This post is a part of our weekly series of articles and interviews focusing on current issues in today's design industry. Be sure to check back often so you can read the latest from our chapter.

Monina Velarde is a graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) with a double major in graphic design and art history. Velarde was highly involved in KCAI's AIGA student group serving as co-director of communications and was awarded Kansas City's AIGA Student Scholarship. While in Kansas City, she had the pleasure of interning as a graphic designer at Hammerpress Letterpress + Design Studio; Barkley, Inc.; and most recently at Hallmark Cards, Inc. She loves every aspect of graphic design and has a special interest in typography. She currently resides in Wheaton, Illinois. Below, Monina shares with our readers her first-hand experience competing in and winning this year's Command X competition at Make/Think.





Last week, I was lucky and fortunate enough to attend AIGA's Make/Think Conference in Memphis, TN. I was a contestant at Command X- a graphic design "reality show"  where a group of 7 young designers were given a series of design challenges. The design solutions were then presented to four judges (Bonnie Siegler, Chip Kidd, Paul Sahre and various guest judges), and to an audience of 1,500 conference attendees. The first assignment was to redesign the Graceland logo, the second was to redesign the Captain Crunch cereal box and the final challenge was to design a piece that makes a statement about Civil Rights. Each night, two contestants were eliminated from the competition.

 
The projects assigned to us were quite challenging due to the time constraint (we had one week to complete the first assignment and less than 24 hours for the last two). I quickly realized that there was little time for multiple concept explorations or design iterations. Having to complete a project in such a short amount of time forced me to trust my instincts and feel confident that I was going in the right direction. I really looked forward to seeing my fellow Command X contestant's design solutions. Their talent and poise on stage was truly humbling and inspiring to watch.


The most challenging project for me was the final one- to design a piece that makes a statement about Civil Rights. It's such an important issue for me and I knew it's a significant and historic issue to the city of Memphis. Getting the opportunity to go to the Civil Rights Museum inspired me to create my design solution- an on online community where people can upload images and statements that describes what civil rights means to them. After the conference, people came up to me saying how they were touched by my presentation. I think that was the most fulfilling and gratifying part of the whole conference- knowing that even for a little bit, I was able to affect and move someone with my design.



The whole experience, to say the least, was amazing and surreal. I was able to meet and converse with my design heroes and  share the stage with 6 incredibly talented young designers. I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to present my design solutions in front of the judges. Getting their feedback on my work was an invaluable experience.


A week ago, I wasn't so sure if Command X was something I could take on. Before arriving at the conference the thought of having to present my work in front of a large audience of designers and an esteemed group of judges terrified me. Despite that fear, I think that's what attracted me to Command X. I knew it would be challenging, intense and the pressure would be high, but I wanted to see if it was something I could undertake. After going through the Command X experience, I now have more confidence in what I can do. I know that anything is really possible.



I would like to thank my family and friends for their support and encouragement. Also, a big thanks to all of my professors and mentors at the Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI)- I couldn't have done this without knowing what I've learned from you.

Thank you to www.makethink.withgelatobaby.com. Photos courtesy of Wheat Wurtzburger.

>Lorraine Reinsch, Social Networking Chair

Posted by Kansas in Event Recap, Interview Series, Local Talent, News | October 20, 2009

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This post is a part of our weekly series of articles and interviews focusing on current issues in today's design industry. Be sure to check back often so you can read the latest from our chapter.

If you attended any of the recent REEL Design Film Series events, chances are that you noticed the excellent posters created for each film by Joshua Lambert. Josh is currently a senior at the Kansas City Art Institute, majoring in graphic design. He grew up in Newton, Kansas where his brother and grandpa got him interested in the arts and music at a very early age. When Josh was in high school, he took as many art classes as the school offered, and spent a lot of time playing drums--both at school and in weekend gigs with friends. He went to Kansas State University my freshmen year of college, then transferred to KCAI his sophomore year. He enjoys collecting, creating and learning. Josh blogs at lambertjosh.blogspot.com, and you can find his work online at aigadesignjobs.org/joshlambert.



Had you seen the films before designing the posters?
No, I was just a lowly intern... but I did get to watch the trailers!

How did you approach the designs for this series of films?
The original Objectified film poster is a beautiful design on it's own but I didn't want to create anything that looked like it, since this was for an AIGA movie series. The film is about "our complex relationship with manufactured objects and, by extension, the people who design them." I merely worked off that description to create an unrecognizable, almost abstract, object that had simple pieces coming together to create a complex, living thing.

On the other hand, I approached the Milton Glaser and Rem Koolhaas film posters differently- with these, a focus on their aesthetic was important, but I didn't want the posters to look like they designed it themselves. I pulled elements from their work that intrigued me to use as both inspiration and content of the posters, and ended up with something that's hopefully a new interpretation of their work.

Who are your favorite designers: Where do you look for inspiration?
I really don't have any favorite designers. I think the reason for that is because I'm a student- I'm learning everyday and I try to be open minded to new ideas and new approaches in my work. For inspiration, I look to completely different designers and artists for every project. So how could I have just a few favorites?!

