Cotter Koopman

designs visual identities, websites, and print materials to harmonize information and narrative.

ABOUT →

RESUME ↗︎

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cotterignoreme@cotterkoopman.com

I began designing while studying software engineering and web development. I approached graphic design as a sort of visual programming: building flexible but cohesive systems with rule-based pieces.

I developed my skillset at a full-service marketing and storytelling agency, guiding clients in many different industries through brand identities, cross-platform campaigns, websites, and everyday print and digital needs. I later began freelancing to partner in more experiential work, including material touchpoints like packaging, signage, and merch, as well as web interaction. I frequently work both solo and integrated into larger studio teams.

Day to day, my favorite thing to do is distill concepts into a visual system, and then extend it across an entire experience, solving problems at every scale along the way.

I’ve also found a personal practice in multimedia. I make music, programmatic visuals, and textiles to render data and logical patterns. I’m excited by combining what computers do best with mediums that feel real to people, and exploring experiences between systemized and manual creation. Most of that lives here, organized by mediums, tools, and themes.

Making things keeps me alert to the world.

Brand Identity & Materials

Daystar High School

Daystar Academy sought to distinguish its high school identity from its lower grades. I took the opportunity to build a collegiate-inspired system that accentuates its IB program's academic rigor while preserving the camaraderie and community of the very small school. Materials strike a balance between innovation, approachability, and prestige, positioning Daystar High as a place where students are proud and well-equipped.

Beyond the logo design and brand guidelines, I followed up with identity materials, promotional collateral, pride gear, and a website.

Logo Design
Brand Identity
Print Design
Web Design
Merch Design

Packaging

Harvest Craft Chocolate

Harvest Chocolate first approached me to add Nutrition Facts and barcodes to their homemade labels. I took the opportunity to establish a styling system, unifying product lines with a clear typographic hierarchy and consistent structure, while using color to distinguish flavors and maintain a clean, conversational brand personality. We wanted to make whole-bean chocolate production understandable and approachable through infographics and supplier-relationship storytelling.

Our system has scaled easily as I’ve repeatedly extended their packaging into new formats and categories, including bags, boxes, and tins for cocoa powder, nibs, trail mixes, and multiple shell tea flavors. Photos by Fieldstone Creative.

Packaging Design
Project Management

Interactive Advent Calendar, '24

ICCF Community Homes

Each year, my agency handles an end-of-year giving campaign which builds upon an Advent calendar format: From December 1 to 25, one sticker a day builds up a picture of ICCF’s work in homeownership counseling, home renovation and construction, emergency sheltering services, and more.

In their landmark 50th year, we decorate a retro family room while reflecting on important people and events that have marked their history. We share snippets from the archives and retell the stories that have shaped their work.

The print campaign includes the calendar poster and sticker set for hundreds of community members to follow along with at home, along with a personalized letter and donation materials. Additionally, I created a webpage adaption of the calendar which updated daily, along with email and social media reminders.

Art Direction
Print Design
Digital Design
Web Interaction

Falcons Athletics

Daystar Academy

Daystar is a small K–12 school in Chicago’s South Loop. I wanted to help establish a robust sense of school spirit for a dedicated community and student body. After receiving a basic sketch of their newly decided mascot, I developed a suite of athletic uniforms and a line of pride gear.

Brand Identity
Merch Design

Website

Bethel Community Education

Bethel initially sought an entirely overhauled website to better communicate their innovative K–8 educational model. Beginning with their established logo, I developed brand standards as part of the web design process, later extending them to all Bethel materials. Before the layout process, I was involved in re-working the sitemap structure, and made development and functionality suggestions as I designed.

Visual Identity
Web Design

Interactive Advent Calendar, '23

ICCF Community Homes

Each year, my agency handles an end-of-year giving campaign which builds upon an Advent calendar format: From December 1 to 25, one sticker a day builds up a picture of ICCF’s work in homeownership counseling, home renovation and construction, emergency sheltering services, and more.

This year’s calendar was also a game board. The road to safe, stable, and affordable housing can feel like a cruel game for many. Each board space describes a common barrier to home security. Each day, a sticker covers the next hurdle with an aspect of ICCF’s work, progressing toward the goal of not just homeownership, but a holistic sense of home for entire communities.

The print campaign includes the calendar poster and sticker set for hundreds of community members to follow along with at home, along with a personalized letter and donation materials. Additionally, I created a webpage adaption of the calendar which updated daily, along with email and social media reminders.

Art Direction
Print Design
Digital Design
Web Interaction

Brand Identity & Materials

Peregrine Wood Products

Peregrine Wood Products is a local custom pallet and crate provider. Their team determined particular colors, type styles, and icon material before approaching my agency for a brand identity. This way I was more able to demonstrate options with subtleties within their vision.

The logo’s icon contains a subtle nod to their namesake, evoking speed and precision in a simple, modern stamp. Combined with classic, clean type, flexible arrangements of the logo fit in any space—a square truck door or a long pallet plank.

The more natural color palette evokes warmth and authenticity, demonstrated by their personalized customer service and bespoke pallet solutions. It is also bold, bright, and basic, demonstrating their vision for a sustainable future of logistics.

The website is entirely flat, with interlocking blocks, flush edges, and only the brand’s primary colors, for a professional but friendly, modern and clean experience.

Logo Design
Brand Identity
Print Design
Web Design

Interactive Advent Calendar, '22

ICCF Community Homes

Each year, my agency handles an end-of-year giving campaign which builds upon an Advent calendar format: From December 1 to 25, one sticker a day builds up a picture of ICCF’s work in homeownership counseling, home renovation and construction, emergency sheltering services, and more.

This year’s calendar was also a map. Colored dots are placed at locations of ICCF’s work in the Grand Rapids neighborhood surrounding their headquarters. Day by day, blocks reveal portraits of volunteers, donors, and neighbors connected to ICCF’s work. Whenever possible, neighbor story stickers are placed near their actual area of influence, while maintaining a broad range for privacy.

The print campaign includes the calendar poster and sticker set for hundreds of community members to follow along with at home, along with a personalized letter and donation materials. Additionally, I created a webpage adaption of the calendar which updated daily, along with email and social media reminders.

Art Direction
Print Design
Digital Design
Web Interaction

Website

Garbarino Roofing

Dan Garbarino Jr. is a fifth-generation roofer, serving homeowners and businesses in our shared local area. After operating largely by word of mouth and reputation, Dan approached us for a web presence. Garbarino Roofing had no visual identity beyond a logo decal on his truck, so we established those standards as part of the web design process.

Visual Identity
Web Design