Table of
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Herb Proske
EDITOR Hope Adams
DESIGN Reilly Kavanaugh Joe Billig Maximillian Vega
PHOTOGRAPHY
WRITERS
Alex Verherst
Amy Omernik Miguel Quino単es
CONTENTS
CREATE YOUR EXPERIENCE Gerry Hernandez: Video Editing & Motion Graphics at Level Studios
ALUMNI SUCCESS Scott Sagen: MEDL Mobile’s copywriter
10 TIPS FROM 10 GRADS Helpful tips from previous graduates
GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNING Interview with Linda Johnson
STUDENT GALLERY
STUDENT RECIPE Kimberly’s Chocolate Chip Cookies
ALUMNI SUCSESS
INDIGO CREATE YOUR EXPERIENCE by amy omernik
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Gerry Hernandez, known in the industry as Indigo Verse, is the perfect example of what taking initiative and shaping your own future can be. He is currently contracting at Level Studios in San Luis Obispo for Video Editing and Motion Graphics, and he loves it. He knows contracting jobs don’t last forever, and industry skill sets are always changing. As he said, sometimes the game just gets more interesting. Indi graduated in 2009 with a degree in Interactive Media Design a degree title that was changed three times throughout his time as a student. Indi wanted to design web sites, and then it happened. Coding. Lots and lots of coding. What’s a designer to do? This was not something he had anticipated, and of course, once he got a grasp on Action Script 2.0 for Flash, in comes Accent Script 3.0 and it’s totally different. Indigo turned challenges into opportunities. After taking a photography class he discovered his passion for it. He taught himself more photo technique. Now photography plays a major role in his career. One of his favorite projects while at Ai was collaborating with
Mazda Designer, Truman Pollard and a group of Industrial Design students to conceptualize, design and build a Gravity Racer for the 2006 XGR races. Indigo followed Truman’s team for 8 months, from initial sketches to the finish line. This, plus a wide collection of projects, either self produced or with a team, have been key roles in getting Indi to where he is today. Travel is one of the major benefits of his job. Indi recently flew out to New York City with his crew for a video shoot with Rosetta and will be traveling to Buenos Aires & Mexico City for Blackberry’s Q’Viva campaign this summer. One of his recent projects was working on Samsung’s “The next big thing” video ad campaign for their Facebook fan page. At one time Indigo was once traveling from Victorville to Ai daily, and now he’s traveling internationally for an incredible job. Dedication pays off.
Great SCOTT SAGEN by Miguel Quino単es
Take risks
and get yourself
out there 9 It’s a sunny day and between the mazes of The CAMP’s shops and restaurants, Scott is waiting. A firm handshake, followed by an introduction as he takes off his sunglasses. Smooth. The Strokes’ 15 Minutes is playing in the background and, surely, this is a sign. After all, half of that album’s title is called First Impressions. Fitting. Sean opts for personal contact, and speaks strongly, passionately about everything in his life so far. Twenty three years old, MEDL Mobile’s copywriter, and an alumni of The Art Institute. As shocking as it might seem, what he lacks in experience, he makes up in confidence. “Let me know if I’m moving too quickly” Scott tries to assure me, but he is. The environment keeps shifting and he runs with it. He started as an intern at Anonymous LLC doing all sorts of design work. From laying out spreads, type setting, type editing, a little of illustration work,
and “a tiny bit of concepting.” Things started shifting to marketing, then ultimately to MEDL Mobile, luckily landing the copywriter position. Eccentric, driven, and adventurous are qualities Scott selectively chooses to describe his personality and are essential to help him survive the hectic ad world. “Have you met a copywriter? They’re totally neurotic, moving at all directions at once and going nowhere at all. It’s a difficult job.” It’s easy to get lost, as he breaks down his responsibilities and, but he gets into detail, he makes it sound worthwhile and rewarding despite its madness. “You’ve got to be willing to take risks and get yourself out there. You constantly have to be willing to challenge your ideas, yourself, and your own beliefs.” Scott knows he was made for writing. Initially venturing in advertising knowing that he would do something “writing related.” He gravitated to The Art Institute for many reasons,
including his mother’s influence, Denise Sagan, someone he undoubtedly speaks very highly of. He would give his high school essays to his father, who would admit, “someday he’d be a damn good copywriter.” But he didn’t quite understand what that meant yet; his school experience was the ultimate epiphany that would lead him to his destiny. Great Scott! Sagan is the perfect reminder why The Art Institute needs the Advertising major. Advertising has an evolving quality, as it is a hybrid of all things. It’s a field where people are not measured by how old they are, but how bold they’re willing to be. In order to survive, you’d have to be a Jack (or Jill) of all trades. It doesn’t take too much to notice how it takes crazy, and I mean delusional, badass individuals like Scott, like me, like any advertising student that has gone and will go through our school, to take over this mad ad world.
