Mike Ahren Design provides graphic design services including stage/venue illustrations, screen graphics, and presentation boards. Their portfolio spans over 30 years of work bridging concepts into visual realities. Their pricing is tiered based on complexity, with tier 1 starting at $500-800 and tier 6 at $3600-4500. They also provide pricing for screen graphics at $500-1500 and presentation boards from $1000-4000. Client testimonials praise Mike Ahren Design's ability to exceed expectations and help clients envision concepts through interpretive visualizations.

1. MIKE AHREN DESIGN

2. OVERVIEW
1 About Mike Ahren Design
5-32 Portfolio . . . Stages / Venues
34-47 Portfolio . . . Screen Graphics
49-47 Portfolio . . . Presentation Boards
53-55 Exploring the Process
56-66 Pricing Structure
67 Client Comments
68 Closing Remarks

3. Communication by Design . . . because sometimes words aren’t enough . . .
Mike Ahren Design has been bridging the gap between concept and reality for
over 30 years. We take the vision that can’t put into words and visually bring it to
life. Like a stage set worthy of a Broadway production – but with the functionality
to capture your meeting’s message . . . .or a corporate identity that silently
captures your brand essence . . . or print collateral/web development that cuts
through the clutter and sears your product or service in the mind the consumer.
Mike Ahren Design makes a visual statement because sometimes not only are
words not enough . . . sometimes they’re not even needed. Communication by
design – and designed for results. . . Mike Ahren Design

4. STAGES / VENUES

33. SCREEN GRAPHICS

48. PRESENTATION BOARDS

52. PROCESS

55. PRICING

56. Our pricing for stage / venue illustrations is multi-tiered and depends primarily
on complexity, scale, scope and the overall difficulty of the project. Any one of
these factors can affect the amount of resources and the number of hours
required to complete the job. We understand the importance of budget and
believe you will find a suitable solution to your design needs within our multi-
tiered system.

57. Tier 1 - $500-800
This is most affordable type of design and rendering. The client has provided
the basic design. It is a small, basic set utilizing standard risers, flats, simple
shapes or rental elements, and a minimum of lighting, special effects and
graphics.

58. Tier 2 - $800 - 1200
This design is bit more complex and sophisticated involving concept and design
as well as a custom lectern and furniture.

59. Tier 3 - $1200 - 1800
This illustration is more complex still involving extensive 3D construction of
custom elements. A tier 3 design would normally have much more lighting,
gobos and special effects however; in this case, the client felt a more minimalist
approach better called attention to the strong design.

60. Tier 4 - $1800 - 2600
Venue illustrations are typically much more involved than stage designs
although there is nothing to prevent a stage from achieving this level of
complexity and, consequently, tier 4 pricing. Here we have an extensive
environment with a plethora of elements reflecting a range of design and
construction challenges. There are many people and the illustration is very
furniture, prop and character specific.

61. Tier 5 - $2600 - 3600
At first glance it may appear that there is little difference between this venue and
the tier 4 example. But notice the cyborgs on stage in the distance, the
“exchange” logo on the floor and the Telsa globe floating in the blue column to
the left. These were particulars conceived and designed by us that were used in
collateral proposal materials adding to the cost.

62. Tier 6 - $3600 - 4500
Once again we have a very elaborate setting with all the intricacy and flare one
would expect. But here the client wanted to show how a number of the venues
would reflect the scope and spirit of the gala. The fact that the client won the
contract to stage the event with a price tag of over a half a million dollars in
great part due to our efforts is a testimony to the value we can provide.
Let’s have a closer look

66. Screen graphic and presentation board design tends to be a bit more
straight forward.
From concept to finish a screen graphic will take between 5 hours to 2
days to complete and will cost between $500 and $1500. If the design is
to be re-purposed for web, print, power point, etc. then that work will be
billed separately on an hourly basis.
Presentation boards are much more involved. They carry much more
information and typically require a considerable research and often very
specific imagery. We have even designed some with panel reveals and
other interesting twists and turns to make for an even more intriguing
presentation. A presentation board can take as much as a week to
complete. The cost will range from $1000 to $4000 depending.

67. “Mike Ahren’s set renderings, illustrations and corporate assignments utilizing mixed techniques
and creative ideation have allowed me to detail and visualized to my clients for the last 30 years
the fine distinction of our creative being proposed and produced for national and international
communications initiatives with many of the most recognizable brands on earth.
Matt Cafiso
- Producer, International Events
Mike Ahren is a fusion of a seasoned artisan in his knowledge of the basics of point of
perspective, color theory and illustration emulsifying those techniques in to the world of unending
graphic computer software with an end deliverable that dazzles! My work as creative director
with CrossMedia Event Productions was made much more productive and infinitely more
pleasurable with Mike Ahren and ArtStar Creative on our team.
Judy Salzinger
- Professor, Savanah College of Art & Design
As we present our concepts, the client’s eye always tracks back to Mike’s images as they
envision what we are proposing. You always exceed your customer’s expectations with one of
Mike’s interpretive visualizations!
Gavin Strumpman
- VP Marketing, EventQuest

68. Thank you for viewing our work. We are ready and eager to partner with you to help
solve your graphic design needs whatever they may be. With Artstar Creative you
can be assured of prompt professional service that will bring your project in
. . .on target . . . on time . . . on budget
If you are interested in exploring with us how we can help you please contact
Mike Ahren at 330.746.8104 or by e-mail at mikeahrendesign@aol.com