FEMA Publications Catalog - Design

Hi All,

After I retired from the Air Force, I was hired on at the Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA), as a designer in the Publications Section.  Over the next three years I worked with FEMA print publications, prepared books for printing, archived files, assisted contractors designing for FEMA.  I also designed books, leaflets, products for print and web, and whatever other projects they had for me.  It was a great job.  It was always fun and challenging -- and like any job, occasionally a little frustrating.

Today I'm going to highlight the FEMA Publications Catalog.  A little background - when I was hired, the Pubs section was in the midst of change and my boss Ken dedicated me to work with the FEMA publications and to develop and "run" some new processes (as well as work on graphic design).  FEMA has numerous publications and most are designed by contractors.  So one of the first things I developed was a QC, cataloging and master file archiving system, and then I'd annually put out a FEMA Publications Catalog.

Cover - FEMA Publications Catalog. Note - the
design is set up in accordance with DHS
House Styleguide - not necessarily the way most
would set it up.

As new products came in, I would make sure it was set up in accordance with Dept of Homeland Security House Style Guidelines, assign publication and catalog number (don't ask why two numbers -- long story), and "brand" it on the back cover.  I'd make changes/fixes as necessary, preflight the files and ensure they were ready for commercial printing.  Then I'd pass the files on to the printing specialist and work with them (if necessary), thru the printing process.

Intro page in the catalog -- some info about the
catalog and FEMA resouces on-line

The Publications Catalog that hadn't been done in quite a while when I arrived, so I started from scratch.  As new products and reprints came in, they were put into the catalog.  When ready, we'd print a small run and post on the web.  I left FEMA almost a year ago, to move out west, but the catalog is  probably still on the FEMA website.  The catalog didn't have all the publications, as I've described, but it included the most current materials.

One of the internal pages.  The books are listed
by category.  These are "Flood" books

I know FEMA has taken a beating in the media at times, but I really enjoyed working there.  I can't say enough about the people at FEMA.  They are dedicated, and some of the best!
Thanks FEMA -- I'll always treasure my time working with you.

A page of Disaster Recovery Center signs.
They're signs for the centers out in the field,
where people get disaster assistance.

Have a great week everyone....Tom