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The Blandin Foundation was founded in 1941 by Charles K. Blandin, a pioneering newspaperman and papermaker, and is headquartered in Grand Rapids Minnesota. The Foundation's grant making programs currently provide approximately $15 million per year to Minnesota organizations that share its goal of strengthening rural and urban communities in Minnesota through convening leadership training programs.

Our relationship
Jim Brandenburg, a nationally respected nature and environmental photographer introduced us to Blandin. Consequently, Eaton & Associates was asked to design the report working with Jim and Camille LeFevre who wrote the text. Together, we produced a book, which the Twin Cities Business (September 1999) rated as "Most Visually Appealing Annual Report".

The communication objective
The theme of the 1998 annual report focuses on the five Environmental Learning Centers (ELCs) strategically located throughout Minnesota. Each ELC center promotes experiential learning for young people using nature as the theater for their learning experience. The Blandin Foundation goals included creating awareness for the success of the ELC's youth programs, and to attract additional funding cooperation from other Foundations and the State of Minnesota to help sustain ELC programs and to open more centers.

The design approach
Our design goal was to simulate for the reader the experience of discovery, similar to that which the children experienced at each of the Centers. Using stories from children we packaged their experiences with large fold out nature photographs, pull quotes from teachers, and parents in a traditional book style text layout. Our production plan was environmentally friendly, using only recycled paper stocks with at least 30% post-consumed waste and soy-based printing inks.

Eaton & Associates responsibilities--included design concept development and layout, project management, photo editing and selection, page layout detailing, production typesetting and proof reading, electronic file formatting and supervision of printing with the ultimate responsibility for bringing the project in on budget.

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