High Mountain Creative

Ever wonder how map illustration & design goes from idea to ex*****on? Depending on the level of detail of the map, it can be a lot of work to bring together all of the necessary details. While every project is different, my typical process includes pooling together a variety of resources and tools like Google Maps & My Maps, OpenStreetMap.org, ArcGIS Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud and CalTopo. I use design software like Adobe Fresco on my iPad and Illustrator on my desktop to trace, modify and customize maps.

For this project with Herrmann Global, we worked together to create a series of itinerary maps for California's Central Valley Tourism Association. These maps guided visitors to some iconic destinations like Yosemite with stops along the way to many amazing and off-the-beaten-path California gems.

Learn more about the process and check out the full case study here: https://www.highmountaincreative.com/case-study-gallery/central-valley-ca-tourism-maps

See other maps in my portfolio here: https://www.highmountaincreative.com/library-of-graphical-archives/maps-amp-infographics

I recently reviewed 50+ nonprofit websites – everything from ocean conservation groups to environmental justice organizations – searching for sites that were memorable to me. In my review, I considered things like logos & branding, graphics and iconography, calls to action, photos or videos and unique engaging content. Some organizations have done a really nice job cutting through the clutter and I’m sharing those with you so you can find some inspiration of your own. Take a look 👉 https://www.highmountaincreative.com/blogposts/10-strong-nonprofit-websites-that-cut-through-the-clutter

Featuring inspiration from Ocean Conservancy, American Climate Corps, Rails to Trails Conservancy Share Winter Foundation, Outdoor Alliance, Great Outdoors Colorado - GOCO, Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice (DWEJ), and Trails and Open Space Coalition

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Back in January, I took a leap of faith and signed a lease on an office space inside DIG + CO. in Missoula. I had a lot of fear and guilt around spending money on an office outside of my house but it’s turned out to be one of the better business decisions I’ve ever made. Having somewhere to go every day that’s just mine has been really good for my mental health and putting my name on the door of an office has helped me in my never-ending journey of feeling like a “real” business owner (after 15+ years freelancing and 10 years as my full time job). Thank you, Nici, for taking me in and creating a beautiful, amazing space for myself and other creatives to thrive!

How do get people to pay attention to a storm drain? With art and design, of course! I worked with the Town of Vail, Colorado to create these infographics to educate the community and visitors about that it’s important to put “only rain down the drain” because everything that goes down the storm drains ends up in Gore Creek. I wanted to highlight some of the creatures that depend on clean water and healthy habitats to thrive – the bald eagle, boreal toad, Cutthroat Trout and stonefly. These decals were installed throughout the city near storm drains where hundreds of thousands of locals and visitors would see them.

Check out the full case study here: https://www.highmountaincreative.com/case-study-gallery/vail-storm-drain-art

This might just be the coolest blog I've ever published and I'm stoked to share it with y'all. I interviewed color expert Dawn Rae Knoth about how color influences nonprofit or mission-driven work and how we can communicate with our audiences using the power of color.

Read the interview & learn about:
🔴 Why a well-developed color palette is important
🟠 Color psychology and how color emotionally resonates with people
🟡 The process of making color choices
🟢 The role color can play in greenwashing
🔵 Using color to bridge the generation gap in nonprofit fundraising
🟣 How "cliché" color choices can work in our favor

We even put together a neat little downloadable PDF guide to color & emotions.

Read the blog and get your FREE color guide here 👇
https://www.highmountaincreative.com/blogposts/color-palettes-for-your-nonprofit-or-mission-driven-brand

If you’re a 90’s kid, you probably remember t-shirts with artwork of tigers and polar bears with messages threatening extinction. Over the years, the designs, style and messages may have changed but the goal remains the same: to use merch to promote nonprofits in a fun, accessible and relatable way.

