Newsletter
OCTOBER | in this issue
1 - 2006 Calendar of Events
2 - Brian Collins
3 - Playmate of the Month
4 - National Exposure for Local Designers
5 - Interview with Rick Valicenti the Principal of Thirst in Chicago
6 - Interview with Julio Lima & siege of Say It Loud!
Calendar
October: Halloween Bag Decorating
October 19 - 50 Books/50 Covers
November 9 - Speaker: Haley Johnson
Brian Collins
Delivers Design Praise through Gospel
Brian is the Executive Creative Director at Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide where he leads the Brand Integration Group (BIG), the agency’s brand experience and design division with offices in New York and Los Angeles. BIG’s client list includes: Hershey, Coca-Cola, Kodak, Yahoo!, Dove, Mattel, Motorola, Jaguar Cars, IBM, Levi Strauss & Co., BP and National Geographic.
Brian took a full house to another level September 14th when speaking at Full Sail in Winter Park. He kicked off his lecture by putting the approach to design in perspective, with the introduction of a gospel choir. Hands clapped and heads bopped—the choir struck a cord. Brian let the audience know that the same thing could be done many different ways in comparing it to a choir at a Catholic church.
He provoked thought and inspired everyone when telling his own life stories about innovation, pushing the boundaries and discovering opportunities in doing that, team creativity, creating environments which simulate creativity, branding, design and his experiences teaching at the Graduate Design Program at the School of Visual Arts in New York.
His passion was obvious and it was spread to others. A night that some say, “ended too soon.
Playmate of the Month
Adam Waug AIGA Professional Member since 2003, Founding member of
AIGA/Art Academy of Cincinnati
Juicy Temples
What’s playing on your CD/iPOD?
Mostly the old stand-bys: Hip-Hop, Downtempo, Electro, Bossa Nova, Funk, Disco, The Rat Pack, The Bouncing Souls. Some current stuff too, but I don’t pretend to keep up: Jimmy Edgar, Dizzee Rascal, Milosh, Prefuse 73, Five Deez.
Last good book you read?
The last two books I’ve read were Design is One by Lella and Massimo, and On Bullshit. Both 1-sitting reads. Right now I’m pouring over a short stack of the quarterly publications that the SEGD puts out. I think I might have to become a member so I can keep up with these guys.
What book is next?
My brother bought me a copy of Who Moved my Cheese (Spencer Johnson) yesterday, which I plan to begin immediately. Design in Action by Ladislav Sutnar, and the new Andy Warhol biography, Giant Size will follow.
Share a web link with us:
I’m a ravenous Engadget (http://engadget.com) hound. Out of all the blogs of which I keep abreast, I will probably read through the latest Engadget posts first.
What’s something you’d like to see happen in the design profession?
I’m not sure what the solution is yet, but there needs to be less Design put out into the world that is visually repugnant. My girlfriend (non-Designer) and I were at the House of Presidents (http://www.houseofpresidents.com) recently, where we saw collections of printed ephemera from past Presidential terms: buttons, pins, event collateral, luncheon menus, etc. When comparing JFK’s to George W.’s, she remarked of the more recent, ill-considered designs, “Nobody’s going to want to come to Museums in fifty years because this is what they’re going to see!” And I’m pretty sure she’s onto something.
Who inspires you?
A couple recent favorites: Tamara Shopsin (http://tamarashopsin.com), Zak Keyes (http://zak.to), Jacqueline Casey, Marushka.
What inspires you?
Learning about new things inspires me. Also, putting myself in new situations and interacting with other creative people. Studying the system, the pattern, or the trend operating below the surface. Supergraphics, 70’s Interior Design, Pop Art, and good furniture.
What’s your opinion of the local design scene? Dig it, hate it? Why?
I can’t complain, since the scene has been so good to me. I’ve noticed, however, that this scene is unique because it seems to be almost entirely dedicated to Advertising pursuits, with few firms focusing on Design or Branding.
When did you first think of yourself as a designer?
