Andrew Chen Design

I’m sitting at Break Espresso in Missoula, Montana on my third cup of coffee, half-working, half-journaling and 100% relaxed. If you know me, you know that I’m the type that works on vacation – and this trip in particular has been one of the best. I’m halfway through a week of design, coffee, good food, quality time with friends and the beautiful northwest scenery. I love it.

Mai + TJ (are getting hitched)

I (along with the Prior dudes) made the 21 hour trek to Missoula to visit our friends, Mai and TJ. They’re two of my favorite of people in the world and in just a few more days, this amazing couple is going to be married. I couldn’t be more excited. I made the save-the-date’s months ago – can’t believe the wedding is already here! So pumped.

Here’s a selection of projects from the past several months.

Forerunner Arts Exhibition

Joel Sorge, director of Forerunner Arts in Kansas City, held a gallery show for local artists last month. I submitted several pieces to the show; here are my favorites. For this project, I wanted to experiment and venture out of my comfort zone. The bold, minimalistic approach of the likes of the Small Stakes and Mattson Creative provoked me to try something different with this project. It was fun and challenging, and I’m really happy with the way the posters turned out. (I’ll have prints for sale soon.)

Onething Internship Powderpuff T-shirts

This spring, I had the chance to design shirts for the Onething Internship Powderpuff Football match again. Both teams this time. Simple, fun and straight forward. They keep it brutal on the field.

Branding for Awakening Teen Camp and The Purple Pig Tour!

I’ve had the privilege of being a part of IHOP-KC’s Marketing Department Family on and off for the past couple years. One of the last projects I had the chance to work on while in Marketing was a rebranding of IHOP-KC’s Awakening Teen Camp. ATC was my introduction to the house of prayer and what I consider the most significant experience of my teenage/young adult years. Considering my history with ATC, this project was special to me.

Recently, I began working with Luke18 Project as the ‘creative guy’. Branding The Purple Pig Tour! was one of my first projects in that role. I had the opportunity to create the concept and help design new websites for Luke18 Project and the Purple Pig Tour!. For three weeks (September 26-October 9) in California, Luke18 Project+TheCall will host gatherings on college campuses and in local churches to rally a generation to a culture of prayer and a life of mission. The name of the tour is inspired by a book written in the 70’s by Dick Eastman called The Purple Pig and other Miracles. The book will be republished for this tour. You can learn more about Luke18 Project at http://www.luke18project.com and The Purple Pig Tour! at http://www.luke18project.com/purplepigtour (Hope to see you in California.)

Last month, my friends Stephen and Joy and I had the opportunity to spend some time on tour with Scream the Prayer. We had tons of fun, met amazing people and were blessed like crazy by that experience.

It was a blast making new friends, getting to know everyone, praying, working and hanging together everyday. To everyone who made STP rule: You guys are awesome. All your hard work, long days and crazy dedication really are making an impact. It’s worth it. Keep on going, keep having fun, and keep loving the Lord, you’re in our prayers, for real. We miss you guys a ton and hope to see you soon.

PS. Bailey, Brenton, Jake, Matt, Mike, Nick, Shane and everyone else that rocked the merch tables all day long - you guys are champs.

I spent April 4-10 in Boston, MA with 350+ fellow students from the International House of Prayer University. It was a fast-paced week of ministry filled with prayer, worship, preaching the gospel and reaching out to the sick and poor. I could tell countless stories and testimonies from that week, so I’ve decided to focus on some of the key experiences that deeply impacted my life.(Pictures to come…)

Highlights

1. Harvard
Stepping onto Harvard’s campus was a surreal moment. As I walked between elaborate buildings and droves of tourists, I was struck with the history of that place. I began to realize what kind of giants the students of IHOPU were facing as we roamed that campus. My friends were endlessly berated with obscenities as they preached the gospel on Harvard Square. Hundreds of my fellow students prayed for the sick, shared their testimonies and worshipped together at one of the oldest universities in our nation. A young Harvard student walked through the campus heralded shouts of praise to Jesus, crutches in hand after being instantly healed from a leg injury. These moments are forever impressed on my heart. On that campus, I witnessed a company of young believers’ unashamed of the gospel of Christ, declaring His goodness and the coming Kingdom. Light is shining in the hardest and darkest places.

