2022 Flux Student Design Competition Winners

Posted on by Krystal Carpintieri

Judging for AIGA Baltimore’s annual Flux Student Design Competition has been completed. Flux is a nationwide competition that recognizes outstanding design work produced by students in the categories of Identity, Packaging, Poster, Publication, Social Impact Design, UX/UI, and Video/Motion Graphics. This year, 205 projects were selected by a jury of creative professionals including Jenny Hoffman, Alberto Rigau, and Liese Zahabi. 631 entries were submitted making the 2022 Flux Student Design Competition one of our largest and most competitive yet.

The Flux22 awards reception and 15th-anniversary celebration were held at Price Modern on Friday, February 3rd. Thank you to our sponsors: Mindgrub, Alpha Graphics, & Price Modern. We honored recipients for the following categories; identity, packaging, poster, publication, social impact design, UX/UI, and video/motion graphics. Thank you to the AIGA Baltimore board and volunteers for putting on a fantastic reception!

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2022 Winners

 

 
 
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5 DMV Experts Weigh In: How to Start Your Creative Career

Posted on by Krystal Carpintieri

On Saturday April 23rd, 2022, AIGA Baltimore held a virtual panel discussion for Ink & Pixels, “From Portfolio to Offer: The Art of Getting Hired”. The discussion featured a fantastic group of established professionals while talking about how to rethink and refine your approach to getting hired in the creative industry. There was lots of insight on the dos and don’ts of resumes, portfolios, and interviews as well as the other things to keep in mind that Google doesn’t tell you.

The panel included Nate Brubaker, Owner & Executive Producer at Rock Shore Media;  Jordan Watts, Director of Design at Fearless; Amy Quarles, Creative Director at Visit Baltimore; and Hilliary Turnipseed, Director of Recruitment & DEI at Subject Matter and Founder of Hill Street Strategies, and was moderated by Nhu Nguyen, Vice President at AIGA Baltimore and AVP, Creative Director at Fenton.

Career Values

What do you value? If you don’t know, start thinking about it. What do you value in your career? Some of our panelists noted that experience, respect, and a mission you can stand behind, is very important when looking for a career. Don’t forget to think about values in your personal life—especially a good work life balance. Workplace culture shouldn’t be stagnant. Just like the field of design is always changing, your workplace should be full of people who are also willing to change.

HR Advice

When applying for a job, be prepared and know where you are applying. We suggest having a document of when and where you applied and know about all of them. If you aren’t excited for the job application or if it doesn’t interest you, don’t apply! The interviewer will know if you don’t care or aren’t familiar with the company. Don’t hit apply if you wouldn’t be excited to get a call back.

When you graduate from college, you might not have the career experience you are looking for, but you should have some job experience. 

Think about it:

  • Have you had a job anywhere? Starbucks or anything at all?
  • Have you done any passion projects? These make you stand out from the crowd. 
  • Have you completed an internship?
  • Have you had a career shift? HR calls these nontraditional backgrounds with transferable skills. Talk about what underlying skills you have that will make you effective in this new role. 

Make sure you are being seen, heard, and valued. If an offer comes in and it seems insulting—it is insulting. Negotiate and believe in your worth.

What happens if you miss the job application deadline? If the job is still posted online (such as Indeed or LinkedIn), just apply and go for it. Be sure to look for contact information and email the person hiring to let them know you have applied to the job. 

Embrace the Change: Seize the Opportunities. 

Hillary embraced that you don’t have to explain your career gap in a global pandemic! If the employer asks about your gap, that may be a potential red flag. If you do want to explain—it’s ok to be your authentic self. Nhu noted, “feel free to be authentic. If you need to take time off for family, or for yourself, you can say this.”

Sometimes it’s okay to fake it until you make it. If you are learning something new like photography, just keep welcoming new opportunities (school project, client project, etc.). This is how you can bring your ideas to the table.

Networking

There are lots of ways to network and create connections—make connections in real life at events or online via LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.! Always be in conversation, always be there to support people. Create GENUINE connections. There might not be an immediate benefit, but it can come back around. Connect with them because you share a commonality.

Cover Letters & Resumes

When you are creating your cover letter, make it personal so you can stand out. Make sure to show yourself in your cover letter with your passions, personality, and values. Go deeper into what you have learned and how it applies to the specific company. Go through each of your resume bullet points and see how it can apply to the job. Don’t forget  to address the cover letter correctly, including the right person and the correct company. 

Each of these pieces (cover letter, resume, portfolio) are just one piece of the puzzle. Some employers will look holistically at the candidate, look at the outcomes, and look beyond their title. As Jordan explained, “The cover letter is a great place to explain your “why” and have a personal letter to your hiring manager.” 

When designing your resume, don’t overthink it or overdesign it—assigning a percentage to a certain skill or software is often not recommended (for example, 56% in Adobe Photoshop is confusing). Instead, keep it simple and add your skills/software in bullet points. We also recommend having a PDF copy as well as a simple Microsoft Word copy—sometimes the PDF won’t work on certain applications when you have to apply online. Make sure your resume can be printed, no tie dye backgrounds or lots of color in the background, keep it simple!

Portfolios

A few things to consider when deciding your portfolio platform: What is the cost? How easy will it be to update over time? For you, this might be a PowerPoint presentation, or it might be a website. 

