AIGA Charlotte Blog

Member Spotlight: Kimberly Diedrich

2010-03-01

Kimberly Diedrich, AIGA Member Since 2006
Graphic Designer, Image Resource Group and Freelance

1. Where are you from?
Originally from Upstate New York (Adirondacks). My family moved to the Charlotte area when I was in grade school and I've lived here ever since.

2. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
I would love to be a Dog Psychologist/Behaviorist. I've always had a love for animals, but never paid much attention to training or behavior until I got my dog a year and a half ago. He was a handful to say the least, but he's come a long way! It's surprising how receptive they are once you communicate to them in a way they understand.

3. What attracted you to the design profession? Did you have particular mentors or experiences that opened the door to the profession for you?
When I first went to college, I was studying Biochemistry @ Clemson University. I wanted to go into Pediatrics from the time I knew what a career was. That plan fell through when I realized how much chemistry and I don't get along - not to mention my "hypodermic needle-phobia". I took time off from school to do a co-op with the Disney College Program. I've always been a Disney girl - instead of drawing superheros or comics, I would doodle Mickey Mouse. Drawing/art was my escape, a kind of stress reliever, but I never considered it could be a career. Then I attended a Career InSight event featuring Chris Chapman of Disney Design Group. Chris spoke about his basic day-to-day task and I found it intriguing. I like the functionality design creates - art with a purpose and the idea of visually communicating. The more I learned about design, the more I was attracted to it. When my co-op ended, I went back to school and began studying graphic design - 5 years later...here I am.

4. What would people be surprised to know about you?
I'm training my dog for bikejoring and urban mushing. No snow for dog sledding down here. It's been a lot of fun and takes a lot of trust!

5. What's one goal (professional or personal) you have for the future?
I hope to become a creative at Walt Disney Imagineering one day.

About Kimberly Diedrich
To find out more about Kimberly please see her work on Behance and check her out on LinkedIn

About AIGA Charlotte's Member Spotlight
Each month AIGA Charlotte interviews a selected AIGA Charlotte Member. It is a great opportunity for the Charlotte design community to see who AIGA Charlotte is along all the amazing things our members are doing. If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed and appear on AIGA Charlotte’s Member Spotlight, please contact Rachel Martin, Membership Director.

Community Spotlight: AIGA Center for Cross-Cultural Design (AIGA XCD)

2010-02-21

AIGA Center for Cross-Cultural Design (AIGA XCD)
Number of members: newsletter circulation 4,000+, Facebook membership 867+
Year started: 2002

AIGA XCD is an AIGA community of interest established to foster greater communication between designers across cultures, and highlight the interwoven experience of design and culture in our lives. Consequently, we are committed to engaging AIGA membership in the global design community and marketplace. Like AIGA Center for Sustainable Design, we believe we add value to AIGA membership by creating a forum for issues that cannot be limited to geographic boundaries.

In the past we have organized a variety of travelling exhibitions, travel tours abroad, presentations and a design competition. We are currently focused on growing our online presence and social network, to facilitate the dialogue about design and culture within AIGA chapters.

1. What is AIGA XCD's proudest recent accomplishment?
We are proud of all our accomplishments!

In the spring, we held the AIGA XCD Culture in Design competition. Entries came from around the world, including Lebanon, El Salvador, the Netherlands, Peru, Italy and from several AIGA chapters. Our international panel of judges selected 18 entries they felt best expressed the intersection between design and culture. Our Chinese partner, Package and Design magazine, published these submissions. They can be viewed online. The competition was important to us because it allowed our growing audience to share their ideas about the role of culture in their design.

AIGA XCD board members serve as a speaker's bureau, lecturing on issues of cross-cultural design around the world and across the United States. For example, Aaron Marcus has been keynote speaker at conferences in approximately 15 countries, and Bennett Peji has been a strong advocate for cross-cultural design across the US. Active AIGA XCD members are not only outstanding designers, but also thought leaders, moving the profession and non-AIGA organizations forward in understanding the issues of cross-cultural design and communication. They publish ideas about cross-cultural design and its impact on society, how to evaluate cross-cultural communication, and where to find resources of key information that help make design decisions.