2. Boston University
I entered the Boston University campus on a sunny Wednesday afternoon. It was the warmest, brightest day of the week and the sense of summer was everywhere. It was a beautiful day I’ll never forget. That morning, a song in my heart drew me to remember the faithfulness of God, and I felt joy increas all throughout the day. By the time I arrived at the campus, all I wanted to do was preach the gospel. Little did I know, the Lord had a divine appointment prepared. Following the beckoning of a friend, I turned the corner of a building to discover a sea of college students, 500 strong at least, basking in the sun and enjoying the gorgeous day. Heart racing, I walked to the center of the crowd, eyes half closed, recalling the testimony of the apostles giving witness to the Savior they adored. I spent the next hour of my life, voice bellowing and pulse pounding, sharing the story of my salvation and bearing witness to Christ. It was a moment that will forever mark my life. My heart has never felt so full.

3. Johnny Cupcakes
One of the first thoughts that crossed my mind when I heard IHOPU was going to Boston was ‘Johnny Cupcakes’. I’d been following the brand since I was 14, hoping to visit one of the stores for years. One early morning, after coffee and bagels, I urged a couple friends to come with me to the Newbury St. store. I was giddier than a school boy when I first stepped foot inside. I have to admi, it was a little difficult explaining my excitement about an obscure, bakery themed t-shirt shop the size of of an average living room. Sometimes there are things in life that have special meaning to you but not your friends. That’s just fine with me. I went back three more times.

4. Tremont Temple
Tremont Temple Baptist Church. As I wandered around that historic building and stood in the Sanctuary that once hosted individuals like Sam Houston and George Lorimer, I felt the immensity of our hour in history. 40 Days of fasting, weeks of planning, months of anticipation, years of prayer, decades of Church History-we are on the fringes of revival. I felt the gravity of it so deeply those hours at Tremont Temple. As we prayed, worshipped and re-committed ourselves, the urgency for revival hung thick in the air. Time is short. The days are dark. Hope remains. Until He returns, we set ourselves daily to knock until the door opens.

Lessons Learned

1. ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
I’m reminded of a song I used to sing in elementary school, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” It’s a simple statement of faith and yet so staggeringly profound. I’ve spent so much of my life fighting for comfort and security, yearning for confidence in my accomplishments. This year, however, has been a journey of learning what it means to be poor in spirit. In weakness, in humility, in letting go of my striving to fall into the everlasting strength of God, my hope is full. The Boston experience filled me with a greater sense of trust and security in the love of Christ.

2. Every day is an adventure
With every year that passes, I am more convinced that life is only common when we settle for common. The difference between mediocre and extraordinary is found in the small choices. Wandering around downtown Boston, meeting new people, sharing the gospel, preaching on trains, praying for the sick and absorbing the details reminded me that adventures sit right at our doorsteps daily. We need but step outside of comfort zone and seize it.

3. We are a family
I consider myself an independent individual and often imagine that I can ‘do just fine on my own’. Every day, I believe that less and less. People need one another. Friends, teachers, classmates, co-workers, teammates, leaders, spouses, children, parents, siblings - no matter how much you strive to isolate yourself or keep your relationships at bay, you cannot escape your need for others. We are wired this way, to love, help, teach, lead, follow and learn from one another. Boston really brought the student body of IHOPU together, connecting friends that would otherwise never meet and putting us in situations where we could grow together. Opportunities like this are precious and few; golden reminders to fight for the destinies our brothers and sisters. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

5. Blessing, honor, glory and power be to our God forever and ever
After 60 hours of travel, 4 days of ministry and countless unforgettable experiences, I can only stand in awe of God, humbled and moved to tears by His tenderness. There really is no one like Him. When I looked around during services and meetings in Boston, I saw much more than students at an unknown, unaccredited Bible school in Kansas City. My eyes saw hundreds of real, powerful salvation stories, complete with tears, joy and life – hundreds of salvation stories that God gathered to Kansas City to shape, grow and commission to the ends of the earth. For me, Boston was a glimpse of hundreds of destinies that would see the fruit of thousands, even millions of souls saved from death and prepared to meet Jesus when He returns. Face to face with the kindness of the Father and the story He is weaving, there is little more you can do but sit and weep in silent awe and worship. This is just the beginning.

Amen.

