Sunday, February 24, 2019

AIGA Portfolio Review 2019



Portfolio reviewers allow participants to present their creative work, get advice and make valuable connections. I am again among this group, even as my own career path has evolved away from routine creative design problem solving. Students at this conference can also get a look at what peers have been working on. I am so impressed and delighted to meet some of these aspiring graphic artists. Jake from Millikin University is working with a team to bring children with disabilities more representation. Andrew from Maryville University is interested in video game development. Tyler is already working for a local firm that handles advertising for the Zoo. Brad is interested in motion illustration and design. Igor is an UMSL graphic designer with a polished look and a professional demeanor. I also met Stewart, Brad and Cole. All of these young designers reinforce my belief that the future looks bright indeed.

This year’s AIGA student conference centered around a full Saturday on Webster University's Gateway campus in downtown STL with Keynote speakers: De Nichols, Social Impact Design Principal of Civic Creatives, a design strategy agency. She is an alum of Washington University and Bonnie Siegler, Creative Director & Founder of Eight and a Half, a New York design studio.

I shared bits of conversation with other reviewers and some of the local organizers of this event in Saint Louis. Too be sure, the businesses of design are more diverse than ever. The great thing is the passion for thoughtful approaches to everything from social justice, digital motion graphics to ephemeral print still have champions. I sat next to Barbara JK Nwacha, Chair of Art & Design at SIU Edwardsville and marveled at her enthusiasm and nurturing nature. The theme for the conference revolved around finding a good fit. With encouragement from educators and inspiration from practitioners I hope these talented designers find places where they will thrive and make the world a better place.     

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