There are lots of ways to present your work (printed portfolio, website, Behance, slide deck/PDF) but you want to showcase your work in a simple and organized way. Make sure you present in a way that is efficient, effective, and clean. When presenting, have something that is ready to go and doesn’t require WiFi. If you’re an animator, don’t have a print portfolio. If you are creating a portfolio with Google Slides/Keynote/PowerPoint, make sure to save and send as a PDF for a more professional look.

If your portfolio is on a website, make sure it’s mobile friendly (you never know what device the employer is using!). The moment a recruiter or hiring manager is faced with a difficulty (such as a website not loading or doesn’t have the PowerPoint software to open your .ppt presentation), they will more than likely move on to the next candidate. 

If it’s a team project, make sure to specify what you were responsible for. Keep in mind that most people assessing your projects are likely not to spend more than 5 minutes looking at a specific project—be sure to be prepared to talk about each project. 

You can find more information about the number of projects, and what to include (don’t forget process and sketches!), in this blog: Best Practices for Creating a Design Portfolio & Preparing for Interviews in 2022.

Interview Tips

When you are being interviewed, it’s not just the employer interviewing you—you’re also interviewing them. You want to make sure that they are a good fit for you. Always ask questions—especially questions about the company’s culture. Don’t forget to do some research on the company! Always be prepared.

What happens if you need special accommodations for your interview? For example, if you are deaf, you might prefer to meet in-person or on a video call. You can ask for accommodations in the comment section of the application or when they email you back. If you can’t find an email or if there is no place to add comments, try looking the company up on LinkedIn and see if you can message anyone. Again, it is totally reasonable to ask for the accommodations you need in order to have a productive interview—whether that is a permanent or temporary condition.

Our panelists shared their top advice for job applicants:

  • Be genuine and authentic: Don’t be afraid to show your personality. Employers want to make sure you will be a good cultural fit. 
  • Know about the company: Show that you’ve done your research on the company you’re interviewing for and show a genuine interest in what their goals are and how you can contribute to their success.
  • Your portfolio isn’t everything: Don’t just “let the work speak for itself.” Your portfolio is only half the battle. Make sure you are articulating your skills outside of your portfolio as well. How well do you work in a team? What leadership skills do you have? Are you good at managing multiple project deadlines?

5 Key Takeaways from Our Panelists

Nate Brubaker
Seize opportunities! When hiring, we’re not just looking for a degree. Looking for the person who took advantage of all the opportunities available. 

Jordan Watts
Look for whether a company is willing to change and embraces change. Recognize imposter syndrome. From his colleague Kelsey Johnston—“if you think you’re 80% qualified, you are 100% qualified.” That remaining 20% is the room for growth, and learning on-the-job is expected.

Amy Quarles
For your portfolio: Think about what you learned from each job/project. Even if the design output wasn’t completely newsworthy, your hiring manager will be looking at it in the context.

Hillary Turnipseed
Only apply for as many jobs/interviews as you can show up for 100%. The interviewer will know if you don’t care or aren’t familiar with the company. Don’t hit apply if you wouldn’t be excited to get a call back. Rejection is Redirection.

Nhu Nguyen
Fight through the fear. Don’t let imposter’s syndrome hold you back. The best opportunities come from taking risks!

 

Meet the Panelists 

Nate Brubaker

Owner & Executive Producer @ Rock Shore Media
Nate developed a passion for entrepreneurship and the creative industry at a young age. According to Nate, the most rewarding part of creating Rock Shore so far has been the ability to grow his team and see them prosper.

Jordan Watts

Director of Design @ Fearless
Jordan has spent his career working to rebuild trust in government and public institutions. As the Director of Design at Fearless he leads a multidisciplinary design practice to help people deliver and get better government services.

Amy Quarles

Creative Director @ Visit Baltimore
Amy began her career as an in-house graphic designer at a labor union in Washington, D.C., and moved to the leisure and tourism marketing space in 2007 where she has been ever since. She works with one full-time, in-house graphic designer and marketing managers in a small group of freelance creatives—photographers, illustrators, stylists, and videographers.

Hilliary Turnipseed

Director of Recruitment & DEI @ Subject Matter
Founder @ Hill Street Strategies
Hilliary is a DMV area-based talent acquisition executive, with a rich background in early-stage technology startups, media and social impact organizations. She seamlessly integrates diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies into her work, with an emphasis on advocating for underrepresented/underestimated candidates and creating two-way interviewing experiences.

About the Moderator:

Nhu Nguyen

Vice President @ AIGA Baltimore
AVP, Creative Director @ Fenton
Nhu brings over 12 years of comprehensive experience within the multimedia, interactive, and traditional design space and creative industry to develop effective and impactful campaigns. She leads the creative team at Fenton, integrating strategy, effective design, and compelling storytelling to create memorable solutions that help grow brands and leave lasting impressions. Nhu has worked in a variety of different industries and is passionate about amplifying voices that are underrepresented.

Thank you to Kristin Kosmides, Nhu Nguyen, and Frances Miller for your help on this blog.

Meet the Designers Behind the Ink & Pixels Branding 2022

Posted on by Krystal Carpintieri

Ink & Pixels is coming up at the end of April! Save the dates for the virtual panel, “From Portfolio to Offer: The Art of Getting Hired” on April 23rd and the in-person portfolio reviews on April 30th. This year, the branding for Ink & Pixels was designed by Jamie Wheeler of Jelly Creative Co. (@jellycreativeco) and Jess Langley of White Coffee Creative (@whitecoffeecreativeco).

