Magazine by Jamie Lefevre

FALL 2014

VCD Alumni Magazine

Meet Larrie King

Meet Molly Lawrence

Retronyms

Current News

From the Archives

Meet Rachel Hellgren

Fall 2014

Contents

Letter from the Director

Homecoming Events

VCD featured in Print Magazine

Current News

Alumni Spotlight Anne Berry & Penina Acayo

From the Archives

Creative Briefs

Entrepreneur Spotlight JP Walton

Larrie King Rachel Hellgren & Molly Lawrence

VCD Alumni Magazine

Letter from the Director Dear Students, Parents, and Alumni: As the acting director, it is my pleasure to extend you a warm welcome to the Kent State University School of Visual Communication Design. Since accepting a faculty position in 1993, it has been my privilege to work at a place I love and to collaborate with distinguished colleagues, talented staff and extraordinary students. Our faculty members are practicing professionals with impressive publication and exhibition records and prestigious awards for their teaching and creative endeavors. Each brings a wealth of expertise to the classroom and a strong commitment to academic excellence.

Sanda S. Katila, Acting Director

Staff Ken Visocky O’Grady Editor-in-Chief Khalil Dixon Managing Editor Larrie King Sarah Rutherford Creative Director Jamie Lefevre Kate Lingenfelter Macklin Legan Designers Jennifer Kramer Copy Editor Madeleine Bensinger Nicole Gennarelli Meghan Caprez Ernie Galgozy Copy Writers Terran Washington Ruby Kelly Michael Reece Contributors

The School of Visual Communication Design grows and evolves with technology and culture. We continue to rejuvenate the complexion of our programs to significantly impact the next generation of designers. The National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) accredits our school for the outstanding quality of its curricula, which has produced some of the most talented design and illustration professionals in the nation. Our graduates work as designers at Fortune 500 companies and in leadership positions as educators or researchers. Many are entrepreneurs who have started unique enterprises that began as incubator projects during their years in our school. Today’s employers seek well-rounded designers who possess a wide range of skills that help solve complex visual problems, including design research, branding, aesthetics, and the creation of meaningful images. Our programs provide students with competitive skills by encouraging interdisciplinary approaches to visual communication design, integrating evolving media with design foundations and conceptual development while helping students to create polished, professional portfolios. All of our bachelor-level degrees focus on visual communication within a liberal arts education. We believe passionate experimentation is key to our students reaching their potential using 2-D and 3-D design in the following areas: illustration—creating visual narratives; motion design—exploring how moving elements communicate a message; and interaction design—exploring new and existing human interaction possibilities in research and industry. Photo-illustration students use light, cameras and digital techniques to explore, interpret and produce still and moving imagery. Our graduate programs offer flexible curricula, integrating advanced studio-based learning with practical application and research investigations. Online, evening and weekend courses make it possible for professionals with design-related undergraduate degrees to retool and develop stronger portfolios for today’s markets. Additionally, our school conducts hands-on workshops at the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative (CUDC). I invite you to learn more about our school, students, alumni and faculty as well as view student works on our website, created by members of our award-winning student design studio, Glyphix, at www.kent.edu/vcd.

Sincerely,

Sanda S. Katila Acting Director

Behind the Platen: Exhibition & Lecture “Behind the Platen” is an exhibition celebrating the legacy of letterpress printing. The exhibit includes work from artists and printers in our region, and demonstrates how the medium is being explored and utilized in our contemporary design culture. The exhibition will showcase the range of letterpress work done by shops and individuals in the Western Pennsylvania/Eastern Ohio area. Along with the exhibited work, it will also educate on the history of the medium through development of current day trends. This body of work will share the passion of those continuing the legacy of letterpress printing. The exhibit will open on Wednesday, September 10 and will kickoff with a lecture at 7:00 PM by Bob Kelemen, an accomplished printer, designer, and design educator whose letterpress work has been recognized in regional and national competitions. He will speak on the use of letterpress as a tactile learning tool for design and will put into context how letterpress is being explored in our art and design culture. The exhibit closes Sunday, September 28.

News

News Year in Review 2014 Recap The School of Visual Communication Design, our students and our alumni have been quite busy this year. Be sure to like and follow our Facebook page for up-to-date news and event information. Here are some highlights of what you may have missed!

IdeaBase, a student-run integrated marketing communications firm in downtown Kent, received Gold and two Silver ADDYs for its work done for the Kent State’s College of Communication and Information. The awards were won in the Collateral Material and Digital Advertising categories.

human space flight program,” according to the project profile on the Alphaport website. Also, check out some of Crane’s work in the stunningly geeky NASA Orion Spacecraft Picture Book, detailing the A to Z’s of the Orion passenger module for the young and the young-at-heart.

