San Diego Support Team in the Office of Strategy and Innovation at the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency.
Monday, February 4, 2019
Learn more about John Jacobin
John Jacobin has over 30 years’ experience within the federal government design space,overseeing the design integrity of published products and social media content, and championingdesign standards. John has presented to the President’s Management Council (PMC) at the White House on design and public policy, to help build institutional-level support for design work in the federal government. John is also the creator and organizer of the Design in Governmentgroup, known as DIG. After completing his bachelor’s degree in design, he continued his training abroad at Ecole des Beaux-Arts, in France. He also completed the Business Perspectives for Creative Leaders AIGA Program at the Yale School of Management. (edited)
Monday, February 4, 2019
Expand your design skills on Creative Cloud
For design apps, video tools and stock libraries, we've hand-picked the top how-to guides, insider tips, best practices and more, all right here, all in one convenient place.
Visit the Creative Learning Hub
Monday, February 4, 2019
Become a Community Partner
AGCA is a platform to showcase creative work in government. If you run a group for your department, agency or in your area, we would like to officially recognize your group and give you the inside scoop.
Send us the name of your group, short description, location, and logo if you have one. We will post it on our website and start sending you updates on the contest and other ways to get involved in the great global government creative and web design community.
To learn more about being an official AGCA Community partner email [email protected]
Monday, February 4, 2019
Take a look at last year´s winning projects!
2018 was an inspiring and very competitive year for Adobe Government Creativity Awards applications. Across nine different categories, we had a total of 489 submissions – over twice the number of submissions we received in 2016/2017.
Government offices and agencies around the world are incredibly diverse, which made judging the entries, at times, like comparing apples to oranges. But certain features can be seen across many of the winning entries:
- A compelling story in the entry Behance project, with some background information, notes on process, and reporting on results, where appropriate.
- A cohesive brand for the agency or initiative, which was featured in illustrations, infographics, photography, video, motion graphics, and/or print media. Indeed, many entries featured only a new logo and any secondary brand assets from a recent rebranding effort. Often, the branding showcased mastery of Adobe Creative Cloud tools.
- User-centric design, as evidenced by user-generated content features, revision cycles that included user feedback, or a project scope that mentioned human-centric design principles.
Thank you to all the artists and designers who contributed their work to the 2018 Adobe Government Creativity Awards.
This year’s submissions were so exceptional, we decided to put together a highlight video featuring some of the video and motion graphic content: Enjoy!
The winners of the 2018 Adobe Government Creativity Awards are:
Interactive Design - Mobile App/Application Design/Interactive Exhibition/Kiosk Design
Category Winner: Rebuild Palmyra
Description:
Palmyra. Probably the most beautiful ancient setting of Syria, becomes the sad example of a threatened World Heritage Site. In recent years, the terrorists of the Daesh destroyed the formerly magnificent ruins. How do we deal with the destruction of cultural heritage? And how can we experience history when the original is no longer there? These were the questions asked by the exhibition »Rebuild Palmyra?«. The exhibition was developed in cooperation with the »Office for Schools, Education and Science« of the city of Konstanz.
Category Finalists: StressAssess | PocketGov.com
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Interactive Design - Web Design
Category Winner: Denvergov.org
Description:
In 2015, the City and County of Denver's official website, www.denvergov.org, was moved to a new content management system (Adobe Experience Manager). The website underwent a complete cleanup and restructure of its more than 12,000 pages. The new service-focused website provides a blend of online city services and official government communications to all those who work, play, and live in Denver.
Category Finalists: VisitFlorida.com | Public Health Madison & Dane County | Boston.gov
Tuscaloosa.com
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Multi-Channel Campaigns - Citizen-facing Campaign
Category Winner: Growing Up NYC
Description:
Growing Up NYC (nyc.gov/growingupnyc) is a first of its kind mobile-first resource that connects families to City and community benefits and resources. Launched in 2016, the site is part of a three-component initiative from the NYC Children's Cabinet and also includes a policy framework and printed resource guide. Through Growing Up NYC, we partner with numerous government agencies and community organizations to get their resources, which are not easily accessible and might have gone unused, into the hands of City residents.