Can you tell us about yourself? What’s your story?

Jamie — My go-to line is, “I’ve been getting paid to design for almost 15 years.” It started with a high school internship, a design degree from York College of PA, various design jobs, a few years teaching, and now I own Jelly Creative Co. A branding and design studio for the creatively ambitious. I also like lava lamps, Nutella, my dog Nova, reading fiction, and playing board games with my husband. When I’m working towards a deadline you’ll find 90’s hits or EDM blasting on my Spotify.

Jess — My story has been full of lessons and ups and downs. In college, I landed my first design-related job as a Store Artist at Whole Foods. I learned lettering, how to work with others, and built up my confidence. That led to my first internship turned design job after graduating with a BFA in Graphic Design from Towson University. After being laid off from there in June 2017, I decided I was done with the typical 9-5 culture and went out on my own. I started White Coffee Creative and haven’t looked back since! My services, style, branding, and who I like to work with have changed drastically since then but I’m so grateful for the journey. I started coaching creatives in 2020 and now am learning to balance the two businesses with ease. When I’m not working, you can find me sipping coffee (obviously, with extra cream and sugar), bingeing Netflix shows, hiking with my 2 pups and partner, or dreaming about having a cabin in the woods.

How did you meet and start working together?

Jess had been running her business for two years when I DM’d her on Instagram asking if we could meet for coffee and talk shop. We met up at Spoons for breakfast and just clicked! She was my first local design/business owner friend and a huge supporter as I went full-time with my company in 2019. Community is really important to us both so when I brought the idea of a group for local designers to Jess she was on board to help start the Facebook group, Baltimore Graphic Designers, which now has 300 members! We have worked on local branding projects together, drank lots of local coffee, sent countless voice messages, and continue to cheer each other on. After Ink & Pixels, we’re excited to see what design mischief we can get into next!

How did you approach this branding project and what was your design process?

We were inspired by the juxtaposition of ink (organic) and pixels (geometric). We started with basic shapes within the AIGA color palette, then using only these shapes we started creating icons that can be used in various ways. The final touch is the wavy lines that intersect with the shapes and icons to create movement and bring everything together.

Having a stark black background allows the colorful elements to be brought to life and grab your attention while scrolling on Instagram or walking by on campus.

The fonts are designed by our friend Alex of The Routine Creative, a Texas-based designer. The jackknife font just felt too perfect not to highlight!

Can you describe your inspiration and any challenges you came across them while designing the branding?

If we had been working solo, there may have been more challenges, but we were able to pass the files back and forth when one of us was feeling stuck creatively. We have worked on branding projects together so we hopped right back into a nice groove. When we say it was a fun project, we really mean it!

What’s your favorite part about designing branding?

Jamie — Like any large design project there are the peaks and valleys, I think the moments right after the valleys are my favorite. I think all designers have the thoughts of “this is never going to work, what am I doing” but it’s the “oh yeah, this is it!” that I’m always chasing.

Jess — I love pulling visual inspiration and using strategy and color psychology to tie in meaning. It’s always a fun challenge to create branding that visually captures the essence of a business while maintaining simplicity. So that beginning exciting energy and the finale of when it’s all done and ready to show the world are my favorite parts.

Was there an aha moment when you knew you wanted to be a designer?

Jamie — Why yes, yes there was. It was when I photoshopped Ashton Kutcher into my homecoming photo and posted it to my Myspace. Technically, that’s when I opened the world to design, but the moment I learned it was an actual career and a college major I knew that was the path I was taking.

Jess — Yes! In college, I dabbled in a few different majors—journalism, photography, general fine arts, and design. I vividly remember one of my college professors (shoutout to Carolyn Norton!) in an Intro to Design class telling me I was already a designer. Getting that recognition and encouragement made me feel ready to step into this direction as a designer full-heartedly, and I got accepted into the GD program at Towson that following semester!

In the long term, what do you hope to eventually accomplish as a designer? What is your biggest goal/dream as a creative?

Jamie — This question is making me realize how much I have accomplished as a designer already, which is really cool. My dream client at the moment would be to work with a performing arts company. Lately, I’ve been searching for ways to bring all my talents and interests together while also helping other designers and keepin’ it real. A huge dream of mine was to host a retreat for designers, which is happening this spring, so I’m too sure what’s next!

Jess — I’m really enjoying running my own studio. I love being a multi-faceted creative offering design, murals, AND coaching. I hope to continue to navigate balancing a variety of tasks, projects, and clients while continuing to reinvent myself and where I want to go next. My big dreamy goal right now is to speak on stage at a creative conference one day about intentionally finding that balance as a business owner while having the freedom to explore a variety of creative outlets.

Thank you to Jamie and Jess for sharing their stories! We cannot thank you both enough for creating the branding for this year’s Ink & Pixels. Make sure to follow them on their various social channels!

