Sometimes a client needs a unique solution, or a great gift, or a moving billboard — and I get to work out how to get it made, how to set it up, how to solve this new problem. A lot of times, these pieces stand alone, and sometimes they're just fun. These are a handful of examples of the weird and entertaining ways my artwork has come to life in the world:

• I created the original Goldy Ears for the University of Minnesota! They won multiple awards, and I shared the specs and planning process with multiple university designers around the country after they were a hit in our first run of 20,000 for the 2012 Minnesota State Fair. The University printed several hundred thousand of them in the following 5 years, and they still pop up at student events in 2026.

• Find out more about the Joyful Optimism umbrella and ice sculpture from Visitation School's 2014 Mardi Gras Merrie Market on that portfolio page.

• After 20 years at the University of Minnesota, sometimes the only thing left to create as a giveaway is a knitted Goldy scarf.

• The school store at Visitation got an overhaul and they needed some wall signage to set the scene. I worked with a vendor to create a bronze metal sign for The Peddler wall, as well as a decal in a matching brown color plus their brand-compliant red, featuring a quote graphic from the school's patron saint: "Be who you are, and be that well."

• Car window decals are popular with University alumni, and for the Hidden Obvious brand rollout in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences, the clings featuring visual metaphors representing various research specialties in the college went so fast we needed to reorder.

• The Robettes are Minnesota's only competitive all-girls high school robotics team, from Visitation School, and they were getting a new trailer to go to events. I started with a low-resolution logo illustration and created a new vector illustration of their robot. Then I put her into the trailer and let her have fun.