Preserving the wild and wondrous Columbia River Gorge for years to come.

Friends of the Columbia River Gorge

Friends of the Columbia Gorge (FOTCG) is a Portland-based nonprofit that continually works to ensure the ongoing protection and enhancement of scenic, natural, cultural, and recreation resources in the Pacific Northwest. As their long-time freelance design partner, I’ve designed and illustrated a great many assets to help visually bolster their mission.

Cape Horn
photo by Jeremiah Leipold

Scope

• Creative Strategy
• Visual Identity
• Report Design
• Infographics
• Ads
• Animations
• Illustrations
• Social Media Collateral
• Maps
• Environmental Design

Challenges

Friends of the Columbia River Gorge (FOTCG) is the only conservation organization entirely dedicated to safeguarding the Gorge’s scenic, natural, cultural, and recreational resources.

Challenges arise often – irresponsible development, endangered species, wildfires, mining proposals, fossil fuel transport, and pollution cleanups, to name a few.

Solutions (+ wins!)

Raised $5.5M to purchase 420 acres of land, giving Friends the opportunity to protect it from the impacts of logging, mining, and residential development.

Successfully legislated for the closing of numerous natural gas, oil, and coal terminals along the Gorge and Oregon coast.

Through additional property purchases, extended the Gorge’s trail system towards the goal of a 200-mile trail system loop.

Branding

The Gorge on Tap series is a quarterly program that converges legislators, developers, recreationists, and conservationists to engage in conversations about ongoing impacts to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.

Illustrated Stickers

illustration of a Western Pond Turtle near a pond and grass

Introducing kids to the outdoors is a great way to ensure care and respect for outdoor spaces throughout their life. FOTCG asked me to create critter stickers to give out during their youth outdoor education program.

Turns out volunteers and donors love them too. 💛

illustration of an Osprey perched atop a tree snag with its wings spread open.

Illustration of yellow Balsamroot flowers atop bright green leaves.

illustration of a Western Grey Squirrel sitting on a tree branch with a pine bough above.

illustration of an American Pika by some rocks, with grass in its mouth

Infographics

Visuals are a great way to educate people about complex land use laws and legislation. This particular infographic was created to help educate people on how land is designated and managed within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.

Details

Animations

We used this medium because we know people love it, especially kids. By showing critical species in their habitat, we educate people visiting the Gorge of critical habitat and species conservation.

• • •

Maps

A critically helpful tool to relate the National Scenic Area to its surroundings, I created these maps to help visualize the following:

• fossil fuel transport through the Gorge
• trail systems
• National Scenic area boundaries

2024 Capital Campaign Book

With their sights set on the future, Friends asked me to design a 2024 capital campaign book to help them entice an affluent donor base.

GOAL:
To rebuild their land acquisition fund, so when land becomes available for purchase, Friends can jump on the opportunity before developers do.