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.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by AIGA Baltimore (@aigabaltimore)

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!

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.

.

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.

.

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.

.

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.

.

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.”

.

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.

Reconnected: January 2021 Community Meeting Recap

Posted on by Frances Miller

In January, AIGA Baltimore held a virtual Community Meeting to bring more voices into our plans for the year. Community Meetings like this were a bi-monthly occurrence pre-2020, and we plan to bring them back quarterly in 2021. Stay tuned for the next meeting in April and in the meantime, here’s a recap of what happened in January’s meeting.

AIGA Baltimore’s mission, goal, and motto

To kick things off, we shared the main vision, goal, and motto that was shaped by past boards and has driven our chapter over the past few years. No matter what 2021 brings, we will provide value to the Baltimore design community by making new connections between individuals, groups, and ideas. Our goal is to act as cheerleaders for our community and to be a platform for members to take advantage of to lift their skill level, visibility, and voice. Our motto, coined by President Emeritus Joseph Carter-Brown, is that we’re not “AIGA Baltimore,” we’re Baltimore’s AIGA.

AIGA Baltimore's Mission, Goal, and Motto

2020 Year in Review

Valerie Anderson, chapter President, gave a rundown of what AIGA Baltimore accomplished in 2020. Like all of you, the year looked nothing like we had envisioned, and it was a challenging year for a fully volunteer-run group. Nevertheless, we still managed to host 15 virtual events—on top of the 5 in-person events from Q1. One week before the shutdown, some of our board participated in a Bias Training workshop with the AIGA DC board. We partnered with wonderful organizations like Society of Design Arts, Ladies, Wine & Design, Baltimore Womxn in Tech, and the Asheville and Saint Louis AIGA Chapters to combine our powers on collaborative events, and we spread the word about other opportunities and events through our email newsletter.

2020 Q1 AIGA Baltimore events

AIGA Baltimore 2021 Preview

We shared the 3 main goals our board set for the year during our January virtual board retreat sessions:

  • Innovation: Break the barrier of our virtual world to create connections with and among our Baltimore design community.
  • Partnership: Streamline an official process to utilize strategic partnerships to reach new and diverse audiences and bring value to our community.
  • Inclusion: Integrate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives to better represent and be inclusive of the Baltimore community.

We then split up into breakout rooms and used Google Jamboard to discuss these topics and brainstorm specific ideas for the year. Our attendees shared that they joined the meeting to connect with other creatives in the area. We left feeling confident with our goal to foster connections, and we are already working on several activities for the Spring.

What type of virtual or socially distanced events do people want

Want to help? Get involved!

We need people like you to make these things happen. We’re currently looking to fill several open board positions, including Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chairs; Treasurer; Programming Chairs; Community Partnerships Chair; Communications Chairs; and General Volunteers and Committee Members. If you’re passionate about bringing people together and using design to improve our world, we want to talk with you!

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.

19+ Unique Gifts for Creatives | Gift Guide

Posted on by Krystal Carpintieri

Need a gift for the graphic designer or creative friend in your life? We can help! We’ve compiled an amazing list of 19+ unique gifts. Everything on this list is under $40 dollars. We’ve included some Baltimore makers too. Check them out below!