I’ve been staying busy for the past several months. Between classes, the prayer room, F!GHT, IHOP–KC projects and other new clients, blogging and updating has been on the backburner. It is as if a whirlwind began to brew at some point. At first you don’t really notice, then before you know it, you realize everything could suddenly be turned upside down. It is not negative, just mounting change. In the mdist of it all, there is a precious sense of comforting remembrance and security. So, as it so happens, somewhere back there, I unwittingly stepped into the whirlwind of change, and I can finally see where it’s about to drop me off–just for now of course. I can see a lot is changing around me, but I never want to forget why I am doing the things I am doing. I want to encourage you in this: New seasons can be exciting and a little bit intimidating (sometimes devastating), but whatever comes around the bend, remember that it is journey. There is a big picture. There is a final destination. Sure, along the way, you’re going to have to make some stops for food and fuel; some will suck and some will rule. Either way, don’t get hung up on the lame ones and don’t get too enamored with the sweet ones. It is not ultimately where you’re headed. Enjoy the trip, but don’t forget, it is more than a joyride, it’s a journey; you are actually going somewhere.

Keep your goals in sight; reach for them but don’t be afraid to change them if you need to. Have perspective. Look at the choices and circumstances in light of your life vision. Personally, I know the what I want my Jesus to say about me when I meet Him, and having that moment always before me gives me peace and confidence–no matter what changes come my way.

With all that said, I’ll change gears a little bit. Here are some projects from the past few months that I selected to post.

Coronado Left For Dead: Logo and Album Artwork

Brett from Coronado Left For Dead contacted me several months ago to talk about artwork for their new self-titled album (it was just released last week!) We discussed concepts back and forth before settling on on a new logo for the band and designing the album around it. After a couple weeks of work and rehashing, we landed on the ornate logo with rustic/vintage layout and I love the way it turned out. Check out Coronado Left for Dead at http://www.myspace.com/coronadoleftfordead. They’re a local Kansas City band and Fans of Every Time of Die, Maylene, Underoath, Norma Jean etc. will dig the sound. The production turned out awesome and the art was a lot of fun to work on.

Ascend the Hill: T-Shirt Designs

This was my second time working with Ascend the Hill. They’re one of my favorite clients to work with. I love their music and the heart behind it. It’s always an awesome experience to design for them. Visit Ascend the Hill at http://myspace.com/ascendthehill and check out the other Come and Live artists as well http://www.comeandlive.com

Aperture: T-Shirt Designs

When Aperture approached me looking for some new T-shirt designs, they already had a good sense of the feel and style they wanted, but left a lot of room in the art direction for me to be creative (a designer’s dream.) We landed with two new T-shirts that I’m really stoked on. Check out Aperture at http://www.myspace.com/aperturefl

GANGSTASWITHCAPGUNS: T-Shirt Design

GANGSTASWITHCAPGUNS is another local Kansas City band that I had the opportunity to work with this year. We experimented with a couple of ideas before switching direction to focus on the band’s Kansas City roots. The band chose the KC city sky station as the focal image for the shirt and asked for style reminiscent of simple, traditional Hardcore pieces. I was super pumped to go in that direction, and here is the design that evolved. You can check out GANGSTASWITHCAPGUNS at http://www.myspace.com/gangstaswithcapguns

Jules and Bethany: Wedding Invivations

Last but not least, here is my favorite project of the year so far. Not just because it was a fun experience (which it was) or because the final product turned out well (which it did). This project is special to me because it belongs to two of my best friends. Jules’ and Bethany’s wedding location in downtown KC provided the inspiration for this piece. Jules, a freelance writer, incorporated some of his art into the invitation text (a very clever personal touch). The wedding is coming up fast and I’m looking forward to it so much. (Jules and Bethany, I love you both and I am so excited for you!) Follow Jules’ blog at http://www.julestompkins.com

I’ll be updating my portfolio section soon with these projects and a few others. Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter

