AIGA-WI has partnered with Core Creative, to level up your portfolio and interview game with the help of design professionals.

Meet with professionals and get personalized feedback on your portfolio. Please prepare a digital portfolio or portfolio website to share in person. This will be the beta test for your portfolio and your interview skills. As professionals meet with you individually and assess your portfolio, they will assess your work and provide feedback on the spot.

Boswell Book Company presents an evening with Jessica Hische, author of My First Book of Fancy Letters.

Click here to order a copy of Unlocking the Heart.

Click here to order a copy of My First Book of Fancy Letters. Signed copies are available on most event preorders. If you have a personalization request, enter it in “order comments” at checkout. Please note: signed copies will ship AFTER the event. Remember to select “In Store Pickup” at check out to avoid unnecessary shipping fees on books you intend to pick up at the event.

From the New York Times best-selling creator of Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave comes a delightful spin on the traditional alphabet book, featuring creatively hand-lettered words from A to Z and an affirming message for young readers.

Jessica Hische is a letterer, illustrator, type designer, and relentless procrastiworker. Clients include Wes Anderson, Dave Eggers, The New York Times, Tiffany & Co., McSweeney’s, and Chronicle Books among others.

We thought we’d spend some time getting to know the “designers” behind their flag creations and why they believe in helping inspire our city of Milwaukee. We took a moment to interview them so you could learn something too and vote for the flag that inspires you http://tinyurl.com/pfomrating

Name: Chanya Hughes

Occupation: Graphic Design Student

1. How do you think a new flag (by the people for the people) will inspire Milwaukee? How do you think it will help grow Milwaukee?

I don’t expect any flag to solve the problems of a city right away, but over time I hope that my flag could foster a sincere feeling of pride and an attitude of betterment and positivity as it grows with the people. My hope is to bring people together and encourage them to make changes for the better while acknowledging the city’s past and present. The colours not only have symbolic meaning but they are bright and strong, like the people, and it was important to me to reflect them in my design.

2. What experiences or thinking (design related or not) helped you make the choices for this entry?

The thing that stands out the most to me about Milwaukee is the kindness in everyone, rough edges or not. I wanted to make something worthy of the people that have made my experiences truly exceptional, without ignoring the more serious issues the city faces. The formation of the city after the historic bridge wars inspired me to continue this idea of people converging and coming together as one. I felt that this was a strong and appropriate symbol and I portrayed it in my flag as an arrow, converging but also moving forward. A symbol of brighter tomorrows and unity.

3. What emotions would you use to describe your flag design? Why these emotions?

• Hope
• Connected
• Pride
• Positivity

We thought we’d spend some time getting to know the “designers” behind their flag creations and why they believe in helping inspire our city of Milwaukee. We took a moment to interview them so you could learn something too and vote for the flag that inspires you http://tinyurl.com/pfomrating

Name: Jon Grider
Occupation: Creative Director / Art Director at Nonbox
Years lived in Milwaukee: Born and bred, raised 3 kids and worked most of my career here (let’s just say I feel younger than the calendar states).

1. How do you think a new flag (by the people for the people) will inspire Milwaukee? How do you think it will help grow Milwaukee?

We’re surrounded by graphic symbols and branding all around us. If a city flag does indeed represent one of the graphic elements in the overall branding of a place, I think an update here is long overdue. Milwaukee is a vibrant, creative community, fully aware of its historical significance, but is also moving forward and getting better. A new flag with a fresh, contemporary graphic, that also has legs to extend in other media, can and will make an inspiring impact in our city…and beyond. And the fact that the design variations were done ‘by and for the people’, I think adds to the level of city pride. That one of our own – who was born and raised here, who lives here, experiences and loves this city, will possibly earn a winning flag design with the people’s vote …is pretty special.

