Think Tank 2007

'Mini Me.'

The Nashville AIGA Chapter is putting on a cool design gig this coming weekend called "Think Tank".

Should be a fun weekend and I've been asked to speak about what a "Graphic Designer" is and if that term is accurate in today's ever changing market. I am pretty nervous but looking forward to it. If you can make it then make sure to say hi I'd like to meet you.

Lots of great speakers lined up:
- Debbie Millman
- Shaun Inman
- Marian Bantjes
- Von Glitschka
- Nate Voss
- Bennett Holzworth
- Donovan Beery


'For me the term "Graphic Designer" comes with a huge asterisk.'

I'll be bringing some fun give away items like stickers, a copy of my book, sets of Keyboard Characters and a handful of "Vonster Brand" t-shirts.

So head on over to the official "Think Tank" web site and get the full scoop.

Fertile Mind

'Fertile Mind - Urban Forest Project'

The original AIGA sponsored showing for 'The Urban Forest Project' took place in New York City in Times Square. Now other chapters of the AIGA are following that lead with their own localized version.

The Portland AIGA chapter will be displaying their own 'Urban Forest' banner designs from April 22-27 across Portland Oregon.

I went through a few concepts on this project. Originally I was going to do a burning bush type of theme with all the branches being arms and hands with the flames morphing into green leaves and one of the hands releasing a flaming Phoenix. It was OK, but frankly it was just getting too serious and the message was far too nebulous to communicate on a broad basis.

So I decided to approach it from a different angle thinking to myself "How will this whole Urban Forest issue ever fully become a reality with the average urban dweller?" The answer was then obvious, the heart of the people have to change before the mind will think differently and that is when the term 'Fertile Mind' came to me.

In my opinion these types of projects too many times are wrongly focused towards an adult audience, so I purposely created a banner design that would appeal to any age be it a 6 year old or a 60 year old. I wanted either type of viewer to look at it and smile from it's humor, all the while considering its meaning.