AIGA-UWM just released the second issue of Design + Whatnot. Learn about developing your personal brand from a professional career coach, Amanda Guralski. She has great tips and insight into professionalism in the workplace. Also, check out the events going on this month in Milwaukee!
AIGA-UWM just introduced Design + Whatnot, a monthly newsletter that provides insight into creative companies in the Milwaukee area, upcoming events, and tips for success. Click here to get a fresh look at the first newsletter focused on Spreenkler, an interactive design and marketing agency located in Milwaukee.
Become a member of AIGA-UWM and this newsletter will be sent directly to your inbox!
PORTFOLIO REVIEW, MISSISSIPPI RIVER, FUN….IT’S OUT OF CONTROL. MEET YOUR AIGA FUNDRAISING COORDINATOR.
Name: Kierston Ghaznavi
Degree working towards: BFA Graphic Design
AIGA Position: Fundraising Coordinator
Most memorable AIGA moment
Watching the Mississippi River roar before a storm outside of Duffy & Partners on our studio tour of Minneapolis.
If you had to give one piece of detrimental advice to a design student, what would you tell them?
Manage your time well, realize that quality work can not be produced last minute! Think ahead of the semester, Think about portfolio review NOW as well, it sneaks up on you and it’s a lot of work added to your regular semester load!
You have been working on a project for a few hours now and are starting to feel run-down, where do you find your inspiration?
It’s easy to get burned out & lose focus. When I feel myself zoning, I listen to some music, or watch something funny, to get my mind off of work for a while. After a break, I’m able to start again refocused! I try to squeeze in some kind of fun, otherwise I would go nuts!
What word do you find yourself using over and over, you swear it’s out of your control?
At work, I’m usually blurting out “Pop Pop!” why? no clue. Otherwise I’m told I say hardcore a bit too much, also the phrase “out of control”, it’s getting hardcore out of control, actually.
Who is your idol? Could be your mom, grandma, dog, or Sponge Bob…no judging here!
My Idol is my angel Amaya Elise, and all of the families I have met who decided to donate their loved ones organs at such a difficult time. It is a hard decision but it’s so fulfilling to know your loved one lives on by helping to save or improve the life of others.
ACRONYMS, INSPIRATIONS, ORGANIZATION…ALL WHILE MEETING YOUR AIGA VP!
Name: Aaron Vivian
Degree working towards: Graphic Design
AIGA Position: Vice President
Most memorable AIGA moment: receiving a $1,300 travel grant for the organization
If you were to rename AIGA, how would you acronym-it?
Aaron’s Insanely Great Artwork
You have been working on a project for a few hours now and are starting to feel run-down, where do you find your inspiration?
I find my inspiration in looking through design books and watching visually creative television shows.
With all of the projects and homework, while still fighting to have a life, do you have a special way of staying organized?
I use a large accordion file folder to keep all of my projects. It is a great way to keep everything organized and neat.
Who is your idol? Could be your mom, grandma, dog, or Sponge Bob…no judging here!
My mom is definitely my idol because she has always pushed my creativity and been fully supportive of the decisions I make.
Kahler Slater. Much more than an Architecture Firm.
Join AIGA this Thursday, October 27 at 8:15am for a discussion about design with Kahler Slater. Tony LaPorte, the Culture Communications & Graphic Design Team Leader at Kahler Slater will give insight on the company and their process. He specializes in helping clients tell stories of their culture, history, and inspirations through a variety of graphic media.
Kahler Slater? I thought they were an architecture firm…
While architecture and the built environment is their medium for exploration in design, representatives at Kahler Slater consider themselves Experience Designers. They are creative problem-solvers who provide their clients with better experiential and visual environments for themselves and the people they serve.
APPROACH
Kahler Slater has a 5D approach that is customizable for every project. They focus on creating solutions that are client-centered, collaborative, creative, intense, and transforming.
PHILOSOPHY
Kahler Slater has a philosophy that every successful experience is made up of four elements. Perception, people, products/services, and place. They believe each element should be thoughtfully designed and not left to chance. At Kahler Slater, they promise to help create a refined vision for their client and provide resources to implement it.
