Winter Break Electrical Upgrade Messaging

When the Lory Student Center announced a building-wide closure for electrical upgrades over Winter Break 2023, clear and cohesive communication was essential. I led the creative direction and coordinated a multi-channel communications campaign to inform the campus community, collaborating with web, content, and social media coordinators.

This was a complex process, as access to the student center is critical to students who are not able to travel home over the break. Multiple campus services and retail spaces would be closed in phases, so keeping the information organized and up-to-date was key. I determined that a webpage connected by a QR code would be the cornerstone of our messaging. This would allow us not only to present confirmed information and serve as a single point for updates if information or access changed during the project.

To symbolize the project’s purpose and season, I designed a lightbulb-and-snowflake icon, which combined the electrical nature of the work and the winter timeframe. Materials featured CSU's 'Horsetooth Blue' and 'Energy Green' color scheme, creating instant visual recognition while maintaining brand alignment. This device helped the team unify messaging across all of the information channels, from signage to social media.

I determined a calendar format would be the easiest way to organize closure and scheduling information across multiple days. I created the graphic using the Adobe Indesign chart feature. Once the schedule was finalized and information confirmed by stakeholders, this element could be easily inserted as a .pdf on the web page and reproduced as signage.

Additional supporting campaign elements included:

• Illustrated maps of affected areas, designed by the Leif Blessing, Graphic Design Coordinator.

• Door signage and digital screens using the same color palette and iconography.

• A social media carousel, designed by Sydie Scruggs, our student social media coordinator.

• A press release was written and edited by Jill Jones, Communications Coordinator, and published through CSU’s Source: "Power outages impact access to LSC services over Winter Break."

Materials for this campaign supported multiple offices and buildings. The team ensured that

units like the CSU Bookstore, RAMtech, RAMcard Office, and the CSU Transit Center received consistent signage and digital materials. Alternate office locations for some services were also included in the press releases and online. Because the electrical work was part of the renovation to the North End of the building, drone photography from our grand reopening campaign was repurposed for this communication effort.

The website content included a "Frequently Asked Questions" section, as well as a link to a secondary staff information page. This second page included remote work guidance, such as "How-to" guides for accessing servers or the time clock remotely, and training sessions hourly staff could undertake, allowing them to accrue paid time while the building was closed.

The campaign provided a single, cohesive message across every touchpoint, from physical signage to digital media, allowing students and employees to easily access accurate, up-to-date information throughout the closure period.

Results:

• Streamlined updates via one QR-linked resource page.

• Unified design system recognized across campus.

• Positive feedback from both building partners and central administration for clarity and professionalism
  

This project demonstrated how strategic design can guide information flow during a disruption. By leading both the creative direction and the communications strategy, I ensured the campaign was informative, visually cohesive, and brand-aligned, proving that thoughtful design can turn a facilities notice into a moment of connection and clarity with the campus community.