Alaska Science of Reading Sympopsium
Turning event design into shareable tools that extend learning beyond a single gathering.
Context
For years, Alaska ranked near or at the bottom among all states on national reading assessments, prompting the Alaska State Board of Education to adopt Alaska’s Education Challenge in 2017 to improve early literacy outcomes.
To support this work, the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development launched the annual Science of Reading Symposium in 2022 to expand research-backed approaches to literacy instruction. The symposium presented an opportunity to establish an engaging visual presence that could both support the in-person experience and extend the reach of the work beyond the convening.
Strategy
- Expand symposium branding to create engaging materials for educators, classrooms, and students.
- Create assets that encourage continued sharing and visibility beyond the event.
- Frame the symposium as the first step in a continued journey toward improved reading outcomes.
Tactics
- Design themed visual concepts featuring native Alaskan animals to engage educators and students around reading.
- Apply visual theme to materials such as stickers, bookmarks, posters, and apparel for expanded reach.
- Produce and edit a shareable video, filming b-roll and interviews, crafting a narrative storyboard, and designing cohesive video graphics.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to align visuals with event goals and educator needs.
outcome
A visual system that transformed the symposium into a more cohesive and memorable experience. Stickers and printed materials were quickly picked up and shared, extending the reach of the event beyond its immediate audience.
The designs resonated across contexts—from educators wearing event materials to classrooms incorporating them into daily environments—demonstrating how thoughtful, audience-centered design can reinforce learning, build visibility, and sustain engagement beyond a single convening.
science of reading sympsiom materials
Client
Alaska Department of Education & Early Development
My Role
Design
Context
For years, Alaska ranked near or at the bottom among all states on national reading assessments, leading the Alaska State Board of Education to adopt Alaska’s Education Challenge in 2017, prioritizing early literacy to close opportunity gaps and improve student outcomes.
To support this, the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development began hosting an annual Science of Reading Symposium in 2022, where educators and educational leaders can explore approaches and strategies to literacy instruction backed by the Science of Reading. The Science of Reading is an ongoing field of study that examines the last fifty years of research to determine the most effective ways to teach reading.
Deliverables
For the 2024 symposium, I designed three themed visuals featuring an otter, moose, and polar bear—all native Alaskan animals—which were used for stickers, posters, and bookmarks distributed at the symposium to engage and inspire educators to share the materials with colleagues and students.
The designs resonated with educators and students alike. The stickers had flown off the shelves by the end of the first day, the symposium t-shirt vendor's inventory featuring my artwork sold out twice, and when I visited an Anchorage elementary school for b-roll footage for the Alaska's Road to Reading video, a 1st grade teacher was wearing a shirt with my design.