2. What experiences or thinking (design related or not) helped you make the choices for this entry?

I first did my homework: a re-fresher on Milwaukee history, culture, geography, maps, architecture, etc. Then researched other city/state/national flags to see what design elements worked (and didn’t work). With some general ideas in mind, I put pencil to paper with small/thumbnail sketches to start. Then worked any spare time I had on the computer for the next few weeks (thank you Nonbox!). I’ve designed a lot of logos in my career, so I had to get past designing a Milwaukee logo, trying to dig deeper into symbolism and not be too literal. I created dozens of designs and explored multiple color options for each. With helpful critiques from my friend ‘D’ (who first told me about the ‘People’s Flag’ project and is also a flag finalist) and input from my family, I boiled it down to the 5 entry limit. My entry that was chosen for the finals actually came late in the design process, after I got all the over-designed options out of my system. Even though it looks like a pretty simple design that was easy to do, it probably wouldn’t have come about if I hadn’t put in the all the time on the rest.

3. What emotions would you use to describe your flag design? Why these emotions?

I hope that my flag design evokes a sense of pride in my fellow Milwaukee-ins. This city is a great place to be and there is so much to be proud of here, as we continue to grow and improve together. The flag’s star represents our thriving city filled with historic charm, that reaches out and connects with nature and the Great Lake we share.

We thought we’d spend some time getting to know the “designers” behind their flag creations and why they believe in helping inspire our city of Milwaukee. We took a moment to interview them so you could learn something too and vote for the flag that inspires you http://tinyurl.com/pfomrating

Name: DeChazier “D” Stokes-Johnson
Occupation: Director of Social Media at Nonbox
Years lived in Milwaukee: 30 years (Milwaukee FOREVER!)

1. How do you think a new flag (by the people for the people) will inspire Milwaukee? How do you think it will help grow Milwaukee?

I think just the competition alone has ignited a fire and a passion within Milwaukee that has been beautiful to see. Not all of the feedback has been amazing but it has all been important. The dialogue and the communication between people from all walks of life is part of what makes this place so beautiful. I think after a new flag (by the people for the people) has been selected the conversation will continue. Hopefully people will unite behind the people’s flag and represent it with pride. 

2. What experiences or thinking (design related or not) helped you make the choices for this entry?

My experience of living in Milwaukee but being lucky enough to be apart of many different social groups inspired this flag. It’s not one thing. It’s many things to many people. The depth of the layers within the symbolism was important because this flag is supposed to represent all of Milwaukee’s residents.

We too often want things spelled out for us but we have a complex history. I knew I had the responsibility to do four things:

1. Give respect to those that came before us, to those that inhabited this land well before us.
2. Embed more of our history and geology into the symbolism.
3. Create something that could be used for present day Milwaukee…
4. …that could also inspire us to unite for a brighter future.

3. What emotions would you use to describe your flag design? Why these emotions?

• Passion
• Pride
• Bravery
• Optimistic
• Inspired

We thought we’d spend some time getting to know the “designers” behind their flag creations and why they believe in helping inspire our city of Milwaukee. We took a moment to interview them so you could learn something too and vote for the flag that inspires you http://tinyurl.com/pfomrating

Name: Robert Lenz
Occupation: Freelance designer, developer, and entrepreneur, co-founder of Generous
Years lived in Milwaukee: 9 years

1. How do you think a new flag (by the people for the people) will inspire Milwaukee? How do you think it will help grow Milwaukee?

Milwaukee is in a period of tremendous transition. I’ve been lucky to witness Bay View’s resurgence over the past decade. Neighborhoods throughout Milwaukee are rapidly evolving, our skyline is filling in, and new growth is well underway almost everywhere you look. Even with all these changes, we still find ways to honor our past by restoring old buildings, preserving parks and green spaces, and by bringing new ideas to places that might have otherwise been forgotten. While there are so many unique and diverse neighborhoods that can, at times, seem divided, we all have this in common; We are Milwaukeeans, and we are neighbors. As such, we must remember to look out for one another. This flag will be a symbol of unity that the people of Milwaukee can rally behind – a physical manifestation of the common thread that we share. It will encourage us to remain optimistic no matter what comes our way, because there is a bright future on our horizon.

