This month’s AIGA Memphis Community meeting, hosted at CoWork Memphis on Cooper, built on our previous meeting’s themes of activist-focused design. Local designer and screenprinter Will Loren spoke about his work that supported TakeEmDown901’s efforts to remove confederate monuments from public spaces, and board members Shiloh Barnat Goodman and Ashley Rae Burnett shared their experience at a recent AIGA National retreat focused on Diversity & Inclusion in design.

With Diversity & Inclusion being one of AIGA’s highest priorities in 2018, the Memphis chapter is seeking to align with the national organization’s efforts. Shiloh and Ashley outlined upcoming initiatives to feature local designers of color, as well as keep a closer eye on occasions like International Women’s Day, which offer a chance to spotlight and celebrate the work of more marginalized groups.

Shiloh then took all the meeting attendees through a privilege walk, an exercise designed to expose the vastly different experiences of those around us.

Will Loren’s discussion of the TakeEmDown901 initiative was equally eye-opening. While the statues of Jefferson Davis and Nathan Bedford Forrest have been removed, the group is still hard at work fighting injustices, such as fundraising bail money for unfair arrests of local community members.

To offset the intense discussions of activism and provocative design, attendees were also asked to answer a question – where do you find your inner calm? Answeres ranged from playing frisbee at the park, to spending time with pets, to enjoying the impending patio weather.

AIGA Memphis community meetings are a free event taking place on the second Thursday of every month. The next meeting is on May 10th.

The AIGA Memphis March Community meeting, hosted at CoWork Memphis on Cooper, shined a spotlight on design for activism. Guest speaker Mark Ravi, a local designer whose work is ubiquitous in the community, spoke about how to support and encourage activism through art.

Mark’s work, ranging from posters to logo design, is a rare example of outstanding design in the activist realm. Working primarily with the Coalition of Concerned Citizens, which is made up of dozens of progressive organizations, Mark has been involved in shut-downs, “die-ins,” and local development projects such as the restoration of the Mid-South Coliseum.

One of Mark’s most important projects is the branding and collateral materials he has developed for Liseux, an annual benefit that supports the victims of human trafficking. Attendees were quick to ask how one can keep a regular 9-to-5 while also being involved in high-level community organizing—to which Mark recommended a rigid 6-hour sleep cycle.

Chapter President Nicole Lewandowski also updated attendees on local job openings, upcoming events, and asked everyone to share their favorite place in Memphis—with answers ranging from local watering holes to Memphis’ world-class green spaces.

AIGA Memphis community meetings are a free event taking place on the second Thursday of every month. The next meeting is on April 12th.

AIGA’s first workshop of 2018 featured talented artists, designers, photographers, and entrepreneurs from the Memphis area, all united under one roof—the production house that brings their ideas to life: LSI Graphics.

Austin Barnes (Creative Director) and Chris Coles (Director of Marketing) familiarized attendees with the history of the privately owned firm that was made in Memphis 44 years ago and eagerly shared their knowledge and experience in creating environmental designs.

The group was introduced to concepts such as direct printing – to substrates such as wood, sintra, acrylic, and guitars (seriously) – the use of white ink, wrapping surfaces with graphics and architectural vinyls, and the intricate cutting / routing of artwork, to name a few. Attendees were given samples of their own artwork printed on different materials to enable future inspiration.

Afterwards, the group met at a local bar & grill and enjoyed some drinks and great conversation.

All-in-all the event was a celebration of creativity that left everyone more inspired than they were before.

AIGA’s first Community Meeting of 2018, hosted at CoWork Memphis on Cooper, was focused on resolutions. After a brief introduction by Chapter President Nicole Lewandowski, attendees were asked to chart a few of their New Year’s Resolutions related to design. They were then asked to choose one, and write and share an action plan for how they could accomplish it.

Some guests shared their goals to graduate college and find a job. Others wanted to be better connected to their community through their work in design and printing. Some had specific skills they wanted to learn, such as advanced hand lettering. It quickly became obvious that even in this relatively small group, there were several connections to be made. With a mix of students, art educators, and design shop owners, attendees were eager to help each other get a leg up on their resolutions.

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day – just around the corner – attendees were also asked to say what they love about Memphis. Answers ranged from our outstanding food, to our tight-knit community, to the down-to earth people and grit of those who live here.
After the event, guests and board members mingled at Celtic Crossing for dinner and drinks.