2. Tell us about the best event AIGA XCD has put on this year?
In October 2009, we hosted our second AIGA XCD Expedition to China. We visited top design studios and design schools in HongKong, Shanghai and Beijing. We wrapped up our trip by attending the Icograda Bi-annual Congress in Beijing and still had time to visit Lan Kwai Fong, Shanghai Tang's, Lantau Island, the Pearl Tower, Suzhou, the Great Wall as well as the Forbidden City and Beijing's Hutongs.

3. What programs does AIGA XCD offer specifically for its student members?
As a demographic that is directly affected by continued globalisation of culture, design and communications, students are a very important audience. Our blog features the AIGA XCD Student Showcase where students demonstrate how culture has influenced their projects and thesis work. Students have also participated in our design competition and travelling exhibitions.

4. In what ways are volunteers most involved in AIGA XCD?
The contributions of our volunteers (including the AIGA XCD board) has been varied and invaluable. An incredible amount of time has gone into developing communication tools to share our mission as well as reflections about cross-cultural design. AIGA XCD is grateful for the regular design and blog contributions of Devon Hirth, Wendy Hu, Alan Jacobson, and Dan Formosa.

5. How does AIGA XCD utilize the internet and social media to communicate and connect with its members?
Again, given the global breadth of our activities — our board members span four states and three times zones; our newsletter readers hail from over 21 countries — an effective online presence and communication system is critical to us. We communicate with AIGA membershp through our newsletter, and messages to our Facebook members about events that highlight design across cultures in and outside the United States. Our Flickr albums contain photos of our travel tours and international presentations as well as examples of design from a multitude of cultures. Our goal this spring is to enhance our website with interactive features that will allow our community to spontaneously and more frequently participate in the crosscultural dialogue. Many thanks to Neil Matthiessen, AIGA XCD webmaster and Antonio Garcia, AIGA XCD Brandmaster for spearheading our web revamp.

6. If a movie were to be produced about AIGA XCD, what would the title be and which actors/actresses would star in it?
Our movie, "Designing Culture?" would explore the exciting questions that arise when cultures meet and identity is defended or redefined. How do people adapt their communication? How can designers counsel their clients looking to communicate to unfamiliar or global audiences? The storyline would emphasise our inherent connections and the paradoxal conflict these connections generate, like the movie "Babel".

Of course, Bradangelina wouldn't be up to snuff for our Casting Director, so we'd probably have to beg the AIGA XCD board to play themselves in the leading roles and demonstrate the usual creativity, tenacity and commitment :)

Chapter Spotlight: AIGA Baltimore

Chris Jones, President, AIGA Baltimore — 2010-02-07

AIGA Baltimore
Number of Members: 382
Year Founded: 1989

1. What is your Chapter’s most proud recent accomplishment?
Our Pulp Ink and Hops event last year was a success, even in this economy, bringing approximately 20 design vendors and hundreds of designers together to review the latest and greatest in designer's tools from printers and paper samples to job resources and design information. Photos available here.

2. Tell us about your Chapter's Mentorship Program.
Our chapter recently worked on the Create don't Hate mentorship program which brought together members of the design community and schoolkids to create messages about stopping the ongoing violence. The program involved approximately 20 mentors and two schools here. In the mentorship timeline the mentor groups developed 24 billboards of which seven have been chosen to be displayed around town. We feel promoting this message was a particularly important endeavor in which to undertake given the problems of gun violence in the country and especially in Baltimore, which has had a particularly high murder rate due to the influx of drug culture and the large numbers of youth who do not have or do not take opportunities to become gainfully employed.

3. Tell us about your Chapter's student programming.
Currently, we offer two portfolio reviews a year, one small and one larger, for students. We also offer studio tours to various locations — including printers and design firms located in the Baltimore area.

4. Tell us how your Chapter uses social media.
We use Facebook to connect with the AIGA Baltimore universe, as well as, Twitter and LinkedIn. We have also started a blog that feeds to our website. These avenues have helped us stay connected with members, as well as, deliver relevant content to them in ways that, based on traffic numbers, they value.

5. What type of food is Baltimore famous for and where can we get some?
The crabcake is the delicacy of choice in Baltimore. While there are plenty of places in Baltimore to go for crabcakes, I'd suggest Faidley's in Lexington Market. A number of reasons play into that. The scene is a covered marketplace with a nod to its past with stalls, a buzz of activity, the din of talking and the blue-collar working man's spirit of Baltimore. Baltimore's Inner Harbor which is famous with the tourists represents the slice of the city that you'd see in its Sunday's Best. Don't we all want to know a city when it has on its play clothes?