I asked around my networks and asked people what their favorite artist/nonprofit collabs are and here's what I found 👇

https://www.highmountaincreative.com/blogposts/make-your-fundraising-beautiful-with-artist-driven-merchandise

Make Your Fundraising Beautiful with Arist-Driven Merchandise — High Mountain Creative | Nonprofit + Mission-Driven Graphic Designer | Montana A roundup of popular creative collaborations with environmental nonprofits Using art and design alongside environmental causes to capture the public’s attention isn’t a new phenomenon. If you’re a 90’s kid, you probably remember t-shirts with artwork of tigers and polar bears with messages t...

So, you're in the market to hire someone to help with a creative project and you're feeling a little overwhelmed. Deciding whether to hire a freelancer, an agency, or an in-house employee can be a tough decision and totally depends on your specific needs, budget, and long-term goals. Each option has their own pros and cons, so there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to which route is right for you. I've put together some thoughts in my latest blog about the different routes for hiring a creative to help guide the decision-making process.

I'd also love to hear your thoughts or experiences on this topic, too!

https://www.highmountaincreative.com/blogposts/how-to-choose-graphic-designer

Design Atlas Podcast covers super interesting topics about design from so many different cultural and global perspectives. They've interviewed some really talented folks who've used design in unique ways in their roles at places like Google, adidas and NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration. I feel so honored to be interviewed by Megan & Jens for Season 4 of their podcast where they talk about how creatives can be instigators for positive change.

Take a listen and check out the other amazing episodes! 👇
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5P3RQKFdIEkVfpJunGD5K1?si=98f23641740e48b9

In 2023, I spent a lot of time working with nonprofits on a variety of design projects, everything from infographics to social media campaigns to annual reports. I’ve collaborated with some real nonprofit marketing and fundraising experts and gotten to see what tactics they’re trying and what make a campaign work. I'm excited to share some trends in nonprofit marketing, design and fundraising that I noticed popping up last year that I predict aren’t going anywhere in 2024. Take a look! 👇



https://www.highmountaincreative.com/blogposts/transformative-design-trends-of-2024-for-nonprofits

Happy Holidays, y'all 🏔 I'm here to spread holiday cheer with these cute outdoorsy phone wallpaper designs, free for you to download, use, share and enjoy!

I recently took the time to reflect on 2023 and what I’d accomplished with my business this year. Some things were easily measurable – like income, new connections and the number of projects booked – but as climate change and the environment continues to feel heavy on my shoulders, it sometimes feels hard to measure the impact of my mission: to use graphic design to save the planet. I decided to revisit some of the projects I worked on this year to help me see the big picture, and I thought I'd share a few highlights:

💧 Two of my clients – American Rivers and Native Fish Society – advocated for the world's largest river restoration project in history.

🏔 The Conservation Alliance celebrated awarding $30 million in grants for conservation projects.

🦋 Butterfly Pavilion in Colorado hosted a fundraising gala and raised over $460,000 to support pollinators.

See the full list and learn how design and visuals supported these wins 👇
https://www.highmountaincreative.com/blogposts/high-impact-wins-for-the-planet

6 Successful Environmental Nonprofit Projects from 2023 (and How I Helped) — High Mountain Creative | Nonprofit & Sustainability Graphic Designer | Missoula, MT I’m lucky to work with organizations who are doing hard work for the environment. I was recently prompted to take some time to reflect on 2023 and what I’d accomplished this year in my business. Some things are easily measurable – like income, new connections made and projects booked – but a...

Over the last six years, I’ve gotten to work with Native Fish Society on their Annual Appeal. This is always one of my favorite projects of the year because I love brainstorming with their team to come up with new ways to make their appeal memorable and include something eye-catching worth keeping. This year, we used illustrations to help tell the stories of Native Fish Society’s wins and the people, rivers and fish involved in the successes.