Probably when my friend Mike and I entered a “Design competition” in High School. The client wanted to see ideas for a series of bus stop benches promoting an anti-drug message, and would compensate the “winner” with a $500 reward. Mike’s designs were chosen in the end, and I thought that he was famous for having his work all over town. It opened my eyes to a few very rudimentary facets of Design’s power and how it works to conduce communication.
National Exposure for local designers
In February, AIGA Orlando presented Re:Solutions 2006, an all day conference meant to bring designers together and inject attendees with inspiration and creativity. Rick Valicenti the Principal of Thirst in Chicago, siege of Say It Loud! and siegeINK® in Orlando and Julio Lima the Principal of Say It Loud! were all called to enlighten Orlando creatives on their unique style and take on the design world.
Valicenti and siege made a connection during the conference, which led to collaboration on Gilbert Paper’s piece entitled, See Thru Me.
See Thru Me, highlights eight designers from four regions. The designer’s visual profiles in the piece reveal personality traits, expressive artwork created by the designers and a portrait of each designer.
Julio Lima and siege were showcased alongside top designers including: Paul Sahre, Anisa Suthayalai, Maggy Cuesta, Rick Valicenti, Dawn Hancock, Lorraine Wild and Peter Cho.
According to Kathy Kemps, Fox River Paper Co.’s marketing manager for the Gilbert brand, “We the viewers are given the opportunity to see inside these unique personalities or as one could say ‘the ability to see thru them’ as you do with Gilclear and Clearfold”.
The See Thru Me publication is available to view by visiting www.gilbertpaper.com.
Interview with Rick Valicenti the Principal of Thirst in Chicago
Did you come up with the concept and seek out the artists featured or was that a collaboration with Gilbert?
RV: Yes, I did the concept and orchestration. I usually start with Kathy Kemps, a very design-savvy marketeer at Gilbert Paper who has been a collaborator of mine during all of my time serving Gilbert.
We talked first about the performance relationships of Gilclear to Clearfold. We asked questions like; what do these papers do best, what is the potential within the design-specification, who was the competition and how was the market already being spoken to.
How was the connection made with Julio and siege?
RV: I sat in the back of the room when siege did his AIGA/Orlando presentation. I could feel the stream of his energy all the way back to the last row. When he was done and the lights went up I introduced myself. We became fast friends over lunch that day with Patrick Burt, and another young Orlando talent. We ate lunch at the deli right next door to Say it Loud! and hung out a bit later that afternoon.
After making the connection with Julio and siege how did the relationship progress to bringing them on board for this piece?
RV: After AIGA/Orlando I could not get their infectious energy out of my head. I knew I wanted to find a way to collaborate with them, or more to the point, let them do their thing.
How and/or why did you choose the other artists to feature?
RV: When Kathy Kemps of Gilbert and I spoke again, we talked about inviting other designers in various markets into her opportunity. We wanted representation from the obvious markets: NY, Chicago, LA...and because of my time with AIGA/Orlando, I suggested we represent the energy and intellect in Florida.
Interview with Julio Lima & siege of Say It Loud!
How was the connection made with Rick?
JL: AIGA is responsible for the connection. Rick attended siege’s presentation at AIGA’s Re:Solutions and fell in love with siege’s work. Rick and siege hit it off—the rest is history. siege introduced me to Rick after the AIGA show.
S: I told Rick that he reminded me a lot of Julio in that they share the same perspectives and creative direction. They both have a free spirit in creativity and they are not afraid to take risks. I had to introduce Rick to the man that molded me in this industry.... Julio Lima.
How did the relationship progress to a collaboration on the Gilbert piece?
JL: Rick wrote me an email after he got back to Chicago and asked if we were interested. I said yes before he was done asking. Rick is very friendly and humble. He is driven to help young talent [young = siege, not me].
What exactly was your involvement in the design?
JL: siege and I knew we wanted to emphasize the concept of our Say It Loud! creative activist philosophy. The concept actually became stronger after the shots came back. We had a ton of fun. After I roughly rigged the shots of siege and I as one—he kicked the •••• out of it with his illustrations.
The best reaction came from Rick himself the first time he saw our spread—”Wow, I’m blown away. You are definitely going to stand out.” He feels we bring a new “team” energy to the industry. An old veteran and a young-badass creative doing their thing in their own fearless ways.
