Meet Southwood’s Graphic Designers
Did you know the average postcard you receive in the mail from a Southwood ministry requires 4-5 man hours of design, printing, and production. The average Branches takes 40-50 hours from the first written word on the page to delivery at the post office. The High-Life retreat books take 60-70 hours a week for two full weeks with youth staff writing and 3-4 graphic designers working on design, layout and production. And the web site has taken over four months, working full-time and more hours. Do you wonder who created the FOCUS box? Who has put together the new web site? Who creates the mailouts, the posters or signs for children’s ministry, the books for High-Life? We can assure you the staff wouldn’t be able to create the professional and crisp designs that come to you. We are blessed to have two talented graphic designers on staff doing the visual work of printed materials. Many of you have watched Jonathan Forsythe grow up in our church. Phillip Barrett joined our staff in May and our church family in November. Jonathan Barnette, Director of Communications, collaborates with the ministry staff about information to be communicated and the creative process begins. Our graphic designers go to work taking simple information and presenting it to us in unique, creative and well-designed formats. You are on the receiving end of their gifts.
Phillip Barrett grew up in Muscle Shoals, AL. He graduated from UAH with a degree in Art with an emphasis in Graphic Design. Phillip loves photography and painting. He lives in Harvest with his brother though he is planning to move to south Huntsville in the near future. Being in Huntsville enables him to remain close to family. Phillip’s enjoy the entire design process: taking photos, choosing typefaces, layout and seeing a piece to completion. His favorite Southwood project has been the comprehensive guide to High-Life youth ministries, though still a work in progress. Phillip’s work included taking and choosing photos and working on the layout for a larger book. Though having several projects for different ministries going on at once can be stressful, Phillip uses the variety to prevent becoming bored. The enjoyable side of the job is knowing that the work he has created is not only pleasing to his eye but to those who are on the receiving end. Phillip views his work at a church versus a corporate job as enabling him to better focus on the long work days knowing that the work he is doing, even if in a small way, is advancing the Kingdom by being a blessing to the staff and church body. And he is through his faithful, quiet service to the staff as he works.
Jonathan Forsythe grew up in Huntsville and in our church family. He also graduated from UAH with a degree in Studio Art with concentrations in Graphic Design and Photography. Jonathan chose design work because he has always enjoyed creating which has manifested itself in a number of different areas including culinary arts, photography, carpentry, drawing and painting. Graphic design is one area where he’s able to exercise that creative desire while problem-solving and maybe making a living in the process. Jonathan enjoys taking something like a Word document that someone in the office produced and turning it into something that is both easier to understand and more visually appealing. His favorite Southwood project, though a huge amount of work, has been the website. “We’re always trying to figure out ways we can better communicate to the congregation. I’m hoping the website will become a significant vehicle for the staff’s communication,” he says. The stressful part of the job is deadlines. “When I began work on the website, I was way ahead of schedule. Gradually, for a few different reasons, I fell behind. The couple weeks leading up to the launch of the website, I was working day and night trying to get things ready to go live. Branches is another tough one. The deadline always seems to creep up,” reflects Jonathan. The creative process is what he really enjoys and is reflected in the quality and level of his designs. Doing design work for Southwood means Jonathan gets to wear a few different hats. Art director, photographer, strategist, editor…to name a few. Many corporate designers are handed a document, a style guide, and narrow directions. At Southwood he is able to help the staff realize their communications goals in a more holistic manner. Jonathan’s year will bring change on April 4 when he marries Kimberly Cherry in Memphis, TN. He would like to work for a small Creative Agency and ultimately, own his own agency. He hopes to find a fulltime job! Jonathan’s eye for design, editing skills, humor and wise suggestions faithfully serve the staff.