Category Finalists: Your Ohana | Say Yes Campaign | “Take Us With You” | EngageRoseville
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Multi-Channel Campaigns - Employee-facing Campaign
Category Winner: Civic Service Design Studio + Toolkit
Description:
The Service Design Studio in the Mayor's Office for Economic Opportunity is the first-ever service design team within a municipal government dedicated to improving the lives of low-income residents in the United States. A core offering of the Studio is the Civic Service Design Tools + Tactics book, toolkit and website. These resources provide specific, tangible human-centered design methods tailored to complement and support the expertise of the people who develop and deliver government programs.
Category Finalists: One IRS Program | Los Alamos National Laboratory Employee Giving Campaign | Asset Savvy Campaign
Category Honorable Mentions: Saint-Etienne Opera House | NSW Health WSLHD - Quality Matters Campaign
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Multi-Channel Campaigns - Museum or Park Exhibit
Category Winner: MICRO/MACRO Art Exhibition
Description:
Art exhibit and related materials presenting scientific images captured through a microscope, enlarged and printed on acrylic sheets. Related materials include promotional postcard, promotional web graphic, and exhibition introduction sheet. The exhibit, hosted by the Johns Hopkins University (Montgomery County campus), served as both art exhibit and outreach effort to increase public awareness of NIST and its research. Article describing my process and inspiration for the exhibition.
Category Finalists: The Lindau Science Trail
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Visual Communications - Data Visualization
Category Winner: NASA JPL Spacecraft Cost Estimation Tool
Description:
The Spacecraft Cost Tool is an application that spacecraft designers will use to estimate the cost of their spacecraft. The tool will help expedite and provide accurate cost estimates in the pursuit of mission concepts and mission studies. I was tasked with synthesizing user research into an interactive prototype that demonstrated an understanding of the use case, and reworking the visual design to meet Material Design Guidelines. I worked with users to iterate and validate my designs.
Category Finalists: Morehead Kentucky In Space | Preparing for Climate Change | Health Matters | Energy Investigation
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Visual Communications - Motion & Video
Category Winner: Wheels in Motion: A Winthrop Experience
Description:
Branded documentary about a public art project that came about as a result of a Winthrop University professor's efforts to give art students a real-world, paying experience. Filmed over the course of more than a year, this branded documentary offers a look at a public art project that came about as a result of a Winthrop University professor's efforts to give art students a real-world, working experience that challenged them, made a tangible impact on the world, and got them paid.
Category Finalists: Amtrak Military Hiring Initiative: Mission Success | The Real Downtown Miami Film | Oracy - Take Time Campaign | WOOP
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Visual Communications - Photography
Category Winner: Saint-Etienne Opera House 2017-2018 Season
Description:
EN: In 2015, we designed the visual identity of the Saint-Étienne Opera House. A typographic logo describing both the building (with its pagoda-shaped accent) and the mission of this opera (welcome and entertain all publics). As the seasons went by, the challenge was to continue and renew this story. For the first edition, we highlighted the agents, then the orchestra the following year. In 2017, we decided to mix agents, musicians and publics!
FR: En 2015, nous concevions l'identité visuelle de l'opéra. Un logo typographique décrivant autant le bâtiment (avec son accent en forme de pagode) que la mission de cet opéra (accueillir et divertir tous les publics). Au fur et à mesure des saisons, le challenge était de poursuivre et renouveler cette histoire. Pour la première édition, nous mettions en avant les agents, puis l'orchestre l'année suivante. En 2017, nous avions décidé de mélanger les agents, les musiciens et les publics !
Category Finalists: Veteran’s Glass Skyway Bridge Inspection | Dive Into History | Billy Powell: A Photo Essay | NGA 20th Anniversary Program
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Visual Communications - Print Communication, Graphic Design and Illustration
Category Winner: Sinking of the US Cargo Vessel El Faro
Description:
This 16-page illustrated digest summarizes the critical events and decisions that led to the Oct. 1, 2015, sinking of El Faro and the loss of all 33 crewmembers. The digest also synopsizes the more than 60 recommendations issued throughout the NTSB’s investigation of the sinking. The infographics and summary make for an easy-to-read digest, compared with the thousands of pages that comprise the NTSB’s final report and associated investigative documents, while still imparting potentially lifesaving information to our stakeholders.
