Friends of Graphic Design at PSU

Candidate for Treasurer/Budget Guru: Megan MacLaggan

 

Name: Megan MacLaggan

 

Year in program: Sophomore

 

Position applying for: Treasurer

 

Why are you interested in art and design? I have a dabbling problem. There are so many facets of art and design that can be explored and combined. I love that I can pick up a new craft while refining another, all for the end goal of story telling, problem solving, and communicating (and looking good doing it!).

 

 

What makes you qualified for the position? I have had positions that have involved a large amount of paperwork as well as budgeting. Just recently, I got a part time job working at a (very)new food cart. The owner, didn't seem to understand that this entailed more than just buying the space and setting up shop. By default I took  the reins of budgeting, dealing with permits, cleaning to code, etc.  We are now well on out way, and after that surprise, I am feeling capable in my budgeting skills.

 

 

What is your favorite part about FoGD? Being reminded that there are other people out there doing the same thing; trials, tribulations, the whole gamut. Design school can be hard, but more importantly, it's fun. I think FoGD acts as the cheerleaders to remind design students that it should be fun.

Though I have not been able to attend one, student lead classes is such a great resource. Design is interesting because we are all coming from a different place with out skill set and related crafts, the best thing we can do is share that knowledge.

 

 

What do you think could be improved? I would love to see FoGD social events. Maybe there are some that I do not know about? More friends in design leads to more shared ideas, more eyes on your work, and more chance for collaboration. Who doesn't want that?

 

How will you contribute to the future success of the group? Well, I will fulfill my Treasurer duties and make the most efficient use of our budget. I read something about filling out lots of forms, which I do not mind doing, it gives me a chance to pull out my neat handwriting.

Mostly,I want be a part of FoGD's future success and I'm willing to do what needs to be done to make that happen.

Also, I really want to completely clean and organize the green room for the coming school year.  ...I'm going to regret saying that, aren't I?

 

Candidate for Treasurer/Budget Guru: Ethan Allen Smith

 

Name:

Ethan Allen Smith

 

Year in program:

End of Sophomore year

 

Position applying for:

Treasurer

 

Why are you interested in art and design?

I have had a passion for graphic design since I was a child. Art runs thick in our family. I've been working as a designer since I was 15. Also, I'm addicted to popular culture.

 

What makes you qualified for the position?

After spending this last year ASPSU Vice President, I am intimately familiar with the OBC and the various financial requirements of a student group. I am also extremely enthusiastic, but you probably knew that about me.

 

What is your favorite part about FoGD?

Friends of Graphic Design stands as one of the best examples of how much Portland State cares about its design program (and vice versa). No matter the level of experience or talent, I have yet to meet a design student who doesn't feel acutely cared for. FoGD plays a huge part in this.

 

What do you think could be improved?

Expanding our reach through the rest of the school so that Portland State begins to understand what a great Graphic Design program they are hiding over here.

 

How will you contribute to the future success of the group?

By being an unendingly enthusiastic supporter of our program.

 

Please include any links to flickr, twitter, facebook, etc that you want to share with the group.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ethanallensmith/

http://thepluralnoun.com/

 

Feel free to include other information like you hobbies, your favorite font, your favorite artists, your weirdest talent, etc.

I have three wonderful, beautiful children, ages 6, 4, & 3. They are my favorite hobby.

 

I ride a motorcycle as my primary mode of transportation (I don't own a car).

 

I am a fan of Rick Reese, Carson Ellis, Nick Wilson, Cameron Moll, Chris Coyier (web designer) House Industries, and the Icon Factory. I also love anything by the "Beautiful Losers" group.

 

Akzidenz-Grotesk is currently my favorite font.

 

I have lived in 7 different states, but have never been outside the country.

 

I can juggle.

 

Candidate for Treasurer/Budget Guru: Corbin LaMont

Name: Corbin LaMont

Year in program: Sophomore

Position applying for: Budget Guru! 

 

Why are you interested in art and design?

 

In 4th grade I decided to start a neighborhood newspaper. I produced it weekly and sent out subscription fliers finally getting a few dozen people to read every week. The Vineyard Mountain Gazette had a cooking section, weather report, classified ads, articles written by my friend and me, even gardening tips. At the time I thought this weekly paper was a product of my desire to become a writer, looking back on it, I just wanted to make something for people. I loved collecting up all the content for the week, laying it out and making copies. Luckily for me I grew up and realized there was an area where I could do just that. Design simply makes me really happy. It combines my love of working with people, making things and problem solving. 

 

What makes you qualified for the position?