Keeping up with what's current in design is very important to me. I look at tons of design blogs everyday, and save hundreds and hundreds of images to an inspiration folder on my laptop, that I reference constantly.

Although there are a couple of cartoonists that I've been following for a while now. One is Chris Ware, who is an amazing illustrator, designer, and storyteller. The other, my older brother--Joseph Lambert, who's been an inspiration to me not only because of the work he does, but being able to watch him grow as an artist my whole life has been a great influence. Right now, he's living in Vermont with his wife, and if you want, you should check out his blog: submarinesubmarine.com.

What do you consider to be the biggest challenges for students entering the profession today?
Well I'm not quite there yet, but I think that when I do graduate in the spring, I'll be most apprehensive about the economy, and the few design jobs available because of it's downturn. There are more designers today than ever, and if the economy creates less jobs, then there will be even more competition for students entering the profession. I do feel comfortable about how I've been taught and the connections I've been making so far though, which has helped me out a lot. I think you just have to be optimistic and be passionate about what you do, and not let things like the bad economy get you down.

Anything else you'd like to share with our readers?
I'm just really glad I got the chance to do some work for our AIGA chapter! So thanks! And thanks to Frankie Oviedo, who I'm interning for at Liquid 9, for giving me this project to work on.

>Lorraine Reinsch, Social Networking Chair

Posted by Kansas in Event Recap, Interview Series, Local Talent | October 2, 2009

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This post is a part of our weekly series of articles and interviews focusing on current issues in today's design industry. Be sure to check back often so you can read the latest from our chapter.

Today, we continue the discussion begun during August's Mind Your Own Business: Starting a Studio event. Shawn Polowniak, event panelist and Brand Director/Partner at Blacktop Creative, speaks more in depth about some of the business and tax aspects surrounding the process to starting your own small business.

 

Shawn's career has taken him from sales to account services to management. Along the way, he's become adept at identifying innovative, yet on-strategy marketing plans for all types of clients. Shawn leads Blacktop's brand navigator team and provides guidance and input on strategy, tactics, creative direction, budgets and timelines. Prior to founding Blacktop Creative with his partners Mike Miller and Dave Swearingen, Shawn worked in sales, account management and new business development for Hormel, Muller + Company and C3.

Shawn, thank you for sharing your knowledge with our readers today.

I want to qualify my answers with the statement that these are my opinions based on my experiences. I can reference resources and my interpretations, but in the end, the best advise is to consult with specialists regarding areas of specific discipline (accounting, legal, banking, insurance and benefits planning).

At what point should an individual transitioning into starting their own studio establish themselves officially as a small business?

The only government stipulation regarding establishing yourself as a small business is around hiring employees. Most of the benefits of establishing yourself as a small business are realized in things like risk (liability), taxes and credibility.

 

Risk - there are several ways to form a small business each has a different risk associated with it. A good accountant can give council on the best option for each respective business. In the end, they range from quite simple to implement to very complex and tend to parallel the size and structure of the company. Most new businesses begin as either a Sole Proprietorship or an LLC.

 

Taxes - establishing yourself as a small business can provide you with several additional deductions that are not available to you as an independent.

 

Credibility - some would argue that they personally have gained significant credibility as an independent. As a general rule, this is not the case. As clients evaluate whom they will hire for their work, a company is usually considered less of a risk than an independent freelancer.  

Why did Blacktop Creative ultimately decide to form as an LLC? What were the other options?

There are 4 primary options. These are not the only options, just the most common:

• Sole Proprietorship
• LLC
• S Corp
• C Corp

 

Each option has benefits unique to its form. While I am not intimately familiar with each option, the primary differences are based on personal liability and tax structure. Go to irs.gov and you can find descriptions of each business type.

 

Blacktop Creative chose to organize as an LLC for several reasons:

1. Risk - in starting a small business, one of the first questions you need to ask is one of risk. How much personal risk are you willing to assume? While this appears to be a negative position, it is not. Risk can realize itself in many ways. It can range from a lawsuit to a bad printing job, from a disgruntled employee to a bank loan. There are many forms that risk can take when owning a small business. An LLC provides personal risk protection. This is especially important if you live in Missouri. Missouri is an " at fault" state. This basically means that as a small business owner you are personally liable for the actions of your business. An LLC provides insulation between you as an individual and your company. Kansas is a "no fault" state. This status is designated to provide diminished risk.
2. Simple to organize - An LLC is one of the easiest ways to organize your business. This is important in the beginning when hiring accounts and attorneys to facilitate your company organization is an expensive proposition.
3. An LLC can grow with your company - Blacktop Creative currently has 20 associates and for our organization, an LLC is still the most beneficial way for us to organize. In the end, consulting with your accountant is the best way to determine this as your company grows.
4. Tax benefits - While it is best to leave this commentary to the professionals, there have been many tax benefits to an LLC that we have been able to realize over the years.

Again, each form of organizational structure has its own unique benefits and I highly recommend consulting with your accountant on which is the best for your specific company.
 

What resources does the Small Business Association provide? Are there any other government agencies or area resources that designers should be aware of?