  1. Draplin Design | Co. Handheld Decimal Equivalent Chart | $9.99
  2. Studio Cult | Stock Photo Pin & WordArt Pin | $12.99-$14.99
  3. Piecework | 1000 Piece Puzzle, Tchotchke | $36.00
  4. Archer & Olive | Acrylograph Pens Tropical Selection | $35.00
  5. BettieConfetti | Designer Gift Set | $29.40
  6. Pantone | Postcard Box | $16.88
  7. The Ivy Bookshop | The Secret Lives of Color (Hardcover) | $20.00*
    The Ivy Bookshop
    The Ivy Bookshop
  8. UI PROGO | UI Steel Stencil Kit | $14.95
  9. honshoney | Mini Bundle | $18.00*
  10. Moleskine | Classic Large Notebook | $19.95
  11. Baltimore Print Studios | Riso Wave Print | $25.00*
    Baltimore Print Studios Riso Wave Print
    Baltimore Print Studios
  12. Rifle Paper Co. | Sticky Note Folio | $14.00
  13. Su & Lou | Bmore Kind Crewneck Sweatshirt | $38.00*
  14. Maryland Mercantile | Crabcake Recipe – Kitchen Towel | $15.00*
  15. The Bmore Brand | Bawduhmore Not Baltimore Tee | $25.00*
    The Bmore Brand
    The Bmore Brand
  16. Ama Scents | Relax Relate Release – Aromatherapy Spray | $15.00*
  17. Greedy Reads | Curated Bags | $30.00*
  18. Mess in a Bottle | Create Dope T-Shirt | $26.95*
  19. good neighbor | good neighbor tote bag | $32.00*
    good neighbor | tote bag
    good neighbor

*Baltimore Locals & Makers!

Need more gift ideas? AIGA Eye on Design just posted another fantastic gift list! Don’t forget an AIGA Membership is great too! Memberships start at just $50 dollars.

 

 

 

14+ Events to Attend Around the World!

Posted on by AIGA Baltimore

9/15-10/15

Hispanic Heritage Talks

AIGA Unidos was created for Everyone!
We highlight Hispanic and Latinx creatives, so we can share their stories and work with the world—that’s you! Our first ever event is a series of talks called Hispanic Heritage Talks, which will take place during Hispanic Heritage Month. It is a series of virtual talks featuring Latinx and Hispanic creatives from different backgrounds and disciplines. ¡Acompañanos!

Join the AIGA Unidos familia, and hear from all the amazing creatives our heritage has to offer. From us to you, with love and a little sazón… who are we kidding? A lot of sazón! We are Unidos for Everyone!

Hosted by: AIGA Unidos
→ Register Here
FREE

10/1-31

Doors Open Baltimore

Doors Open Baltimore is going virtual-only in 2020 with a month’s worth of programming throughout October. Organized by the Baltimore Architecture Foundation (BAF), Doors Open Baltimore is the free citywide festival of architecture and neighborhoods that invites thousands of people to explore the city and make meaningful connections to the built environment. Replacing a weekend of open houses and in-person tours will be a month’s worth of virtual programs. Every week of October will include a new theme and new ways to virtually engage with Baltimore’s architecture and neighborhoods. 

Hosted by: Doors Open Baltimore
→ Register Here
FREE 

10/2-10/9

Phoenix Design Week – PHXDW

Phoenix Design Week (PHXDW) is a week-long celebration of design organized by AIGA Arizona to unite our state’s creative community and provide a forum for sharing best practices, showcasing exceptional work, and gaining inspiration.

Hosted by: AIGA Phoenix
→ Register Here
$25-$49 Tickets

10/5-10/10

St. Louis Design Week

St. Louis Design Week is a seven-day celebration of our local design community, featuring a variety of panel discussions, workshops, presentations, open houses, and other community growth-oriented events. Our mission is to grow design and breakdown design silos through making St. Louis design week all-inclusive, to all designers.

Hosted by: AIGA St. Louis
→ Register Here
FREE

10/5-10/9

Salt Lake Design Week – Dimensional Design

What is “Dimensional Design?” It is the idea that we, as designers and creatives, have to be multifaceted in our disciplines. Becoming a dimensional designer includes exposing oneself to creatives of other disciplines and perspectives to be able to see the broader context of their own work. Experience dimensional design in action during this year’s SLDW.

Salt Lake Design Week celebrates and promotes the impact of all design in Utah. By providing a forum for designers, business professionals, students, and the general public to interact, collaborate, and learn from each other, we build a stronger creative community. We are inclusive of all people and disciplines including; graphic, digital, product, fashion, photography, architecture, interior, and more. From October 5-10, 2020 we will host the first-ever virtual SLDW to celebrate Utah creatives and promote the impact of design throughout the state and beyond.

