Hi, I'm Paula, owner of Bodnar Design. I began my career in the corporate world with design for Crate and Barrel filling in nearly a decade of my resume. It was during their heavy expansion years when I began designing fairly seamlessly between print, packaging, digital and environmental work. It's also where I learned the beauty of working on multidisciplinary teams and taking great pride in not just aesthetics, but function and precision, because we were routinely producing not thousands of impressions, but millions.
While on a corporate sabbatical, I took an adjunct offer at my alma mater, The University of Notre Dame, to teach Typography and Professional Practice. Though I loved teaching, I missed the exercise of following a design concept through the tough reality of execution. So somewhere around 2006/07, Bodnar Design took on its first few clients with a wonderful pool of talent from Notre Dame design students and new graduates.
Since then, the field of design has changed, the studio model has evolved, yet somehow we've made it through the boom and even a few busts. We attribute this to our obsession to get things right, to working with good people, and our fundamental passion for good design.
Bodnar Design is lean and efficient, pulling from talented and trusted partner resources in the areas of design, copywriting, photography and web development to approach multidimensional projects across all media.
In a fully collaborative way, we love taking the 360 degree view of our clients' businesses or organizations.
We ask "why" a lot, and work in whatever medium is best suited for the message.
So if you are looking for an all digital house, or a group that doesn't ask a lot of questions, that won't be us.
As for our next best project, we'd love to connect with you to learn about it.
Or if you'd like a reference or two, please reach out: 773.818.9551 or info@bodnardesign.com.
Thanks for taking a look!
Paula Bodnar Schmitt
PAST & PRESENT
CLIENTS/BRANDS
America’s Dog
AURA Candle Bar
Aya Natural
Blue Ginger
Bolder Capital
Bolder Foods
Bolder Industrial Performance Services
Bolder Healthcare Solutions
Bolder Sensors
Bolder Testing
Brammall Industrial Supply
Capwell Partners
Carnelli’s Deli
CB2
Center for Building Communities
The Citadel Dance & Music Center
Citibank - HAVAS Worldwide
City Porch Restaurant
Crate & Barrel
CMF Transitional Organization
Covenant Retirement Communities
Deerfields Bakery
Environment Furniture
Envision Realty
Finesse Shampoo
Harbor Shores Transformation Center
Homewood Suites by Hilton - The Gettys Group
Illinois Sparkling Co.
Ivy Court Inn & Suites
Kappy’s American Grill
Kinnikinnick Farm
KMPG Ignition - Forcade Associates
Longwood at Oakmont Retirement Community
Mount Prospect Public Library - Forcade Associates
Piven Theatre Workshop
Porto’s Bakery and Cafe
Presidential Towers Chicago
Quarternote Lofts
Robert B. Aiken & Associates
South Bend Chocolate Company
South Bend Museum of Art
Suave
Salon Selectives
The Sheffield
The Samarkand
The University of Notre Dame
CV
EDUCATION
BA in Design from The University of Notre Dame
Professional Certificate in Publishing, University of Chicago
PAST EMPLOYMENT
Helene Curtis
Crate & Barrel
The University of Notre Dame
BOARDS
The City of Evanston Sign Review and Appeals Board (2012 – 2016)
Piven Theatre Workshop Board of Directors
Design Evanston Board Member, Communications Director
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
AIGA – The American Institute of Graphic Arts, Professional Member
SEGD – Society for Experiential Graphic Design, Design Professional
Design Evanston
PUBLISHED
Graphic Design USA Magazine - 2020
Graphic Design USA Magazine - 2018
Old House Journal (March 2012)
Visual Marketing: 99 Proven Ways for Small Businesses to Market with Images and Design
David Langton and Anita Campbell (2011)
Designing for the Future: University of Notre Dame’s Center for Building Communities
Sallie A. Hood and Ronald J. Sakal (2008)
Graphis (Nov/Dec 2004)
VOLUNTEER
St. John XXIII Parish, (Evanston) Unification and Communications Team,
Creative Director for New Brand/Identity, Art & Environment Committee
Scouts BSA Pack 903 Evanston, Recruiting & Membership Chair