S: Julio and I created the concept together for our spread and once we went to the shoot we improvised a little and just had fun with it. We then took the final photos and Julio just let me go at it. I grabbed my Wacom pen and I unleashed the fury like nobody’s business!
How did AIGA contribute to the relationship?
JL: Obviously it exposed us to an AIGA Hall of Famer who has turned out to be one of the coolest professionals I’ve met. It’s great to see these design superstars can be regular people—and best of all—he gets energized from siege’s young talent—just as I do. The old learning from the young and vice versa.
It pays to attend the local and national AIGA events. Participants are exposed to those professionals making things happen in our industry, and in our case, it’s possible to gain national and international exposure.
S: AIGA brought Rick out which in turn connected us. This has turned out to be an honor and an opportunity for Julio and I to be in Gilbert Paper’s, “See Thru Me” piece. My career has been based on networking and meeting people. Keep creating, keep mingling, inspire and be inspired.
Rick Valicenti, Principal of Thirst, Barrington, IL
Designer and educator. Highly recognized for his talents of creating art with function. He is known for his work with Holly Hunt, Herman Miller, Gilbert Paper and Fox River Paper. Recipient of AIGA 2006 Medal Award; the highest award in the nation for designers. He volunteers unlimited hours to educating, mentoring and sharing his passion with design students all over the world.
Julio Lima, Principal of Say It Loud!, Orlando, FL
Heavily awarded creative director/designer, known best for his provocative and pro-active communication design. Say It Loud! is a collaborative studio of Lima, siege and other creative activists from around the country. Say It Loud! is one of the most recognized advertising/design agencies in Orlando (including Disney).
siege, Designer for Say It Loud! and Principal of siegeINK®.
He has worked with Say it Loud! for the last 3.5 years. His company siegeINK® is a fashion, music and art company.
Member Mentions:
Care to share a link or some comments.
Email (webmaster@orlando.aiga.org) and include MEMBER MENTIONS in your title to be included in the next newsletter.
1 - 2006 Calendar of Events
2 - Brian Collins
3 - Playmate of the Month
4 - National Exposure for Local Designers
5 - Interview with Rick Valicenti the Principal of Thirst in Chicago
6 - Interview with Julio Lima & siege of Say It Loud!
Calendar
October: Halloween Bag Decorating
October 19 - 50 Books/50 Covers
November 9 - Speaker: Haley Johnson
Brian Collins
Delivers Design Praise through Gospel
Brian is the Executive Creative Director at Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide where he leads the Brand Integration Group (BIG), the agency’s brand experience and design division with offices in New York and Los Angeles. BIG’s client list includes: Hershey, Coca-Cola, Kodak, Yahoo!, Dove, Mattel, Motorola, Jaguar Cars, IBM, Levi Strauss & Co., BP and National Geographic.
Brian took a full house to another level September 14th when speaking at Full Sail in Winter Park. He kicked off his lecture by putting the approach to design in perspective, with the introduction of a gospel choir. Hands clapped and heads bopped—the choir struck a cord. Brian let the audience know that the same thing could be done many different ways in comparing it to a choir at a Catholic church.
He provoked thought and inspired everyone when telling his own life stories about innovation, pushing the boundaries and discovering opportunities in doing that, team creativity, creating environments which simulate creativity, branding, design and his experiences teaching at the Graduate Design Program at the School of Visual Arts in New York.
His passion was obvious and it was spread to others. A night that some say, “ended too soon.
Playmate of the Month
Adam Waug AIGA Professional Member since 2003, Founding member of
AIGA/Art Academy of Cincinnati
Juicy Temples
What’s playing on your CD/iPOD?
Mostly the old stand-bys: Hip-Hop, Downtempo, Electro, Bossa Nova, Funk, Disco, The Rat Pack, The Bouncing Souls. Some current stuff too, but I don’t pretend to keep up: Jimmy Edgar, Dizzee Rascal, Milosh, Prefuse 73, Five Deez.
Last good book you read?