TIPS from
GRADS Betty Ko GRAPHIC DESIGN Leave the portfolio show with business cards from people you’ve just meet, hopefully potential employers. Send them a follow up email ASAP, thanking them for taking the time to review your portfolio whether or not you’re interested in working with them.
Michael Tremaine PHOTOGRAPHY Don’t cheat yourself out of greatness by settling for the good-enough. Make every project and assignment portfolio quality. Prioritize your schedule and funds
Siera Shrout ADVERTISING Stay in control. Manage your time and dont lose focus or worse yet, procrastinate!
and do it right.
Tom Srisook GRAPHIC DESIGN #1 never flip a steak until one side is done, also don’t apply pressure to it for better contact, you’ll lose the juices. #2 always double down on 11 Wait what are we talking about? The port show is just one day in the life of an AI Grad. All of the stuff above is important but sometimes it’s just timing and being available for opportunity.
Annie Harrison
Christopher Seckler
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
WEB DESIGN
Design should be your daily
Make sure you network
obsession, joy, & torment.
as much as possible, especially your peers in the design community. Many companies like to hire based on referrals. Make sure to connect with anyone possible while still in college and maintain those connections via Facebook and LinkedIn. It’s priceless!
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Mike Worthington GRAPHIC DESIGN Get your work done early. Start during the break. If you haven’t, you are already behind! Better yet, don’t turn in “C” work. You won’t have time to fix it later in portfolio class. Also, don’t stress about your logo. No one cares. Well...maybe a little. Start recording/saving your process now. The more you can show prospective employers the better.
Kyna Diggs GRAPHIC DESIGN Calm down, but if stressing out helps you get your stuff done, then stress it up. But when the doors open to the portfolio show, stress won’t help. What’s done is done, and all you can do is sell your work, smile, and be happy it’s almost over.
Travis Nagle GRAPHIC DESIGN To help reduce stress on game day, know your work inside and out. Be able to talk about each piece when presenting to potential clients. Have enough to say, don’t stand there while they’re looking through your work, say something.
Chad Marciniak WEB DESIGN The most important thing should be doing well before their port show is get out into the professional world as early as possible, by interning, doing freelance projects, find a mentor in order to build your so called street cred. Be realistic about your abilities and communicate that with your potential client. Nothing speaks more about your reslove as professional than having real world work. Before getting to the portfolio show, see if you can line up some interviews for yourself so you can see first hand what some of the questions that might be asked. Prepare. Prepare. Prepare.
linda JOHNSON
GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNING by amy omernik Knee high by the fourth of July. Most Californians probably don’t know what this means, but for Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Linda Johnson it’s a phrase that hits very close to home. (It’s referring to corn on the cob, by the way.) Johnson grew up in New York – upstate New York. Not New York City, but the part of the state packed with beautiful rolling hills, farmland and forests. She grew up with harsh winters and lots of snow – the area was known for having only six clear days a year. Cut to living in sunny Orange County California now, and she’s making up for all those cloudy days in New York. Johnson started her professional career in the military, which is how she ended up in California. She was stationed here, and decided to stay. And she loves it. The great weather, diverse population and great schools are major factors – plus it’s not too hard to convince family to come out and visit. One of Johnson’s favorite ways to take advantage of this ideal climate is to hop on her Harley and go for a ride. She has a Softail Heritage and it’s perfect for riding for hours. Yosemite is one of her favorite destinations, as well as the Tioga Pass, Mono Lake, Sonora Pass and “Little Dragon.” If
knee high
by the 4th of
july
you’re a bike, you can relate. As Associate Dean of Academic Affairs part of her job is keeping up with the ever-evolving school structures and policies. This part is very black and white. The part she especially loves falls in the gray areas. It’s listening to the goals of the students, their individual situations, and creating the best possible academic experience for them as possible. As advice to graduating students, Johnson says to just keep a positive attitude. Your personality and networking skills will take you far. So the next time you see a blonde lady riding an awesome bike on the freeways, give her space and a wave. It might just be Linda.
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STUDENT Work
ALEXVERHARST graphic design
MELISSAWEHRBERG interior design
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BREEWALKER photography
WILLIAMMICHEL
game art design
KIMNGUYEN
ALEXAVILES
advertising
culinary
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LINDALAM graphic design
CORALCASTILLO fashion design
GABRIELCORONA industrial design
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Kimberly’s
chocolate chip
COOKIES Ingredients 1 lb. 8 oz. 12 oz. 3 2 1/2 tsp. 2 tsp. 1 lb. 4 oz. 1 tsp. 1 1/2 lb.
Unsalted Butter, softened Granulated Sugar Brown Sugar Eggs Vanilla Extract Salt Pastry Flour Baking Soda Chocolate Chips
Directions Preheat oven to 350Ëš F Combine the flour, baking soda and salt mixture in a small bowl. In a mixer with a fitted paddle attachment cream the butter and sugars until light Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla. Gradually add the flour mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips Drop 2 ounce spoonfuls onto paperlined sheet pans Bake for about 10 minutes until cookies are golden brown.
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