CartoonTavern Studios LLC,
Fall 2022 - Present
CartoonTavern Studios LLC is a group created by MICA Animation Alumni. With the goal of becoming a member-managed artist collective, the Studio supports independent animators on the East Coast. After winning the People’s Choice Award at the 2022-2023 MICA Up/Start Challenge, CartoonTavern supplied its members with animation materials, hosted online events, and built a community, Thus far, the studio has been spearheaded by Gabriel Portillo, Faith ShaKira, Emma Barany, and Nzuri Parker.
Website Building
One of my first tasks with CartoonTavern Studios was to rebuild their website, which had previously been hosted on a different service (currently Squarespace). I inspected the code and general design of the past site, and presented an updated design. This layout proposal was created in Adobe Illustrator, but mirrors the capabilities of website builder tools like those offered by Elementor and Figma.
Branding Process
At CartoonTavern’s conception, I designed and vectorized the studio’s tankard logo. With the help of Gabriel Portillo, I’ve also standardized the mascot Lint’s design. As the studio continues to operate, I’ve also been entrusted with the brand’s color scheme, typeface choices, and web presence. Below, you’ll find more specific materials I’ve designed to embody this brand’s evolution.
Email Formatting
Besides its Discord server, CartoonTavern communicates with its Members via Newsletter Emails. I am responsible for proofreading, formatting, and designing these communications. These samples were created using Squarespace’s email design tool, which is a block-building program similar to ActiveCampaign and MailChimp.
Poster Design
Whether for online events, educational outreach, or general information, I fulfill CartoonTavern’s poster and print needs. I am first tasked with creating a general layout; next, I incorporate illustrations and copy from our other designers; last, I format the final design for print. Many of these designs are physically posted around MICA’s campus, Bolton Hill, and Station North. However, I also format these designs to be web-friendly for online viewing and social media.
Voting and Stream Poster, 2025
Submission Poster, 2023
Event Poster, 2024
Category Poster, 2023
Online Events
As the Multimedia Designer, it is also my job to design and maintain the studio’s website– this is where multiple online events take place. From the 2024-2025 season, this example is from the Tavern Brawl and Voting Brackets pages.
To enhance events, I often need to create additional video assets. These can include general editing, sound, and motion design. The following samples were made in Adobe After Effects and Premiere, with assets built in Illustrator. Some were featured on the studio’s YouTube, while others were streamed, housed on the website, or posted on social media.