Felician Sisters of North America
Advancing the mission of a purpose-driven organization.
As Creative Design Manager for the Felician Sisters of North America, I had the opportunity to work across an unusually broad landscape of people, places, ministries, and stories.
I traveled throughout North America to gather media, meet with ministry leaders, and develop a firsthand understanding of the work being done. I translated those experiences into communications that could inform, inspire, and invite people to connect with the Felician mission.
Felician magazine
Published twice a year, the Felician shares news, stories, and perspectives from the Felician Sisters and their many ministries.
One of my most significant projects, the magazine brought together nearly every aspect of my work. I collaborated with my team to develop themes and story ideas, worked with photographers, videographers, and writers, edited stories, wrote headlines, and shaped the overall flow and visual narrative of each issue.
I edited stories, wrote headlines, selected and enhanced imagery, and shaped the pace and visual flow. I approached each spread as part of a larger narrative — balancing information with emotion and giving the people and work behind each story room to shine through.
Other Projects Across the Felician Landscape
Maryville Retreat Center
The Maryville Retreat Center needed a visual presence that reflected what people experienced there: natural beauty, reflection, community, and spirituality. I developed a refreshed identity and logo and carried that direction through seasonal program mailers, event promotion, and integrated print and digital campaigns. The goal wasn't simply to promote programs, but to give people a sense of the place before they arrived.
Seeds of Hope
Seeds of Hope offered an opportunity to reach a younger audience and introduce them to the Felician mission in a way that felt welcoming and relevant. I refreshed the existing identity and developed a coordinated visual system across a new website, direct mail, digital and social media, event materials, and promotional items. I also simplified the application and payment process, turning what had been a cumbersome series of forms into a more accessible experience.
Youth Conferences
At large youth conferences, simply having a booth wasn't enough. The Felician Sisters needed a way to compete for attention in an environment filled with noise, activity, and visual stimulation. For the National Catholic Youth Conference in Long Beach and Indianapolis, I developed interactive experiences that connected young people with Felician ministries through participation rather than presentation.
Activities Designed to Engage
The Water Bucket Challenge turned a serious subject — access to clean water — into a memorable physical challenge. Youth balanced a bucket filled with water balloons while navigating a short relay course, learning about the issue through signage along the way, and finishing with a quiz.
Meditational Prayer took the opposite approach. In the middle of the energy and noise of the conference, I created a quiet space where youth could put on noise-canceling headphones, relax, and listen to guided meditations recorded by a Felician Sister.
Felician Mission: Haiti
Sisters needed to report on their mission in Haiti. To make the human story tangible, I developed a brand with warmth and texture to communicate the mission's progress in a way that engages donors and supporters.
FRONT
BACK
To provide a traveling display presentation, I extended the brand and messaging to a series of large two-sided panels explaining six key areas of need in Haiti and how the sisters collaborate with Haitian communities to address them. To support these Coroplast displays, I designed custom metal stands and worked with a local foundry to produce them.
To spread the word, the work extended into promotional items to hand out at events, with graphics featuring quotes from the Felician Foundress. These popular giveaways carry the sisters' message beyond the event itself.
Four-page 2020 Report of the Águilas del Desierto PDF »
Águilas Impact, 2022 PDF »
Águilas del Desierto
to communicate a difficult subject with clarity, dignity, and respect, I created reports, magazine articles, and social media content to help Águilas del Desierto, a Felician-supported all-volunteer search and rescue organization, continue in their recovery efforts helping people lost or deceased in the deserts along the U.S. southern border.
Felician Sisters of North America Heritage Center & Archives
The Felician Sisters combined their archives from across North America into a newly built space in Livonia, MI, that would also serve to tell their centuries-spanning history.
I provided creative direction and designed more than a dozen murals, along with graphic panels, ceiling banners, unique displays, and other interpretive elements. I oversaw projects from concept through production, ensuring historical accuracy, visual consistency, and adherence to the Felician brand.
Kiosks
Working with historical material, I helped develop the content and visual experience for interactive kiosks by curating archival images and researching, editing, and proofreading copy. Particular attention was given to accuracy, tone, clarity, and making information accessible and engaging to visitors.
Building a Website to Make the Heritage Center & Archives Accessible to All
The Heritage Center & Archives tells a story that shouldn't be limited by geography. For those unable to visit the physical space, I developed a digital experience that makes the Felician history, archives, collections, and exhibits accessible from anywhere — while also encouraging people to visit in person, attend events, and explore opportunities to engage.
I identified a firm with experience in archive sites and worked closely with archive staff to understand their needs, goals, and expectations. I brought together the content and imagery I had curated for the physical Heritage Center, while also working with sisters to uncover unexpected stories, artifacts, and pieces of Felician history that could be brought to life online.
I wrote, designed, and built out the content, creating a site that balances historical information with a welcoming, accessible experience. I also developed an online “Featured Exhibit,” extending a rotating exhibit in the physical center with deeper stories and additional content that visitors could explore at their own pace.
I then trained staff on best practices to create and publish blog content, helping them build an ongoing stream of stories to strengthen the site's visibility in search.