The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON-Dayton resident, and graphic artist, Boe Stevenson has been "blasting bad design", from Portland to Walla Walla, and Dayton, since 2002.

Designing branding packages, business cards, letterhead, rack cards, promotional material, "and just about anything that goes to print", as well as vinyl for windows, and screen printing, are all part of Stevenson's repertoire.

Stevenson is also a dab hand with a catchy phrase. The Rey's Roast Coffee logo "Elevate Your Being" is a brain child of his, he said proudly.

"I don't try to sell designs for my clients. My designs are diverse to reflect the diversity of my clientele, and to represent my clientele in the best possible way," Stevenson explained.

Stevenson said the inspiration for his career as a graphic designer came from an early interest in old comic books. He also served a stint as a cartoonist for his high school newspaper, The Stampede, in Great Falls, Montana, where he was born and raised.

Stevenson said that in 1998 he attended the University of Montana, but left after a year because there was no graphic arts program, there.

So, he spent the next few years delivering pizza, and playing in an acoustic folk rock band, he said.

Stevenson then enrolled at Montana State University, in Bozeman, where he was able to study graphic design.

Armed with a BFA from MSU Stevenson moved to the Portland, Oregon scene, in 2002, to ply his trade, but found breaking into the commercial graphic art scene "brutal".

"I decided to grab ahold of the reins, and do my own thing," Stevenson said about his transition to freelancing.

Stevenson said that while he was working as a bartender at a downtown Portland hotel, he landed work, designing the brand, and wine labels, for Styring Vineyard, in the Willamette Valley.

Things began to pick up for him in 2006 when he and his family moved to Walla Walla, Stevenson said.

"I thought: "This is a pretty cool town. There are a lot of wine labels, and I enjoyed doing wine labels," he explained.

Stevenson said that he developed important contacts while working as a bartender at the Marcus Whitman restaurant, and also during the seven years he worked as a server at Saffron Mediterranean restaurant.

Stevenson named some of his clients and they are; Hamley's Steak House in Pendleton, Cavu Cellars, Tero Estates, and Rasa Vineyards, in the Walla Walla Valley, and Rey's Roast Coffee, Noble Hunt, and Little Dipper Dairy in Dayton.

Stevenson said his screen printing business is starting to take off, as well.

Courtesy Image

Boe Designs' business card.

"I have an apprentice now. (Brandon Vela). It's great to have someone to ease the work load," Stevenson said.

Stevenson said that he expects to hire another apprentice in the spring to help with orders from wineries during spring release.

Also, there is a big autumn push to fill winter apparel orders including hoodies, he said.

Stevenson and Vela work with a four color printer in the shop behind Stevenson's home, he said.

"I wear many hats," Stevenson said about his hectic work life.

Stevenson said he hasn't had time to develop his website, but he can be reached at: 1(503) 939-6447 or by e-mail at: boestevenson@gmail.com or at his portfolio site at: boestevenson.myportfolio.com