White Coffee Creative
Designer + Muralist
whitecoffeecreative.com | @whitecoffeecreativeco

The Colorful Jess
Mindset + Pricing Coach
thecolorfuljess.com | @thecolorfuljess

Jamie Wheeler
Owner + Creative Director
jellycreativeco.com | Instagram | Facebook

Best Practices for Creating a Design Portfolio & Preparing for Interviews in 2022

Posted on by Krystal Carpintieri

AIGA Baltimore is here to help you succeed in your design portfolio reviews and interviews! Here is a guide for creating a design portfolio and some tips on how to prepare for an interview.

1. Quality over quantity. Showcase your best work.

We recommend starting and ending with an awesome piece. Don’t be afraid to include self-initiated work to stand out from the crowd. ONLY show your best work in your portfolio. If you aren’t 100% happy with a particular piece, don’t include it. It’s better to have 5-7 amazing projects than 10-15 projects that aren’t so great.

2. Think about how you will present your design portfolio—whether it is a PDF or an online portfolio. 

Traditional portfolios are printed in a flipbook style. If you have mostly print pieces, the traditional route may be the way to go. A bonus of having a printed portfolio is the opportunity to showcase printed pieces and to give reviewers a takeaway. Or if you have mostly web pieces, think about creating a portfolio website.

If you create a traditional printed portfolio or just a PDF, we suggest using Adobe InDesign to create the best design layout! Use 1-2 pages for each project and make sure you have a good hierarchy in terms of typography and images. A good size is 12×18 inches. 

Don’t forget to make your projects pop by placing them in mockups. We recommend keeping your mockup files organized to avoid re-downloading huge files. Some good mockup sites are mockupworld.co, creativemarket.com, graphicburger.com, and unblast.com. If you can’t find a free mockup, sometimes it’s easier to just create your own. 

If you need more design resources, check out this *FREE* Design Resource Guide from YouTuber & Graphic Designer, Kel Lauren.

3. Create a graphic design online portfolio.

It is a good idea to have a graphic design online portfolio so you can easily share it on LinkedIn, via email. Think about using Behance (free to use), Adobe Portfolio (you need a Creative Cloud account), Dribbble (you need to be invited), or a custom website such as Squarespace, Wix, or WordPress. Keep an out on the Creative Market freebies as they sometimes offer free website templates. 

4. Seek design opportunities outside of school.

There are lots of ways to get involved in design outside of school. Join the Baltimore Graphic Designers group on Facebook. It’s a group for Baltimore area-based graphic designers to create community, ask questions, get advice, share jobs, and plan meet-ups.

One way is to get involved with AIGA Baltimore! AIGA Baltimore is gearing up for another year of learning, connecting, and growing, and we need your help! Join board leaders on 1/26 at 12PM to hear about open roles and volunteer needs and find out where you can make a difference.

5. Keep your career goals in mind.

What do you want a career in? Think about all of these categories:

  • Brand Identity Design
  • Marketing & Advertising Design
  • Packaging Design
  • Motion & Video Design
  • Web & User Interface Design
  • Print & Publication Design
  • Lettering & Type Design
  • Graphic illustration
  • Data Visualization & Infographic Design

Learn more about these specific career types on dribbble: https://dribbble.com/resources/types-of-graphic-design

6. Practice how you will present your work. 

Be ready to discuss the goal of the project and how you reached the solution. Consider bringing any process sketches with you as well since reviewers are interested in your overall process.

Make sure that the pieces you include are the ones you are proud of. Make sure you can talk confidently in your meeting, interview, or review. Practice with a professional if you can.

7. Seek expert feedback. Attend Ink & Pixels 2022!

Take the next step towards your design career! Whether you want to make a good impression in interviews, need a new perspective on your portfolio, or want fresh eyes on a current project, we’re here to help. Ink & Pixels is one of AIGA Baltimore’s largest events focused on helping designers prepare for a career or career shift. 

This year, Ink & Pixels will be a 2-part event. The first event will be a virtual panel, From Portfolio to Offer: The Art of Getting Hired on Saturday, April 23rd. The Ink & Pixels portfolio reviews returns on Saturday, April 30th at Towson University. Mark your calendars and clean up those portfolios!

Recap and Recordings | AIGA Baltimore Design Month 2021

Posted on by Krystal Carpintieri

This past October, AIGA Baltimore had a month-long celebration of design and designers in Baltimore and beyond! The theme for this year’s design month was Inside Out. We want to say a big thank you to everyone for attending events throughout the month and thank our branding sponsor, BCG Agency.

About the theme: Inside Out

It’s no secret that the pandemic has taken a toll on every single one of us. Many of us have experienced grief, loneliness, and isolation as well as freedom, triumph, and new beginnings.

As the world slowly evolves and “returns” to a new state of operation, we all find ourselves coping in different ways. A lot of us have grown accustomed to our routines at home while others are eager to go back out into the world again.

Whether you are in your healing journey, it feels like things are literally, and figuratively, turning inside out. That’s why we chose to use this as our theme.

We as a creative community acknowledge and understand you. We’ve seen how you’ve turned to art and creativity to express your feelings during a time of sudden change, and while the world continues to change again, we are here to celebrate your creativity, wherever you may be. Inside or outside. We are in this together.

Event Highlights

Through a series of online and in-person presentations, workshops, and social events, we aimed to inspire, strengthen, and showcase the Baltimore creative community. We held our mural hunt week, studio tours with Alpha Graphics, Duckpin, Fearless, & Indigo Ink, happy hour at Union Craft Brewery, the Baltober art challenge with MWCA, an artist panel with Lori Rubeling, and our first big event of the year, Spooky BBQ & Paint Night: Celebrating Creativity.