Hosted by: AIGA Salt Lake City
→ Register Here
FREE

10/7 | 6:30–8pm EDT

And She Could Be Next Virtual Screening

This film follows the grassroots campaigns of six women of color running for political office during the contentious 2018 United States midterm elections. Produced by female filmmakers of color, the documentary offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of these women leaders whose personal motivations, political coalitions, and ground-level activism steamroll the expectations of their opponents and of the broader public — defying traditional notions of what it means to be a U.S. politician in the process. 

A co-production of POV and ITVS. A co-presentation of Black Public Media and the Center for Asian American Media.  Film running time is 40 mins. Watch the trailer for And She Could be Next.

The screening will be hosted through Zoom. Zoom information will be sent to attendees prior to start time. Event will start at 6:30 PM EST and screening will start at 6:45 PM EST to allow attendees time to log on. 

After the screening, there will be a discussion based on prompts created for the film. Attendees will be grouped into break rooms for open discussion. Discussion time will be 15 mins.

This event is part of Design for Democracy, an AIGA initiative to increase civic participation through design. This event is a collaboration with POV, the award-winning independent non-fiction film series on PBS www.pbs.org/pov

Hosted by: AIGA Pittsburgh
→ Get Your Ticket Here
FREE

10/9

Baltimore Innovation Week

A one-day virtual event series celebrating good news stories and innovation in Baltimore.

Baltimore Innovation Week 2020 is a one-day virtual Innovation Celebration featuring multiple sessions that are focused on showcasing local companies and good news stories that have emerged during these continuously changing and trying times. Save your seat at spotlight discussions with industry experts, workshops from top companies, and networking with local businesses. You’ll have an insider look at the positive effect this city is having on the U.S. and World markets with premier access to the latest products and ideas. 

This annual event series is a unique collaborative effort from industry leaders across seven defined sectors. This is where technology meets science, creatives, students, entrepreneurs, sales representatives, marketing executives, economic developers, social activists and everyone in-between.  The best part? It’s all FREE.

Hosted by: ETC (EMERGING TECHNOLOGY CENTERS)
→ Get Your Ticket Here
FREE

10/14 | 6:30 PM–8:00 PM EDT

Changing the Face of Voting with UX

Join us for a conversation with Kathryn Summers about making voting inclusive and accessible through design. Design has the ability to include or exclude people. Join us for a conversation with Kathryn Summers about making voting inclusive and accessible through design. We will be discussing the implication of bad design and its implication on the voting process in the wake of the 2016 election and the coming 2020 election. In addition, Kathryn will be showing us the benefits of using eye-tracking machine and how it helps to analyze the visual behavior of your user.

Hosted by: Ladies Wine and Design Baltimore
→ Register Here
FREE

10/14 | 7–9 PM EDT

Talking Strategy with Douglas Davis

Join us on October 15th as Douglas shares how to turn the rational language of business into the emotional language of design. Douglas’ inspiring journey has taken him from designer to strategist, to now teaching other creatives the business of design. Wherever he shares, he helps provide a framework for the design industry. A framework that can be applied to concept pitches or to how to think about your career. Strategy has been something design schools haven’t focused on, and it’s more important than ever we understand it. After stepping into Harvard Business school, Douglas realized how big the disconnect was for designers. Since then, he’s taught at NYU, HOW Design University, Manhattan Early College School for Advertising, and the City College of New York, all while running The Davis Group LLC. Douglas took it upon himself to fill the void between design and business and teaches left-brain business skills to right-brain creative thinkers with his book, Creative Strategy and the Business of Design. He’s helped creatives across the country better understand business goals, how to set them up, but most importantly, how to measure their success for clients. There is a need to understand more than what looks good for your career to blossom. Join us on October 15th as Douglas shares how to turn the rational language of business into the emotional language of design. You already have the creativity, now it’s time to gain the business insights.