Photo by: Chris Jones

Eat You Greens: Sustainability Roundtable Recap

Luke Atkinson, designer, Brinkley Design — 2010-02-05

On Wednesday, January 13, 2010, twenty-four professionals from a range of fields gathered at the ImaginOn to participate in AIGA Charlotte's first "Eat Your Greens" event. The discussion served as a "Sustainability Roundtable," with everybody contributing and exchanging ideas. The event was put together by the AIGA Charlotte Green Team made up of Trent Edwards, John Howard, Jenna MacFarlane, Rachel Martin and Luke Atkinson. The Green Team's mission is to promote sustainability and socially responsible design within our local design community and at all AIGA Charlotte events.

Leigh Brinkley of Brinkley Design, served as the moderator for the event and kicked things off by going through some of the ways she incorporates green practices into her lifestyle, hammering home the idea that it's hard to, "Separate my thinking about sustainability as a design issue and thinking about it as a way of life." From there, the discussion touched upon a variety of issues and topics:

On viewing environmental practices from a holistic perspective:
Practice what you preach. Making more environmental decisions at a grassroots level is how everything starts. As designers, it is our responsibility to communicate these practices to our clients and set this change into motion.

Leigh Brinkley of Brinkley Design noted that, "The economy has made us reconsider who we are and the best thing we can do from a business point of view is to give our clients these [environmental] options – to educate them." It's important to be consistent in our actions. Endeavor to be responsible to our client and colleagues, because it is through our actions that we can set an example and lead others to action.

On progress:
Progress is being made in Charlotte. Gianluca Camarda, an industrial designer at BOLTgroup, said he has noticed changes in environmentally conscious design in Charlotte since moving here two years ago. He noted that in other countries – in Japan and Europe – it's a way of life for the industry. There's more awareness in the culture and this in turn increases demand while driving down costs.

On cost:
Environmental printing options can be significantly more expensive than the regular options. In an instance brought up by Adam Rouse of Belk Printing, their "Extreme Green" option cost a client $4500 vs. $3000. The client really wanted to make the job as environmentally-friendly as possible so opted for the $1500 cost increase. Until awareness increases, costs won't go down. Designers are in a position where they can inform their clients about the environmental impact of certain printing methods, inks, etc. and increase demand for alternate environmental options.

Ben Wright of Action Graphics agreed, saying "The biggest problem is that they have all the capabilities at their disposal, but there isn't awareness there in the consumer." It's up to designers to educate the client – raise awareness. If more people demand it, cost will go down. It's as simple as that.

On designers' influence:
There's a difference between between being sustainable and appearing sustainable, or greenwashing. Rob Eggers, a LEED AP site and land designer at the CPCC Center for Sustainability, noted the difficulties in the designer's position. "It's easy as designer or contractor to immediately accept new technologies, only to have them not work, and have to replace them in three years. The bottomline is that you have to dig deep and get past all the hype and hysteria before making these decisions."

Alan Nelson, a senior industrial designer at Lowes, offered an example of how small actions can cause large changes. He increased the water efficiency on a certain model of shower heads. When put into use, the number of units it was projected to sell, would save 1.8 billion gallons of water. Changes at the level of an individual unit result in larger changes when this unit is mass-produced.

Designers should push to have sustainable packaging at all costs. This can be difficult. Take the example of Chinese manufacturers. The problem is that when a product gets damaged, it either gets returned by the consumer or thrown out by the store it was returned to. In turn, the Chinese vendor gets charged for these losses. So, to combat this, Chinese vendors go overboard on packaging to make sure the products don't sustain any damage. But the solution can be smarter packaging, not simply more of it. Less packaging equals less weight which means less fuel costs and less shipping costs and it's up to the designer to understand this kind of less obvious savings as a selling point.

Carolyn Colonna, AIGA Charlotte President, brought up the question about the choice between recycled and FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council) paper; "Is the amount of reprocessing recycled paper's post-consumer waste more damaging than FSC-certified paper?" Shannon Binns of the Green Press Initiative, said it was a myth. "Making paper into paper is easier than making a tree into paper – it's not comparable. Ideally, you will have both a combination of FSC and recycled."