2. What experiences or thinking (design related or not) helped you make the choices for this entry?

I became fascinated with our city’s history after buying a 117-year-old house and discovering that it was built by an entrepreneur like myself – a man breaking into the brewing industry. This inspired my wife and I to become active in the Bay View Historical Society, where we’ve learned to appreciate everything this city has given us.

I chose to focus on the lakefront because the lake is Milwaukee’s most valuable asset. It’s what brought Native Americans and early settlers here in the first place. Even today, the lakefront remains a gathering place for the people of Milwaukee. The festivals and fireworks just wouldn’t be the same without it.

The story of Milwaukee’s three founding fathers is another important part of our history. Their villages remained separate while Juneau and Kilbourn were famously at odds and continually tried to overshadow each other. Eventually, the three founders came together and incorporated as the City of Milwaukee. As I began thinking about how to depict this story in the flag, I decided to focus on the concept of unity. I included three stripes on the bottom half of the flag to represent each of the founders and the division between them, while the top half is unified, representing the formation of Milwaukee. This symbol will be a constant reminder that despite our differences, we should always strive to work together.

Other considerations of Milwaukee’s history have been included in the design as well. The gold color represents wheat (or beer, if you’d prefer), while the light blue color of the three stripes represents Milwaukee’s three rivers. These are things that brought industry to our city, and helped build our hard-working blue-collar population. But we’re not only a city of industry. We’re a city of entrepreneurs, creators, and optimists. It is important that this flag not only honors the past, but offers hope for the future.

3. What emotions would you use to describe your flag design? Why these emotions?

Optimism. The sunrise over the lake symbolizes a new day. It’s a scene that Milwaukeeans are very familiar with. Living in Bay View, I’m fortunate to have an amazing view of the sunrise while driving over the Hoan Bridge or riding my bike through South Shore Park. Every morning is a fresh start, and we should remember to make the most of it.

Happiness. Milwaukee is the city of festivals, and the lakefront serves as the backdrop for many of the great things we celebrate in this city. With Summerfest, our ethnic and cultural festivals, the fireworks on the 4th of July, and Friday night fish frys, we are constantly celebrating. The bold, vibrant colors of the flag help convey the overwhelming joy we feel when summer arrives.

Pride. The symbolism and elements of my flag can be easily adapted and used everywhere around the city. There’s already so much civic pride in Milwaukee, and having a unifying symbol that we can rally behind will only make us stronger.

Peace. The theme of unity encourages us to put aside our differences and work together. Milwaukee is a bustling city, and we are fortunate to have a place of tranquility in our lakefront.

Love. This flag is a love-letter to the city. Milwaukee has changed my life. Since moving here, I’ve gotten married, bought a house, and started a family. Every day I’m grateful that I’ve found a place that truly feels like home. I’m honored that something I’ve created could actually have a lasting impact on the city I love so much.

Sports identity is so much more than just a logo and color scheme. Discover the power
of branding and the impact it can make on a city. Join AIGA and United Adworkers
for an evening at the 88Nine Radio Milwaukee Studios. Starting at 5:00pm, sit in on
the evening’s live performance of 414 music and an on-air interview. At 6:30pm, enjoy
a presentation and panel discussion about the rebranding of the Milwaukee Bucks,
featuring: one of the master-minds behind the rebrand, Kimou Meyer (Doubleday
& Cartwright – Partner/Creative Director), Dustin Godsey (Milwaukee Bucks – VP/
Marketing), and Bill Kresse (STIR advertising – Partner/Executive Creative Director).

Free Event. Register Now. Seating Limited.

Please join us to continue to shape Greater Milwaukee Creative Industry’s collective approach to becoming more inclusive so that all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential.

