Mid-July in Sequim reminds us why this Washington State Olympic Peninsula town has earned the title “Lavender Capital of North America”… the lavender’s in full bloom, fields and fields of it!

BHV Design Lab was thrilled to partner with the Sequim Lavender Growers Association a second time to design their promotional campaign for the 13th Annual Sequim Lavender Festival. We created multiple elements, including a commemorative poster, the festival’s brochure and flyer, magnets and buttons. The main focus of the campaign is the commissioned water color painted by local artist Pat Tayton. Each piece was designed to highlight the artwork and effectively promote the festival as a must-see event.

The festival is the largest lavender event in North America with seven beautiful farms on tour as well as a fantastic street fair, making it like eight festivals in one. Visitors have a chance to not only see the dozens of varieties of lavender, but also learn techniques for cultivating, harvesting and drying lavender through u-pick offerings, work-shops, and demonstrations.

The Sequim Lavender Festival takes place July 17-19, 2009 in Sequim, Washington. For more information, visit the festival website at www.lavenderfestival.com.

13th Annual Sequim Lavender Festival Poster

Like ripples on a pond from a thrown pebble, a rough paper surface can blur an image. The smoother the finish of a paper’s surface, the more balanced the reflection of light will be, resulting in a sharper, more vibrant print. If a paper is rough or uncoated, light scatters, creating a dull or washed-out surface. A solid black on an uncoated paper, for example, will look grey rather than a rich dark black. In addition, an uncoated paper will absorb more of the ink, like a paper towel cleaning up a spill. The image becomes dull and lines become fuzzy.

Please don’t think that uncoated papers are all that bad. If a design’s intention is to be soft or tactile, an uncoated sheet might be the way to go. For example, an uncoated stock can be warm and inviting, while a coated paper can sometimes feel impersonal or cold. The good news is that there are plenty of surfaces to choose from, each with a varying degree of smoothness.

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