Artist Craig Frazier had a fun idea: illustrate different scenes for a year, and let the world write the captions. As a hack writer, I couldn’t wait to try my hand at this. While I’m not the greatest artist, I loved the idea of adding my words and collaborating online. And with someone I’ve never met.

Somehow, I managed to almost get the featured headline right from the start. Maybe only 10 people were submitting captions at the time. I never did get another comment selected. (Though I know I wrote better ones than what were picked. If I do say so myself.)

Want to read them all? Buy the book. Want to read mine? Here you go.

Every so often, I get to work on projects that not only reward me creatively, but reward the community as well. My latest project was just that. I had the great opportunity to rebrand Way to Grow, a Minneapolis nonprofit organization that focuses on early learning within the homes of the most isolated families. Before August, I knew little about early-childhood learning. Now I’m scared for the future of our nation. Luckily, there’s an organization like Way to Grow looking out for us.

With the talented creative and planning crew at Little & Co., and support of Way to Grow leadership, we provided Way to Grow with a new logo, website, photography, interior design and marketing materials. And I’m happy to say that after months of hard work, the new Way to Grow website officially launched today. Take a look and let me know what you think.

New:

Old:

This fall, my design partner and friend, Jon Stone, and I were asked to create a campaign for a nonprofit group that collects used bikes to give to kids. The organization, aptly named “Free Bikes 4 Kidz,” looked to build on its initial bike drive one year ago. Having collected 250 bikes in 2 weeks last year, we were excited to see how our efforts could help this year. With a notebook full of great ideas, one little dude stood above them all, Bike Boy. Figuring my stick drawings might need a little help, I called up the talented Andrew Chesworth to bring the boy to life. Well, illustrated life.

Ladies and gents, I bring to you, Bike Boy:

I’m happy to report that Bike Boy, and the dedicated Free Bikes 4 Kidz family, collected more than 700 bikes this year — and gave away over 350 in two days to kids in need. Good wheel to all is right!

After owning this domain for many years, I finally have what’s starting to look like a real website. Big thanks to Babe Baker at bigandfancy.com for his hard work at pulling this together for me. Soon I hope to not only post my creative work, but write some profound blogs that will blow your freakin’ mind.