Information and resources:
Select either a 100 percent post-consumer waste (PCW), recycled, processed chlorine free (PCF), uncoated, FSC certified paper made with renewable energy (ie wind, geothermal, solar, etc) or treeless paper made with bamboo, hemp and/or kenaf if readily available locally. Also, select papers from mills who care (Mohawk, Neenah, New Leaf, etc).

Ask for specifically low VOC inks or specify 100% vegetable-based inks. Avoid using metallic and fluorescent inks as they usually contain high proportions of metals such as barium and copper. The book: Green Graphic Design by Brian Dougherty has a great resource for inks containing potentially hazardous metals.

Calculate your press sheet to get the most up per sheet and the least amount of waste. Avoid bleeds. Use mechanical bindings such as saddle stitch or wire-o which is easily recyclable and watch your adhesives when binding.

:: Paper Calculators ::
http://www.neenahpaper.com/ecopapercalculator/index.asp
http://www.edf.org/papercalculator/
http://www.edf.org/papercalculator/

:: Design ::
http://www.designersaccord.org/
Global coalition working together to create positive environmental and social impact
http://www.re-nourish.com/
Resource for the graphic design industry providing definitions, tips, and links to sustainable resources designers can use to make their work a little greener.
http://core77.com/
Current pulse on the design community, with strong focus on social and environmental change
http://www.good.is/
Integrated media platform for people who want to live well and do good
http://www.design21sdn.com/
Design21 Social Design Network “Better Design for the Greater Good” is a partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) which connects people who want to explore ways that design can positively impact our communities – ways that are thoughtful, informed, creative and responsible.

:: Lifestyle ::
http://knowyourfarms.com/j/
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in North and South Carolina
http://www.localharvest.org/
Find local farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area.
http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/seasonalcooking/farmtotable/seasonalingredientmap
Epicuriou's interactive map to see what's fresh in your area
http://www.goodguide.com/
Resource to find safe, healthy and green products
http://earth911.com/
Guide to local resources including recycling centers, how to recycle, pollution prevention and how help protect the environment.
http://www.ncgreenpower.org/
Local nonprofit organization to improve North Carolina’s environment through voluntary contributions toward renewable energy and the mitigation of greenhouse gases. A typical contribution of just $4 per month adds one block of 100 kilowatt-hours of green energy to North Carolina’s power supply.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this discussion. All are encouraged to check out The Living Principles which was created by the AIGA Center for Sustainable Design. They weave together environmental protection, social equity, economic health and cultural vitality — bringing to life, the first quadruple bottom-line framework for design.

If anyone has any questions, please submit them below. Please forward any good resources to us as well so we can all move this effort and conversation forward.

Member Spotlight: Daniel Allegrucci

2010-02-01

Daniel Allegrucci, AIGA Member Since 2009
Freelance Web Designer and Visual Artist

Where are you from?
I was born in Fayetteville and raised in NY state. I also lived in a small town in Italy for a while. I've been in Charlotte more or less since 1990.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
Since I design for the screen, I like to look for ideas in the physical world: product design, vintage posters, nature, art history. I especially like food packaging from other countries.

What’s one goal (professional or personal) you have for the future?
I'd like to continue to find ways to bring my fine art and web design practices together. For example, I'm working on a project that takes imagery created as a woodcut print and brings it to life using Flash/Actionscript 3. I'm a big fan of mixing old and new technologies.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
"Find something you like and get really good at it" and "Reliability and professionalism are at least as important as talent."

What are you currently working on?
I'm currently working on several web sites for agencies and my own clients. I'm also getting ready to be an 11 Month Affiliate Artist at McColl Center for Visual Art this spring.

What is the best purchase you’ve ever made?
Blueberry iMac in 1999 - "I'm going to teach myself web design and make lots of money. You'll see!"

About Daniel Allegrucci
Daniel Allegrucci is an award winning freelance web designer and visual artist based in Charlotte, NC. Shortly after graduating with a BFA in Printmaking in 1998, he began designing and building web sites and other multimedia projects. His woodcut prints have been exhibited across the United States and are included in collections in Hong Kong and Germany. For more information, visit danielallegrucci.com (art) and da-id.com (design).

