Inquiry-Based Art and Design
For Fall 2020, I decided to take two virtual doctoral courses. One of these courses was inquiry-based art and design – a recommended course for my field of study. The class description read: Teachers who search for their questions inspire students to do the same. They transform their curiosity into knowledge, empowering others to learn and grow with them. This course provides educators with ways to integrate technology into various learning environments. Students will utilize project-based learning, design-thinking, and maker-centered learning to develop maker-projects and curricula for a diverse set of communities. The course will enable students to look at…
Experiments in Content: Design for Educators
An Argument for Visual Arts Integration in Medical Intensive Care Units Summer 2020 was unique in many ways – we were still all collectively quarantined due to COVID-19; I was navigating continuing health concerns and chronic pain…
My New Old Home
When I was 16 years old, my then boyfriend (spoilers: now husband), took me on a date to mow his Abuelita’s almost two acre yard. (Yes, he really is a charmer. And, yes, I am serious, he…
Teen Leadership Hacks
This event was scheduled to be hosted in March, although unfortunately postponed due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) scare, was targeted at teens grades 6 through 12. The campaign was shared via various mediums including posters, handouts, social…
Meditative Art Journaling
A Preliminary Case Study of the Need for and Value of Arts Exploration in Business to Help Alleviate Stress and Helplessness In December 2019, I hosted a meditative art journaling workshop for my organization, utilizing watercolor paint;…
Award-Winning Explore the Story Literacy Campaign: The Sequel
A themed literacy campaign, targeted to an audience of all ages and shared on various mediums including posters, t-shirts, large banners, bookmarks, social media and web promotions, and featured at Somerset County’s 3-day 4-H Fair in August…
Now Streaming, Summer Reading
After winning a New Jersey Library Association (NJLA) marketing and public relations award for SCLSNJ’s 2018 summer reading partnership and promotions while also seeing significant statistical increases in club awareness and participation, it was important that the…
EmPoWER Somerset 45th Anniversary
In April 2019, I was invited to join the Board of Directors for EmPoWER Somerset, a local Somerset County nonprofit organization. As a member of the board, I participate by offering marketing and public relations suggestions, as…
Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon
This event celebrated Library volunteers and their donation of time and expertise. Created for use at the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey; April 2019.
Conversation of Your Life Program Series
This program series, Conversation of Your Life, was hosted throughout the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey’s 10 branches; October-December 2018.
Processes and Structures in the Visual Arts
In January 2018, I decided – after over a decade – to return to school to begin upon my doctoral journey. My first class at Teachers College, Columbia University – processes and structures in the visual arts…
Second Annual Book Lover’s Tea
This event, SCLSNJ’s Second Annual Book Lovers Tea, was hosted at the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey’s Hillsborough Library branch. Created for use at the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey; November 2017.
How to Network Like a Pro: Somerset County Edition
Almost four years ago I joined the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey as their marketing director. And while I was ready to brand the pants off this Library System, I felt a bit of anxiety…
When the Going Gets Tough, Act #LikeaBoss and Smile Bigger
Earlier this month, my place of employment hosted a teen job shadowing program. As a result, the first three hours of my day were spent alongside seven bright and ambitious 4th through 8th graders. The students had…
Explore the Story Literacy Campaign
A themed literacy campaign, targeted to an audience of all ages and shared on various mediums including posters, t-shirts, and social media/digital promotions. The campaign was focused on highlighting popular storybook villains, heroes, and fictional locations. Created…
A Summer Reading Challenge
A 12-page, full-color, mailing capable promotional booklet (targeted to all ages – children, teens, adults, and families) focused on highlighting the value and importance of summer reading and, ultimately, lifelong learning, utilizing a challenge yourself message. Web-ready,…
My Radical Work Life: How Being Authentically Me has Helped Foster a Kick-Ass Team
Earlier this month, the first employee I hired upon accepting my position at the Library resigned. And this is great news. Wait … what!? Yes, you are reading that right. My teammate is moving on to a…
Coffee Time Talks Program Series
A programming series (targeted to adults and active seniors) focused on three distinct lifelong learning topics: health and wellness, technology, and the humanities. This series was hosted throughout the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey; April-June 2017.
Battling Sunday Night Insomnia: Begin your work week well-rested and ready to take on the world
Many people dread Monday mornings. I embrace Monday morning; it is Sunday night that I dread. I am not alone. According to a March 2017 article from Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, one-third of adults get less than seven…
Agape Means Love: Leadership Somerset Class of 2016 Class Project
The Leadership Somerset Class of 2016 strove to make a lasting impact on family and individual success through facility improvements and programming implementation at the Agape House, located at 122-128 E. Main Street, Somerville, NJ. The facility,…
Be Present in 2017
As an individual navigating the great wide world of business, I customarily spend several weeks at the end of December and into January evaluating myself: what I did well, lessons I learned, and places where I failed…
Creating a Partnership with The New York Times for Libraries
Created in cooperation with The New York Times to assist in the promotion of Times-powered digital resources and services available at the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey; Fall/Winter 2016.