Check out their year-end campaign and learn more about what Native Fish Society is doing to support wild fish and healthy rivers: https://nativefishsociety.org/news-media/support-wild-fish-abundance-make-a-year-end-donation-to-native-fish-society

When I was little, we always hosted Thanksgiving at our house. One tradition I always remember – no matter how cold or dark or snowy it was – was the post dinner walk, led fearlessly by my dad. Thinking about it now, I really appreciate this tradition. What a great way to spend time with my family while getting fresh air, feeling some movement and enjoying the sights and sounds of our little neighborhood streets.

As I’ve grown up, gotten married and moved to another state, my Thanksgivings “at home” are few and far between. I reminisce about these chilly late-November walks and wonder, why not start a new “outside” holiday tradition of my own?

Join me and be the ray of light by brightening up old holiday traditions! Here are some ideas to get you started.

Start A Joyful New Holiday Tradition With Nature — High Mountain Creative | Nonprofit & Sustainability Graphic Designer | Missoula, MT When I was little, we always hosted Thanksgiving at our house. The menfolk would go to the Detroit Lions football game while the girls stayed home and watched the Thanksgiving Day parade on TV and prepped for the big dinner (pre-2000’s midwestern gender roles at their finest). We hosted 50+ aunts,...

My entrepreneur origin story had a few stops and starts, but I’m grateful for the ups, downs, and turnarounds that got me where I am today!

My story is featured on the latest episode of the Unbound Turnarounds Podcast from Business Unbound, and I’m excited to share how I’m using my business to transform climate anxiety into action. Listen at businessunbound.mykajabi.com/podcasts/unbound-turnarounds

Sharing your successes shouldn't be boring! This is a graphic I designed for the American Rivers 2023 Impact Report that gives a rundown of all the hard work they've done advocating for rivers in 2023. Nonprofits, may this inspire you to have fun as you share your big wins with your supporters this year!

Thank you, Jessica Kennedy - Website Design & SEO for the collaboration about accessibility in design. Jessica is always sharing useful info about design, websites and SEO in her newsletter! Sign up for her newsletter here: https://www.jesskenn.com/newsletter/

How Graphic Designer Margo Stoney Brings Accessibility Into Her Work – Jessica Kennedy | Website Designer & Strategist A few months ago graphic designer Margo Stoney posted on LinkedIn about a change she made to her logo design process based on accessibility. She started includi

Earlier this year, I joined Montana Nonprofit Association as an affiliate member. With this, High Mountain Creative is listed in their Partners for Good Directory along with 75+ awesome businesses that provide services to Montana nonprofits. Through this partnership, I've been able to learn from some really smart folks, make new connections and benefit from the plethora of resources they provide as I continue my journey of learning how to help nonprofits through design. I was extra stoked when MNA asked me to collaborate on some custom illustrations for these thank you cards, I really value my relationship with MNA and love that I got to play this small part in their mission!

Learn more about the MNA Partners for Good Directory here: https://members.mtnonprofit.org/directory?type=b2b

Community Health Alliance (formerly Foundation for Community Health) was one of my first local clients when I moved to Missoula in 2019 so I was excited when they asked me to help with their rebrand earlier this year. Todd & Amy Farrell of times2studio worked hard with the organization to facilitate a name change that better aligns with their goals and the people they serve. And then, I got to do my favorite thing – design a beautiful logo to go along with the great new name!

Community Health Alliance works to improve the health outcomes of western Montanans through collaborative, action-based prevention education, grant-making, and donor-supported outreach.

I'm grateful for my clients and all of the awesome work they do!

After sifting through over 100 nonprofit websites, I rounded up 15+ examples of environmental and conservation orgs with great branding, solid visuals, memorable calls to action, beautiful photos & videos and unique, engaging content. Take a minute to enjoy some website inspiration from a handful of awesome conservation nonprofits! 🌎👩🏻‍💻

https://www.highmountaincreative.com/blogposts/12-environmental-nonprofits-with-unique-and-engaging-websites

Check out my latest feature on Shoutout Colorado!

