The studio was formed in 1981 to assist small businesses in creating a professional business image. Early in 1986, the company decided to switch from traditional graphic design tools to computer aided design and has kept current with the latest in graphic design software. The studio’s clientele has grown from corporate identity and brochures for small businesses to providing Fortune 500 clients and national organizations with designs for technical and procedural manuals and wayside trail signage.

Studio owner and principal, Linnea Koch has over 30 years experience in combining text and graphics to create effective print materials and exhibits. When appropriate, she teams up with other creative professionals – writers, illustrators, photographers and proofreaders – to design projects that suit the client’s objectives. She enjoys brainstorming with clients to get the best possible approach and produce a project that creates a lasting impression. Prior to opening LK Design Source, Linnea apprenticed at an advertising studio, designed books and publications for several publishing houses, and created graphics and slides for training materials.

Most recently, LK Design Source has specialized in helping museums and organizations wishing to create or upgrade informative displays relating to historical information or natural features. Linnea has designed "Native Peoples of Illinois (1673-1835)" for the Schingoethe Center for Native American Cultures in Aurora, IL. The exhibit won the Superior Award for Exhibitions given by the Illinois State Historical Society and the Association of Illinois Museums and Historical Societies. The studio has completed several projects designing wayside signs for the Iowa and Nebraska Mormon Trails in conjunction with State Mormon Trail Associations and the National Park Service Long Distance Trails Office. The latest project is interpretive signs on the grounds of the Dillon Home in Sterling, IL explaining the history of the steam locomotive and caboose which are placed behind the Home.

Other projects completed are marketing materials for the "Dinosaurios Argentinos-Giants of Pategonia" exhibit at SciTech Hands On Museum, including posters, flyers and postcards and a billboard.

Professional Organizations
Graphic Artists Guild
Charter member Chicago Chapter
NAPP - National Association of PhotoShop Professionals

Civic Organizations

Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce, Sterling, IL
Sterling-Rock Falls Historical Society, Sterling, IL
   Brochure design
   Interpretive Panel design
Morrison Garden Club, Morrison, IL
   Vice President 2007-2009
   Membership Booklet & Event Brochure Design
Sinnissippi Garden Club, Sterling, IL
   Vice President 2007-2009
   Membership Booklet & Event Brochure Design
Sterling Main Street, Sterling, IL
   Board Member
   Documenting Photographer
Bickelhaupt Arboretum, Clinton, IA
   Member, Nordine Woodland Wildflower Garden Design    Team
   Presenter at the Arboretum – Shady Characters – Unusual
Plants for the Woodland Garden
University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener
   Active member – Whiteside County
   Presenter at Ready Set Grow–Tri-county gardening seminar
   Shady Characters – Unusual Plants for the Woodland
   Garden
   Presenter at Town & Country Garden Club, DeWitt, IA –    Shady
   Characters – Unusual Plants for the Woodland Garden
Whiteside County Natural Area Guardians, Morrison, IL
Black Hawk State Historic Site, Rock Island, IL
German American Heritage Center, Davenport, IA
Figge Art Museum, Davenport, IA
Quad City Chapter of Illinois Native Plant Society
Quad City Chapter of Illinois Archaeological Society
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Nature Conservancy

 Education
Carthage College, Kenosha, WI
BA in Art

Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago,IL
Courses in Design

Northern Illinois Univ., DeKalb, IL
Courses in Fiber Arts

Fine Line Art Gallery, St. Charles, IL
Courses in Fiber Arts

Elgin Community College, Elgin, IL
Courses in Drawing

Waubonsee Community College,
Sugar Grove, IL
Courses in Advertising, PhotoShop, Quark, Illustrator

Sauk Valley Community College,
Sterling, IL
Course in AutoCAD

Since 1989 4 – 6 annual Continuing Education Seminars in Graphic Design Software

Since 1998 2 annual PhotoShop Seminars

2003-04 Mac Design Conference
3 days of Macintosh design/ illustration courses

Professional Experience
After receiving her BA in Fine Arts, Linnea had many freelance and temporary assignments in advertising, catalog work, and publishing for Chicago area ad agencies, catalog publishers and printers.

Later exprience includes employment at David C. Cook Publishing Co.in Elgin, IL, as a New Products Designer, designing teaching aids for different age groups, books for children and adults and a 32-page weekly paper.
As Assistant to the Art Director, she worked on publication covers.
At Arthur Andersen & Co. in the St. Charles Training Facility she was an Educational Graphics Designer, designing training videos, slide presentations and accompanying manuals.

In1981, Linnea formed LK Design Source. As president, she is responsible for company administration; art director, designer and project manager for client projects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At Home at the Office

This article about Linnea Koch and LK Design Source was published in Fox Valley Living in the early 90s. Text and photos are by Jonathan Cohon.