Category: History

From August 1987 to 1997, Michigan State University hosted the Michigan Festival on the University’s campus in East Lansing. Organized as part of Michigan’s sesquicentennial celebration, the event was geared toward providing affordable, high-quality entertainment to the people of greater Lansing and Michigan as a whole. Ciesa Design supported the festival…

From 1999-2017 Ciesa Design created print and design work for the Folk Festivals in East Lansing. However, the events originated in 1987, when MSU Michigan Traditional Arts Program folklorists produced the first “Festival of Michigan Folklife.” Bringing together over 75 musicians, storytellers, and craft demonstrators, this event ran successfully from 1987-1998,…

In 2004, founding board member Lauren Ciesa and his team at Ciesa Design, alongside the Downtown Development Authority and the city of East Lansing, started the first (SCENE) Metrospace galleries in an abandoned bank! This was founded in response to the “Cool Cities” initiative set forth by former Governor Granholm to…

In 1996, Pace & Partners marketing firm held a “Chili Fest” competition with the staff cooking chili and clients serving as judges. The small event had about 10 staff members each make a crockpot of chili. That year Dennis Pace won, Bob Metzger PR came in second and most interesting chili…

For over 35 years, Ciesa Design has supported the East Lansing Art Festival with the production of promotional materials, most notably the posters. Through winning national awards, these posters helped grow the event’s national standing. The 2005 ELAF poster won a 2006 Regional Gold Addy and was featured in the 2006…