Paper, Pints, & Pizza at Union Craft Brewing

Check out the video below by our social media volunteer Caroyln Sangi for a recap of this amazing event! Special thanks to Jill Boorse and Rolland Papers for treating our guests, and Well Crafted Kitchen and Union Craft Brewing for supporting the event as a part of their Community Day program. The tasty and creative treats were made by Baker’s Best.

 

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AIGA x MWCA Baltober

The drawing prompts for this year included festivals, sports, neighborhoods, attractions, parks, music, transportation, and food. Thank you to all of those that participated! Here are some of the illustrations that were submitted! Featuring some illustrations and drawings from Beth Harper.

Likely Stories: Chaos and Cosmos Recording

Lori Rubeling’s “Likely Stories: chaos and cosmos” Stevenson University exhibition provides an example for how we might tell 9/11, COVID-19, and Climate Change “origin” stories.

This webinar was a panelist conversation. UX designer Ebony Kenney, artist and community activist Rikiesha Metzger, and artist, designer, and SoDA planning committee member Richard Stanley joined Lori Rubeling in discussing the themes presented in the “Likely Stories: chaos and cosmos” exhibition.

Studio Tours

This year, we brought back our popular Studio Tour event in a virtual format. Special thanks to our guests: Kim Loper, Senior Designer at Alpha Graphics (who also served as the event planner and made this series possible); Jordan Watts, Director of Design at Fearless; Chad Birenbaum, Creative Director & Managing Partner at Duckpin; and Matt and Liz Richardson, Owners of Indigo Ink Digital Printing.

Watch the recordings:
Fearless Studio Tour and Q&A with Jordan Watts
Duckpin Studio Tour and Q&A with Chad Birenbaum
Indigo Ink Digital Printing Shop Tour

 

Spooky BBQ & Paint Night: Celebrating Creativity

Thank you to all of the attendees that came out to one of the first in-person events in the past few years! Everyone had a great time painting ceramics, taking pics in the photobooth, eating BBQ, and socializing with the community. Check out our Facebook page to see the photos from the evening taken by photography volunteer Christian Escano.

Frances Miller, Krystal Cotriss, and Nhu Nguyen created this collaborative spooky playlist on Spotify, give it a listen!

Also big thank you to our event partners: Indigo Ink Digital Printing, Phim Her, Blue Pit BBQ & Restaurant, Brand Nhu Creative, and Baker’s Best Desserts!

Big thanks to BCG for designing this year’s Design Month branding!

Design_v2021 Panel Recap

Posted on by Krystal Carpintieri

Thank you to those who registered and attending our Ink & Pixels panel discussion for 2021! Our panelists from Stevenson University, JP Morgan Chase, Planit, Jones Knowles Ritchie, and Quicken/Rocket Companies had a fantastic discussion about the most important industry shifts designers need to know as they prepare to get hired in a post-COVID world. Watch the recording below to get all kinds of great insights on preparing your portfolio, being interactive on social media, and learning about all of the great tools and resources out there.

Connect with the panelists:

Lori Rubeling, Professor at Stevenson University
Raksa Yin, VP, Visual Designer at JP Morgan Chase
Nikki Bracy, PR & Social Media Account Director at Planit
Taylor Woods, Senior Designer at Jones Knowles Ritchie
Benjamin Guarino, Team Leader, UX Design at Quicken/Rocket Companies (panel moderator)

Quotes from the Chat:

Designers definitely need to be involved early on in the decision-making process for new products—makes a world of difference! Too many teams assume and don’t do the work to gather research from the end-user.
—Valerie Anderson, President, AIGA Baltimore

Keeping social media post simple and effective can be the toughest battle between you and the client. They want to advertise every CTA in one post. This has been a great reminder to not back down from what you know works and use evidence to show why it works.
—Aja McDaniels, Graphic Designer, Aja Mac Designs

Keep a student/learner mindset always, no matter your age or skill level!
—Kim Loper, Education Director, AIGA Baltimore

Watch the Recording!

Great Website Resources/Groups

Tools to Use:

Podcasts:

Free Ebooks & Short Reads:

Books & Longer Reads:

AAPI Creative Spotlights 2021

Posted on by Krystal Carpintieri

This Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, AIGA Baltimore is spotlighting several Baltimore-based creatives of Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American heritage. We are excited to have the opportunity to bring awareness to their work and hear what they have to say about the Stop Asian Hate movement. Look forward to seeing these creatives on your feed over the next few weeks! Make sure to follow us on Instagram at @aigabaltimore to see all of these amazing creatives and some of their featured work.

Andrea Chen McKinnon

@thecodexclub

Andrea Chen McKinnon is a new mom, designer, actress, and owner of the codex club – which featured not just her own original illustrations- but over 50 other local artists here in Baltimore. In five years she grew the company from an Etsy into two retail stores. 

I hope that this pandemic teaches us all how important supporting one another is- especially when it’s tough- we need community and empathy. Being Asian is not a virus- hate is. It’s always been important to me to feature minority and LGBT employees and makers in our stores, and it has shocked and saddened me to hear stories of people avoiding Asian American businesses and harassing Asian children and older people in public because of a virus that has affected all of us. It’s unacceptable and needs to stop. My parents came to this country to build a better life for us, and have suffered so much this year- they still haven’t been able to meet their first granddaughter yet, my baby who was born during quarantine, but hopefully will be able to soon. 