 

I'm very organized and take deadlines seriously. I have experience with paperwork and budgeting from two years as a student group President. I also worked for three years as an office assistant dealing with similar things. More importantly than that I really care about Friends of Graphic Design and it's success. 

 

What is your favorite part about FoGD?

 Though I am a huge fan of the workshops and studio tours, I would say my favorite part about FoGD is the communication it enables throughout the program. A large part of how I ended up at PSU actually came about because I was sitting in Montana looking at the FoGD blog and flickr stream thinking, “Gee, I want to be involved with these kids.” None of the other graphic design programs I was looking at could easily show me just how much the students were doing, seeing and making. FoGD makes me so excited to talk with other students about all the design happenings both in and out of Portland. 

 

What do you think could be improved?

I would love to see a larger section of the graphic design program getting involved in activities outside of class. We already have lots of good things started but it would nice to see activities led by members outside of the coordinators. I think starting biweekly activities led by board members or other students would be great to get more people involved regularly- button making, workshops, ect! 

 

How will you contribute to the future success of the group?

As budgeting coordinator I will make sure to keep things running! I'm a firm believer in the opportunities a student group can create. As only a sophomore in the program I am going to be here for awhile and I this will help with all the turnover that happens because as students we won't be here forever. I want to be as involved as possible with FoGD while I am at PSU and increasing the activity of underclassmen students can help with the adjustments to leaving coordinators. 

 

 

This is where you can find me on the internet:

http://corbinlamont.tumblr.com/

http://lordclinton.tumblr.com/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48913013@N07/

http://twitter.com/#!/corbinlamont

 

I really enjoy getting my hands dirty and making complicated things easy. I also love going to the Bins, thrifting and garage sales- I've had to ban myself from buying anymore dish-ware (If you need a set of dishes, I'd gladly shop for you). Aside from that good conversation, coffee, all the necessities. 

 

 

Candidate for Media/Tech Support: Allison Berg

Name: Allison Berg

 

Year in program: Junior

 

Position applying for: Web/Tech

 

Why are you interested in art and design?

What interests me most about design is how big of an impact it can have. You have a great opportunity, through your work, to establish connections on so many different levels - intellectually, aesthetically, etc. But you know, sometimes it can just be about making something really fantastic-looking for the benefit of just plain awesomeness. 

 

What makes you qualified for the position? 

I feel that I would do well in this position, as I am fairly well-acquainted with the internet. We’re on a first-name-basis, if you know what I mean. I am well versed in the ways of social networking and internet-publishing sites and I think that we could definitely use that to the benefit of the program.

 

What is your favorite part about FoGD?

My favorite part of FoGD from previous terms would have to be the studio tours!

 

What do you think could be improved?

So, Juniors, do you remember going to pick up your graded portfolio? Do you also remember seeing a million people that you’d never seen AT ALL? Well, I do. I think that a real design community needs to be established at PSU, rather than it just seeming like a group of people that happen to be in a lot of the same classes together. 

 

How will you contribute to the future success of the group?

Honestly, I want help get students pumped about design. I’d love to help out in any way that I know how, and learn from others what I don’t already know.

 

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/44960402@N07/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/allison_berg

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/allisonberg

Tumblr: http://portlandjetaime.tumblr.com/

 

 

Candidate for Media/Tech Support: Ethan Allen Smith

Name: Ethan Allen Smith

 

Year in program: First (200 level classes)

 

Position applying for: Web/Tech Support

 

Why are you interested in art and design? I have had a passion for graphic design since I was a child. Art runs think in our family. I've been working as a designer since I was 15. Also, I'm addicted to popular culture.

 

What makes you qualified for the position? I have 15+ years experience with both Mac and PC, software and hardware. I am an expert with the entire Adobe Suite, as well as most other design programs (including Quark and Corel *shudder*). I am also an expert with many peripheral technologies, like coding (HTML, CSS, PHP, etc.), software (FTP, font creation, sound and video editing, etc.), and hardware (projectors, printers, scanners, etc.). 

 

What is your favorite part about FoGD? Friends of Graphic Design stands as one of the best examples of how much Portland State cares about its design program (and vice versa). No matter the level of experience or talent, I have yet to meet a design student who doesn't feel acutely cared for. FoGD plays a huge part in this.

 

What do you think could be improved? Much more activity from the pre-portfolio review students. FoGD tends to feel isolated to the 300 & 400 level students.

 

How will you contribute to the future success of the group? As a pre-review student myself, I will continue to find ways to add my work to the pool. I am also endlessly enthusiastic and will continue to be an advocate for the design program in general and FoGD specifically.