Chapter Spotlight: AIGA Connecticut

Rich Hollant, Communications Director, AIGA Connecticut — 2010-01-11

AIGA Connecticut
Number of Members: 113
Year Chapter was founded: 2008

1. What is your Chapter’s most proud recent accomplishment?
Every conversation about AIGA Connecticut’s purpose circles back to the importance of building a collaborative community rooted in a shared professional ethos and the openness to look at our individual differences with encouragement and appreciation. This attitude of working together to honor camaraderie over competition has become a bit of a mantra for us and we hope—with enough repetition—it will continue to catch on with all of the creative folks throughout the state.

With this goal, we took on a project with another local design organization—Connecticut Art Directors Club. We put together a shared event, “Defining Connecticut: LEGENDS of Design”, an evening conversation with 5 visionaries (including AIGA Fellow, Peter Good) who were pivotal in shaping the creative voice of our region. The two organizations worked effortlessly together to secure a venue (a gorgeous renovated art museum), manage the pre-registration along with the promotional process which included 5 coordinated email videos, eye-popping introduction media for the panel discussion and a video documentation of the lecture itself. It was a great success and brought folks together from across the state and across disciplines to receive wisdom and encouragement from leaders we all admire.

As an added bonus, this event so galvanized the community, we are planning to collaborative with other area organizations on the “Defining Connecticut” theme.

2. Tell us about the best event your Chapter has put on this year?
As a chapter we are invested in both the ideals of collaboration and those of social responsibility. In the summer of 2009, we held an event called “Lotion” that brought these two principles together. “Lotion” is a working retreat designed to offer support to a not-for-profit organization or to bring attention to a social cause. This past August, our “Lotion” prototype theme was “Roughin’ It”. A group of 25 AIGA Connecticut members met for 2 days and a night at a summer camp facility to tackle some promotional and branding issues for our hosts, the American School for the Deaf. During this time, we broke into teams and used the “DeBono Six Thinking Hats” system to facilitate ideation. Interspersed with the think tank sessions were sumptuous meals, hikes through the woods, kayaking, boat rides around the secluded island where the camp is sited, and late late night bonding by the beach fire.

The event yielded a few key results. First of all: there’s the cool “Lotion” swag—and face it: everyone loves swag. Next, we are providing the school with our professional assessment of their needs and will extend the collaborative experience for one year as we implement the proposal for them. Also, the process is being documented for sharing with our creative community. As an added benefit, we proved that our community can come together, laugh a lot, put a sense of ownership of ideas aside and do spread some good around.

In 2010, We’ll be taking on hunger awareness. We’d love for you to join us.

3. What is one goal your Chapter has for the future?
Some chapters have established a Design Week in their states. We’d like to be a part of orchestrating a simultaneous Design Week across all AIGA chapters. All those interested in taking this on with us, take a deep breath and dive on in—the water’s fine. Or just send an email (that might be a little less dramatic).

4. If we were to visit your Chapter’s city/region, what are three must-sees for a visiting designer?
Thing One: Gutenberg Bible at Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Thing Two: Philip Johnson’s Glass House. A thought-provoking building that has been called “the longest running salon in America”. Try to catch one of the Glass House Conversations and walk away chuck-full of fresh ideas. Some past dialogists have included: Michael Beirut, Maurice Cox and John Maeda.
Thing Three: And if you are in the neighborhood, please stop by and visit one of our event sponsors, The New Britain Museum of American Art. Among the superb collection of diverse American art is the enormous Sanford B.D. Low Illustration Collection. The special exhibits are inspired—by example: a Walter Wick exhibit and ISpy installation which was both a thrill to practicing design professionals and a prerequisite for preschoolers with parents involved in the graphic arts.

5. If a movie were to be produced about your Chapter, what would the title be and which actors/actresses would star in it?
Title: Long Day’s Journey into Hartford—a tale of one man’s travels to events from the far corners of our decentralized state.
Actors: The film would be one uninterrupted take, shot from inside a Honda Fit, starting with the young and peppy Shia LeBeof as the protagonist and ending with Phillip Seymour Hoffman in the same role.

Illustration by: Ryan O'Rourke

Member Spotlight: Mikale Kwiatkowski

2010-01-01

Mikale Kwiatkowski, AIGA Member Since 2006
Senior Designer, Lowe's Corporation: Oct 09 to Present
Regional Designer/Art Director, Whole Foods Market: July 04 to Oct 09

1. What attracted you to the design profession?
For most of my life, I have been interested in spatial and 2 dimensional aesthetics. I started drawing in 5th grade and studied art and design throughout high school and college. I crave variety and thrive in the anxiety of having to figure out new things. I love the variety of experiences the graphic design field offers.