AIGA plugged me into my first network of friends when I moved to Baltimore from New York- I loved being communications chair, and one of the girls from those early days ended up being my bridesmaid. I’m grateful to you guys for doing this spotlight and can’t recommend the organization enough for other designers and those interested in creative resources here in the city.

Dilpreet Dayal

@mybrownaesthetic

Dilpreet is a graphic designer and illustrator based in Maryland and a first-generation American born to South Asian parents. She graduated from Towson University with a BFA in Graphic Design and a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. She has been working as both an in-house and freelance designer for the past eight years. Dilpreet is interested in how art and design explore the intersections between racial, queer, and cultural identities. On a normal day, she can be found drinking bubble tea, collecting children’s books, and re-posting TikToks to her Instagram story. 

Growing up in a Sikh Punjabi household in America, there was a difference between who I was supposed to be at home versus the outside world. I grew up compartmentalizing my identities to feel included, but also to feel safe. However, I realized that the only way to embody all of my identities is to create a safe space, not just for myself, but for others as well. Safe spaces come from uplifting the voices of other communities and from anti-racist movements like #StopAsianHate. These movements give us the language and tools to educate ourselves and take transformative action in order to create safer and more inclusive spaces for all minority groups.

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Hayelin Choi

@hayelinchoi

Hayelin’s work is guided by a strong belief in making information more accessible for all. She is the author and/or illustrator of five children’s books published in South Korea, China, and the US. She is currently working as a freelance designer and illustrator focusing on educational and non-profit organizations. She teaches at the Maryland Institute College of Art and the George Washington University—Corcoran School of Art. Some of her collaborators include Amnesty International, UNICEF, Pentagram, The Johns Hopkins University, The Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), Readers to Eaters, Highlights for Children, City Parks Foundation, and Radish Lab.

I’m scared and sad about what’s happening to Asians and Asian Americans living in the US. However, I’m thankful that I’m surrounded by caring friends and family in Baltimore. They remind me that the world can be a better place even though we have a long way to go. We can work together to stop Asian hate as a community.


Mina Cheon

@minacheonstudio

Mina Cheon is a Korean new media artist working in Baltimore and a professor at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA).

The global art activist Mina Cheon draws inspiration from the partition of the Korean peninsula, exemplified by her parallel body of work created under her North Korean alter ego, Kim Il Soon, in which she enlists a range of mediums including painting, sculpture, video, installation, and performance to deconstruct and reconcile the precarious history and ongoing coexistence between North and South Korea. Her solo exhibition at The Korea Society, presented during the height of #stopasianhate movement and continuing tensions on the Korean peninsula, showcases her most recent painting series of Unification Flags.” (Solo Show @ The Korea Society)

The recent podcast Glitter & Doom “Ep. 24: My Oh My, Chocopie (feat. Mina Cheon)” hosted by MacKenzie Fegan sheds light on the challenges of racism and violence against Asians, and how Mina Cheon’s work, in particular, staged at the Asia Society Triennial helped with the “refusal to be invisible” as “Asian art is living and diverse.”

I’m deeply saddened by the visible rise of hate crimes against Asians, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders. I always felt racism (along with sexism and xenophobia) during my years living in the United States (and differently in Korea), but I’m not sure whether or not I’m supposed to feel comforted now that people believe me when I speak up about it. It is also disturbing that acknowledgment of racism gets highlighted during peak times of violence. Dreaming for unity and protesting for peace is something that is much needed everywhere at all times.

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Nguyên Khôi Nguyễn

@thegulfcomic

Nguyên Khôi Nguyễn is a multi-disciplinary artist and educator. He is the author of Bittersweet: A Pandemic Sketchbook and the multimedia graphic novel, The Gulf.  With the website, Mom’s Viet Kitchen, Nguyên shares multimedia recipes that reveal intimate family stories. He is also the vocalist, pianist, composer, and bandleader of the jazz trio: Superior Cling. 

Nguyên is currently a digital media lecturer at Loyola University Maryland. He previously served as the senior video producer/editor at Science Magazine. He is a multiple American Graphic Design Awardee and an Ignatz Award nominee. Nguyên lives in Baltimore, Maryland with his wife and terrier.

As a Vietnamese-American, I am heartsick by the rise of anti-Asian harassment and violence. I have turned to the Asian-American community in Baltimore, which has welcomed me and helped me process this tragic time. Supporting my AAPI students at Loyola University Maryland, listening to and sharing our stories, protesting, and bearing witness through art are ways I’ve tried to cope. We cannot be silent. Stop Asian Hate. Stand up for AAPI lives.

Image 1:  Screaming through our masks.
A drawing from my graphic novel: Bittersweet: A Pandemic Sketchbook. A moment from the vigil hosted by Baltimore Asian Resistance In Solidarity, @thechinatowncollective, Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition.

Image 2: Incense on the quad.
A drawing from my graphic novel: Bittersweet: A Pandemic Sketchbook. My wife and I light incense to honor the victims of the Atlanta mass shooting. Students and faculty came together for this vigil hosted by Loyola University Maryland’s Asian Culture Alliance and Campus Ministry.