We will begin with a shared meal.

This is the second in a series of 4 creative brainstorm sessions being scheduled over the coming months.

FREE

ATTENDANCE CAPPED AT 60.
PLEASE RSVP on the Facebook Event.

Dear AIGA WI Chapter,

It’s a new year with a new focus, a new president, and many new board members. These are volunteers who have stepped up to foster the value of design for our chapter. Thank you to those helping and to those who look to help moving forward.

So what is the value of design? I believe it’s our universal language that we get to participate in everyday. Not just us as designers, but everyone around us too. Design has power. Power to create change, to facilitate conversation, to impact the lives of those around us. They say that with great power comes great responsibility, but I’d like to replace that with opportunity— opportunity to better our lives and those around us in our community. Now that’s amazing value in design.

This years AIGA WI’s focus will be working together under the Design for Good platform to build and sustain the implementation of design thinking for social change. Starting with educational level initiatives to begin building the next generation of us. And we want you to be part of it. From guest speakers creating change, hands on workshops with a purpose, events that make a difference in our community, partnerships with other social organizations, and continued support for Greater Together as we work to alter the diversity issue within our industry.

This year AIGA WI is:

So be amazed at what you can do and what we can do together. Spread the word — involve yourself and involve others. Ask a friend to join, get your company to support a membership, and get ready… coz we’re not just going to help grow our community, we’re going to help grow the world and have a blast doing it together.

Wisconsin Public Television Studios in Vilas Hall on the UW Madison campus.

Complimentary light refreshments will be served (no alcohol is allowed in the venue).

Space is limited to 60 people. Please RSVP to rsvp@designmadison.com to guarantee your spot.

About Chris
After receiving his BA in History from Princeton University in 1963, Chris enrolled in a three-year graduate program in Graphic Design at Yale. He earned his MFA in 1966 and the same year began teaching in the graduate and undergraduate programs at Yale, an affiliation he still maintains regularly as Senior Critic, teaching the fundamentals of time-based media.

From 1966 until 1973 he operated a freelance design practice in New Haven, and from 1968 to 1972 ran the graphic design studio in the office of George Nelson in New York. During this time he also served on the original design faculty at SUNY Purchase.

From 1973 until 2008, Chris served as Vice President for design and branding at WGBH, public broadcasting in Boston, which supplies about one third of the PBS prime time schedule. He and his staff were responsible for the visual personality of WGBH, as expressed through its on-air titles, credits and animation, promotional and sales support, classroom materials and interactive media. From 1982 to 1987 he had additional responsibility for the numerous trade books, publications and products the station produces in conjunction with its programming. In 1986, WGBH was awarded the Design Leadership Award from the American Institute of Graphic Arts recognizing the station’s contribution to “the advancement of design by application of the highest standards, as a matter of policy, to all its visual communications.”

From 2002-2006 Chris served as the design client for WGBH’s new 340,000 sq ft studio and headquarters facility, working with the architect, Polshek Partnership, to define the building’s character and functionality, and directing the architectural graphics, visitor experience features and audio-visual displays.

Chris has served on the boards of the Design Management Institute and the Corporate Design Foundation, reflecting his interest in the relationship between design and business. He has also been on the national board of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) and the American Center for Design (ACD). In 1993 he was included in the first list of the I.D. Forty, the forty most influential designers, published by International Design Magazine. In 2002 he received the AIGA Medal, the highest individual honor awarded to a designer by the American Institute of Graphic Arts, recognizing “individuals who have set standards of excellence over a lifetime of work or have made contributions to innovation within the practice of graphic design.”

Chris has lectured widely to schools and professional organizations and has published articles on design for television that have appeared in CA, Design Quarterly, Critique, various anthologies, and is a contributor to the website Design Observer.

In October of 2008, he decided in to leave WGBH to try out Life 2.0 where he continures to lecture and teach in a variety of settings and devotes more time to exploring his long private commitment to painting.