I cannot say enough good things about the SBA. The SBA exists specifically to assist in the establishment of small businesses. It is a fantastic resource. A brief list of the information you can find on sba.gov includes:

• Loan programs
• Grants
• Business plan outlines
• How to - marketing materials
• Free online training
• Business license applications
• How to get an EIN (tax identification number)
• Establishing yourself as a woman- or minority-owned business

 

Other sources: irs.gov, business.gov, The Kauffman Foundation, and Bloch School of Business. There are many more, but these are some of the top.
 

You recommended hiring someone to do your books for you. If that isn't an option, what resources are out there for designers who need to learn the accounting aspects to owning their own business?

Daily accounting can easily be handled by a good business manager. It does require a lot of detail and organization. Quickbooks can be purchased at any office supply store and the software is relatively intuitive. In the end, I would highly recommend that an accountant review all bookkeeping on a quarterly basis. End of the year reporting should be handled by an accountant. In the end, the costs associated with doing it incorrectly far outweigh the cost of having a professional review your work.

 

Any other helpful pieces of advice that you wish you had known when starting out yourself?

1. As I said during the panel, it is essential to start a business with great partnerships. Among them are a great accountant, banker and attorney.
2. Take the time to draft a business plan. It might not be a fun exercise, but you gain incredible insight into potential challenges as well as opportunities.
3. Stand for something. There are many choices. Why would a client want to work with you?
4. Unless pure survival is your primary motivation, do not lower your prices. A client will never value you more than you value yourself and once you set a standard they will never see you differently.

>Lorraine Reinsch, Social Networking Chair

Posted by Kansas in Event Recap, Interview Series, Local Talent | September 11, 2009

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Milton and I had arranged a surprise for the debut of Milton Glaser: To Inform and Delight. Zack Shubkagel had cooked up the idea. Zack planned to ask everyone in the theatre to turn off their cell phones before the movie began. Seconds later my cell was to ring and guess who was calling? Milton of course. The conversation would be put on a speaker and the audience would listen in on a conversation between Milton and me talking about the movie. Everything happen as planned except the call came minutes after the movie started.

The movie brought back so many memories of our almost 40 year friendship and reminded me of what a tremendous influence Milton has had on our profession. Our dear friend in the movie, Jivan Tabiban, had passed away 10 days earlier so seeing him on screen was bittersweet.

Milton will certainly be remembered as one of the most influential designers of the 2Oth century. I have had the extraordinary privilege of knowing him as a friend and mentor since the early 1970's.  Most of his friends would agree that beyond being a design legend Milton is one of the most generous, loyal and loving human beings. Milton supported me in my early career and because of his belief and encouragement, I had the courage to take a new path as a female designer. Milton's early mentoring as I began my career reminds me of the Robert Frost quote: "two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."

>Ann Willoughby, President and CCO of Willoughby Design

Posted by Kansas in Event Recap | September 1, 2009

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If you have been wondering how you can get involved with Kansas City's local design community, look no further. We have an excellent line-up of events this fall spanning everything from panel discussions to design films to happy hours. Plus, this season, we are working even closer with the local chapters of Ad Club, AIA, IDSA, SEGD and KCMODERN to bring bigger names and a more organized schedule.


We kicked off our events last week with Mind Your Own Business: Starting a Studio. The event was a great success, and our panelists did an excellent job of discussing the business issues surrounding the topic. If you missed the presentation, there are plans underway to release it as a podcast. Details surrounding the podcast will come once it is available for download.

Don't forget to watch for the 4th and final event in our MYOB series: Climbing the Ladder. This panel discussion will focus on helping established Creatives direct their careers and will cover topics such as the differences between a Senior Designer and an Art Director, skills needed to become a Creative Director, and salary issues.


Our REEL DESIGN Film series starts this coming Tuesday, August 25, with Milton Glaser: To Inform and Delight. (view the trailer here) Best known for co-founding New York Magazine and the enduring I Love NY campaign, the full breadth of Glaser's remarkable artistic output is revealed in this documentary portrait. Having met Glaser myself, I am truly excited to see this film and hope that all of you will join us at the happy hour before the film starts. We'll be meeting at 6pm at McCoy's in Westport.

Our REEL DESIGN Film series is a joint effort with AIA, IDSA, SEGD and KCMODERN. Don't forget to save the date for the other showings in the series, because they are sure to sell out fast. Objectified will be shown on September 15, and Rem Koolaas: A Kind of Architect will be shown on September 29. Register online for any of the 3 films to get a discount on the admission price.

Also coming up later this fall, we'll be hosting our friend Bryony Gomez-Palacio of UnderConsideration. You may remember our interview with Armin Vit earlier this past spring where he talked about their latest book, Design Referenced. Bryony will be judging Mano-A-Mano, a design trivia event complete with prizes to promote the book.








Finally, there are several more events in the works, including one with motion graphics artist Jakob Trollbaeck. We'll be sure to let you know once details are finalized, so check back often. Hope to see you this fall!

Posted by Kansas in Event Recap, News | August 21, 2009

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