Image 3: Bittersweet: Page Spread 19, 2020, Digital Book (PDF), 5.5”X8.5”
A page spread from my graphic novel: Bittersweet: A Pandemic Sketchbook. This spread documents the protests against racism and police brutality that erupted in the pandemic summer of 2020. In Bittersweet, I use a diary structure to document my experiences during the pandemic.

Image 4: Che Chart. 2020. 16”X12”
A diagram of Vietnamese desserts.

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Mandy & Ali

@suandlou

We are Mandy and Ali! We are two sisters that started an online shop, Su & Lou. We sell printed apparel –– our core is our Bmore Kind line! We started our @suandlou Instagram account as a creative outlet in 2018. We love interiors and started out documenting the process of decorating our new apartment. On top of that, we would post about our favorite coffee shops, activities, and restaurants around Baltimore. In the summer of 2020, we designed two t-shirts to sell to raise money for the Lung Cancer Research Foundation and the Loveland Foundation. We ended up selling nearly 1,000 shirts with the help of our friends, family, and the power of social media. Fast forward a few months, and suandlou.com is up and running with a variety of items (with more around the corner)!

We are devastated, heartbroken, exhausted, and scared. No words will be able to describe how we feel as Asian Americans. It is our duty to educate ourselves and speak out against these hate crimes, discrimination, and racism. Hopefully, one day, our world will choose love over hate.

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Nhu Nguyen

@brandnhucreative

Nhu Nguyen (she/her), an art director at JPA Health and creative strategist at Brand Nhu Creative, spends her time focusing on creative advocacy and giving back. She pulls much of her inspiration from her personal experiences as a first-generation AAPI immigrant with disabilities. What was once something she tried to hide, she now embraces the things that make her stand out and adapts the mentality of welcoming imperfection in the creation of her work. Her work is often emotionally and organically driven, emphasized by her frequent use of bolder colors.

Being a Vietnamese-American, Nhu has experienced the effects of the Anti-Asian hate crimes. While there is some fear, she is encouraged to see many stand up against the crimes with the #StopAsianHate movement. She notes, “Many AAPI people are traditionally brought up to not speak out or ‘complain.’ In a lot of Asian cultures, it’s frowned upon to put attention on our struggles because it’s considered shameful, and pride/honor is a big thing for us. However, when there is a clear show of support, it helps us feel more valid in our discomfort and fear.”

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Chanda Kumar

@charmingchanda

Chanda (she/her) is a Graphic Designer and Marketing Coordinator at LMD Agency. She graduated from Towson University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. Chanda is passionate about the cultural and social impact of design and how it can create inclusive experiences for people from all walks of life. She has always been interested in learning about different cultures and has found it enriching to understand the experiences of everyone she meets. In her free time, you might find her illustrating on her iPad, listening to a true-crime podcast, or watching a Bollywood movie.

After seeing all of the tragic attacks and violence against Asian Americans, I am angered and disappointed. In the last year and even before then, hate against BIPOC has been ongoing. One of my favorite quotes from a classic Bollywood movie is “Life is too short for hatred.” Everyone should live by this philosophy. Everyone should feel respected, regardless of where they come from, what they look like, or how they identify. I hope that the Stop Asian Hate movement, the Black Lives Matter movement, and so many others get the actionable acknowledgment they deserve. These movements should not only be worth an Instagram story and then promptly forgotten. I dream of a day where violence against others does not exist. We should all come together, listen and learn from each other, and grow as a unified community.

Meet the Designer: Paige Olsen | Ink & Pixels 2021

Posted on by Krystal Carpintieri

Have you seen the branding for this year’s Ink & Pixels on social media, our website, or the emails? The branding, patterns, and images were created by Stevenson University Alumna, Paige Olsen. We interviewed Paige recently to learn more about her process and her story.

Can you tell us about yourself? What’s your story?

I recently graduated with a degree in Visual Communication Design and am currently working as a Freelance Graphic Designer. In this role, I am designing promotional assets, visual identities, and graphic art according to client specifications.

In addition to my love for design, I have a love for fitness. I approach design similarly to how I approach fitness. Fitness requires a consistent effort to progress and a desire to persevere. I’m looking for an opportunity to take the next step in my Design career and am hoping to do so by merging both of my passions with a focus on graphic design in the fitness industry.

How did you approach this branding project and what was your design process? Can you describe your inspiration and any challenges you came across them while designing the branding?

My first step in approaching the branding project started by really understanding AIGA’s brand (goals and vision) and allowing the ideas to come to me. This general information led me to a better understanding of where the brand is vs. where they want to go. I continued my research by identifying the audience, as well as, reviewing past events/similar portfolio events in the area. Knowing what has previously been done allowed me to differentiate Ink and Pixels 2021 from what currently exists.

The number one strategy I used that inspired the brand’s identity was a Word Association list. I generated keywords associated with the main goals of the event, instead of pulling all of my inspiration from the title of the event, “Ink and Pixels”. The strategy led me to 4 main keywords that represent the event (Network, Continue (to learn), Connect, and Progress). I developed these keywords into icons to visually communicate the value of the event. By integrating these keywords directly, it is easy to understand what the event offers. The icons are also designed into an abstract pattern to reinforce this idea.

