Memorial Service Design
With over 20 years of experience as an Art Director and Designer, I have had the privilege of creating compelling print and digital materials for a diverse range of clients. Creating materials for expo shows, conferences, annual community events, and other large-scale productions laid the foundation for more sensitive projects like memorial services. Though not typically viewed as 'events' in the traditional sense, funerals and memorials demand the same dedication to thoughtful design and careful planning to honor and celebrate the lives of those who have passed.
A Collective Effort
This project in particular was deeply personal, as it involved designing memorial service materials for my mother's funeral. It was a collaborative effort involving immediate family, the officiant, the funeral director, and myself — each contributing our skills and resources to create a heartfelt tribute.
In the end, we were profoundly grateful for the opportunity to craft a truly memorable memorial event for my mom. It was deeply touching to hear so many kind remarks, both directly and indirectly, about how beautiful the service was and how well it all came together. Guests remarked on everything from the speakers and music choices to the printed programs and titles on the photo boards. It was truly heartwarming to know that our efforts were sincerely appreciated.
The Program
We collaborated closely as a team to create and assemble the program, ensuring every detail was thoughtfully considered:
• My sister wrote a full-length obituary for publication online and in printed materials.
• I gently photoshopped the portrait to refine, and remove background clutter.
• The officiant helped develop a suitable outline for the Order of Service.
• I shared proofs for final review, ensuring layouts were approved before printing.
• Materials were printed by Gordon's Photography, owned and operated by my dad.
The program turned out beautifully, thanks to the combined efforts and contributions from immediate family and the officiant, making it a heartfelt and memorable tribute.
Poster Boards
Selecting photos for multiple poster boards helped illustrate her entire life story.
• Recent photos were easist to collect from our smart phones and social media posts.
• Camera phones helped with older photo albums - no scanning equipment needed.
• Baby photos that were not on hand were texted from those who had the oldest albums.
• Baby photos that were not on hand were texted from those who had the oldest albums.
• A series of photoboards were organized in chronological order, with 20-30 pics each.
• Title text on each board offered context, and ensured they were displayed in order.
• A sign with an enlarged version of the program cover drew attention to the guest book.
• Title text on each board offered context, and ensured they were displayed in order.
• A sign with an enlarged version of the program cover drew attention to the guest book.
• A similar sign with 10 photos around the main portrait was also an option, in lieu of a large framed portrait traditionally displayed next to the casket.
Gifts & Other Items
Bookmarks, prayer cards, and other tangible keepsakes served as gifts for guests in attendance. The table-top display also included previously-printed 50th Anniversary books, framed 8x10 photos, goodie bags for the children, and other items in clebration of her life and prompt other to share their heart-warming stories.
Acknowledgements
After the service, a simple spreadsheet helped us log guest book entries, as well as keep track gifts from those who were unable to attend. We were able to mail out thank you cards within 1-2 weeks, to personally acknowledge each act of kindness and express our gratitude to everyone.
Conclusion
When faced with the task of making funeral arrangements, help from family and friends and experienced professionals can ease the process. If you ever find yourself in this situation, please know that having a skilled graphic designer on your team can truly make a difference. I've spent my career designing materials for various events, and it's something I genuinely love doing. If you ever need someone to help you through it, I'd be honored to be there for you every step of the way.