The Art of French Cooking with Julia Childs
Created to support a historical reenactment series highlighting the life and accomplishments of famed chef Julia Childs (portrayed by actor Linda Kenyon) targeted to adults, and hosted at two branches of the Somerset County Library System of…
SCLSNJ’s Award-Winning First Annual Book Lover’s Tea
This event – and the corresponding brand and promotions – were awarded a New Jersey Library Association (NJLA) PR and Marketing Award in the category of Information Literature, 2017. Created to support a new event type – targeted to teens and adults…
Haunts & History: Explore Bone-Chilling and Suspenseful Stories
Created to support October Halloween programming (targeted to adults and families with older children) hosted within four branches of the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey; October 2016.
Portraits of Jennifer Burke [University Professor]
When looking for employment or looking to further your career, there are a few steps taken by individuals – a resume is edited, a LinkedIn profile is created, or an email is delivered to family and friends…
The Importance of Highlighting Community Partnerships [Video]
Produced by Verizon FiOS1 News: New Jersey for use within their Push Pause program segment, this video serves to both promote the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey, as well as highlight community partnerships the…
SCLSNJ Comic Con
Comic Con library event identity created by Carolann DeMatos in partnership with the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey (SCLSNJ), March 2016. This event was targeted to adults, teens, tweens, and children. Art utilized within the…
Edison Concours: Classic Car Show Logo Design + Brand Identity
Over the past several months, I have been working closely with a number of different foundations (the Edison Innovation Foundation, the Llewellyn Park Preservation Foundation, and Thomas Edison National Historic Park Foundation) whom are all working together…
Portraits of Christina DeMatos [Marketing Professional]
When looking for employment or looking to further your career, there are a few steps taken by individuals – a resume is edited, a LinkedIn profile is created, or an email is delivered to family and friends…
National Library Card Sign Up Month
In September 2015, Somerset County Library System of New Jersey partnered with 68 County businesses for Library Card Sign Up Month. The businesses agreed to offer an exclusive discount of 10% off (some restrictions applied) during the…
Portraits
Photographer Paul Strand said, ‘It is one thing to photograph people. It is another to make others care about them by revealing the core of their humanness.’ Let Wonderpug Graphics help you capture those special family moments,…
Together, We’re Pitch Perfect
This “pitch perfect” promotion was created to celebrate music – and the power of a many branch System – throughout the month of May 2015 at the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey. A stronger message can always be…
A Public Relations & Brand Definition Case Study: Exploring NaNoWriMo
According to non-profit organization NaNoWriMo.org, National Novel Writing Month (shortened to NaNoWriMo) is a “fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to creative writing.” Participants are encouraged to write 50,000-words from November 1 through 11:59 p.m. on November 30. As the…
ThomasEdison.org Promotional Web Banner Images
Several months ago, the Edison Innovation Foundation – a long-term client – asked me to assist in the redesign of their current flagship site from a flash-based architecture to a more easily edited and updated WordPress engine. As I…
The Darkness + The Light
As an artist, some of the most interesting explorations are those between the darkness and the light. And that is meant both literally as in the relationship of dark versus light tones within my art, and also figuratively within my life, my personality, my…
Edison Innovation Foundation: Black & White Scientific Diagrams
Sometimes the hardest thing to accomplish as a graphic artist is knowing when to keep things simple. As an artist, I am always looking to explore new territory and push the metaphorical envelope. However, when you are…
White Roof Project’s Paint the Town White
On Friday, October 19, 2012, I photographed an event for a young non-profit organization – the White Roof Project. The mission of this group is exactly what the name implies, to paint black roofs white. Why? To…
Decisive Moment: A Perfect Pout in Philadelphia
Famed French photographer, Henri Cartier-Bresson – known to some as the father of modern photojournalism and the creator of street photography – lauded the idea of a photograph’s decisive moment. Cartier-Bresson believed that, ‘photography is the simultaneous…
Gracious Eloise ‘Milestone’ Badge
Working within a start-up is always an adventure – days are always busy, your to-do list is never-ending, the team is always wishing for ‘just one more person’, but most especially, with a start-up there are a…
AT&T Cloud Services Web Identity
These are the first set of iterative web UI/UX and branding designs to assist the Fortune 500 company AT&T into the Cloud product sphere.
Animated GIFs Created for Tutor.com
Various animated GIFs created for use as web advertisements for Tutor.com; 2008. Created at various display sizes including 300×250 px, 160×600 px, and 120×600 px.
Once Upon a Time in News Print
Once upon a time newspapers were king; presses were loud, fragrant, and oversized; and graphic designers worked nights to get the papers laid out. News spreads designed for The Daily Record, Parsippany, New Jersey; 2006.