Betsy Grimm
By Chelsea Zhao
One Earth Film Festival is known for its mission of driving change and action through high-quality film experiences. One challenge One Earth faces every year is how to convey this mission in a new and inspiring way. Art director and creative thinker Betsy Grimm enthusiastically took on this project and has created thought-provoking artwork for the past two film festivals. Having worked for a variety of brands, from McDonald's to Wheaties, she said it “feeds my soul” to work for a cause like One Earth.
Betsy was inspired by this year’s OEFF’s theme, the Power of We, to unite people across differences, to collaborate for the planet and future generations. “The theme line really offers a point of view for the direction of the film fest, and one that speaks to me personally,” she said. “I love the grassroots flavor and the way it challenges us. What’s better than empowering us as individuals to work together on important issues facing our planet?”
One Earth Film Fest theme logo.
Betsy wanted the theme line to be bold, heroic and reflect the idea of a collective. “I immediately thought an illustrative approach representing ‘we’ was the right direction,” she said. “I liked the idea of the Earth housing the text, so the trick became how to incorporate those ideas succinctly.”
Betsy began by handcrafting dimensional type that helped give the Earth shape. After experimenting with illustrated faces contained within the text, she added stars and latitude and longitude lines to help solidify the Earth concept.
Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Betsy earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Indiana University, and studied creative advertising at The Portfolio Center in Atlanta before moving to the Chicago area, where she and her husband, Mike, are raising their two children. She is no stranger to advertising and branding, having worked many years for Leo Burnett and DDB ad agencies.
“One thing I love about design is the way it can make concepts stick in people’s minds,” Betsy said. “Of course, our eyes and minds have more input than ever before, so it’s all too easy for good messages to get lost. If my designs have helped the visibility and mission of the festival, I’m thrilled.”
Betsy also recognizes the importance of the strong network of OEFF volunteers. The dedication of their work and the scope of their accomplishments reveal the true theme of the logo.
“The fact that 400 volunteers put in their time to bring the film festival to life is awe inspiring,” she said. “It’s a perfect example of the Power of We.”