Stowe, VT – After 14 years at Mad Dog in Anchorage and four successful years running our Seattle office, Kris Ryan-Clarke recently moved from the west coast to the east coast. Mad Dog’s creative partner has set down roots in the picturesque mountain village of Stowe, Vermont – home to Ben & Jerry’s, Laughing Moon Chocolates. Stowe Cider, Idletyme Brewing Company, the Trapp Family Lodge (yes, those von Trapps), and Stowe Mountain Resort – an internationally acclaimed four-season resort area with 116 ski trails and 13 lifts.
Kris Ryan-Clarke opened Squash Blossom – Mad Dog’s creative partner on the east coast – in the heart of Stowe, Vermont.
It isn’t hard to imagine why art director and graphic designer Kris Ryan-Clarke chose Stowe as the location of her next venture. The quaint town is a nexus for many of her favorite things – world-class skiing, live music, craft beer, artisan chocolates, famous cheeses, Vermont maple syrup, antiques, fine crafts, artists of every stripe, and genuine small-town folksy charm.
[L] Agriculture plays a major role in the lives of Vermonters, especially dairy farming. [R] The area is dotted with barns, some dating back to the civil war.
[L] Chartered in 1763, Stowe has a population of fewer than 4,500 residents. [R] The area is known for its enormous sunflowers; nearby Waterbury holds an annual “Hunt for Sunzilla.”
Kris still serves her clients in Alaska, Washington, and the Pacific Northwest, but is now combing New England for her next projects. And of course, she still has Mad Dog’s headquarters in Spenard, Alaska for support.
With two decades of experience in graphic design, marketing, and branding, Kris brings plenty to the table as a project manager and as a creative director. With Mad Dog, Kris has driven award-winning creative for nonprofits, Native corporations, universities, commercial and retail firms, and social programs. With Squash Blossom, Kris will no doubt continue her track record of brilliance.
[L] Color fills the sky during Stoweflake Mountain Resort’s annual Hot Air Balloon Festival in July. [R] Local sugar maples are tapped starting in February, and sap is collected through April to make syrup.
[L] There are plenty of opportunities to slow your pace and enjoy the atmosphere in Stowe. [R] Stowe is nicknamed “The Ski Capital of the East.” Here, gondolas traverse Mount Mansfield.
Kris’ work has been featured in Print magazine, LogoLounge books, Creativity and Graphis annuals, and numerous David E. Carter, Rockport, and Harper Design publications that encompass work in sustainable green design, self-promotion, business graphics, annual reports, and logos.