The Creative Advocacy Network (CAN) is a broad coalition of arts organizations, businesses, government, and individuals with a mission to create a strong voice in support of the arts in order to strengthen the regional arts ecology and to change how the arts are funded in the tri-county region.

Specifically, CAN needs to gain support to pass a $20 million levy that will be distributed among many arts organizations (like The Right Brain Initiative) and guarantee the continued progress of the arts in Portland and the tri-county area.

CAN asked NORTH to create a brand identity for the program to help focus their efforts on a single message that Portlanders could identify with over the coming months leading up to the vote.

NORTH began an exploration based on the insights that arts are the lifeblood of our region and a necessity, not a luxury. From these insights came the brand platform: Food. Shelter. Art. and the CANifesto proclaiming that in the Portland area, the arts are as vital as food and shelter.

Visit theartscan.org to read the CANifesto, see the impactful design provided by MakeLike and learn what you can do to keep the arts alive and well in our region.

Grow Film

makelike is a graphic design studio founded in 2000 by artist/designers Mary Kysar and Topher Sinkinson. In 2005 they were goined by artist and illustrator Rob Halverson and in 2006 project/studio manager Tara Shirriff and artist/copywhiz Kristan Kennedy joined the Portland-based think tank.

Their studio generates art direction, graphic design, pattern design and illustration for publishing, editorial, markteing, retail, exhibition, product development and identity/brand applications.

www.makelike.com

Have you seen the latest issue of Portland Spaces Magazine (May/June 2008)?

In a continuation of well deserved attention, Skylab Design Group’s incredible interior work on the NORTH office is featured in a three page layout as part of the Here & Now section (pg. 56) and we wanted to extend another congratulations on an incredible piece of work which makes it a pleasure to come to work everyday…

Click the images above for a larger view.

Congratulations to Skylab Design Group for having their work on the NORTH office recognized in the May ‘08 issue of Dwell magazine.

Prominent placement in Dwell’s article on “Design at Work” leads us to believe this won’t be the last time Skylab gets the props it deserves.

Congrats from the NORTH crew.

Click the image above for a bigger view.