 

Please include any links to flickr, twitter, facebook, etc that you want to share with the group:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ethanallensmith/

http://thepluralnoun.com/

 

Feel free to include other information like you hobbies, your favorite font, your favorite artists, your weirdest talent, etc.:

I have three wonderful, beautiful children, ages 6, 4, & 3. They are my favorite hobby.

I ride a motorcycle as my primary mode of transportation (I don't own a car).

I am a music junky. It is my one vice and my primary "luxury" expense. Every year we get VIP passes to MFNW and have driven more than 7 hours (crossing two states) to see one our favorite artists.

I love anything by the "Beautiful Losers" group. I am also a fan of Rick Reese, Carson Ellis, Nick Wilson, Cameron Moll, Chris Coyier (web designer) House Industries, and the Icon Factory.

Clarendon is currently my favorite font.

I can spin a basketball on my finger indefinitely, but I can't play basketball.

 

Ethan Allen Smith.

 

The (plural noun)

[email protected]

Candidate for Programming Coordinator: Jasmine Silver

Name: Jasmine Silver

Photo Credit: Nate Garvison

Year in program: 4th, Senior

Position applying for: Programming Coordinator

Why are you interested in art and design?

I get accused by my partner of not-reading on a regular basis. He'll say, "Jasmine, did you read that article I sent you?" in a tone of voice that anticipates the answer "no." I'll say "I looked at it. I studied it for a long time. The body copy was set in Nuetraface and I was really surprised because it reminded me of Burgerville and Sheris, which just made me hungry."

Actually, I read a lot (because I'm a total nerd for design theory), but I look first. I am a designer because I am primarily concerned with looking.

I try to understand everything around me by looking and making; I'm a visual person. Essentially, I relate to the world through design. In a time and place where almost every object, space, and experience are literally designed, I want to know how design affects people. If design is my voice, I want to know what I'm saying.

What makes you qualified for the position?

I love design and people with my whole self. I work hard. I do my best. I answer my phone and email.

What is your favorite part about FoGD?

I love that FoGD offers a space, physical and internet-al, for designers to connect and talk and show their work. 

What do you think could be improved?

Communication and promotion of events to students. Let's face it, graphic design is a really credit heavy major and it's easy to get buried under projects and isolated from our design community. I don't want any designer/student to feel alone. The FoGD events bring our community together. We can support each other and nerd out and learn and grow (corny, but for real).

How will you contribute to the future success of the group?

Specifically, I will do the tasks of the programming coordinator: ask students what they want to do and coordinate events to do those things. But I also bring a drive to expand the possibility of events by brings more designers together. I want design students and design professionals and student design professionals to be able to come together and have an ongoing conversation. I view the FoGD events as community builders and I'm invested in building a strong community.

Flickr: flickr.com/photos/jasminesilver
Tumblr: designersread.tumblr.com

Love: drawing hairy things, drawing type, Ellen Lupton, Sheila Levrant de Brettville, zines, labyrinths, arts and crafts movement, gardening, Clarendon, photocopiers, giraffes, hodge-podge screenprinting, cut paper, modifying clothes, cats, fluxus 

Candidate for Programming Coordinator: Chelsea Parker Guidry

Name: Chelsea Parker Guidry

Year in program: Sophomore? I'm a post-bacc student (prior BA in Studio Art) working towards a second degree, this time in Design, so I feel kind of in between.

Position applying for: Programming Coordinator!

Why are you interested in art and design?

I grew up with my grandfather's paintings and illustrations around me, so I've gotten influence from his hand-drawn patterns. My father also engrained in me the love of process, and craftsmanship. I think those things combined with design can make a solid finished product. I think that making things, especially with your hands, links you to the bigger picture. I definitely need a good mix of hands-on, such as letterpress, with design, to combine to make a cool finished piece, for example, a book with a letterpressed sleeve. Design can really convey a feeling, and I would love to work on that aspect. I am especially interested in Editorial Design, because it combines my love of photography and need for print and tactile things, along with a book, magazine, or finished object to hold, flip through and experience.

What makes you qualified for the position?

I love networking. I worked two years as a production letterpress printer, and have alot of connections in the printing and design community. I also like working with details, and getting people together.

What is your favorite part about FoGD?

I love how active it is! I think its really great that students are out there looking, thinking and talking to people who are doing what we want to be doing. I think its great to get a realistic view of how studios and businesses run, and the visits definitely do that. Plus, we can find places we want to intern at!

What do you think could be improved?

Maybe a who's who kind of thing? I feel like there are so many students that I don't see because they are on opposite class days or in different class levels.

How will you contribute to the future success of the group?