AIGA’s February community meeting will be cancelled in lieu of our We Love Our Community event that will take place at Tamp & Tap on February 9, with snacks, drinks (your first two are free), and a gathering of local creatives. Register now – space is limited!

Also, don’t miss our Unique Materials event, hosted by our friends at LSI Graphics, on January 25 at 4 p.m. You can submit artwork to be printed on four different materials. It’s a great chance to learn more about the print process and the opportunities for leveraging unusual materials in your designs.

Our November Community Meeting started with a recap of October’s meeting activity, introductions and a quick response to this month’s icebreaker question, “What are you most thankful for that is related to design?” The answers varied from art education, to individuals who have given opportunities or support, to improvements in design software as attendees reminisced about the days when Adobe products were delivered on floppy disk.

Both the local and national AIGA community activities were discussed. One in particular, the non-profit organization, [HAS HEART], was highlighted as it was awarded an Innovate grant by AIGA for their project 50 States: Veterans and Artists United. This organization partners veterans with designers to bring these communities together to better understand each other. Together, they create designs and products to raise awareness. This year’s program will take them to all 50 states, pairing one veteran with one artist from each state to tell the veteran’s story through art and design. They are scheduled to come through Tennessee in early 2019.

With November 9th being World Usability Day, Andrew Millen and Matt Washburn of Simple Focus joined us to speak on the topics of usability and user experience. They walked through the critical role that research, testing, and iteration play in solving key usability issues.

“Usability means making sure something works well, and that a person of average ability or experience can use it for its intended purpose without getting hopelessly frustrated.”   – Steve Krug

After answering some questions, Matt and Andrew brought up two volunteers to play a game to visualize how user experience design applies to real world problems. The first person, Rod, was given a problem to solve, and told that he could interview the second person with three questions. The second person was given instructions to answer truthfully except for a secret restriction provided her by Matt. Rod was able to successfully determine Nikki’s restriction with well thought out questions and provided her was a great user experience.

After the event, attendees joined UX Memphis for the UX Happy Hour by VACO at City & State for more socializing.

The next AIGA community meeting will be December 14th from 6pm-7:30pm at CoWork Memphis.

Approximately 15 local designers, developers, print specialists, and creative leaders recently gathered at CoWork Memphis for the AIGA Memphis October Community Meeting. Chapter President Nicole Lewandowski of Autozone and Vice-President Jeff Leath of Oden led the event, which is set to recur monthly.

After a quick introduction, which included a recap of our favorite Halloween costumes, attendees were asked to write the reason they were there on sticky notes, place them on the wall, and discuss them as a group.

The answers were wide-ranging, but with common themes:
“To help Memphis grow.”
“To collaborate and connect with other designers and artists.”
“To be inspired.”

It quickly became clear that most attendees were as interested in finding inspiration and engaging their communities through creativity as they were in advancing their careers. As one attendee put it: “You don’t come [to these meetings] to get the job. You come to learn what you need to know to get the job.”

Afterwards, attendees went for drinks in Midtown to take advantage of the patio weather and continue socializing.

AIGA Memphis community meetings are a free event and will take place on the second Thursday of every month. The next meeting is November 9th from 6pm-7:30pm. Anyone with a connection to the local design community is encouraged to attend.

Upcoming Events

November Community Meeting
Thursday, November 9th  |  6pm – 7:30pm

Guerrilla Marketing – lecture by Nikki Arnell
Thursday, November 16th  |  6:30pm – 8pm

Using Unique Materials to Level Up Your Designs – presented by LSI Graphics
Thursday, January 25th  |  4pm – 6pm

Community Events

RiverArtsFest
October 27, 28, and 29

TechCamp
Saturday, October 28th  |  9am – 5pm
TechCamp ticket discount code for the AIGA community: AIGA-Memphis

“AIGA Student Day is exactly the boost in morale, the spark for passion, the motivation to move and so many more cliché inspirationals that a senior graphic design student like me needs as motivation to finish strong. Senior year, for me, has been the most stressful and creatively draining times of my college career. I have questioned my career choice, my ability and my sanity more times than is probably healthy. AIGA Student Day reminded me that I’m not the only crazy creative out there aiming to change the world every horribly kerned logo at a time. Having the opportunity to see what can be done with the tools we are being given reminded me why I chose graphic design in the first place.”