Description from F!GHT Clothing Humanity is no stranger to pain. The deceit, disaster and wickedness increasing in our world leaves countless lives battered, broken and desperately in need of healing and salvation. As we continue to witness devastation in our lives, it is becoming apparent that human kindness is not an endless resource. But though our compassion has a limit, the love of Jesus Christ endures without end. While love grows cold around us, there is a tender call resounding from the words of God to the hearts of those He loves, “Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. Show kindness and mercy to one another. Go into the world and proclaim the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes will be saved.” Today there are approximately 150,000,000 orphans in our world; over 5,000 are added to that number daily. In the United States, 50% of children live in a home without a father. In recent days, the cataclysmic earthquake in Haiti left 100,000 dead in moments. 1/3 of Haiti’s population has been directly affected and the death toll is suspected to climb to 500,000. Pain, suffering and brokenness surround us, and though we relentlessly strive to mend with kindness the affliction in our world, our efforts alone are mere band-aids on the fatal wounds of sin and adversity.  Our only lasting hope for real peace, justice, truth, and love is found in Jesus Christ alone. With F!GHT, we want to take seriously God’s call to lay down our lives to serve the afflicted and preach the good news of Jesus and His kingdom. It is burning in our hearts to rally one another to follow Christ in a prayerful labor of love. Our mission with Nothing but the Blood is to help deliver the glorious hope of eternal life with Jesus and the compassionate endeavor of critical support and relief to orphans and those affected by the earthquake in Haiti. 100% of the profit from these shirt sales will help fund the rescue and adoption of special needs orphans as well as the earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. With equal passion, we want to urge everyone who loves Jesus to talk with Him about justice. Discover the depth of His love toward the lost, poor, and fatherless, then take up His cause.  A fistful of dollars will reach the end of its usefulness, but the lovingkindness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ will never fail.

OK. THIS PART IS UNASHAMEDLY A WISHLIST There are a few things that have been sitting outside the reach of my normal expenses. I don’t mind of course, they’re things I don’tneed. They’re pretty neat though. 1. MAGIC MOUSE: Agreed, Apple is a bandwagon. I’d rather be on that wagon than design on a Dell again. That’s for sure. 2. CANON G11: I’ve been looking at cameras for awhile. Though I was convinced that I wanted a DSLR (who doesn’t have one these days) my brother-in-law made a really valid point. If your shooting recreationally and don’t have the money to spend on lenses, you might as well get a high quality point and shoot. 3. MY SUITE STUFF: Yes, it’s exactly what it looks like. Pillows made to resemble adobe icons. You know you’re a nerd when this is on your list. 4. GO MEDIA: Resources for designers. Go Media has so many useful vectors and templates. Chances are, if I’ve done work for you, Go Media has played some part in it. 5. YOUWORKFORTHEM: More design resources. I love the range of vectors YWFT has to offer, I just don’t often get the opportunity to purchase any of them.

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS
Some folks are very particular about not giving gift cards. I’ve heard the argument that they’re impersonal and lack sentiment. I’m the polar opposite, an unabashed advocate of gift cards. For me, you can’t really go wrong with one. It’s plenty sentimental. Plus there’s the security that I won’t/can’t return it for a refund. At best it’s a wonderful gift and at worst your skipping the step of having to go to customer service with a gift receipt to get it. Win, win.

I ALSO LIKE TO READ. ABOUT DESIGN MOSTLY
Never, ever buy a book from Borders or Barnes & Noble. Window shop then find your book online. I retract that statement if you’re one of those few individuals that can afford to smoke five dollar bills in your spare time. Feel free to shop there as much as you want.

In August of 2007, right before my senior year of high school, I packed my life into three suitcases (one of which contained a dell dimension 4600 desktop, old faithful, my first designs were done on that machine) and boarded a plane for Kansas City. It was a one way trip. That event was both the most drastic transition that has taken place in my life and the best decision I have ever made. I moved to be near the International House of Prayer Kansas City. I left the comfort zone of my apathetic teenage years to go after the Lord with all of my heart, or at least, as much of it as I could give. Little did I know that with every passing moment in the Prayer Room, my heart was being shaped and molded to spend my days in prayer, fasting and the Word of God. Fast forward to today and IHOP–KC is celebrating its ten year anniversary. I’m blessed to design for the ministry that has most impacted my heart to love the Lord and I am so grateful for what He’s doing and will continue to do in Kansas City.

In my day job at the IHOP–KC marketing department, I had the opportunity to design a special album compiling music from IHOP–KC’s 10 years of night and day worship and prayer. I worked together with our art director and project manager (who also happens to be an amazing photographer) to produce the artwork for Unceasing. We used poladroid to ‘polaroidize’ photos, printed them out and pasted them on foam cylinders from the art store to simulate an anniversary cake. Steve shot photos of the ‘cake’ in our office and I treated the images/designed the layout in PS. It was so much fun to venture outside of the box and work with a concept that is more or less unconventional for our department.

I love Jesus. I love the house of prayer. I love design. I can’t wait to see the fusion of these three loves in coming days as the Lord leads.

Look for Unceasing at the upcoming Onething ‘09 Conference.