2. What’s your proudest accomplishment?
I currently work as a senior designer for Lowe's corporation. My proudest accomplishment so far is the opportunity I recently had to affect a sustainable paper choice for a direct mail piece being printed in a quantity of hundreds of thousands.

3. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Architecture.

4. If there is karaoke at the next office party, what song will you be singing?
I would be the one instigating others to sing.

5. What is your favorite word?
Mellifluous.

6. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
I cannot think of the best advice, but there is a quote by Anaïs Nin that I love and believe. "We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are."

7. What’s one goal (professional or personal) you have for the future?
I want to design and build a home for me and my partner.

About Mikale Kwiatkowski
Mikale is not a nationally recognized anything. She has not won any awards, nor has she entered any design competitions. It doesn't matter. She is an ardent designer. For the past 10 years, she had been working for Whole Foods Market, most recently as Creative Director/Mentor/Production Artist/Project Manager or whatever the day required to get the job done. Her official title was Art Director. It doesn't matter. She moved to Charlotte with her partner, who took a position as a Professor of Dance at UNC Charlotte. Mikale is currently working as a designer at Lowe's Corporation, the 9th largest retailer in the US. Her new title is Senior Print Designer. It doesn't matter. Her aspirations: create things that people use; continue to evolve; design sustainably; enjoy an amazingly fortunate life. Click here to email Mikale.

Speaker Spotlight :: Armin Vit of UnderConsideration

Caresse L. Duford — 2009-12-14

Born and raised in Mexico City, Armin is a graphic designer and writer now living in Austin, Texas. He has written for AIGA's VOICE, Emigre, Eye, Creative Review, HOW, and STEP magazines, among others. He is a former faculty member of Portfolio Center and currently teaches at the School of Visual Arts. He has lectured on topics ranging from typography to branding in locations ranging from San Diego to Berlin. He is co-founder of UnderConsideration and its myriad sites. His last employment position was at Pentagram. He now runs UnderConsideration’s Department of Design.

Armin joins our Charlotte Chapter on January 28th, 2010 as part of our Talk About Lecture Series to share with our members his process, learnings, experiences and latest work - the book Graphic Design, Referenced. Graphic Design, Referenced is a visual and informational guide to the most commonly referenced terms, historical moments, landmark projects, and influential practitioners in the field of graphic design. With more than 2,000 design projects illustrating more than 400 entries, it provides an intense overview of the varied elements that make up the graphic design profession.

Caresse Duford: Graphic Design, Referenced must have been quite a project, ambitious for sure. Please give us a brief history of how this project began.

Armin Vit: We were contacted by Rockport Publishers with the idea that they wanted to do a dictionary (A to Z) of graphic design, which seemed like fun and we signed on. While working on the book proposal and thinking about the scope, Bryony and I came up with a pretty insane content list and suggested to Rockport that instead of a dictionary we do more of an encyclopedia or almanac. We agreed on 400 pages and set to work. The original schedule was six months, but none of us realized how much work it required. It took us 18 months total to research, write and design the book.

CD: In your extensive research for your most recent book, what is the most compelling thing you learned?

AV: That I didn’t know as much about graphic design history as I may have bragged I did! It really is humbling to consider all the material that there is to learn, and all the wonderful connections that have happened in the last hundred years to bring us where we are. If there is one thing I would mention it would be that I learned that there is an arrow in the FedEx logo. Kidding!

CD: What’s your secret talent (big or small, silly, serious)?

AV: Big: I can spin a basketball on my index finger for a really long time.
Small: I can make a toothpick jump using static electricity.
Silly: I can wiggle my ears.
Serious: I have intense hand-eye coordination with my mouse/keyboard/screen thanks to years of playing video games.

CD: You have worked on a large variety of projects over your successful career. What is your favorite project so far?

AV: I have a number of favorites for different reasons... Most challenging has definitely been Graphic Design, Referenced. Most visually awesome, the identity for TypeCon 2009, that was just a blast to do. Most rewarding, was an identity Michael Bierut and I did for the Alliance for a Healtheir Generation, a venture to fight childhood obesity; our logo had a great photo-op with Bill Clinton.

CD: On that, with the wide range of work you are involved in, how do you manage your time between projects?