VCD Alumna Featured in NASA Magazine

Alumnus Creates AMPERGRAM

VCD Wins Big at the 2014 Akron ADDY Awards

The Kent State Type High Press won Gold and Silver ADDYs for promotional posters, both in the Collateral Material category. “Anything I can do to publicize Type High Press is gratifying work, and getting awards for my efforts is a bonus,” said Bob Kelemen, instructor in Kent State’s School of Visual Communication Design. “It was fun to share the night with many current and former students whose work was also recognized.” Glyphix, our student-staffed design studio within the School of Visual Communication Design, won three Silver ADDYs for its promotional posters for the School of Visual Communication Design, Kent State’s Wick Poetry Center and Rough’s promotional postcards.

VCD alumnus Phillip Pastore created AMPERGRAM, a website which allows people to create typographic compositions using Instagram photos. View an introductory video here.

Alumna Aimee Crane was featured in NASA’s agency-wide magazine for her graphic design work on the Orion Spacecraft project. Her project was to “design engaging, interactive trade show exhibit items that were costeffective to duplicate center wide, easy to transport and easy to set up. Technology, such as QR codes, was used to maximize NASA’s messaging and leverage technology. Targeted to a Gen Y audience, the exhibit stimulated exhibit traffic by engaging visitors with multidimensional, hands on activities and build awareness of NASA’s

Recently, AMPERGRAM was even featured on the Favourite Website Awards (FWA) web page as the website of the day. According to FWA’s website, it is “an industry recognized Internet award program and inspirational portal, established in May 2000.” Pastore gives credit to the courses, experiences, and mostly, the professors at Kent State in VCD for preparing him for his career after graduation. “Because of the practices I learned in the program, I have been able to keep focused on developing my skills independently,” he said.

VCD Alumni Magazine

News (cont.) Alumni Develop Big Press Little Press, a Letterpress Printing Shop

Alumna Joins Notre Dame University’s Visual Communication Design Program

From their time here at Kent State University, School of Visual Communication Design (VCD) alumni Andrew Schwanbeck and Miranda Hall developed a passion for letterpress printing. Growing from that passion is Big Press Little Press, Schwanbeck and Hall’s own letterpress printing shop in Cranberry, PA. Schwanbeck and Hall each completed a master’s degree in visual communication design from Kent State. “We both love letterpress printing, largely due to our exposure to it at Kent,” Schwanbeck said. Both Schwanbeck and Hall agree that Kent State’s VCD program was the most significant and important stepping stone that helped them get where they are today. “It introduced us both to letterpress printing and gave us a solid foundation to start a print shop of our own,” they said. “The instructors who taught us at Kent State have such excitement and passion for printing that it was easily contagious. It was really an exciting way to learn.”

VCD Alumna Sells Work at Anthropologie School of Visual Communication Design alumna April Nemeth.

Anthropologie, a popular modern clothing, home and accessories store, started selling hand screen printed dishtowels from Little Korboose, a design and illustration shop run by

At Kent State, Nemeth focused on typography and visual communication. When she received her B.F.A. in 2005, she never thought her design career would take her into the world of screen-printing. “Kent was foundational,” Nemeth said. “I would never be able to do the things I’ve done without the mechanics I learned in school.”

Penina Acayo, 2013 graduate of our Master of Fine Arts program, earned a position as a research associate in Visual Communication Design at Notre Dame University’s Department of Art, Art History and Design. The position was created to offer post-doctoral or post-terminal degree candidates more professional experience in teaching and research. Acayo plans to continue her thesis research, share it with the faculty and students at Notre Dame and receive feedback as she moves forward.

Current Events

New Faculty Members Studio Space Encourages Content Creation By Ernie Galgozy

Christopher Darling

Nestled in a hillside between the MAC Center and Taylor Hall is where the MACC Annex reposes. It’s an unassuming building that up until the late 1990’s housed the student recreation center. Walking through the building reveals a combination of basketball courts, weight room, and a large open area where architecture students learn their craft. But on the lowest level of the building, down an inconspicuous corridor, and inside what was once racquetball courts, is where the mastery of photo illustration takes form for students in the School of Visual Communication Design. Upon entering the space, you are greeted by barren flat white walls and light oak parquet flooring. As you pass through the next door and turn on the lights, you realize that this is where creativity offers a significant moment in time for student of photo illustration. The space, reminiscent of a New York City studio, is like a bucket waiting to be filled with creativity. There have been times when students accepted and presented their representations of curriculum that have astounded instructors within these studio walls. “I don’t know if I could continue on if there weren’t these little nuggets of beauty that continue to sustain a wonderful relationship of the work, problem solving and training of appropriate and beautiful things for the world,” according to Christopher Ransom, associate professor, in the School of Visual Communication Design. Ransom has been with the school since 1996 and has been instrumental in the design and implementation of the Bachelor of Science degree program in Photo-Illustration. “When students are in a creative flow and focused on their purpose, it’s a pleasure to be a part of the experience,” he said. Sometimes music plays in the background while students work on their project. There have been times when Ransom steps back and observes what is happening in front of him and says “Thank you, Lord. This is the way learning a difficult medium is supposed to be.” Students have inspired him so much that he brings his own camera to this studio space and photographs the moment. “Every class is a unique constellation,” he said.