The main idea behind the visual identity is to show that even with different audiences (Students, Design Professionals, Speakers), they all have a common goal at Ink and Pixels (connecting, growing, and coming together). One challenge I faced along the way is the abstract pattern itself. The style I was attempting was new to me and needed to be designed heavily off of a grid. I overcame the obstacle by studying patterns that were also designed from a grid to understand how I can create my own.

What’s your favorite part about designing branding?

My favorite part about designing branding is turning my ideas into reality. I love the process of creating something impactful and memorable in the world that once wasn’t there.

Was there an aha moment when you knew you wanted to be a designer?

My journey as a designer is very different from what you would normally expect. I did not know anything about Graphic Design and wasn’t exposed to the idea until my senior year of High School when I enrolled in a Computer Graphics course. When growing up, I always had a love for art, but I never knew this would be the path I would take.

What led me to be a designer is that I felt as if it fit my personality. I am known for being driven and diligent. I enjoy challenging myself and in design, you need to constantly challenge yourself out of your comfort zone. Design is a challenge for me and that is what drew me to it. I have a willingness to always learn and progress. I believe consistent, disciplined action beats natural talent and that’s the approach I take in all aspects of my design work.

In the long term, what do you hope to eventually accomplish as a designer? What is your biggest goal/dream as a creative?

In the long term, I see myself further developing my skill set to create recognizable and noteworthy work at a reputable studio/company. I desire to evoke emotion and to bring the unexpected to the target audience of my designs. My end goal is to have a positive impact through the messaging of my designs while offering a high level of creativity.

Thank you, Paige Olsen, for sharing your story! We cannot thank you enough for creating the branding for this year’s Ink & Pixels. Make sure to give Paige a follow on her Behance portfolio page and on LinkedIn!

Asian and AAPI Community Resources

Posted on by Krystal Carpintieri

AIGA Baltimore stands in support of our Asian and AAPI communities. We are here for you. Racism, hate, and violence have no place here, and we remain committed to integrating DEI initiatives to better represent and be inclusive of the Baltimore community.

The following list of resources is a work in progress that we hope will be useful in combating and coping with violence, hatred, and harassment against Asian and AAPI communities.

Some of the resources below were recommended by AIGA leaders during a recent monthly leadership call. Thank you to all of the contributors!

Articles & News

Communities & Chapters

More Resources


Have a resource to add?

We want to hear how you’re joining us in our commitment to support Asian and AAPI communities in the Baltimore area. Email us at info@baltimore.aiga.org to add your resources to our list.

Pantone Blues Drink Recipes

Posted on by Krystal Carpintieri

This Thursday, December 10th at 7:30 PM EST, get ready to say “Bye, Bye, Bye” to this interesting year and welcome in a new color to represent 2021! Show up to our virtual event with your take on a Classic Blue look (a blue shirt, a virtual background, or a blue profile picture) or simply come as you are. Join us for an evening with music, mixing drinks, fun activities, and casual networking. Here are the recipes for the evening:

Smashing Blue

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup blueberries
  • 2 ounces of whiskey or favorite alcohol*
  • ½ – ¾ ounce of juice from lemon (depending on the tartness you like)*
  • ½ ounce of simple syrup (can go less if you like more tart than sweet)
  • 2-3 dashes of floral or fruit bitters like lavender or orange (optional)
  • 1 sprig of mint
  • Club soda or carbonated water to top
  • 5-6 cubes of ice

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker or separate bowl, muddle together blueberries and mint. Add to cocktail shaker if muddled separate.
  2. Add whiskey, lemon juice, simple and bitters to shaker.
  3. Add 2-3 cubes of ice to the shaker. Shake until mixture is chilled (not all ice needs to be melted or it could get too watered down, just shake to chill).
  4. Strain into low ball whiskey glass (pro tip: If you don’t want any of the blueberry or mint remnants, add a second strainer over the glass when pouring).
  5. Add 3 cubes of ice and top off with club soda. Stir to mix the soda in.
*can sub tequila or mezcal (or a mix of the two) for liquor and substitute lime for lemon to make it margarita style. Add a pinch of salt to that for a little punch!

 

Non-Alcohol:

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup blueberries
  • 1 sprig of mint
  • 1.5 ounce of juice from lemon
  • ¾ ounce of simple syrup
  • 2-3 dashes of floral or fruit bitters like lavender or orange (optional)
  • 2-3 oz Club soda or carbonated water
  • 5-6 cubes of ice

Instructions

Use steps above minus alcohol and shake your mixture thoroughly through with the ice.


Blue Dreams

Ingredients

  • 4 oz Blue Cream Soda
  • 1 ½ oz vodka or white rum
  • ¼ oz juice from lime
  • 2 dashes orange bitters (optional)
  • 3-4 cubes of ice

Served on ice – Easy Version
Add all ingredients except ice to your favorite cocktail glass and stir to blend. Add ice and stir. Note: Drink will chill faster if soda is chilled first.

Served up – Martini style
Make sure you chill soda first. Shake together all ingredients except soda thoroughly with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Top off with Blue Cream soda. Stir gently.

Non-Alcohol:

Ingredients

  • 5 oz Chilled Blue Cream Soda
  • ½ oz juice from lime
  • 1-2 dashes orange bitters (optional)
  • 3-4 cubes of ice

Follow directions of Easy or Martini style.