When you have a set of very special skills and specialized equipment, it’s easy for you to do things that others would find very difficult. AURAS has always been happy to lend our tools and talents to organizations that need help. I think pro bono jobs are an essential part of a well-balanced studio.
Over the years, we have worked with arts groups, local fund-raising organizations, and civic groups on projects that ranged from a simple flyer or invitation to marketing for an entire event. Our favorite pro bono job was working for Share Our Strength. A magazine client co-chairing an event called Taste of the Nation asked for help designing a program cover. The Taste event, a fundraiser for local food banks, was part of a series of similar fundraisers held in cities across the country. At each event, dozens of restaurants and vendors participated in creating small tasting plates for attendees.
This annual event was a perfect opportunity to pitch in and make a real difference. For a decade, we created all the themes, designs, and marketing for the Washington-area event. We corralled photographers, illustrators, and printers to partner with us. Held in the Grand Hall of Union Station, it grew into a large event with hundreds of attendees.
Taste of the Nation was probably the most complex pro bono work we have done; we were proud to participate. Early on, I suggested we make a recipe book from the samples presented so attendees could take a souvenir home. It was quite the challenge to corral the chefs and press them into delivering the recipes. Still, eventually, most participated, and along with everything else, over a decade we produced these souvenir recipe booklets.
For our 40th anniversary, we have collected all of these recipes into one big cookbook. There are 370 of them from 150 restaurants. All of the recipes have been reviewed and updated. Our sister website aurascookbook.com is featuring a free download of Taste of the Decade. The book also features each year’s art we created for the event.
As difficult as the project was, I always told the designers to treat the project—any pro bono job—as if they were VIP clients. There should never be a whiff of the idea that you were deigning to do them a favor. We should treat each project with the utmost seriousness and attention. I see pro bono work as a test for performing when the only thing on the line is proving your dedication to presenting your best work. After all, pro bono means “on behalf of doing good,” not “doing it for nothing.” The deed itself is the reward.
