Ida Lu & Erin Burns: Michigan Justice Fund Application
Dear Michigan Justice Fund Team:
We are Ida Lu and Erin Burns—creative communicators who weave together best practices from the nonprofit, technology, health care, and higher education sectors. We first worked together at UC Berkeley’s School of Social Welfare, elevating faculty research on criminal justice, economic mobility, racial equity, and homelessness. Together, we developed multichannel campaigns to reach diverse stakeholders, including students, donors, and alums.
We would be honored to amplify Michigan Justice Fund’s vital work as your Graphic Design and Content Creation consultants. We share your commitment to centering impacted communities’ voices to advance an inclusive, humane society.
Please see below for our work samples, proposed timelines, cost estimate, references, and key staff.
Thank you!
Ida & Erin
Email: idalustudios@gmail.com / Phone: 904-742-9139
Web Updates
Anduin Transanctions - Website Refresh
Newsletters & Emails
reports
Annual Report | Sector: Higher education | Role: Writer, designer | Access full report
Research and Policy Recommendations Report | Sector: Nonprofit/finance | Role: Creative director | Access full report
Social Media, PuBLIC RELATIONS Launches
Event-Related Communications
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We generally split projects into three categories: Campaigns, “ad hoc” requests, and crisis communications.
Communications Campaigns: Major efforts that require multiple channels of communication (e.g., creating an annual report, uploading the report to the website, generating emails to relevant supporters, and creating corresponding social media posts)
Week 1: Kick-off meeting with stakeholders
Align on goals, approval process, timelines, metrics for success
Weeks 2-3: Campaign brief and creative brief
Produce a campaign brief summarizing goals, approval process, timelines, and metrics for success
[If using new visuals or messaging]: Share a creative brief with inspiration for campaign, research/data, messaging ideas, etc.
Weeks 4-6: Approvals
Circulate written content/script for approval
Present creative mock-ups for two rounds of revisions
Finalize creative elements (social posts, graphics, print materials)
Week 6: Campaign launch
Ongoing (via monthly meetings or email): Reporting
Share performance metrics, identify opportunities for improvement
2 weeks after campaign concludes: Post-mortem
Reflect on successes and lessons learned, document for future reference
“Ad Hoc” Communications Requests: Requests that are limited to one communications channel or fit within branded templates
Response time: Within 48 hours, Monday-Friday Eastern Time, we will respond to colleagues’ requests with a) a timeline for completion or b) clarifying questions
Turnaround time:
Static social media posts: 3-business day turnaround time
Website updates: 3-business day turnaround time
Blog posts: One week turnaround time (longer if interviews/significant research required)
Press release: One week turnaround time
Rapid-response communications (e.g., crisis response executive talking points, press release)
Response time: Available on-demand by text or call
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We are open to working on an on-retainer basis. We recommend a three-month “trial period” to establish the approximate hours per month, on each activity (e.g., social media vs. web updates).
Alternatively, we charge a flat rate of $150/hour.
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Alexia Pimentel, Student Services Director and PhD Advisor, UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare: atpimentel@berkeley.edu
Susan Stone, Dean, UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare: sistone@berkeley.edu
KEY Staff
Thank you for your consideration, and we hope to hear from you soon! - Ida & Erin
Contact Info:
Email: idalustudios@gmail.com / Phone: 904-742-9139
Ida Lu (she/her/hers) is a user experience (UX) expert and communications designer with a focus on accessibility. Her work has spanned numerous industries including adtech, health care, and business-to-business sales, where she led marketing and website design strategies. Ida’s previous roles have included Accessibility Software Quality Assurance Engineer/Designer at Salesforce and Digital Communications Specialist at UC Berkeley.
Ida’s roles: Website (including accessibility and user experience), project management, social media, graphic design
Erin Burns (she/her/hers) is a communications strategist and creative director. Since 2005, Erin has incorporated a lens of equity and justice to her communications strategy, messaging, and design work in the nonprofit and higher education sectors. Most recently, Erin directed communications at the UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare, where she amplified the stories of first-generation and system-impacted students. Additionally, Erin has led communications at Pacific School of Religion and the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium, which advances diversity and inclusion in academia. Erin also served as Creative Director at Accion Opportunity Fund.
Erin’s roles: Writing, editing, social media, graphic design, creative direction