Julian Strain's Writing, Rhetoric, & Information Design Portfolio

Contained in this technical and professional writing portfolio are five projects I completed over the course of my undergraduate studies. These projects span a vast timeline including work from my freshman year and most recent senior year. The goal and aim of this portfolio are to demonstrate my understanding and ability of technical and professional writing, rhetorical theory and history, and document design. These projects range in medium from rhetorical analysis, research papers, a brand-guide, and more. Though they range from a text heavy paper to design intensive projects, they are all united in showing an understanding of how writing and communication functions within specific contexts, rhetorical situations, and audiences. Together, these projects show how rhetorical choices emerge from context, how appeals and strategies shape meaning, and how design itself becomes a rhetorical act. This introduction provides an overview of each project, explains how it reflects key concepts in writing and rhetoric, and articulates how the portfolio as a whole represents my growth as a writer, analyst, and designer.

The first project, a rhetorical analysis of the University of Central Arkansas’s “Commitment” page, grounds the portfolio in classical rhetorical theory and rhetorical history. This assignment asked us to examine how a piece of media uses ethos, logos, and pathos to construct its identity and persuasive messages. By choosing a piece of media designed to attract prospective students, analyzing the page’s language, structure, and visual presentation. I learned to see digital recruitment materials as carefully crafted rhetorical artifacts rather than simply informational texts. The page’s ethos emerges through its authoritative tone, polished design, and emphasis on institutional values; its logos appears in the strategic use of statistics, program descriptions, and evidence of student success; and its pathos surfaces in imagery and narrative elements designed to evoke belonging, pride, and aspiration. This project demonstrates my ability to apply foundational rhetorical concepts to contemporary digital communication and shows how classical appeals continue to shape persuasive strategies in modern contexts.

The second project shifts from classical appeals to a more contemporary rhetorical framework by analyzing the rhetorical situation of the famous Japanese anime Akira. While also focusing on ethos, logos, and pathos, this assignment required us to go deeper and consider exigence, audience, purpose, constraints, and historical context. Akira is a visually and thematically complex film, and approaching it rhetorically meant examining how its commentary on post‑war Japan, nuclear weapons, biker gangs, and more shaped the film. By analyzing the film as a response to specific social conditions, I learned to see media not simply as entertainment but as rhetorical acts shaped by the rhetorical situation and historical contexts. This project demonstrates my ability to apply rhetorical theory beyond written texts and to analyze how visual, narrative, and cultural elements interact within a rhetorical situation.

The third project, the Urban Farm Brand Style Guide asked us to design a cohesive visual identity for a brand. Including typography, color palettes, logo usage, and layout guidelines. In creating this style guide, I had to consider how visual design communicates values, establishes credibility, and shapes audience perception. The Urban Farm Project is an actual non-profit that does incredible work, check them out here. The project demonstrates my understanding of document design principles such as contrast, alignment, repetition, and proximity, as well as my ability to apply them intentionally to support rhetorical goals. By producing a polished, professional‑quality style guide, I show that design is not merely aesthetic but intentional rhetorical choices. Every visual choice communicates something about the organization’s identity, purpose, and relationship to its audience.

The fourth project, a research paper on composition theory and critical pedagogy, expands the portfolio’s engagement with rhetorical history and theory. This assignment required me to synthesize scholarly conversations about how writing is taught, how power operates in educational contexts, and how critical pedagogy challenges traditional hierarchies in the classroom. By engaging with theorists such as Paulo Freire and scholars in composition pedagogy studies, I explored how writing instruction can empower students, foster critical consciousness, and create more equitable learning environments. This project demonstrates my ability to conduct academic research, engage with theoretical frameworks, and articulate complex arguments about pedagogy and rhetoric. It also shows how rhetorical theory extends beyond textual analysis into questions of teaching, learning, and social justice.

The final project, a translation‑friendly, plain‑English voter guide, brings together rhetorical awareness, technical writing skills, and document design. This assignment required me to translate complex political and legal information into clear, accessible language while designing a document that could be easily understood, navigated, and translated. In creating this guide, I had to consider audience needs, linguistic accessibility, visual hierarchy, and usability. The project demonstrates my ability to apply plain‑language principles, structure information logically, and design a document that supports comprehension for diverse readers. It also highlights the ethical dimensions of technical communication: making civic information accessible is itself a rhetorical act that shapes how people engage with democratic processes.

Together, these five projects illustrate a broad and interconnected understanding of writing, rhetoric, and information design. I hope you enjoy, and feel free to reach out to me below.

Thank you.