Design Futures

In episode 10 of season 2 Larry Nguyen, Creative Director of Outfit Branding & Design and 2005 graduate of the University of Denver discusses his passion for branding, working with international clients, and getting projects published in design books. Larry shares his appreciation for the eMAD program at DU (listen for the faculty shoutouts) that taught him to take risks, think conceptually, and become a typographic monk. He also discusses the time he created a slide deck for his in-laws in order to convince them that it was a good idea to quit his job and start a design firm with their daughter. There’s plenty of stories about work and family and the Boston Red Sox. That’s right, for all you baseball fans you’ll want to listen to the end (no skipping) for an amazing story about the 2004 World Series. Show LinksOutfit Branding & DesignLinkedIn ProfileInstagram ProfilePalette Perfect on AmazonBrand New Brand bookBeanfolk on The DielineWeworkUniversity of DenverInternational Cricket Council The Intro MusicSynergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

Lesia Gribbin, 2014 graduate of the College of Saint Rose and Group Art Supervisor at Neon joins me for a conversation about travel, working remotely, and creating advertising campaigns for pharmaceutical products. We talk about her time spent in the early morning hours at Picotte Hall, Saint Rose’s art building, where she would work two or three hours before class. And that one time when, because it was so early, nobody was around to help her when she sliced her finger with an X-acto knife. She also shares her story about being inspired by creative director Kelly McMurray, starting in a design course that Kelly taught at Saint Rose and ending with an internship at 2communiqué. Shout out to all our mentors. Show LinksLesia’s portfolioLinkedIn ProfileInstagram Profile2communiqué5gPalm PilotThe College of Saint RoseOnline CeramicsMuseum of Brands The Intro MusicSynergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In this episode, 2012 graduate of The Sage Colleges, Jordan McClendon, discusses his role as Manager of Digital Communications at the ARRIVE center at the State University of New York (SUNY), his celebrated collection of animated shorts titled “Albany Shorts,” and passion for making his own projects that led him to his current success in the design field. He also talks about spending countless peaceful hours at the Cintiq workstation at Sage working on illustration and animation projects even though years before, during a portfolio entrance review, he was told to consider a different career. We talk about film-making, including the exciting and humbling experience of getting into film festivals the Dolly Zoom in-camera effect, even though we can‘t recall the name of it. Grab some popcorn. It’s time to start the show. Show LinksFacebook ProfileLinkedIn ProfileInstagram ProfileNYC Independent Film FestivalFlickFair Film FestivalCintiqWashington Park, Albany, NYThe Sage CollegesThe ARRIVE Center The Intro MusicSynergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In episode 7, Whitney Dobladillo brings her signature energy and smile to the conversation as she shares her passion for community building and stories about the communities she’s created and led. Her most recent projects include Type Thursday; Ladies, Wine & Design; and Peruvian Sisters, a community she started with, you guessed it, her sister. We also discuss her design position at the book publisher, Scholastic, where she works on projects for students, parents, and teachers. Whitney talks about learning of the company book club from the Scholastic librarian, yes they have a librarian. How cool is that. And finally we discuss our time together at the College of Saint Rose. It’s time to get involved and join us for the conversation. Show LinksLinkedIn ProfileInstagram ProfileInstagram (Peruvian Sisters)YouTube (Peruvian Sisters)Type ThursdayLadies, Wine & DesignScholasticThe College of Saint Rose The Intro MusicSynergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In this first episode of 2022, Deb Levison, 2012 graduate of Ringling College of Art & Design, talks to me about the importance of getting a routine when working remotely, the design process at Maark where she is a senior digital designer, using Figma for almost all her work, and showing or not showing high fidelity prototypes to clients. We discuss the realities of moving into a design leader role and Deb gives students some soul-crushing advice. She also tells us about her journey that inlcudes getting her degree in art history and that Saturday morning Photoshop course that got her hooked on design. And it wouldn’t be a conversation about Ringling without talking about the Time-Life book project. Show LinksLinkedIn ProfileMaarkFigmaBaugasmDeep Focus Playlist (Spotify)Ringling College of Art & Design The Intro MusicSynergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

Vegas, baby, Vegas. That’s right. In this episode I interview 2014 graduate of the The College of Saint Rose, Kim Szkudlarek, who quit her design job in Miami, took a road trip, and ended up in Las Vegas. Kim talks about not wanting to sit at a computer all day and instead pursued a career that consists of constructing three-dimensional objects, mixing paint to get just the right color match, and using her designer’s eye to fine tune the details. And who cares about those hot glue gun burns. In this conversation she educates me on faux marble finishes, what a box-out is, and creating art for private high-roller events and conferences. Brown, Izenour, and Venturi would be proud. I’m definitely learning from Las Vegas. Show LinksKim’s Etsy ShopLinkedIn ProfileInstagram ProfileThe Neon MuseumRocket LeagueMGM ResortsThe College of Saint Rose The Intro MusicSynergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

