Hello,
I am not one for winter sports. Even though I grew up in the snow belt of North East Ohio. It never took hold to get out during these cold months to ski or skate. I replace these recreations with learning the culinary arts and working in my studio. I have been making things that explore an idea that I was introduced to at a week seminar in 2005 called Design Inquiry - “Profound Connections”. Our chapter provides me with plenty of fodder to explore this topic. Since many members are separated geographically, findings ways of connecting the community are exciting and important.
 Here is one concept, I have taken the list of AIGA members and used a Google mash-up technique to plot the members and their membership type. From this, I have created a map to help visualize the geographical relationships of our members. The actual map online cannot be shared due to respect in privacy. Download this PDF of how we look on a map. It surprises me that there are members within 10 miles that I never knew were part of the organization. Looking forward to reaching out to them. If you are interested in making connection with members near you, please email me and I will help you make a “profound connection”.
Other ways you could make connections are attending a Creative Eats near you, attend the Matt Owens Lecture, or meet Debbie Millman.
Have a great month and keep warm,
Bill Klingensmith
AIGA Upstate New York - President
MATT OWENS : TYPE & IMAGE
Thursday, February 25, 2010
7:00 pm
Sage Albany Campus
Kahl Campus Center (KCC) Room 224
Sage Albany Campus
The Sage Colleges
140 New Scotland Avenue
Albany, NY 12208-3425 |
Matt has spoken internationally and his work has been recognized by the Art Directors Club, American Center for Design, the AIGA and multiple domestic and foreign design publications. >> PLEASE RSVP HERE
** AIGA MEMBERS FREE! |
 Established in 1997, Volumeone brings a multi-disciplinary approach to the creation of visual solutions for print, motion and digital media. The seasons portion of volumeone.com is updated several times a year, featuring conceptual narratives and personal visual work. These explorations help show prospective clients the studio’s wide range of visual and technical capabilities while providing a creative platform for learning and experimentation outside the sphere of client work. Some of Volumeone’s clients include Adidas, Zoo York, New York Magazine, The United Nations and GOOD Magazine.
A MUST SEE EVENT! |
DEBBIE MILLMAN LECTURE
 What makes a brand stand out? Is there some magic that turns a simple script logo for a soda into the international graphic icon that is Coca-Cola, or makes us salivate over the latest product from Apple? Presented by Debbie Millman, partner at Sterling Brands and President of the AIGA, this presentation takes a deep dive into the influence branding has on our everyday lives, from branding ourselves and the world around us to the role branding plays in the products we buy and the way we live.
Register today. Space is limited. Learn More
In the meantime, enjoy listening to Design Matters with Debbie Millman. The show combines a stimulating point of view about graphic design, branding and cultural anthropology. In a business world dependent on change, design is one of the few differentiators left.
AIGA UPSTNY 2010 PROGRAMMING CALENDAR
Participate in one of the many events happening this year in the Upstate New York graphic design community. For more information, visit our website events page.
Monthly Regional Creative Eats | 02/18, 03/18, 04/15, 05/20, 06/17
Intro to Typesetting Class | 02/11
Intro to Platen Press | 02/25
Studio Tours | Date to be announced
Lecture: Matt Owens | 02/25
Mohawk Mill Trip for Students | 03/12
Movie Screening "Typeface" | Date to be announced
Lecture: Debbie Millman | 04/01
AIGA Upstate NY Roundtable by invitation | April date to be announced
Student Portfolio Review | 04/08
Glide '10: Biennial Design Web Conference | 10/27
CREATIVE EATS | February 2010
This monthly social event series was a huge success last year. AIGA UPSTNY is continuing these third [3rd] Thursday of the month social gatherings. The locations will change between a dining experience and a happy hour gathering. We hope you will come out to join us in open dialogue about local design issues and creative discourse.
This networking event is open to long time professionals through beginning students. It is not exclusive to members or graphic designers. It is a gathering of those in the local creative industry, no matter what your title.
Find out more about this month's locations:
Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, and Southern Tier.
SPEAKING OF TYPE...
By Marjorie Crum
Do you know who had the greatest influence on American taste in regard to the Arts and Crafts movement?
Most Americans learned of William Morris’ work as it was interpreted by Elbert Hubbard and the Roycroft establishment.