The last two books I’ve read were Design is One by Lella and Massimo, and On Bullshit. Both 1-sitting reads. Right now I’m pouring over a short stack of the quarterly publications that the SEGD puts out. I think I might have to become a member so I can keep up with these guys.
What book is next?
My brother bought me a copy of Who Moved my Cheese (Spencer Johnson) yesterday, which I plan to begin immediately. Design in Action by Ladislav Sutnar, and the new Andy Warhol biography, Giant Size will follow.
Share a web link with us:
I’m a ravenous Engadget (http://engadget.com) hound. Out of all the blogs of which I keep abreast, I will probably read through the latest Engadget posts first.
What’s something you’d like to see happen in the design profession?
I’m not sure what the solution is yet, but there needs to be less Design put out into the world that is visually repugnant. My girlfriend (non-Designer) and I were at the House of Presidents (http://www.houseofpresidents.com) recently, where we saw collections of printed ephemera from past Presidential terms: buttons, pins, event collateral, luncheon menus, etc. When comparing JFK’s to George W.’s, she remarked of the more recent, ill-considered designs, “Nobody’s going to want to come to Museums in fifty years because this is what they’re going to see!” And I’m pretty sure she’s onto something.
Who inspires you?
A couple recent favorites: Tamara Shopsin (http://tamarashopsin.com), Zak Keyes (http://zak.to), Jacqueline Casey, Marushka.
What inspires you?
Learning about new things inspires me. Also, putting myself in new situations and interacting with other creative people. Studying the system, the pattern, or the trend operating below the surface. Supergraphics, 70’s Interior Design, Pop Art, and good furniture.
What’s your opinion of the local design scene? Dig it, hate it? Why?
I can’t complain, since the scene has been so good to me. I’ve noticed, however, that this scene is unique because it seems to be almost entirely dedicated to Advertising pursuits, with few firms focusing on Design or Branding.
When did you first think of yourself as a designer?
Probably when my friend Mike and I entered a “Design competition” in High School. The client wanted to see ideas for a series of bus stop benches promoting an anti-drug message, and would compensate the “winner” with a $500 reward. Mike’s designs were chosen in the end, and I thought that he was famous for having his work all over town. It opened my eyes to a few very rudimentary facets of Design’s power and how it works to conduce communication.
National Exposure for local designers
In February, AIGA Orlando presented Re:Solutions 2006, an all day conference meant to bring designers together and inject attendees with inspiration and creativity. Rick Valicenti the Principal of Thirst in Chicago, siege of Say It Loud! and siegeINK® in Orlando and Julio Lima the Principal of Say It Loud! were all called to enlighten Orlando creatives on their unique style and take on the design world.
Valicenti and siege made a connection during the conference, which led to collaboration on Gilbert Paper’s piece entitled, See Thru Me.
See Thru Me, highlights eight designers from four regions. The designer’s visual profiles in the piece reveal personality traits, expressive artwork created by the designers and a portrait of each designer.
Julio Lima and siege were showcased alongside top designers including: Paul Sahre, Anisa Suthayalai, Maggy Cuesta, Rick Valicenti, Dawn Hancock, Lorraine Wild and Peter Cho.
According to Kathy Kemps, Fox River Paper Co.’s marketing manager for the Gilbert brand, “We the viewers are given the opportunity to see inside these unique personalities or as one could say ‘the ability to see thru them’ as you do with Gilclear and Clearfold”.
The See Thru Me publication is available to view by visiting www.gilbertpaper.com.
Interview with Rick Valicenti the Principal of Thirst in Chicago
Did you come up with the concept and seek out the artists featured or was that a collaboration with Gilbert?
RV: Yes, I did the concept and orchestration. I usually start with Kathy Kemps, a very design-savvy marketeer at Gilbert Paper who has been a collaborator of mine during all of my time serving Gilbert.
We talked first about the performance relationships of Gilclear to Clearfold. We asked questions like; what do these papers do best, what is the potential within the design-specification, who was the competition and how was the market already being spoken to.
How was the connection made with Julio and siege?
