Pacific Waterland is a long running, water-cooled Volkswagen & Audi Car show in the Pacific Northwest. The show is owned by Carrie & Joey Marstall of Double J Motorwerks. It is one of the biggest shows of its kind drawing visitors from all over the US, Canada & Mexico!
What makes our show original, is evident in our motto. Its a show “by friends, for friends.” We are a family friendly event that showcases our love for cars, and mixes in fun events for a great day with friends. Events include:
- Car show
- Drag Racing
- Engine Blow (how long will a car continue to run without oil?)
- Car Bash ( pay a dollar, smash a modified car with various tools)
- Burnout Contest
- Vanagon Cram (how many people can we fit into a VW Vanagon?)
- Raffles
- Vendor row
- Swap Meet
- Scavenger hunt
- Show Queen Show off
- Banner Photos
- and more!
I have been the graphic designer and lead photographer for the Pacific Waterland car show since 2009. Over the years I have created quite a catalog of artwork and photography for the show, as well as a brand design. Each year I created a new marketing campaign which included postcards, posters, magazine ads, T-shirts, lanyards, hats, signs, and our signature giant banner. The show banner was the center piece for the show, which all other materials supported. Each show car received a free photo in front of the banner.
Banner Photos through the years:
For the ten year anniversary I created a series of smaller banners showcasing the art of the past shows, as well as my favorite photos:
It is fun to look at the work as a set,
But breaking it down year by year provides a closer look at the design through the years:
In 2009, I was beginning my design school journey. I had just learned Adobe Illustrator. I am so incredibly thankful Carrie & Joey gave me the chance to design for the show.
The logo looked pretty good on the banner, framing the cars nicely. This was the biggest I had ever printed my work. It was so much fun to see something I made, enlarged to that big of a size!
The following is the first car show postcard I had ever made. This postcard featured all of my own photography. It was also used as an advertisement in Euro tuner magazine!
Euro Tuner Advertisement:
T-Shirts:
Stickers:
Stein Glasses:
Pacific waterland 2010’s design embraced the love of the PAC-WTRLND euro plate, that now had become a coveted trophy of the show.
Banner Design:
Poster & Euroturner Ad:
A few models of Volkswagen & Audi, the track tower, bleachers, reader board, EZ ups, and banner all on its own floating world/planet in space:
Postcard:
T-Shirt:
in 2011 our theme was a vintage travel postcard. The plaid pattern is inspired by the Volkswagen GTI seats.
Banner Design:
Postcard:
T-Shirt Designs:
EuroTuner Ad:
For the 2012 design, we had a local graffiti artist paint our name on our wall. He also painted it on several canvases live, during the car show. I used a high resolution photograph of the artwork, photo shopped the image to look both clean and rugged, and used that image for the banner:
This year I created an official logo and brand design for the show.
T-shirt Design mock up:
Pull over and zip up sweatshirts:
Hats:
Buttons:
Stickers:
Stationary:
Pennants, Coasters & Mugs:
These signs were initially designed to be metal road signs to designate show car areas. However after considering our audience and knowing these expensive signs may be stolen, we decided to go with a cheaper printed sign. ( Just as we thought, we still loose several of these a year.)
For 2013 we continued our show branding by creating a series of icons for our events and activities. I used them as a pattern for the banner, and to advertise the events throughout the show. These icons translated wonderfully on buttons, t-shirts and other signs and brochures.
Banner Design:
T-Shirts:
I created a little list to check off on the back of the shirt. Volunteers marked what they volunteered for. It was fun and interactive.
Postcards:
Icon design:
Buttons:
For 2014, instead of reinventing the wheel, we carried on with our new brand and icon design, arranging the icons to spell out PWL.
Banner Design:
T-shirts:
Lanyards:
Pennants:
Hot Wheels! For our ten year anniversary we highlighted another hobby that goes hand & hand for most car show enthusiasts. Hot wheel collecting. The car show participants could get a photograph of their car, in our very own hot wheels package!
Postcard:
Swag:
Alternative Pennant Design:
I made several large versions of the sticker for car windshields. I still have it on to this day. It sure does turn heads! Little kids point and stare every time!
I also made a special edition version of the sticker for our car bash car.
T-Shirts & Sweatshirts:
We continue to make the Europlate shirts, as they are a hit:
To See MORE Photos from Pacific Waterland 2015 visit the blog post >> HERE<<
Welcome to Summer camp! This years summer camp theme was tons of fun. Show Owner Carrie Marstall and I hiked up to Owl Point in Mt. Hood National forrest to capture the image that became this years show banner:
This sign was designed to look just like the national park signs. My Brother Greg cut the shape out of wood for me, and I created a vinyl sticker that looked just like the real hand painted signs. This sign was used in conjunction with the banner, for the cars to park between. It gave the whole scene a more realistic look.
We also used the logo for T-shirts, stickers, and pennants.
Alternative Pennant Design:
Staff T-shirt Design:
I created another shirt, summer camp style, which was my favorite.
Banner Design:
For this banner design, Carrie and I drove out to a vintage gas station in Ellensburg Washington. The vintage gas station is in front of the Red Horse Diner. I photographed the station at sunset, and photoshopped the PWL logos on in post. The banner turned out fantastic! Our best one yet!
T-Shirts:
For the t-shirts, Stickers, and other items, I created a vector drawing of one of the gas pumps in the photograph. The data on the front is our current car show statistics!
Pennant Design:
Swag:
Click >>HERE<< for more Photos from Pacific Waterland 2017
Its been an Magnificent several years.
See you at next years show!
Find out More about the show at pacificwaterland.net
or on the Pacific Waterland Facbook page
Categories: Apparel, Automotive, Brand Design, Event Photography, Featured, Graphic Design, Logo Design, Marketing
Thank you. I enjoy your designs!
What a wonderful and fun post to read and enjoy, Thank you and everyone else for all the hard work at the show.
It really takes an army every year , Sarah you are really a talented artist and photographer and a great friend to
Carrie and Joey,
Awesomeness. I love it every year. Great job guys n gals. You ROCK!!! Thanks for the best show for dubs on the westcoast.. in my opinion… 😁😊😎