Get to know me and my work

Say I’m coming to your city to do a lunch round table and a lecture to your design community. And you need a primer. Things that would be shared on social media and what not. What might that include?

Here’s a good list:

Case Studies: (a couple projects of note)
Pipeline Fighters 
Stand Up For Justice

Medium Stories:
Why Work Here (what makes a creative place great)
Hell With This (here I interview myself)
Design Plus Social Justice (thoughts on design for change)

Videos: (fun to watch)
I Voted Today 
Round and Round Coworking

Cause Posters:
Action Backed on Instagram 
We’re Looking for Posters

Regarding the AIGA Alaska talk ...

... I’m thinking it will focus on the importance of having a firmly established set of principles for the work you do. Having those in place is an effective way to exist as an independent designer and to do the projects you’re most passionate about.

From there, the talk will cover a host of my projects that involve community engagement, political campaigning, getting active in your city, art show experiments, and ways to always keep pushing your design practice. Lots of slides/visuals/designs. (Some GIFs, too!)

It will also touch on working in flyover country (not a place known for great design), running a small business, making your city more awesome, and building up a solid client list. And really, why design can be a great career path while allowing you to make a difference in the world with your talents.

More Details from AIGA Alaska »

AIGA Alaska Lecture

Very excited to be speaking in Alaska later this month. A lunch round table and evening lecture hosted by AIGA Alaska. The focus will be on working somewhere not known for design, running a small business, building a solid client list, and making a difference.

Lunch Round Table on Action
Monday, March 27 // 12–1 PM
The Boardroom, 601 W 5th Ave
Anchorage, AK 

Making This Design Thing Matter
Monday, March 27 // 7–9 PM
Cyrano’s Theater, 411 D St
Anchorage, AK 99501

We Review Student Portfolios Very Well

We get in there. We mix it up. We make it happen. We tell you what you need to know. We tell you what we think. We tell it like it is. We tell you what’s working. We tell you what isn’t good. We tell you what you need to focus on. We assume you want to keep learning. We assume you want feedback. We assume you will keep pushing things. We know what’s good. We know what can be better. We know what isn’t going to fly. We review with the notion that you want to live and work as a designer today. We act accordingly. We expect you, young student, to do so as well. For More on the We »

Omaha Design District

Design Alliance Omaha First Friday Discussion. Join us Friday, March 3rd to review an investigation of precedent and context into the idea of a design district in Omaha, NE. Talk with members of the community and leave us your thoughts on these questions:

  1. Does Omaha need a design district?
  2. If so, what does a design district need?

Omaha by Design Gallery
618 South 11th Street
5:30 PM – 9:00 PM

Beer and wine served with light hors d’oeuvres.

RSVP via Facebook

Embrace & Engage & Empower

AIGA recently implemented the Diversity & Inclusion Initiative at the national level. At the local level, our Nebraska chapter has begun a mission focused on education and community called Embrace & Engage & Empower. Led by friend and fellow designer Cathy Solarana, the plan is to collaborate with individuals from a variety of professions and cultural, ethnic, and racial perspectives to identify our biggest challenges. 

I’ve often thought the design community as a whole is fairly oblivious to big issues like social responsibility, advocacy, and working to make social change happen. I’m very excited about what’s to come with these initiatives. It’s a start and I think they could lead to some substantive change when it comes to how the design profession exists in the larger context of community challenges and community solutions.