RV: I sat in the back of the room when siege did his AIGA/Orlando presentation. I could feel the stream of his energy all the way back to the last row. When he was done and the lights went up I introduced myself. We became fast friends over lunch that day with Patrick Burt, and another young Orlando talent. We ate lunch at the deli right next door to Say it Loud! and hung out a bit later that afternoon.
After making the connection with Julio and siege how did the relationship progress to bringing them on board for this piece?
RV: After AIGA/Orlando I could not get their infectious energy out of my head. I knew I wanted to find a way to collaborate with them, or more to the point, let them do their thing.
How and/or why did you choose the other artists to feature?
RV: When Kathy Kemps of Gilbert and I spoke again, we talked about inviting other designers in various markets into her opportunity. We wanted representation from the obvious markets: NY, Chicago, LA...and because of my time with AIGA/Orlando, I suggested we represent the energy and intellect in Florida.
Interview with Julio Lima & siege of Say It Loud!
How was the connection made with Rick?
JL: AIGA is responsible for the connection. Rick attended siege’s presentation at AIGA’s Re:Solutions and fell in love with siege’s work. Rick and siege hit it off—the rest is history. siege introduced me to Rick after the AIGA show.
S: I told Rick that he reminded me a lot of Julio in that they share the same perspectives and creative direction. They both have a free spirit in creativity and they are not afraid to take risks. I had to introduce Rick to the man that molded me in this industry.... Julio Lima.
How did the relationship progress to a collaboration on the Gilbert piece?
JL: Rick wrote me an email after he got back to Chicago and asked if we were interested. I said yes before he was done asking. Rick is very friendly and humble. He is driven to help young talent [young = siege, not me].
What exactly was your involvement in the design?
JL: siege and I knew we wanted to emphasize the concept of our Say It Loud! creative activist philosophy. The concept actually became stronger after the shots came back. We had a ton of fun. After I roughly rigged the shots of siege and I as one—he kicked the •••• out of it with his illustrations.
The best reaction came from Rick himself the first time he saw our spread—”Wow, I’m blown away. You are definitely going to stand out.” He feels we bring a new “team” energy to the industry. An old veteran and a young-badass creative doing their thing in their own fearless ways.
S: Julio and I created the concept together for our spread and once we went to the shoot we improvised a little and just had fun with it. We then took the final photos and Julio just let me go at it. I grabbed my Wacom pen and I unleashed the fury like nobody’s business!
How did AIGA contribute to the relationship?
JL: Obviously it exposed us to an AIGA Hall of Famer who has turned out to be one of the coolest professionals I’ve met. It’s great to see these design superstars can be regular people—and best of all—he gets energized from siege’s young talent—just as I do. The old learning from the young and vice versa.
It pays to attend the local and national AIGA events. Participants are exposed to those professionals making things happen in our industry, and in our case, it’s possible to gain national and international exposure.
S: AIGA brought Rick out which in turn connected us. This has turned out to be an honor and an opportunity for Julio and I to be in Gilbert Paper’s, “See Thru Me” piece. My career has been based on networking and meeting people. Keep creating, keep mingling, inspire and be inspired.
Rick Valicenti, Principal of Thirst, Barrington, IL
Designer and educator. Highly recognized for his talents of creating art with function. He is known for his work with Holly Hunt, Herman Miller, Gilbert Paper and Fox River Paper. Recipient of AIGA 2006 Medal Award; the highest award in the nation for designers. He volunteers unlimited hours to educating, mentoring and sharing his passion with design students all over the world.
Julio Lima, Principal of Say It Loud!, Orlando, FL
Heavily awarded creative director/designer, known best for his provocative and pro-active communication design. Say It Loud! is a collaborative studio of Lima, siege and other creative activists from around the country. Say It Loud! is one of the most recognized advertising/design agencies in Orlando (including Disney).
siege, Designer for Say It Loud! and Principal of siegeINK®.
He has worked with Say it Loud! for the last 3.5 years. His company siegeINK® is a fashion, music and art company.
Member Mentions:
Care to share a link or some comments.
Email (webmaster@orlando.aiga.org) and include MEMBER MENTIONS in your title to be included in the next newsletter.