I will contribute by helping our group get out in the community and by being available as a resource.


Feel free to check out some of my work at: http://fieldtrip.carbonmade.com/
and my flickr at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/adaptationdesign

a few of my current favorite sites to browse:
- Afton's blog (http://freckle-farm.com/) she has a great aesthetic.
- my good friend Alisha's blog- http://www.alishahenson.com/
- Lena Corwin is a textile designer in Brooklyn-always inspirational-  http://blog.lenacorwin.com/
- http://grainedit.com/
- and I just got this book in mail- a good one to browse for inspiration- TypoMag (http://www.spd.org/what-are-you-looking-at/2010/08/typomag-a-design-library-must-.php)

Olivia Tabert, the new face of the Graphic Design Center

FoGD, meet GDC.

Did you know that we're not the only graphic design student group at PSU?

Christy Lee Zilka, the Manager of the Graphic Design Center, explains:

"The PSU Graphic Design Center is a student run design studio. We ambitiously run the studio and work with our clients on a daily bases, to create pieces that are everlasting and musing. We are a two person team located in a charmingly dark office space in the sub-basement of SMSU (below Food For Thought down the orange stairs). The studio has steadily been running for about 20 years now, offering innovative design to PSU student groups and PSU departments/organizations. Contact us anytime for inquires and/or for future projects, [email protected]."

Oliva Tabert is the newest hire at the Graphic Design Center. Christy asked Olivia to share a little bit about herself.

I hail from the rural California – the semi-desert, populated with gawky eucalyptus trees and perfumy oleander bushes. My love for making things happened somewhere between

-napping
-making wooden robots from rejected materials at construction sites
-creating dysfunctional paper airplanes and
-mutilating magazines to build the ultimate dream house.

Currently a third-year design student at PSU, I would love to be more involved with architecture, illustration, books, film and mulitmedia design.

I'm super-excited to work for Graphic Design Center, meet fellow creative co-conspirators, and help the GDC establish a more visible presence.

Congratulations Nicole Lavelle // Willamette Week

This week our very own Nicole Lavelle has made it to the big times on the cover of Willamette Week for their Cheap Eats issue!! Nicole worked worked with Willamette Week to do a fabulous cover and a rad editorial image on the interior.

Be sure to pickup a copy and congratulate Nicole on an awesome job! Yeah!!

Welcome, Ben Vickery, FoGD's new Media Guru!

We're ditching the elections because, well, we only had one candidate submit their name to run for the position. Thank goodness he's a super-qualified, super nice candidate! Welcome Ben Vickery to the position of FoGD Media Guru + Tech Support!

Here is the questionnaire Ben filled out to help you get to know him. Feel free to stalk him on the internet; the links he provided below should make it pretty easy!

Name // Ben Vickery

Year in Program // Junior 

Why are you interested in art and design?

I like thinking of clever ways to solve problem and present ideas and being involved in design lets me do that every day. 

What makes you qualified for the position?

I'm a bit of a social media junkie. If you hear about a social network or new internet do-dad chances are I have an account there. I enjoy finding new ways to interact with the people I know in real life and meeting others that I would have no way of making friends with otherwise. All this experience with, and enthusiasm for the internetz and the possibilities it offers for socializing and dispersing information will allow me to help FoGD make the most of it's internet presence. Both to bring new students to the program as well as enrich the experience of those who are already here. 

What is your favorite part about FoGD?

PEOPLE! I love the opprotunites that FoGD gives to interact with other deisgn students as well as other working designers. 

What do you think can be improved?
I loved the "weekend project" (wasn't that what it was called?) were everyone did something different to a found image of a guy that was put on the blog a couple weeks ago. I think FoGD should continue creating more fun, easy outlets for students to make work and interact with each other. It was a great idea and I'd like to see us do more of it

How will you contribute to the future success of the group?

I'm always messing around with whatever is new on the internet and I think I could put FoGD in a good position from an internet presence standpoint. Also without Hans there is a huge height imbalance among the FoGD officer ranks. We need another tall kid in order to bring balance back to the group! 

Online Presence

Portfolio //  http://www.benvickery.com

Flickr //  http://www.flickr.com/photos/benjaminj/

Twitter //  http://www.twitter.com/bvickery

Blog //  http://www.fortport.com

Facebook //  http://www.facebook.com/BenVickery

Tumblr //  http://benvickery.tumblr.com/

SVPPLY //  http://svpply.com/bvickery/

last.fm //  http://www.last.fm/user/benjaminja

foursquare //  http://foursquare.com/user/bvickery

google //  http://www.google.com/profiles/114437273930652218689#buzz