Better Together of Northern Michigan needed materials that could explain a new kind of community space without making it feel clinical, complicated, or distant.

The organization was created by parents who saw something missing for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: a place to spend time, build relationships, and feel like they belong.

Not a program. A place people want to be.

The challenge was that Better Together was not speaking to one audience. Members and families needed to feel comfort, safety, and welcome. Donors and volunteers needed to understand the purpose of the organization and how their support would help it grow.

I separated the outreach into two flyers so each audience could be met with the right message.

The member flyer focused on warmth, invitation, and the idea of having somewhere to belong. The donor and volunteer flyer focused on support, involvement, and the practical role the community could play in helping Better Together move forward.

That decision shaped the rest of the project. Instead of forcing one design to carry every message, each piece could speak more directly and more honestly.

The promotional video pushed the project beyond print, so I treated preparation as part of the design work.

I built storyboards, shot lists, interview questions, and backup plans before filming. I didn’t realize how much we’d end up relying on that preparation, especially the extra cameras and audio backups that had felt like overkill at the time. On filming day, most of our equipment failed early: two primary cameras stopped holding a charge, and one remaining camera produced footage we could not use.

The plan had to shift quickly. Because we had backups, we were still able to capture usable audio and enough footage to build the piece in post. Addison Lynch handled a significant amount of the editing and color correction. I worked on image cleanup, opening visuals, and final overlays.

I also addressed music licensing before delivery, creating multiple versions so the client would not be locked into one song choice later.

Both flyers were printed and in the client’s hands before the final deadline. Sandy and Lynda brought them to a local nonprofit volunteer fair that same week.

The video was delivered in multiple versions, giving the organization flexibility around music, licensing, and future use. The finished pieces gave Better Together practical materials they could begin using right away.