Susan Kurtz Graphics Blog

Here’s a website design just completed for Shamanic Sound Healing with Dr. Lauri J. Shainsky.  The custom logo and the background image montage were part of this project.

This site was built using WordPress—actually using one of the most popular themes, Atahualpa. I think this clearly shows that it’s not necessary to have an “out-of-the-box” look with a WordPress site.

I have recently been consulting for the Santa Cruz Jewish Film Festival on a pro bono basis, helping them set up their WordPress website. I have been working closely with committee member, Leah Kushner (who also designed the banner). The Festival runs from March 24 to April 5, and showcases 11 films. Below is the SCJFF mission statement:

As we enter our 12^th year, the Santa Cruz Jewish Film Festival Committee is proud to celebrate the richness and diversity of our Jewish world through the magical lens of media.   Each year, our film committee takes you on an eye-opening global journey fostering diverse Jewish cultural awareness while building bridges of understanding through film. Our goal is to increase awareness of the richness of Jewish culture among all residents of Santa Cruz County.

We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive community program offering outstanding world cinema that promotes awareness, appreciation and pride in the diversity of the Jewish people to the community at large.   Over the course of fourteen days, our Festival program aims to educate and illuminate through evocative, award-winning independent fiction and documentary films that portray the Jewish experience, with both current and historic perspectives.

Here’s a new WordPress site I’m developing for America on the Couch. I think this is a good example of how it is possible to fully customize a theme (in this case, Weaver) beyond the usual banner and simple style changes. David O’Donaghue did the original Uncle Sam and Freud illustration. Alan asked me to hand color it and create a banner. Taking elements from the banner, I continued the design into the main part of the page (background textures, drop cap) to create the dimensionality that Alan and Janet were looking for. I also really love the public domain images that are scattered throughout the site.

This book (in progress) by Alan Strachan with Janet Coster promises to be very thought-provoking. You may want to join the mailing list to stay informed of it’s publication date.

Here’s a site just launched for Bonnie Thompson of Self Unfolding. Bonnie has clear ideas of what she wants in her design. It’s always a pleasure working with her.

Please check out the new site I just completed for Nonduality Institute.