Mary Conley

Hacker for Charities Event Shirts

Apparel Design & Print Preparation

This shirt design was created for Hackers for Charity, a nonprofit organization supporting humanitarian technology and education initiatives. The goal of the design was to create a bold graphic that could stand out in conference environments while remaining practical for large-scale screen printing. The artwork was constructed using clean vector shapes and controlled color separation so the design could reproduce reliably across multiple shirt colors. Particular attention was given to line weight, negative space, and ink coverage to ensure the graphic remained clear and readable even after repeated wear and washing. At the time of this project I served as Art Director and later Media Director for Hackers for Charity, where I coordinated visual media for events, merchandise, and outreach campaigns. My role included managing artwork production, collaborating with vendors, developing merchandise concepts, and ensuring brand consistency across multiple conference appearances. During this period I worked on apparel and promotional materials for several major security conferences, including ShmooCon, DEFCON, and DerbyCon. In addition to merchandise design, I also contributed to media production projects, including documentary editing and campaign materials used to communicate the organization’s mission. Projects like this demonstrate the intersection of illustration, branding, and production design—where visual concepts must be carefully adapted to the technical realities of apparel printing and large event distribution.

COVID Awareness Hat Pins

Die-Struck Enamel Pin Design

These hat pins were developed during the COVID-19 pandemic as a small, high-visibility awareness item intended for events and community outreach. Because enamel pins rely on stamped metal molds, the design required careful simplification to ensure the shapes translated clearly at a very small scale.

Line thickness, enamel separation, and metal boundaries were adjusted to meet the tolerances required by die-struck pin manufacturing. The design was optimized so the final piece remained recognizable and legible even at under one inch in size.

Working within the constraints of enamel production requires balancing fine visual detail with the mechanical realities of metal stamping and color fill. This project focused on achieving that balance while producing a piece that still felt visually distinctive.

Branded Glassware Designs

Etching & Drinkware Graphics

These glassware graphics were developed for printed drinkware applications. Designing for glass presents a unique set of challenges, as artwork must remain clear and legible when viewed through transparency, reflections, and curved surfaces. The designs use simplified line structures and strong silhouettes to maintain clarity once applied to glass. Layout adjustments were made to ensure the graphics remained centered and visually balanced across different vessel shapes and sizes. Two production methods are shown here. The first is dye sublimation, applied to both frosted and clear glass. The second is cold-pressed decals, applied to a stainless tumbler and steel mug. Cold-pressed decals also perform very well on clear glass tumblers, and I have produced several sets showcasing those applications. Cold-pressed decals are produced in-house and are currently my preferred method for small-batch and custom glassware production due to their flexibility and durability.