Every fall, a new class of Sofia University graduates crosses the stage, and every fall I get to design the program that families hold in their hands while it happens. This year marks four years of doing exactly that, and it has become one of my favorite projects to return to.
A commencement program looks simple on the surface. It lists names, honors, and the order of the day. But it is also the one piece of printed work that graduates and their families are likely to keep for decades. That changes how I approach it.
How It Started & Where It Is Now
It all started with a referral from our friends at Minuteman Press in Costa Mesa, who introduced me to Sofia University. What began as one program has grown into a yearly tradition between Earp Creative and the Sofia University marketing and communications team, with Minuteman Press still bringing the finished piece to print. Each summer the team reaches out, we talk through the year, and the content starts coming in.
That rhythm matters. Because I know the layout, the voice, and the people, we spend our time on what makes each year special instead of starting from scratch.
Designed to Be Kept
A program that only gets read once ends up in the recycling bin. A program that is beautiful and easy to navigate ends up in a keepsake box. My goal every year is the second one.
That means clear hierarchy so guests can find the order of ceremony, the honors, and the graduate names without hunting. It means typography and color that feel like Sofia, and a layout with enough room to breathe. Every page is built to be read on the day and treasured after it.
I also keep the practical side in mind. The program is a printed booklet, so I design with the print process in mind and deliver a clean, print-ready file so the final piece looks as good in hand as it does on screen.
What Changes & What Stays
The structure gives graduates and guests something familiar to look for. The content is what makes each year its own: a new class, new honorees, new award recipients, and new words from the university’s leaders.
Being the designer who returns each year means I can carry the look forward while still refining it. A small adjustment here, a better way to present an awards section there. Over four years those refinements add up to a program that keeps getting stronger.
Why Long-Term Partnership Works
I keep a deliberately limited roster of clients each year so every project is led, designed, and managed by me personally. Sofia University is a great example of why that approach pays off.
When a client trusts you with the same project year after year, you stop being a vendor and become part of their team. You know their priorities, you anticipate their questions, and you can turn revisions around quickly because the groundwork is already done. The result is a smoother process for them and stronger work for their audience.
That is what I mean by design that drives results. Consistent, thoughtful work builds recognition and trust with the people an organization cares most about, and for a university, that starts with its graduates.
Congratulations, Sofia Graduates
To every Sofia University graduate, congratulations. It is a privilege to play a small part in marking the day. And to the Sofia team, thank you for trusting me with this project year after year.
If your organization has an annual program, event, or brand that deserves the same care, I would love to talk.