Put away the sketchbooks and open up your spreadsheets, calendars, and digital notepad. You’ll need those tools to take some notes on my conversation with Jibran Kutik, Product Design Manager for new customer experience at Twitter. We talk at length about user testing, product design, and all the details in an interface that help you find value in a digital product. Jibran also discusses his passion for being a manager,  how Sarasota beaches ruined L.A. beaches for him, and that one time when he was right about a text input field – dropdowns are horrible! The magic hour, or at least 40 minutes, is about to start. Show LinksJibran on TwitterLinkedIn ProfileInstagram ProfileDantley Davis (Twitter)House of Highlights (Twitter)Bradley Brownell (Twitter)FigmaSiesta Key, FloridaRingling College of Art + Design The Intro MusicSynergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In this episode, Glen Carlson of Metabolon, discusses designing user experiences for scientists, starting the AIGA student group at the University of Denver, and growing up in Silicon Valley. Glen shares his no-interface design philosophy, advocating for the kind of work you want to do, and learning to embrace ambiguity. Join us for a fascinating conversation that also includes pop-culture references to Jurassic Park, the 1989 Tim Burton Batman movie, and Steve Jobs’ garage. Hold onto your butts, it’s going be a ride.Show LinksGlen’s portfolioLinkedIn ProfileInstagram ProfileInstagram Profile (Fine Art)MetabolonMetabolomicsSik Oheso (Spotify)Steve Jobs’ Garage

Designer Oj Wilson of Teal Media and the College of Saint Rose joins me for a discussion about designing for agency clients, not-for-profit, and political campaigns. That’s right, all those door hangers, lawn signs, and bumper stickers you’ve been seeing the last few months were created by designers like Oj. She shares her involvement with social impact that started with working with her mom’s not-for-profit, the Southern Children’s Network. We also talk about Oj’s passion for soccer, whether it’s playing for the women’s team at Saint Rose or playing in two adult leagues in Georgia. In the spirit of campaigning, show your support by downloading this episode.Show LinksOj’s portfolioLinkedIn ProfileInstagram ProfileTeal MediaThe Ringer-VerseYou’ll be in my heart by Phil Collins

In this first episode of season two, Saint Rose graduate and art director at TracyLocke, Susi Cadena talks about working and living in New York City, designing for big brands like Pepsi and Godiva, navigating the process of corporate sponsorship for foreign nationals working in the U.S., and TracyLocke’s Design Collective. She also shares her academic story of starting college as a business administration major that ends with her graduating with a B.F.A. in graphic design and that one drawing class that changed her life. Susi also schools me in agency jargon such as “Out of Home,” “O.N.D.,” and “A.M.J.” Grab a bag of Lays or a box of Godiva and press play.Show LinksSusi’s portfolioInstagram profileLinkedIn profileTracyLocke99% Invisible Ep. 140: VexillonaireLos Angeles DodgersDia de los MuertosPepsiPurely Patricia The Intro MusicSynergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

It’s time to put on the flannel, get back to school, and learn somethingWelcome to the best season of the year.It’s Autumn. And you know what’s going to make it even better?Yea, you know because you’re listening to this trailer.It’s time for Season 2 of Design Futures.This past summer I had the pleasure of talking with a group of amazing alumni and I’m super excited to share their diverse stories of life after school. In Season 2 we’ll hear  from designers who work in the areas of biotech, social impact, animation & motion graphics, social media, exhibition & events, and agencies.If you haven’t subscribed do it now and catch up with Season 1 because Season 2 starts in October.As always, thanks for listening.See ya

In this final episode of Season 1 Melike Turgut, 2011 graduate of Ringling College of Art & Design, discusses the career path that started with a company-supplied apartment in Brooklyn and led her to the current role as Design Manager of Web Expressibility at Squarespace. We talk about challenging school projects, machine learning, principle designers, and documenting design process with diagrams. Melike also talks about what it’s like to be an adjunct professor of interaction design at the School of Visual Arts in New York City.Show LinksMelike’s portfolioRingling College of Art & DesignSquarespace“Designing for Millions of Websites at Once”School of Visual ArtsMachine Learning The Intro MusicSynergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

