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 of the year, with a focus on helping designers prepare for a career or career shift. This September, join us for a day of professional development, including a panel discussion and full portfolio reviews, during AIGA EMERGE Awareness Week.
AIGA Baltimore and The Creative Group will be co-hosting Ink & Pixels 2018: Professional Development Day on September 29, 2018, from 12:30-5:00 pm at UMBC as an in-depth follow up to the Ink & Pixels 2018: Creative Review held in April.
The event coincides with EMERGE Awareness Week (September 24-October 3), a national AIGA event under the EMERGE 2.0 initiative that aims to provide designers who are 0–5 years into their careers with customized events, experiences, and content that will advance their career paths and create tangible opportunities. A special focus of EMERGE 2.0 is reaching new, more diverse, non-traditional and underrepresented audiences in partnership with AIGA's Diversity & Inclusion Task Force.
A Day of Professional Development For Designers
Our tentative schedule for the day is as follows:
12:30 pm - Registration & Networking
1:00 pm - Opening Keynote by The Creative Group
1:15 pm - Panel & Town Hall Discussions
2:15 pm - 15 min break/snacks
2:30 pm - Expert Roundtables (choice of 3 per attendee) & Portfolio Reviews (2 per attendee)
4:30 pm - Closing Remarks
Panel and Town Hall
Charlotte James, Director of Outreach & Communications for Common Curriculum (a local ed-tech startup) and co-owner of Power Nail Decals, will be moderating the panel and town hall discussions on issues relevant to the emerging designer. Hear the stories and journeys of seven local design pro's and get the chance to ask your questions.
Get to know the panelists!
- Kelley Bell is a graphic designer, projection artist, and educator: Professor of Animation and Graphic Design Department Chair at UMBC. See her work at cakeweek.com – including her work that was shown at Baltimore's Light City 2018
- Illiah Manger is a brand designer and mompreneur, owner of C&V Design Studio. You may know her as the host of the Elevate and Cultivate Facebook Group!
- Jessica Watson is the President & Creative Director of Points North Design Studio, and she hosts the Have a Nice Day Project in Baltimore and the global campaign 28 Days of Kindness
- Tony Venne is an educator at MICA’s new MA Graphic Design program (formerly the Post-Bacc degree). He's also Head of Design at the Walters Art Museum! Before moving to Baltimore, Venne was an Art Director for Target in Minneapolis.
- Sean Heavey is a Senior Designer at Defense.gov, as well as several other Federal Government clients, including the Smithsonian – check out his work at seanheavey.com
- Jerome Harris is an independent graphic designer and current MICA graphic design teaching fellow. He just curated an exhibition of graphic design works by African American artists, focusing on representation through curation—up through 9/30 (asnotfor.info).
- Jeremy Friend is a well-known lettering artist and teaches Hand Lettering at MICA, but his Instagram followers might not know that he served in the Military before beginning his career as an artist. Get to know Jeremy & see his work at jeremyfriend.com/
Roundtables
Here's your chance to get face-to-face answers to those questions you've been Googling. You'll join your choice of 3 roundtable discussions with experts on a variety of topics such as resume and cover letter writing, building a social media presence, interview preparation, salary negotiations, business skill development, employment resources, networking/visibility tips and website content strategy.
Portfolio Reviews
Put your best work forward with two full portfolio review sessions. Local seasoned creatives are eager to meet and connect with you while providing personal advice on how to best showcase your amazing work!
Reviewers represent some of Baltimore's best companies and design agencies, including: Under Armour, Orange Element, Gilah Press & Design, C&V Creative, Points North Studio, Ashton Design, the US Department of Defense, MCI Group, Whale Works Design and Illustration, as well as freelance designers, professors, and more!
Location & Parking
We'll start the day in UMBC's Performing Arts Building, room PAHB 132. The Roundtable and Portfolio Review portion will be held in the Fine Arts Building. UMBC is located at 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD, 21250. You are welcome to park in Lot 8 for all weekend events free of charge.
The Performing Arts and Humanities Building is located about 15 minutes from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and about 25 minutes from the Washington Beltway (I-495). From the roadway, the Concert Hall’s exterior is easily recognized by its shiny stainless steel façade and its distinctive “thumbprint.”
Please note that the entire UMBC campus has one street address — 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250 — so Google and Apple maps may not provide sufficient detail.
From downtown Baltimore, take I-95 south, then take Exit 47B and follow clearly marked signs to Route 166 and UMBC. As you enter the campus, proceed straight through the first roundabout, and then turn left at the second roundabout to merge onto the inner loop of Hilltop Circle, the road that surrounds the campus. At the traffic light at Hilltop Road, take a right, and then an immediate left into Parking Lot 8.
From I-695, take Exit 12C onto Wilkens Avenue heading west. At the roundabout, turn left to enter campus on Hilltop Road. Proceed straight through the traffic light, and then take an immediate left into Parking Lot 8.
From the Washington area, take I-95 north toward Baltimore, then take Exit 47B and follow clearly marked signs to Route 166 and UMBC. As you enter the campus, proceed straight through the first roundabout, and then turn left at the second roundabout to merge onto the inner loop of Hilltop Circle, the road that surrounds the campus. At the traffic light at Hilltop Road, take a right, and then an immediate left into Parking Lot 8.
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