by Mary Knippel

Mark Verlander with his Farallone View Elementary School logo for Oceans Week .

What do legendary car makers, popular movie studios, sports leagues, clothing manufacturers, cosmetics firms, international banks and even airlines have in common? They are all clients of a Coastside business I became acquainted with recently. Stepping over the threshold of an unassuming Montara home with a brilliant red door, I entered a room filled with color, whimsy and wonder, courtesy of graphic designers Mark and Susan Verlander of Verlander Design. “Welcome to our home and office,” Susan Verlander said, greeting me as I walked past the white plumed hat perched on the upright piano and the color block paintings on the wall to join her at the weathered kitchen table. We were joined by Mark Verlander, the other half of Verlander Design, who brought the identity and branding consulting business he began in 1991 back to his Bay Area roots where it thrives because of the flexibility of the customers, and the creative concepts and strong communication skills of the Verlanders.

Verlander Design approaches each identity creation job, whether it is a single concept or an entire program, with enthusiasm and expertise. “I first started doing art work because I wanted to help people,” Mark said. “Maybe not in a way a doctor can help, but in a way that art can help. I like being able to help people realize what they want to do. I think each and every project has a different set of criteria and the result is its own satisfaction. The rewards are there whether it’s the smiles on children’s faces, or the approval of a board of directors.”

“It’s not a job you start at a certain time and finish at a certain time,” Susan said. “It’s an on-going process. It’s a lot of work, but it’s very rewarding. We enjoy the work that we’re doing and being artistic. We enjoy being part of the community. We enjoyed working on the Moss Beach Park and being a part of Oceans Week.”

Working with each other and their clients, Verlander Design strives to develop a visual personality that reflects the essence of each business or profession. Past identity clients have included the NFL, the NBA, Ferrari/Maserati, Virgin Mobile, Nike, Sony, Disney, Warner Bros., Showtime Networks, Jim Henson Productions, Kodak, General Foods, Pepsico, Coca Cola, Cover Girl, United Bank Switzerland and Chronicle Books. Mark added the Farallone View Elementary School to the list of logo accomplishments after he designed the Oceans Week 2007 and 2008 logos. Over 300 children at Montara’s elementary school had a chance to do a hands-on screen printing art project of a stylized fish declaring “Oceans Week Farallone View 2008” courtesy of Verlander Design.

“I love what we do,” Mark said. “It’s conceptual, intuitive and inspired. We get to do everything from illustration, to design, to photography, to writing. My favorite project is always the one I’m working on right now. And for me, the greatest thing is when things happen right away. Oceans Week is a great example because it gives me a lot of satisfaction seeing the kids enjoying their t-shirts.”

Mark Verlander received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design and packaging from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif. in 1988. He has been an instructor at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco, and the Academy of Art University of San Francisco. He also builds furniture and has been a member of a kids rock band where all the songs were inspired by band members’ children.

Susan Verlander is an art graduate of the University of Texas, Austin. She is an author and illustrator of children’s picture books Wake Up, City and Goodnight, Country.

For more information, visit their Web site at www.verlanderdesign.com.