ANDREA SÁENZ BARELA



A Doodle Diary


Brand Identity, Exhibition Design, Marketing Collateral




On ViewFebruary 13-April 25, 2025

CuratorsStacy Odom and Brian Thompson

PhotographyCourtesy of Andy Pham
John Kirksey, architect and business owner, doodled his way through 50+ years of phone calls and meetings. Exotic animals, technical-organic hybrids, caricature portraits, and purely comedic themes—the doodles are an intricate blend of John’s vivid imagination and subconscious mind.

I collaborated closely with Stacy Odom and Brian Thompson of Kirksey Architecture to build a world that welcomes viewers into John Kirksey’s whimsical doodle diary. Through studying John’s doodles, one thing became abundantly clear: the visual identity had to embrace John’s offbeat sense of humor and wondrous way of looking at the world. The result is an exhibition experience that filled our community with joy and laughter, inviting all to indulge their inner child by creating a doodle of their own.


Promotional graphic for social media



Main Gallery Space featuring introduction, life-size creatures, doodles, and family portrait wall.



Family Portrait Wall featuring custom wallpaper and life-size figure to add dimension.

Promotional Postcard



There are five postcard designs that each feature their own doodle and caption.

Large scale doodles used to amplify the enormity of detail in John’s original work which was once confined to notepads, napkins, and sticky notes.
A Doodle Wall gives visitors the opportunity to unlock their creative genius and respond to the pattern, form, and line variation found in John’s work.
Visitors had the option to respond to one of the four doodle prompts or create one of their own!
John Kirksey’s Bio + Self-Portrait

Promotional graphic for social media. Type treatment takes inspiration from some of Dr.Suess’s early works.




Front Window Display


Side Window Display






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Updated 24.10.31