Hosted by: AIGA Charlotte
→ Register Here
$10

10/19-23

AIGA Colorado Presents Colorado Creatives

Colorado’s creative community thrives when its members are able to come together to share stories and experiences, however, the pandemic has moved these communities online and made it more difficult for people to come together in person. That’s where AIGA Colorado Creatives comes in.

The best part? Our project is all about YOU, the AIGA Colorado Creatives. It’s your chance to share your stories, advice, experiences and inspiration in a short video. Selected videos will be featured on an event site and combined with others in a storytelling reel which will be shown to thousands of people.

→ Participate Here
Submit your Video by October 12

10/20-22

Adobe MAX—The Creativity Conference

Make plans to join Adobe MAX for a uniquely immersive and engaging digital experience, guaranteed to inspire. Three full days of luminary speakers, celebrity appearances, musical performances, global collaborative art projects, and 350+ sessions — and all at no cost.

Hosted by: Adobe MAX
→ Register Here
FREE (with Adobe Account ID)

10/30

Creative Mornings Talk – Speaker Lola B. Pierson

Your Home! (part of a series on Stress)

Lola B. Pierson is a highly collaborative artist who was born and raised in Baltimore City. She is a playwright, writer, and director. Her work challenges theatrical form, incorporating elements of social media, performance art, visual art, switcheroos, and boredom. Other words she has used to describe her work in bios include: presence, explore, dynamic, and representation. A graduate of Baltimore School for the Arts, Bard College, and Towson University, she is passionate about the intersections of language, time, presence, and philosophy. She writes new work and messes with classics (that deserve it). She is the co-founding Artistic Director of The Acme Corporation.

Hosted by: Creative Mornings
→ Register Here
FREE

10/31 | 6 PM EDT

Counter Narratives Show: Black Liberation & Queer Resistance

The purpose of the show is to provide a critical examination of society and culture through the intersectional lens of race, gender, and class, more specifically it seeks to provide a COUNTER-NARRATIVE. The Show encourages a reflective assessment and critique of unique standpoints and their potential contribution to popular discourse.

What you can expect from the COUNTER-NARRATIVE:
Quality conversations about critical issues in communities of color, with guests who don’t just talk about the problem they are active in finding solutions.  Guests share their lived-experiences, insights, information, opinions, and personal narratives.

Hosted by: Rasheem
→ Register Here
FREE

AIGA Get Out The Vote

Every four years since 2000, AIGA has activated its community of designers across the U.S. and beyond to Get Out the Vote. The campaign is part of Design for Democracy, an AIGA initiative to increase civic participation through design.

In 2020, AIGA recognizes the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote in 1920 with a special edition of Get Out the Vote: Empowering the Women’s Vote. It commemorates the first legislation for women’s voting rights. Not until the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965 were voting rights of all women protected and enforced.

AIGA members–submit your posters today until election day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020, and help us get out the vote! Posters received by National Voter Registration Day (September 22, 2020) and Vote Early Day (October 24, 2020) will have the greatest impact.

Hosted by: AIGA

There are two opportunities. Please see below for the submission portals and galleries:

Black Lives Matter.

Posted on by AIGA Baltimore

AIGA Baltimore stands in solidarity with Black designers, creative business owners, educators, students—as well as their families, cultures, and communities—in the condemnation of racism, intersectional discrimination, fear, and acts of violence, including murder.

In Baltimore, we felt the impact of injustice five years ago when we lost Freddie Carlos Gray Jr. We’re committed to continuing the work of our past boards to build up and listen to the voices of those in our community, acknowledging that we still have so much more work to do.

As a board of volunteers, we don’t have all the answers, but our chapter is committed to doing what we can to support and uplift Black lives in our creative community and beyond. We pledge to help with our time, resources, voices, and creativity. To start, we are making two $250 donations to two local nonprofits.