Elbert Hubbard founded the Roycroft Shop and its Roycroft Press in East Aurora, New York, after a visit to the Kelmscott Press in England in 1894. Morris’ daughter May called Hubbard an imitator of her father and felt Hubbard’s work in America was inferior to her father work and legacy. Elbert Hubbard’s workshop in Aurora, New York included an art school, a furniture craft factory, a smithy, other small craft operations, and the Roycroft Press. Hubbard was immensely successful and his furniture and decorative objects, including the Roycroft Press books, were found in homes throughout America before World War II.
 Beginning in 1895 Hubbard issued monthly the famous “Little Journey” booklets. These biographical essays on famous persons, included facts interwoven with comment and satire. Hubbard also published The Philistine, an avant-garde magazine, which he ultimately wrote single-handedly, and in 1908, Hubbard began to edit and publish a second monthly, The Fra.
It all changed when Elbert and his wife, Alice, were among the fatalities onboard the Lusitania. the ocean liner that sank off the coast of Ireland on May 7, 1915. The Hubbards had been traveling to England to begin a lecture tour when they died. The Roycroft Community’s leadership then fell to Elbert’s son, Bert. Though Bert took the Roycrofters to wider sales distribution, the changing American tastes led to slowly declining sales figures. Finally, in 1938 the Roycrofters closed shop.
Today, items that were produced by the Roycrofters are highly sought after by collectors. In addition to the collectabilty of the items, examples of Roycroft bookbinding, metalsmithing, and furniture-making are sought simply because of their inherent beauty and craftsmanship.
» VIEW ARTICLE ONLINE
UPSTNY MEMBER INTERVIEW
Three year AIGA member Lynda Harmel Donati, Art Director/Graphic Designer at Buffalo State College, is interviewed by fellow member and Communication Chair, Dennis Angelo.
Can you give me a little biographical information on your career?
Before landing in Higher Ed, I worked in ad agencies and design studios doing everything from mechanicals and stats to art/creative direction. Then there’s Green Soup, my low-key freelance business that has been ongoing since college. My husband, David, is also a graphic designer; a lot of the freelance work is collaborative and that is, by far, the most fun. I’ve been a designer for nearly twenty years and the last ten of those in Higher Education—this from a girl who never stayed more than three years at any creative job! But deep down, I always wanted to be a marine biologist.
What design challenges do you face when representing an entire university to such a large audience?
While the number is large, it’s not one audience. High school juniors and seniors, undergrads, first-year students, grad students, alumni, donors... it’s a very segmented audience. The challenge comes in maintaining the college’s image with a fresh, consistent message directed to the individual segments. I think THE hardest thing for a university or college or small business or large corporation to do, is decide how they want to be perceived by their audience, then determine the messages that will put them in that position.
What inspires you?
The work of others. If you want to be good, surround yourself with it.
What role do you think designers should play in going green?
 As print designers, I think there is a responsibility to be aware of, and lessen the impact of, what we produce everyday. In a nutshell, I produce garbage. Well communicated and visually interesting garbage to be sure, but garbage none-the-less. Some of it hangs around for a long time but, eventually, it ends up in a recycle bin. Taking steps up front, at creative, to minimize the effects as much as possible is WAY easier than it used to be, oh ten years ago—more choices of recycled paper, soy-based inks, dry presses--not to mention the ability to give something a reason to hang around longer... there’s really no excuse to not implement some of these. Most projects, you can do something; some projects you can’t pull it off. And that’s OK too.
What would your top piece of advice be for a designer who is just getting started in the industry?
Pay attention to the details! Don’t overlook them because others won’t. Whether it’s your work, your resumé, or an email to a potential employer, be professional. Know grammar, know how to write and, for god’s sake, run Spell Check.
In what way does being a part of AIGA enhance your career being a designer?
AIGA is a great network of creative professionals (there’s nothing like seeing the designers you’ve admired and followed at the same conference as you)! A real goldmine of experience (articles, interviews, portfolios, shows, programs, places, history)—so much to inspire, so much to learn from, all in one organization; AIGA is the best resource! Just because you’re out of school, doesn’t mean you stop learning. As a designer, you live in a state of continual observation and you’ll never see anything in the same way again.
Suggest an AIGA member to be interviewed, contact Bill Klingensmith, President AIGA UPSTNY: president@upstatenewyork.aiga.org
» VIEW ARTICLE ONLINE
HEADS UP
AIGA Upstate New York will be sending out a special email outlining open Board positions. Only AIGA members are eligible. Please review the descriptions and respond with a nomination of a member you think might be interested or, if you are interested, nominate yourself.
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