Chris Carline is the most gifted graphic designer and art director I have had the pleasure of working with. While working at the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, I contracted with him to develop and design several publications. Because the publications contained stories of individuals that demonstrated complex policy issues, I needed them to be visually compelling both in design and photography.
Chris’s work consistently exceeded my expectations as he developed effective graphic concepts that reinforced and highlighted the editorial content message. We commissioned a series of publication called “True Stories.” These publications gave first-hand accounts of how policy decisions impact individuals and families. My partnership with Chris was highly creative and he was pivotal in making recommendations that supported the mission of the organization. The series name was recommended by Chris and his use of alliteration helped to strengthen interest in each personal story.
Chris selected photography that communicates emotion to the reader and the use of color enhanced both the urban setting intent of the publications. Several of the publications were recognized as award-winning examples of excellence in graphic design and communication.
Beyond his extraordinary talent, Chris was a delight to work with. He was flexible, open to input, innovative and met every deadline. To this day, we remain in contact and I consider him a friend.
Jillynn Stevens, Ph.D., MSW
You don’t work with someone for a decade if you aren’t very pleased with his work. And that is how long Chris provided his talent and service to our custom publishing team. The projects were always so professionally managed and executed, we knew we were in solid, reliable and creative hands when we engaged with Chris. Also when you work for someone for 10 years you build a relationship, and Chris is so incredibly nice, thoughtful and professional — his work is great and his kindness is the above-and-beyond bonus. It’s truly a pleasure to recommend Chris!
Andrew Seibert
President, SmartMoney
It has been my personal and professional privilege to work with Chris Carline. He was the designer on three financial newsletters that I was editing for a custom-publishing client. During the decade that we worked together, we collaborated on all edit/design aspects of the newsletters, from discussion of illustration concepts to copy fitting.
Chris is a designer who believes in strengthening the reader’s experience by crafting a cohesive design and editorial product. He would start by carefully reading the rough drafts and noting the key points to be communicated. Chris consistently selected and art-directed the illustrators best suited to render the graphic concepts that reinforced editorial content and also able to deliver a style that would convey a distinctive, upbeat look that appealed to readers. From issue to issue, the articles touched on topics familiar to readers, but Chris had the talent for ensuring that each issue was imbued with characteristic freshness and energy.
The newsletters often used charts and graphs to accompany the articles. Chris understood the design and art direction required to communicate data visually so that it could be easily grasped and its editorial significance reinforced, all the while adhering to the design brand established for the client. One of the newsletters had an infographic feature article, in which a detailed process was to be communicated visually, with minimum explanatory text. I could always count on Chris to art-direct the illustration and combine it with typography in an eye-catching way to make this feature come alive, regardless of how arcane the topic.
The clients of the custom newsletters reviewed the newsletters at all stages of production and often requested a variety of changes to the text. Thanks to Chris’s exceptional flexibility and laserlike attention to detail, we managed to make even last-minute changes without letting things fall through the cracks or sacrificing quality.
I have worked with many designers over the years and few have been as easy and rewarding to work with as Chris. He has a great sense of humor, a deep commitment to quality, an unerring design style, and sound judgment acquired from many years of experience in design communication and publishing.
I would recommend Chris to any corporation, business or organization interested in partnering with a consummate art director and designer to communicate a message with visual clarity.
Margaret Mucklo
Freelance Writer and Editor
Owner, Mucklo Editorial Services
I had the pleasure of working with Chris Carline for several years when we were a client of his graphic design firm and he worked as the designer and art director for Seton Health Services Foundation, which raised philanthropic dollars for Seton Medical Center in Daly City, California and Seton Medical Center Coastside in Moss Beach, California.
Chris worked on a variety of graphic design projects for the Foundation staff and its Board of Directors, including event invitations, annual report publications and a variety of fundraising / membership / volunteer brochures.
Chris is first and foremost, a wonderfully talented designer. He brings a wealth of experience, professionalism and integrity to each project. On more than one occasion, he was able to take our basic, sometimes incomplete, concepts and ideas and turn them into fully realized, beautifully designed, award-winning print materials. I especially appreciated Chris’ talents when he was able to collaborate with our fundraising volunteers and take their many diverse opinions regarding a particular project and successfully and skillfully engage and focus everyone on graphic design and messaging that would best represent the medical center and its foundation to our community.
I have not had the opportunity to work with Chris in recent years, but should the opportunity arise, I would engage his services in an instant!
Rick Sprague
Executive Director (1995-2001)
Seton Health Services Foundation
Chris Carline is one of the most talented graphic designers I have worked with in my professional career. I had the pleasure of working with him while I was a marketing manager at The Wall Street Journal and subsequently, a development professional at the Anti-Defamation League. I found him to be a conceptual thinker as reflected in his design solutions — from newsletters and ads to publications and tribute journals. Chris has the special ability to listen to clients, distill information and then execute inspired designs.
Darcy Lorin
Marketing and Communications Consultant
Chris Carline did several projects for Franklin & Marshall College in the 2013-14 academic year. He was highly creative, delivering client-pleasing work that was as good if not better than the work produced by our in-house design staff. Chris also is highly dependable. He meets agreed-upon deadlines and is communicative throughout the collaboration process. I would certainly recommend him to anyone seeking high-quality design service.
Jason Klinger
Director of News and Publications
Franklin & Marshall College