Shop Pasadena ads designed by Pasadena City College graphic design and advertising students with goal of encouraging patronage of Pasadena stores, restaurants, entertainment venues and services

To encourage local residents and workers to shop in Pasadena, the City of Pasadena and the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce are collaborating on a promotional campaign to encourage patronage of Pasadena stores during the holidays and beyond. Everyone who lives, works or does business in Pasadena can support our local economy by spending money in with Pasadena businesses. The shops, restaurants and services that create local jobs and provide the financial bedrock for Pasadena are dependent on local patrons for their livelihood.

The Shop Pasadena campaign consists of advertisements in local media, which are generously

Shop Pasadena poster
donated by media partners. The campaign features bus shelter ads that are on display throughout Pasadena through January. JC Decaux/Outfront Media generously provides the bus shelter ad space in partnership with the City of Pasadena Department of Transportation.  

The ads were designed in partnership with graphic design and advertising students from Pasadena City College. Students in Associate Professor Jerry Graves’ Graphic Design and Advertising class were presented with the challenge of designing bus shelter size advertising posters that could also be scaled to print and online media formats.

We all have memories of that favorite retailer or restaurant that is no longer in business. Each of those businesses translated into employment opportunities for residents of our community. We should all appreciate the importance of services provided by the City of Pasadena, Pasadena City College and Pasadena Unified School District who all receive a share of local taxes generated by Pasadena businesses.

Sales tax dollars, business license fees, property taxes and other assessments paid by commercial interests return a dividend to the City of Pasadena to pay for essential services such as police and fire protection and also support our local public schools, parks and Pasadena City College. The Chamber and the City encourage everyone to think local when buying during the holiday season and beyond.

“This was a great experience for the students and a nice way to give back to our community” said Professor Graves. “It was a collaborative process that involved working with the City and Pasadena Chamber representatives in a professional setting. The class was presented with the challenge - designing posters that would engage drivers and pedestrians and provide a message encouraging everyone to shop in Pasadena. They each put together concepts and refined those until we had four that worked best for the clients. Then we polished those and ultimately came up with the posters now on display throughout Pasadena.”

Four design concepts were chosen which reflect different aspects of Pasadena with messages encouraging residents and visitors to shop in Pasadena.  This was a great experience for all of everyoen involved. Anyone who sees the results around town will be impressed with the quality, creativity and artistry the students brought to the work. Absolutely amazing!

The Shop Pasadena campaign is a partnership between the City of Pasadena and the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce.

The prosperity of everyone in Pasadena is dependent on the financial health of our local business community. Supporting local businesses is very important to the ongoing economic vitality of the entire Pasadena area. It is in everyone’s best interest to promote and patronize the local businesses that contribute to the excellent quality of life in Pasadena. Each dollar retained in Pasadena, pays a dividend to our community. Spending in Pasadena preserves local jobs, maintains local businesses and even saves travel time and gas.”