Category Finalists: Breaking Barriers | NCCIC 2016: Building Toward a Resilient Cyber Ecosystem | Global Fund for Children | SteamCoders
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Special Designations:
Special Designation - Best Nonprofit Branding:
Relay Education
Special Designation - Best Historical Display:
U.S. Navy Mark V Dive Knife
Special Designation - Best Multilingual Website:
Access NYC
Special Designation - Best Videography:
The Last Goodbye
Special Designation - Best City/Municipal Branding:
Sankeo Public Transport
Special Designation - Best Illustrated Story:
True Stories of Volunteer Valor
Special Designation - Best Use of User-Generated Content:
Gilbert, AZ - 2018 Digital State of the Town
Special Designation - Best 3D Design:
NGA Pathfinder Magazine - 3D Edition
Special Designation - Innovative Web Design:
Birmingham City Council
Special Designation - Best Podcast:
Direct Current - An Energy.gov Podcast
Special Designation - Best Motion Graphics:
WOOP
Sunday, February 3, 2019
Designer diaries – Take a look behind the scenes of selected agca 2018 projects
BEHIND THE DESIGN: TENNESSEE RAISES AWARENESS OF SOLDIERS’ EDUCATION BENEFITS WITH NEW LOOK AND FEEL
As part of Adobe’s Designer Diaries series, we sat down with designer Rob Pennington to understand his creative process, design philosophy, and to go behind-the-scenes of a military branding effort he led called GuardSmart in Tennessee.
A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Rob Pennington worked for the Tennessee National Guard for almost five years as a web developer.
When he started in 2013, his mission was to improve the Guard’s web presence and redesign the main website. “But like most jobs,” he said, “I ended up with way more design projects than expected!”
That wasn’t a problem for Pennington though, because he absolutely loved to design—especially in helping create beautiful and meaningful brands.
“Giving an organization an identity—an appropriate and beautiful one—is an exciting and significant undertaking,” he said.
“A brand is what people will first see when they begin a relationship with your organization. It should never be overlooked. If your brand looks unprofessional, that will be most people’s first reaction to your organization.”
Sunday, January 27, 2019
Designer diaries – Take a look behind the scenes of selected agca 2018 projects
INSIDE THE U.S. AIR FORCE POSTER SERIES: HOW 3 PASSIONATE DESIGNERS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN A PROJECT
As part of Adobe‘s Designer Diaries series, we sat with Maureen Stewart, a 10-year U.S. Air Force veteran and now lead designer of the official magazine for the U.S. Air Force. Stewart shares how one question from a team member led to the creation of an unexpected series of inspiring posters shared around the world. “Sometimes, you need to show (not just tell) to get the great, out-of-the-box ideas out there.”
"I LOVE MY AIR FORCE. IT’S THE REASON I CAME BACK TO IT. IT’S WHERE I WANT TO BE."
That‘s what Maureen Stewart, a designer for Airman Magazine, said when we asked what drove her and her team to push above and beyond on a project celebrating the U.S. Air Force‘s 70th Birthday. Stewart served in the U.S. Air Force for 10 years before joining civilian life as a designer outside Washington D.C. She worked for several jobs before seeing an opportunity at Airman Magazine, a publication for the U.S. Air Force. She jumped at the chance to rejoin who she warmly refers to as her “family.”
Why participate?
When you submit your project to the world’s premier digital media competition for public sector professionals, you’ll receive benefits designed to showcase your potential, reward your hard work, and inspire your potential.
How it works
The competition is divided into three segments focused on Visual Communications, Interactive Design, and Multi-Channel Campaigns and Service Delivery, with specific categories within each segment. Keep in mind, you can only submit the same project in one category, but you can submit up to three (3) different entries per category.
Judging Criteria
A panel of qualified industry expert judges will evaluate and score all eligible entries and select one (1) winner and finalists for each category.
In the four (4) different judging criteria, you get up to 100 points in total:
Three easy steps
Log in with your Adobe ID or Enterprise ID and create a profile. If you don´t have an ID it is free and easy to set up.
Upload your work to Behance, one of the largest online creative communities in the world.
Connect with the Government Creative Community through Slack and Behance.
Official Rules
Participants must be over 18 years old and projects must be for a government, quasi-government or public service organization. For a full list of eligibility requirements refer to the official rules.
Transform your ideas with Adobe Spark?
Spark is a quick and easy way to create beautiful video and social media assets. Include them with your entry to tell the story of your work, polish your personal brand, and stand out from the crowd.