Firm: Daniel Pipitone (freelance)

It has been found that in rural communities where men and women tend to stay in traditional roles, where people avoid asking for help, and where there is less awareness of domestic violence and its impact on victims and children are communities where it is harder for domestic violence victims to seek out the resources they need.

That statement opened the first paragraph of the request for proposals I received from the Crisis Shelter of Lawrence County, speaking loudly to me that my involvement in this project seemed hardly like a choice. This factual information was followed up by what can only be described as truly disturbing statistics that were nothing short of astonishing and, frankly, difficult to accept. Enter the Crisis Shelter of Lawrence County, who was planning an ambitious Rural Family Violence Awareness and Intervention Initiative, aimed at changing this situation in Lawrence County and beyond with tools, resources and awareness messaging to put these issues (and the need to combat them) in the spotlight.

I responded by helping them create a integrated campaign with a full spectrum of materials, including outdoor boards, print media placement, TV and web-based video and a “toolkit” which carried a suite of printed collateral – postcards and large-format posters.

The campaign centered around the concept that, according to the facts and statistics, the cycle of abuse and violence is perpetuated by “silence” or doing nothing. The “equation” metaphor worked to get at this idea while the “Fight for Zero” tagline became the pivot point for the call to action. While statistics revealed information like “90% of date rapes involve alcohol”  the Crisis Shelter’s call to action becomes “Donate and Fight For Zero” or “Speak up and Fight For Zero.” In two phases (adult-specific and teen-specific messaging), the campaign worked to drive traffic to their website, fightforzero.org, which was created by Forward Trends, which offered an innovated set of counseling resources and informational tools – all free as part of the Crisis Shelters grant-funded initiative.

Website production by Forward Trends
Video production by Uppercut

Firm: Daniel Pipitone (freelance)

A recent study published by the University of Chicago followed a sample of young adults for six years, from the time when they were 17 or 18 years old and still living in temporary foster care. The results were troubling.  Only 7% of the young women and 5% of the young men had even an associate’s degree.  Fewer than half currently had a job, and most of those working were not earning a living wage (more than one quarter had no income from employment during the past year and half who had worked reported annual earnings of $8,000 or less).  Nearly 40% of these young people have been homeless or “couch surfed” since leaving foster care.  Most notably, as a group, these young people were less educated, more likely to be incarcerated, more likely to experience homelessness, and less likely to be employed than their peers who entered adulthood as part of a permanent family.

To bring awareness to this issue, and to better connect individuals with ways in which they can get involved, CASA of Allegheny County and the Allegheny County Department of Human Services banded together to host a rally on the steps of downtown Pittsburgh’s City-County building. Along with organizing talks by local former foster children, CASA and DHS also mobilized a “flash mob” with CASA and DHS staff members carrying life-size cut-outs representing the number of children currently within the foster care system.

To help support the promotion of the rally and drum up awareness for the Forgotten Child Campaign, I worked with CASA of Allegheny County to “brand the issue” itself, giving the Forgotten Child Campaign a unique identity and setting it apart from their other efforts. Along with postcard-sized handouts, we designed and set up a dedicated micro-site and communication mechanism to collect information from those interested in helping or attending the rally and to carry the momentum for the effort long after the event had past. The event was attended by over 100 people.

View the Forgotten Child Campaign website >

Firm: Daniel Pipitone (freelance – Pro Bono)

In the next phase of Emmanuel Christian Church’s new branding effort, we worked together on the redesign of their bulletin. After some initial usability discussion that resulted in some changes from their current format, we then pre-printed the bulletin shell, which ECC can run through their laser printer week-to-week for customized announcements and promotional information on the mostly blank inside front cover. Overall, this redesign works well to extend their new identity, paving the way for a new suite of highly visible materials that will encourage strong connections between ECC and its the congregation as well as the local Pittsburgh community.

Firm: Software Engineering Institute

To support newly upgraded and enhanced security within the SEI’s main building in the Oakland area of Pittsburgh, a glass enclosure was installed with security badge access points. With a great opportunity for a branded environment, I have designed an application of the SEI signature for the glass and installed using a “frosted” vinyl application.

/ SEI Background /

The Software Engineering Institute is a federally funded research development center (FFRDC) affiliated with Carnegie Mellon University. The SEI’s mission is to advance the state of practice for software engineering and related disciplines.

Firm: Daniel Pipitone (freelance)

I was responsible for all concepts, design and production coordination for the CASA Volunteer Poster series, used to recruit potential advocacy volunteers and donors.

/ CASA Background /

CASA of Allegheny County is a truly special client. CASA works hard for one sole purpose…children. They act as a child’s advocate in the courts, in situations of abuse, neglect and family-centered issues, when children would otherwise have no voice.

/ Award /

2005 ADDY
Public Service | Campaign Elements

View all the CASA materials >

Visit CASA’s Website >

Firm: Giant Ideas

I was responsible for TV campaign art direction, as well as writing, and production coordination of radio promotional spots. This includes overseeing sound design and VO.

/ Heinz Background /

Heinz. Need I say more? The world leader in premium condiments, and always an eye on the end zone!

View the TV spot:

Listen to the radio spot:

Firm: Daniel Pipitone (freelance)

The mark, created collaboratively with co-founder / artist and fellow-designer Jeff Kowal.

I was responsible for carrying the identity across an integrated suite of business papers and press kit materials, including pocket folder, one-page press release format and promotional CD and postcard design.

/ Lotuspike Background /

Lotuspike has gone through a transition, from being a hobby for the three founders (myself included) to full-on recording and distribution of progressive ambient and electronic music. Lotuspike’s mission is to provide independent artists a venue for releasing, marketing and distributing their music on a quality medium with mass exposure while retaining the rights, property and integrity of their musical endeavors.

Visit Lotuspike’s Website >

Firm: Daniel Pipitone (freelance)

For their first-ever annual report, CASA of Allegheny County set out to communicate to an expanded audience of donors, supporters and volunteers. With a careful balance of whimsy and elegance, the report covers CASA’s community impact over the year, as well as their ambitious plan for growth.

Along with emotional and moving stories, statistics and financials, the report announces CASA’s 25-year growth strategy, laying the groundwork for an increasingly widespread advocacy effort.

Equal in importance to the practical information was CASA’s underlying message — planning for their legacy of service to the children and families of Allegheny County was as critical as their current activities.

/ CASA Background /

CASA of Allegheny County is a truly special client. CASA works hard for one sole  purpose — children. They act as a child’s advocate in the courts in situations of abuse, neglect and family-centered issues, when children would otherwise have no voice.

View all the CASA materials >

Visit CASA’s Website >