SUSTAINABILITY
Kahler Slater believes sustainable design must be practical in order for it to work and make a lasting impact. They help their clients understand how to implement green strategies that are easy to operate and maintain. Kahler Slater is committed to sustainable design. They have designed 4 four LEED certified projects, 10 LEED pending projects, and 31 LEED accredited professionals.
As you can see, the people of Kahler Slater do much more than just architecture. Register to join the conversation on Thursday to find out even more!
Source: kahlerslater.com
IDEO Patterns! They had a wall of these in their offices. Check them out here: http://patterns.ideo.com/
Fill your shopping cart with IDEA’s from IDEO.
On Friday, a group of AIGA-UWM members road-tripped to Chicago to visit IDEO, an award winning global design firm. Some carpooled, some took the Metra from Kenosha, and others missed the train and had to drive as well! Regardless, everyone made it to IDEO! They even met up with UWM Design Professor, Suzy Rohan beforehand because she wanted to join in.
Before the tour, most students knew of IDEO from a Dateline episode where they redesigned an old shopping cart with fresh ideas. After the tour, they were pleasantly surprised to learn even more about their work environment:
- IDEA Catcher: At IDEO, you never have to worry about not having a place to jot down notes. All of the walls are covered in sticky notes and dry erase boards so that ideas will never get lost!
- Hot desking: IDEO employees come to work without an assigned desk to sit at. They could choose a new desk every day (if they wanted). The assumption is that you will take advantage of the free open space and sit down to work near people you need to be in close contact with for that day.
- TeamWork: People at IDEO always work in different teams. They get to pick the projects they would like to work on, rather than be assigned to a specific one.
- IDEOmade Salsa: IDEO has a rooftop deck with an amazing view of Chicago where they have grills, lounges, cook-outs, and parties when the weather permits. On top of that, they have a full garden. Employees are welcome to tend to the garden and take cucumbers and tomatoes whenever they want. When there is too much, they harvest the crop and make homemade salsa for anyone to take home!
- Welcome Wall: IDEO has a welcome wall that shows events happening every day of the week. This way, their employees can stay involved in their city!
IDEO and Fuse: Students left IDEO with inspiration from their work process and environment. They also got to hear how IDEO would approach a UWM Fuse project if they had the chance. They recommended students choose a very specific topic of interest and dive deep into research. By trying to hit multiple topics, you will end up spreading yourself too thin!
If AIGA could leave you with a few tidbits of advice after this tour, they would be: Have questions ready about a company that you are touring, both general questions about the industry and ones specific to the company. Also, be sure to bring business cards (and resumes if you like) to any professional/social event. You never know when it will come in handy! Networking is a friend :)
Words of wisdom from Kurt Cobain.
Word-maps, Nyger Morgan, anvius pluvius, ohhh really??…Your AIGA President in a nutshell…
Name: Anu Murthy
Degree working towards: Art-Graphic Design
AIGA Position: Prez
Most memorable AIGA moment: hmm… the design crawl over the summer was quite possibly one of my favorite nights ever!
If you had to give one piece of detrimental advice to a design student, what would you tell them?
Get involved and make friends :) your friends can be really helpful… and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.
I’ve had professionals look at my portfolio and give me advice, just because I e-mailed and asked. People from all sorts of companies, some of whom I haven’t even met. But they’re usually friends of friends.. or something like that.
You have been working on a project for a few hours now and are starting to feel run-down, where do you find your inspiration?
Well, I love making word maps…looking up synonyms for what I’m trying to convey helps me look at what I’m doing in a different way.
What word do you find yourself using over and over, you swear it’s out of your control?
Well, it goes in phases… every couple weeks I have a favorite word or phrase. A couple weeks ago it was ‘oh really?’ Anytime someone told me something, I had this really fascinated response of ‘ohhhh reallly?’ voice inflection and all. I swear it wasn’t intentional.
This past week I think everything has just been ‘awesome’ but that may be a sign that I’ve been watching too much How I Met Your Mother…
If Nyjer Morgan can call himself by two names, so can we. If you were to name your alter-ego, who might you be? (Tony Plush has already been chosen)
Ha! Well, When I was in 6th grade-ish my older brother and his cool friends decided to give me the nickname anuvius pluvius. I have no clue how they made that up, but from 6th grade through high school I was known as pluvius to my brother’s friends.
Actually, my brother still calls me pluvius. I like it, it’s fun and playful.
