User:DesignDiscovery/Eilts-Jobe

Patrice Eilts-Jobe (née Beucher; May 15, 1952 – July 11, 2021) was an American graphic designer, best known for her 1992 design of the Kansas City, Missouri Seal, "City of Fountains/Heart of the Nation", still in use today. During her 30-plus year career, she designed iconic Kansas City identities, including Kansas City International Airport, Powell Gardens, Johnson Country Parks & Recreation, Liberty Memorial, and the Jo Regional Transit System. In addition, her company, EAT Advertising & Design, designed multiple culinary-related identities, notably for PB&J Restaurant Management and Consulting Group. Eilts-Jobe's prolific body of work earned her the moniker of "Logo Queen."

Early Career

Jobe began her creative career as graphic design emerged as a field distinct from advertising. After graduating with a BFA in painting from University of Kansas, her first job was with Swicegood Advertising & Design, where she worked for about five years. Next, she accepted a position at the design-focused Muller + Company. In addition to her design work, her photorealistic paintings were selected for the MidAmerica Five and 30 Miles of Art exhibits at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art.

EAT, PB&J, and Logo Queen

In 1991, Patrice started EAT Advertising & Design with Mark Anderson, and her father financed the company with a $30,000 loan in 1992. Her first client also became one of her most enduring –– PB&J Restaurants, an independent group that operates restaurants in Kansas City, Denver, and Wichita, a former Muller client. "Patrice is involved from the very beginning," PB&J partner Bill Crooks said. "Once we have a location and an idea of what to do, she develops the style and the concept of the restaurant. She creates the story line behind each restaurant." "Everything she does is so unique –– people wear our T-shirts and buy our posters and keep our informational cards." Crooks said.

After Anderson departed EAT to start his firm, Patrice led EAT Advertising & Design to creative and commercial success. In 1997, EAT garnered 24 Omni awards, more than most larger advertising agencies.. EAT became the first Kansas City creative firm awarded Best of Show at the Annual Addy Awards for a logo–– for Thies Doolittle Architecture. Friends dubbed Patrice the "Logo Queen" for her many projects creating brand logos and branding systems. EAT designed many distinctive Kansas City identities for clients, including The City of Kansas City, Hallmark, PB&J Restaurants, WestStar Energy, The Kansas City International Airport , The Central Exchange, TranSystems, Powell Gardens, Johnson Country Parks and Rec, The JO, and others. In addition to recognition from the Annual Addy's Awards Show, EAT's work was recognized by Graphis  and others.

Kansas City Seal Design

After first declining to enter a contest to redesign the Kansas City seal, following 120 submissions without a winner, Jobe was persuaded to accept the project for a $1 honorarium. Her first impulse was to capture the city's location in the center –– or heartland –– of the US, and her second idea was to focus on the many fountains in the area. In addition, Emanuel Cleaver, the first African-American mayor of Kansas City, hoped the new seal would mirror the growing acceptance of all people. The new Kansas City Seal merged the two ideas in a two-color blue and fuschia design for the fountains and the warmth of the people, respectively. and won widespread approval from the city council.