  • Out 4 Justice (OFJ), an organization comprised of individuals who are both directly and indirectly impacted by the criminal justice system advocating for the reform of policies and practices that adversely affect successful reintegration into society.
  • Baltimore Youth Arts, a creative entrepreneurship and job training program that provides artistic and professional opportunities to young people, ages 14-22, with a focus on those involved in the justice system. Their mission is to assist young people in gaining the creative, personal, and educational skills that will enable them to become leaders in their communities.

We would also like to take this time to amplify the causes of local organizations BALT (Baltimore Action Legal Team) and Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, and recommend that we all take an active role in supporting people of color. That could mean purchasing or reposting work by an artist you admire, ordering dinner from one of the currently open Black-owned restaurants in Maryland, using your design skills for a good cause, and perhaps most importantly, checking in on your Black friends, family, and colleagues.

Our commitment extends beyond this message. We will hold ourselves accountable, and we welcome you to hold us and each other accountable as well. Our inboxes are open.

Donate Locally

Donate Nationally

Resources for Education and Support


Have a resource to add?

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

I&P Panel: Your Questions Answered!

Posted on by Krystal Carpintieri

If you missed the Ink & Pixels Designer Panel last week, we highly recommend you go back and watch the replay. “If I Knew Then What I Know Now” focused on honest, practical advice for new designers as well as those of us in a career transition, on how to navigate the job market during these uncertain times.

We had a vibrant community-led discussion with three experienced designers, who shared unique insights and tips from different perspectives across the design field. Our panelists opened up and gave us a raw and authentic view into their professional lives, as did members of our community who came together to share resources and provide emotional support.

For those who did make it, thank you for your incredible energy and engaging questions. We wish we could’ve answered them all before our brief time ran out. For those of you hungry for more, here’s the next best thing. Our three expert panelists are back to answer a few more of your most burning questions.

Emilee Beeson, Designer, and Illustrator

emileebeeson.com
Etsy | Instagram

Emilee Beeson is a graphic designer and illustrator with a broad creative skill set, contagious enthusiasm, and relentless drive for growth and learning.

What’s one non-design job you had that taught you something important? What did it teach you?
In the summers before I graduated from college I would work as much as I could to pay for my apartment and other expenses during the school year. At one point I was working three jobs. I started at 4 am at a gym smoothie stand, then had a shift at Chipotle, and in the evenings I worked at Coldstone Creamery. While it’s not a unique experience it makes me so grateful to have found a place in the design world. Having a good-paying job that aligns with your passions is such a privilege and it really helps me to find joy in my work when things get tough.

How can we use design for advocacy and social justice initiatives?
I am sure there is a bigger picture answer to this but I want to speak to the actionable side of it. Design is incredibly expensive so your skills can be a huge asset to organizations that can’t afford it. Social justice organizations and advocacy groups need logos, T-shirts, posters, print materials, websites, and social media assets just like any other group or business. A small and actionable way to use design is to volunteer your time and skills to these groups. Reach out to them and see how you can help. There are also a few events locally that you can participate in like the MICA Grassroots Design Fest and Make-A-Mark Baltimore.

As a job candidate, what is the appropriate amount of follow up, and how can you stand out and stay memorable among other applicants?
Unfortunately, there is no magic formula for the amount of follow up you should do. It’s awkward no matter what and each job situation is different. The reality is that your entire world might be hinging on that response and theirs probably isn’t. I personally think a phone call is a bad idea but a quick email doesn’t hurt if a considerable amount of time has passed.

I have found a good way to stand out is to have a leave behind for your interview. For me, that means a small package with my business card, resume, art prints, zines, and stickers. You are usually being interviewed by other designers/creatives that geek out about the same stuff you do. Giving them something physical that might hang around the office is a good way to stand out. I have also been on the receiving end of these leave-behinds and they are always a total delight. Make sure you bring extra in case someone wasn’t able to make it to your interview.