– Destani Joy, Arkansas State University senior

On Friday, September 22nd, approximately 40 design students from multiple universities attended the annual AIGA Memphis Student Day. This year’s event was again in downtown Memphis where powerhouse agencies Archer Malmo and Red Deluxe – each rich in agency culture, name recognition, and awards – allowed students to tour, absorb, ask questions, listen, see work, and even pet a few dogs.

AIGA Memphis has organized Student Days regularly for almost a decade, sometimes twice a year.  Memphis businesses that have helped include Loaded For Bear, Combustion, Oden, AutoZone, RocketFuel, and Harvest Creative to name a few of the more recent. Each time, students are inspired as each imagines him/herself after graduation. The schools involved this year were University of Memphis, Harding University, Arkansas State University, and Memphis College of Art. Past years have also included participants from Delta State University and Southwest Tennessee Community College. Every year, reactions are similar to that of Arkansas State University’s MaKala McIver:
“This was my first experience with AIGA Memphis Student Day, but I’m so happy I went. Getting an insider’s look into two influential design shops in Memphis, Tennessee, was really an eye opener for me…I am grateful that AIGA Memphis is conscious of and supports their students.”

The day began at Tamp & Tap as students gathered and were split into two groups. 20 went to Archer Malmo and 20 went to Red Deluxe. After meeting for lunch at Aldo’s, the groups switched shops.

Archer-Malmo

Red Deluxe

Each agency supplied an official presentation of the company’s capabilities, how it works, and substantial examples of stunning client work. Tours helped students meet people and see where and how all the magic happens. Sometimes answers to student questions led to even more student questions, each answered so that the complement of creativity to business was fully understood.

The day convened back at Tamp & Tap where students grabbed delicious caffeinated beverages. A few creatives from each shop were kind enough to meet up with the group and give more one-on-one answers to questions and just talk.  As student Lexi Herring stated,
“I think it gives me an edge up on all the other recent grads who weren’t able to get the experiences that I got that day.”

The trip was also informative for some students who had never been to Memphis, let alone any city. As one such student explained,
“Great people, great work environments, and all around just a great city. The experience was fun and I have every intention of trying my hardest to become a staple in the graphic design community. Also, though it was my first time going to Memphis, it definitely won’t be my last.”

AIGA Memphis Student Day 2018 will be another great event and any university students or professors who would like to receive an invitation should contact AIGA Memphis Education Director Nikki Arnell (nikki@memphis.aiga.org). There are no destinations set yet, but the event is sure to be one to remember. As Sophia Hedge, also from Arkansas State University, explains,
“As a senior, this opportunity was incredibly beneficial. I have been anxiously going back and forth between what I wanted to do with my degree. Touring these agencies solidified my want to work in a full-service advertising agency. The environment, type of work I would be doing daily, and the potential to become an Art Director all fell into what I see myself doing in the future. It was excellent to see the way an agency functioned on a daily basis and helped drive me to focus on what I want to do after college and eventually become, which is an Art Director. AIGA Memphis Student day was exceptional!”

AIGA Memphis gives students a chance to view first hand what agency life is like. Our annual Student Day gathers college students from around the Mid-South area to tour Memphis businesses, agencies, and studios and talk to designers and creatives that work there.

This year, students will tour Archer Malmo and Red Deluxe.

If you are a professor and would like your students to be involved in next year’s event, please contact the Education Director, Nikki Arnell, for more information.

Free CreativeLive course offering for AIGA Members

For the month of September 2017, CreativeLive, the world’s leading creative education platform, will offer AIGA members free access to the online course “A Brand Called You” with Debbie Millman.

What: A month-long self-branding course offering

When: September 1–30, 2017

Who: Available FREE to all member levels during September (a $79 value)

How: A promo code will be revealed to members upon login at aiga.org/creativelive-discount beginning September 1

Course description:

Make A Living Doing What You Love

It takes work to get the work you love. It takes knowing how to interview well, how to communicate flawlessly, how to articulate your own purpose and to simultaneously do this while facing tremendous rejection. Debbie Millman is one of the most influential design minds of our time; an author, educator, brand strategist, and founder and host of the acclaimed podcast Design Matters. In her class you’ll learn how to:

• Create a meaningful philosophy that will guide your career
• Present yourself in meetings and interviews
• Network and standout from your competition
• Find discipline in your approach to work
• Sell yourself with more confidence

Are you spending enough time on looking for, finding and working towards winning a great job? Are you doing everything you can—every single day—to stay in “career shape”? What else should you be doing?

Join Debbie and answer these questions you should be asking yourself.