AV: I get up at 5:30, I put on coffee, I get to work. It’s just a matter of juggling all the different projects and making sure deadlines are met with the best quality of work possible. And it’s about being as efficient as possible too, knowing which battles to fight.

CD: Finally, what was your first published article/written work and how did you get it published?

AV: My very first work published was a logo I did as a student project and it was featured in HOW magazine’s International Awards in the student category, back in 1999 I think. The logo had the word “FESTIVAL” in it, and the kerning between the “V” and “A” was so horribly wide it could hold an 18-wheeler in it.

Armin joins our Charlotte Chapter on January 28th, 2010 as part of our Talk About Lecture Series.

Talk About with Armin Vit from UnderConsideration
January 28, 2010 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM @ TBA

BuzZ December :: not MADE IN CHINA :: Recap

Nikki Mueller — 2009-12-08

Last week AIGA Charlotte members met to boycott outsourcing and foreign manufacturers. Well kinda. After we wiped the sleep out of our eyes and consumed a healthy dose of caffeine, discussions about what to make this gift-giving season ensued for over an hour. Holiday DIY (design it yourself) was the topic du jour. And if you’re strapped for cash, looking for a creative outlet, or on a mission to make a smaller carbon footprint (because those tiny coal shoes didn’t work), then this Buzz is for you. Topics ranged from places to find handmade inspiration in Charlotte, to web resources, and what to make for all those special (read as: materialistic) family members and friends. For those of you unable to make it, but still desperate for ideas, here’s a quick recap (please feel free to add additional ideas/resources in the comments section):

///RESEARCH///

Places to find Inspiration:
Paper Skyscraper (Dilworth)
Boulevard (NoDa)
Hong Kong (Plaza Mid)
Handpicked (Dilworth)
Boris & Natasha’s (Plaza Mid)
Envy (Plaza Mid)
City Art Works (Park/Woodlawn)
Paper Source (Phillips Place)

Websites for Inspiration:
Etsy.com (get inspiration, or buy someone else’s)
Flickr.com (images of inspiration)
Designspongeonline.com (pure DIY awesomeness)
Curbly.com (similar to designsponge)
Marthastewart.com (it’s a good thing)
Core77.com (recently released their gift list 77 under $77)
Burdastyle.com (sewing/fashion)
Instructables.com (from oragami, to skinning a hampster to make a literal mouse cover for your mighty mouse)
Cafepress.com (hats, mugs, shirts, etc)

Supplies:
Michael’s Craft Stores
Hancock Fabrics
Mary Jo’s Cloth Store (Best fabric store around... In Gastonia)
Binders Art Supply
Cheap Joes Art Supply
Ikea (lots of simple housewares that can be adorned)
Sleepy Poet (huge antique mall on South Blvd)

///GIFTS///

For Men:
Recycled Beercase notebooks
Design a menu for a meal you’ll cook
Design a clever Gift Card holder
CD mixes with labels and unique packaging

For Women:
Jewelry (etsy is a great place to find inspiration)
Correspondence kit (design personalized stationery, address labels, and envelopes)
Canvas tote bag w/ iron on design (you can find blank bags at Michael's)
Coasters (cork, leather, fabric, glass, chipboard, etc)
Cork trivets with a personalized stamp or drawn on design
Oven mit ($1 at Ikea, doodle something on it)

For Kids:
Illustrate a children’s book (Blurb.com makes good looking DIY books)
Illustrate a coloring book
Sketch book
Stickers
Make your own temporary tattoos (w/ water slide tattoo paper for inkjet printers)
Flipbook (convert movie clips into a flipbook- http://www.flipclips.com/)

For Baby:
Onsies with iron on transfers (monograms or funny sayings “I only cry when ugly people hold me”)
Design an Alphabet Poster or book (you could even create a typeface)

For Everyone:
Design your own chocolate bars (Totallychocolate.com)
Luggage tags (out of reused materials and clear contact paper, or laminate)
Magnets or buttons (http://buttonhousebuttons.com/... make your own buttons... Cheap!)
Calendars
Greeting Cards
Matchbooks

Wrapping paper:
Stamp or draw on craft paper
Recycled paper (news/Creative Loafing, magazines)
Shopping bags
Old clothing
A reusable container