Perry Sweeper, Design Strategist

www.psweeper.com

Perry Sweeper is a 2020 doctoral candidate at the University of Baltimore, studying Information and Interaction Design.

What was your first step after graduation?
My first step after graduation was to take a comprehensive look at the classes that I completed and inventory the knowledge/skill-set that I gained during matriculation. I wanted to get a good understanding of the skills I acquired and the work that I produced. Then I could effectively communicate my experience to seek out the right next career steps. It was very important to me to be able to view my career in a multidimensional way: past, present, and then future.

What’s one non-design job you had that taught you something important? What did it teach you?
The non-design job that taught me something important was working as a shoe salesman. There was a mother that came into the store with her son who was looking for new shoes to wear to an important job interview. To help them I had to deal with many competing needs. The mother primarily sought a presentable shoe, at a good price point, that would make him look professional and would work for him later once he got the job.  But for the son, his main concern was to find shoes that were cool and that his friends would like. Because I knew the product well, I helped them find the right shoe in a sea of options and provided them with complimentary items like the right belt, socks, and shoe care. I also met my sales goals for the day and followed the company standards. When you do your job well in sales,  you increase the possibility that a customer will come back for a second, third, or fourth pair. It is also possible that their family will become lifetime customers and ambassadors for your brand. If you do enough of this, you could get even get a company bonus.

Design jobs require the uncanny ability to please multiple stakeholders, be detail-oriented, use effective communication, creativity, and sometimes serve angry customers. Much like retail and customer service jobs. Retail can be tough, especially during the holiday season. At the least, it can be a motivator to one day quit and move into that coveted design job you desire 😉

What kind of professional development should I be pursuing while in graduate school? Is it better to just focus on grad school until graduation?
In my opinion, it is important to focus on school while you are enrolled. School can require an incredible investment of time, energy, and money. It is in one’s best interest to do well. However, I believe in the value of experiential learning opportunities during academic breaks. They provide a way to apply all that one has learned during the semester in a real-life scenario. The right combination of theory and practice can lead to growth and career progression.

Alex Reynolds, Sr. Recruiter

cargocollective.com/alexanderreynolds
Instagram

Alexander is a Sr. Recruiter with Robert Half and Specializes in placing candidates that concentrate in the technology and creative fields.

What kind of professional development should I be pursuing while in graduate school? Is it better to just focus on grad school until graduation?
It entirely depends on the type of position you are looking to pursue. The easiest way to find out what kind of professional development that can assist in your job search is to look at job descriptions from industries/companies you would want to work for. They list the various software, certifications, or applications they find desirable in their candidates. – I would also seek to develop your professional network by going to Meet-Up Groups, Webinars, or Social Events. If you are more unsure about the kind of positions you are interested especially in the design/marketing space the main focuses (in a more general sense) tend to be Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator/InDesign, Social Media Management Tools, Email Management Tools, and Microsoft Office/Google Suite.

As a job candidate, what is the appropriate amount of follow up, and how can you stand out and stay memorable among other applicants?
The appropriate amount of follow up for a position you applied for is generally around 1 week if you haven’t heard any feedback – unless they have told you a specific time/date. The best way to stand out is to make sure your resume is able to speak to your skillset and experience and tie it back to a metric or result. Keep your resume to the point (bullet points tend to work best) because recruiters and hiring managers have to sort through a lot of resumes (sometimes in the hundreds) A lot of times hiring managers will just CTRL-F (Find Keywords highlighted in your resume). Make sure you are able to talk about how you have used a software, programming language, or tool and provide an example. A simple list at the bottom of the software you’ve used with no context is not enough.

How important do you feel a Masters’s degree is in the design field these days? Should I pursue it after graduation, or should I focus on looking for jobs and/or clients?
I think a Masters’s Degree tends to be more important if you are interested in teaching – or if you are looking at a specific field that requires one. Most design positions tend to look at a Bachelor’s degree or years of equivalent experience along with a solid portfolio and experience.