If you’re just out of school you’ll want to listen to this interview with Associate Graphic Designer at Insider, Alyssa Powell. She talks about the challenges of landing her first job and the random connection that led to it. We talk about the non-design stuff at work, including salary, deadlines, teams, and working and learning from co-workers. She also discusses making videos and chalk typography as projects to work through some life issues, how she doesn’t get creative block, and traveling to Cuba and Italy during her time at Saint Rose. Show LinksAlyssa’s websiteInsiderCan I Have Your Number (Mad TV)Type ThursdayBig Chop TutorialSlackSeth Godin The Intro MusicSynergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In episode six we travel west to Colorado to talk with illustrator and designer Amanda Lenz. We talk about remembering how to talk to people with the help of renting a desk at a co-working space, illustrating a portrait of Oprah Winfrey for Time Magazine, and being selected for the Adobe Creative Residency Community Fund. Amanda talks about her love of nature inspired by growing up in West Virginia where she was encouraged by her mom to attend special art programs to explore her artistic interests. We also discuss the challenges of life drawing class, transitioning to working as an independent illustrator, project scope creep, and client red flags.Show LinksRoostTime Magazine’s 100 Women of the YearAdobe Creative Residency Community FundOprah WinfreyColorado FourteenersUniversity of DenverAIGA ColoradoGraphic Artists GuildThe Intro MusicSynergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

It’s baseball season. In episode five, graphic designer at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Dani Dayton talks about designing exhibition and social media graphics, inauguration tickets, and the retail catalog. We discuss the process of using wood flooring as the background for a product photoshoot, the Tao of Pooh, and that magical experience of walking in the Plaque Gallery in the early morning as the sun shines through the skylights. Dani also talks about the challenges of being a student athlete (softball) at the College of Saint Rose and thanks Mr. Erik Wilson, the high school art teacher, who deserves some credit for Dani’s successes. Thanks Mr. Wilson.Show LinksThe Tao of PoohNational Baseball Hall of FameNew York YankeesThe College of Saint RoseSR Golden NightsTony the TigerThe Intro MusicSynergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In episode four, 2014 graduate of the College of Saint Rose, Erica Cotten and I nerd-out about user flows, prototyping with Sketch and Figma, the art of comic books, and the UI pattern of toggles. We discuss her role as a user experience designer at Salesforce, a cloud-based software company, where she works on story grooming, wireframes, user research, and rapid prototyping. Erica discusses a number of conferences that she’s looking forward to attending post-pandemic to connect with college and gaming friends. And she helps me understand Twitch. Let the streaming begin. Show LinksErica on TwitchThe College of Saint RoseSalesforceAdobe XDFigmaTwitchCon The Intro MusicSynergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

The husband and wife team at Macaroni Creative, Ron Gibbons and Mackenzie Carey, join me in episode three. We discuss designing for consumer packaged goods, leaving their full-time jobs to start their own design firm, and being the only designers in the room. They share the challenges of teaching an online course (“props to our teachers” —Mackenzie) on Nerdabe.com and streaming their design process on Adobe Live. We talk about all this and more while New York City fire trucks drive by and the dogs, Harvey and Milo, sleep at their feet. Did somebody say Greenies? LinksMacaroni CreativeThe Sage CollegesThe College of Saint RoseThe DielineCleveland KitchenLouisville Vegan JerkyNerdabeAdobe LiveThe Intro MusicSynergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In this episode creative director and entrepreneur, Paul Gonzalez shares stories about making pillows with his mom as a child in Sarasota, FL, his appreciation for House music, and being a professional Salsa dancer. We also discuss his New York City internship and returning to the city to begin freelancing immediately after graduating from the Ringling College of Art & Design in 2012. He also tells us what he learned from those years of freelancing and how that experience helped him start his own design firm, StudioBlack. And finally, we absolutely do talk about Type Club.Show LinksStudioBlackRingling College of Art & DesignBaila SocietyNikeAudibleThe Intro MusicSynergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In this first episode I talk to Josh Terry, graphic designer at T Brand Studio at The New York Times, about his role as an editorial designer working on branded content articles for advertising clients. We discuss collaborating with illustrators to design editorial content for interactive experiences. Josh also reflects on drawing boxes, learning art and design history, and developing design concepts at The College of Saint Rose. We also discuss his sweet tooth, being a marine reservist, and meeting Milton Glaser.Show LinksJosh’s portfolioT Brand StudioStar Trek: DiscoveryThe Darkest HourThe College of Saint RoseRui RicardoMads BergBoldtronThe Intro MusicSynergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

Graphic Design? Can you make a living at that? Design Futures is a show about the lives of designers as they discover their way in the world after graduation. Chris St.Cyr, Associate Professor of Graphic Design at the College of Saint Rose and creative director at the design firm, 2communiqué, interviews former graphic design students to find out what they’ve been doing since graduation. Maybe you’re a high school student or the parent of a high school student wondering if your child can have a career in graphic design or maybe you’re in college right now still wondering about your choice of graphic design as a major or you’re a former student at one of the schools I’ve taught at and you’re wondering what happen to your classmates. We’ll have stories that consider these questions as they relate to design, careers, education, and life after school.Subscribe! The first episodes will be available in early 2021. The ShowFacebookInstagramYoutubeThe Hostchrisstcyr.comLinkedInInstagramTwitter2communiquéThe Intro MusicSynergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)