Chapter Spotlight: AIGA Salt Lake City

Kevin Perry, President, AIGA Salt Lake City — 2009-12-01

AIGA Salt Lake City
Number of members: 197
Year Chapter was founded: 1988

1. What is your Chapter's proudest recent accomplishment?
Last June, our chapter was part of the Utah Arts Festival for the first time. The festival is one of the largest in the country with over 80,000 patrons over the four day event. AIGA Salt Lake City was asked to host an interactive workshop and booth during the festival that people could participate in. We developed the Revinylize Project where we reclaimed thousands of square feet of vinyl and gave it new life in the form of unique vinyl bags. We held daily workshops where participants created their own vinyl bags, as well as, sold pre-made messenger bags and wallets. Throughout the event, we encouraged social awareness through the power of creativity and the value that AIGA has in our community.

The Revinylize Booth quickly became the most popular of the entire festival. With enormous lines for each workshop, we had people of all ages learning about AIGA as they created their own pieces of urban art. The visibility our chapter received has been astounding and the project continues to grow in our community.

After launching the web site, revinylize.com, we were a part of the 20/20 segment of the National AIGA conference in Memphis. We continue to empower the public to use design thinking to stimulate thought, dialog and action by holding workshops, community events and local projects.

2. Tell us about your Chapter's Design Competition.
The AIGA Salt Lake City 100 Show, is our region's most prestigious juried competition, honoring and showcasing the year's best design, advertising and digital media. Both print and interactive entries are judged by some of the most recognized names in the design community. Of the 100 pieces selected, only 10 entries are awarded the Copper Ingot, one of the most sought-after communication awards in the Intermountain West.

The annual 100 show is held each spring and draws the region's elite community of designers together in a formal evening event. The 2009 show was held in the Salt Lake Public Library, one of the most unique structures in our city with elements including logo and wayfinding designed by Pentagram. This show was the first ever to display the winning pieces in a public exhibit both during and following the event. Past judges include Joel Templin, Petrula Vrontikis, Terry Marks, Deborah Sussman and many more.

3. What are some design trends or influences that are unique to your Chapter's city?
One design trend unique to Salt Lake City is the world of scrapbooking. Salt Lake has been dubbed the scrapbooking capital of the world. Because of Utah's love for crafts as well as genealogy, this industry has grown incredibly in the past decade. A good portion of our design community works for these types of companies creating patterns, albums, papers, stickers and other embellishments. This world of arts and crafts can be very appealing for a designer as these companies promote creativity and unique ideas. Some of the local leading companies include Making Memories, American Crafts, and Basic Grey.

4. If we were to visit your Chapter's city, what are three must-sees for a visiting designer?
Salt Lake Public Library
The Salt Lake Public Library was designed not only to be an architecturally striking landmark but also to be the new information center and gathering spot for the 21st century. With elements such as logo and wayfinding designed by Pentagram, art galleries, cafes, and public meeting spaces, this modern design has become a public gathering space in the heart of the city.

Rice Eccles Olympic Cauldron Park
Adjacent to Rice-Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah, site of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies, the Olympic Cauldron Park has preserved the very best memories of the XIX Olympic Winter Games. The purpose of the park is to enable the public to share many of the magical, once in a lifetime, experiences that made the 2002 Olympic Winter Games so unforgettable. Some of the items include the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Cauldron, a gallery of images and breathtaking films, and the Hoberman Arch, where athletes received their medals.

National Parks
With 21 National Parks and Monuments within a few hours' drive, Salt Lake is the perfect gateway for some of the world's most acclaimed outdoor escapades. Nearly 80% of of Utah is managed for public use by federal and state agencies – you might say Salt Lake and Utah are a mecca for outdoor (and indoor) sports and recreation.

5. What type of food is your Chapter's city famous for?
Green Jell-O. According to Kraft, Utah residents eat more Jell-O per capita than the other 49 states. Lime is a particular favorite. This Jell-O was *immortalized* during the 2002 Winter Olympics, where pins depicting this dessert were sold. Apparently, Kraft underestimated the demand and they became collectors items.

Utah is also famous for fry sauce, a mixture of mayonnaise, ketchup, and various spices developed by the Salt Lake City fast-food chain Arctic Circle; few restaurants serve a burger or fries without it.

About AIGA Charlotte's Chapter Spotlight
Each month AIGA Charlotte interviews a selected AIGA Chapter. It is a great opportunity for the Charlotte design community to learn about the incredible activities going on within AIGA Chapters across the country.