Today is Thursday, July 15, 2010; an anniversary of sorts. For the past 25 years, my husband, award winning graphic designer, Jesse Mireles, has served as art director and graphic designer for Metroparks of the Toledo Area. His creative genius has produced the visual images we have come to associate with our Metroparks system; the posters, flyers, signs, magazines, maps advertisements, web site, logos, television commercials, videos, t-shirts and related graphics.
Jesse is an internationally recognized designer whose work has garnered awards on the local, national and international level. He has won scores of the top Ad Club and Crystal awards over the years. His work has been chosen by the prestigious LogoLounge.com, for inclusion in volumes two, three, and four, of the popular Logo Lounge books; as well as one of its Masters series. Logo Lounge which boasts a database of more than 70,000 logos contributed by designers from more than 100 countries, is sort of the Academy Awards of the design world. Its books are widely used as reference tools by the design community. Each volume features the top 2,000 logos chosen by a panel of judges from the thousands submitted annually. Most recently, he was notified that another one of his logos would be included in an upcoming Logo Lounge Masters volume.
Most of us tend to discount the work involved in graphic design. We become accustomed to simply seeing the images and give little thought to the work and process behind their creation. Yet, developing visual images that communicate abstract concepts, reach out and grab one’s attention, or are easily retained, requires great talent and hard work. Jesse’s gift is the ability to translate intangibles, ideas, into compelling graphics. His work reflects incredible talent, love of design and of the natural world. It clearly communicates the wide-ranging benefits offered by our Metroparks system.
Jesse’s creativity is not confined to graphics and visual arts. He is a musician, writer, and a thinker of big ideas. He has long been a fervent supporter of the concept of building Northwest Ohio’s reputation as an ecotourism destination and he delights in problem solving on a large scale. Over the years he has provided graphic design, creative and art direction, marketing and branding consulting to clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to start-ups and non-profits. He has served on the Governor’s Council on Migrant Affairs, Design Review Committees for both Toledo Arts Council and the Ohio Arts Council; and is a graduate of the Leadership Ohio program.
Jesse is also an artist, painter, and printmaker, whose work has been included in the Toledo Area Artists exhibition at the Toledo Museum of Art. His abstract paintings capture the passion and energy of his love for art and visual communication. He is well known and respected within the Toledo artist community.
Truthfully, he will mortified at this post I have written. He is humble and reserved and not one to boast about his accomplishments (to a fault). However, I think a quarter of a century of exceptional work deserves acknowledgment and praise.
Metroparks Toledo and I have something in common: we’re both lucky to have you, Jess. Happy Anniversary!