Meet Margo Stoney | Owner & Creative Director - SHOUTOUT COLORADO We had the good fortune of connecting with Margo Stoney...

As anyone who has ever been tasked with fundraising knows, attracting and retaining loyal, consistent supporters is often a long game that requires persistence, patience and a true understanding of what makes someone feel connected to your cause. Follow along in my latest blog as I take you on a donor's journey from stranger to life-long supporter.

www.highmountaincreative.com/blogposts/step-by-step-tools-to-take-your-nonprofit-donors-from-curious-to-generous

I'm excited to share my latest infographic project with The Conservation Alliance. I helped them create a visual to celebrate their $30 million mark for funding conservation projects. THAT'S $30 MILLION! Congrats to The Conservation Alliance team and painters and thank you for all of the awesome work you do for our planet 👏 Read more about it in their most recent newsletter: https://conservationalliance.com/2023/06/newsletter-4-2023/

Happy Pollinator Week! Birds, bees, butterflies, moths, bats, beetles...all these friends help create thriving ecosystems and pollinate plants that we need for food. And right now, they need us! Here are some great resources for how you can help pollinators during Pollinator Week and beyond.

Check out The Pollinator Partnership "7 Things You Can Do for Pollinators"
https://www.pollinator.org/7things

Spend an afternoon at the Pollinator Palooza Festival at Butterfly Pavilion in Denver or get tickets for Butterfly Ball Colorado on August 19th.
http://butterflies.org
https://butterflies.org/butterfly-ball-colorado-2023/

Learn from National Wildlife Federation about pollinator gardening. https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/About/National-Initiatives/Pollinator-Month

How To DIY: Graphic Design For Nonprofits — High Mountain Creative | Nonprofit & Sustainability Graphic Designer | Missoula, MT After many years of working alongside nonprofits, I know first hand that many face tight budgets and limited resources when it comes to marketing and fundraising. That’s why I want to share these useful DIY graphic design resources that can help you stay within your budget.

As much as I’d love to tell every nonprofit I talk to that hiring a professional graphic designer is the number one most important thing they can do in fundraising, I know the reality. There are a lot of competing line items in a campaign budget and difficult decisions have to be made about where that budget gets spent. I strongly believe that design and visual storytelling are some of the most powerful tools available for spreading awareness, so no matter your means for accomplishing this, I support you! That’s why I want to share these useful DIY graphic design resources that can help you stay within your budget for handling the little stuff.

How To DIY: Graphic Design For Nonprofits — High Mountain Creative | Nonprofit & Sustainability Graphic Designer | Missoula, MT After many years of working alongside nonprofits, I know first hand that many face tight budgets and limited resources when it comes to marketing and fundraising. That’s why I want to share these useful DIY graphic design resources that can help you stay within your budget.

It's grizzly bear season, y'all! I just finished collaborating with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on creating these signs to help park visitors navigate the excitement of seeing bears in the wild. Traveling to grizzly country this summer? Take a look at these tips!

"Ducks have all the fun" 😒

How To Create a Nonprofit Annual Report in 9 Steps - Montana Nonprofit Association Written By Margo Stoney, High Mountain Creative Your 2023 Nonprofit Annual Report Design Content Checklist Does putting together your annual report feel overwhelming? Since I already know the answer to that, I’ve put together this handy list and downloadable Annual Report Checklist to help organiz...

I started doing freelance design when I was a junior in college – that was 18 years ago. In 2011, I decided I wanted to get more serious about my freelance business, which meant embarking on the hardest part of starting a business: coming up with a name and (hopefully) an awesome logo. In a pile of random "important business docs" from over the years, I recently found these pages I'd ripped out of my sketch book from when I was coming up with the name for High Mountain Creative. Seeing this again made me feel proud of how far I've come and it reminds me that all great things start with a little idea jotted down on a piece of paper. What do you remember from your humble beginnings?