Christopher Darling joined our school as an assistant professor in the illustration concentration spring 2014. Darling is the cofounder of the New York illustrated fiction magazine Carrier Pigeon. He received a 2013 Pixie Award for an illustration he created for Legacy Records and has also been recognized by the Society of Illustrators (New York).

Aoife Mooney Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, Aoife Mooney joined the VCD staff in the fall semester of 2013. After spending 3 years free-lancing for Hoefler-Frere Jones, Mooney hopes to spread her love of typography to Kent, Ohio.

VCD Alumni Magazine VCD Alumni Magazine

Larrie King 08

MFA Student, Leesville, LA By Nicole Gennarelli

Photo by Michael Reece

Creative Briefs

“I am always genuinely excited about bringing something new to life. The challenges of art are endless. There is absolutely no limit to what is possible.”—Larrie King Q: How did you make the decision to complete your

Q: How does working for IdeaBase and Glyphix

master’s degree at Kent State University?

provide you with hands-on learning experience?

LK: My partner was looking to complete his fibers and textiles degree, and I was contemplating a terminal degree in design. We also wanted to relocate north. We happened to find it all at Kent State University.

LK: As an instructor, there are always learning and teaching opportunities within IdeaBase and Glyphix. We work with a range of projects and clients that require varying kinds of creativity and investigation. As a student, I find myself learning an incredible amount about leading, entrepreneurship, and client relationships, among other important things. The overall experience is invaluable.

Q: Where are you from originally? Tell us about where you grew up. LK: I grew up in North Louisiana in a town called Leesville. I spent the 10 years prior to coming to Kent State in a town called Natchitoches, home of the Louisiana Festival of Lights and famous for the film Steel Magnolias. If you’ve seen the movie, the town is pretty much the same as it was then.

Q: How did you become interested in graphic design? LK: I had a clear attraction to design before I really knew what it was. I grew up with a creative mother and brother, and always enjoyed the visual and performing arts. In college, I discovered design as a marriage of communication and creativity—and knew that I had to pursue it.

Q: You’ve just graduated this past spring . What did your master’s thesis focus on?

LK: As store brands focus on infusing their products with creativity, uniqueness and value, they have seen an increase in the sales of their food and household products within the past 10 years. However, store brands of personal hygiene and personal care products have not benefited from this new focus. My thesis posits that changes to packaging, branding and presented information can affect consumer attitudes towards these products and increase not only sales, but brand loyalty.

Q: How do you believe the work

“In college, I discovered creative director for IdeaBase design as a marriage and manager for Glyphix for your graduate assistantship. How and of communication and why did you become involved with these two organizations? creativity—and knew LK: Glyphix had been on my radar since the moment I applied for the MFA that I had to pursue it.”

Q: You currently work as the

program at Kent State. I tried to initiate a similar organization at my alma mater, so I was delighted find that Glyphix was not only thriving, but that it was one of the first of its kind in this country. When the opportunity to serve as Project Manager arose, I jumped on it. Being an alumnus of Glyphix is an honor and is an experience that not many students receive. IdeaBase is an incredible organization that gives students from several programs the opportunity to work collaboratively and make a big impact on design and communication in this area. As a member of Glyphix, I became familiar with the organization’s practices. I felt that I could contribute to the growth of IdeaBase, and I am very excited to be serving as Creative Director.

you’ve done for your thesis will help you now, post-graduation?

LK: I have always loved branding and identity and the work that goes into establishing a brand presence. My thesis gives me an opportunity to explore this field, as well as an opportunity to exercise the design research skills I have gained in the MFA program.

Q: In a rigorous program like VCD, and working to finish a master’s degree, how do you balance all of your commitments?

LK: I wake up very early every single day. My smart phone calendar is the master of my time, and I try to approach every task I have with a smile. As long as I am optimistic and able to plan my commitments to the minute (a joy of mine, seriously!), I remain very capable. Also, snacks help.

VCD Alumni Magazine

Rachel Hellgren MFA Student, North Canton, OH By Nicole Gennarelli

Q: When you began at KSU, you were working toward a Master of Arts degree, but switched to a Master of Fine Arts. What was your reason for making the switch?

Photo by Michael Reece

“If you have a passion for this kind of work, you don’t mind changing your life to accommodate it.” Q: Having your undergraduate degree in Art History, what made you pursue a degree in Visual Communication Design from Kent State University?

RH: I had been looking for a new job for about a year and wasn’t having any luck. I was working at a stationery and print shop in Columbus for four years after graduation and needed a change. Ever since being on my high school’s yearbook staff, I had always been interested in design, but no one was hiring me because I didn’t have the formal training. So I bit the bullet and took the plunge; I went back to school to gain those skills. Learning about design has been like opening Pandora’s box; it’s been so much fun, and people aren’t joking when they say it is a lifestyle. In order to be truly good at it, you must live it.

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RH: I was taken under the wing of a few of the graduate students then and just made myself present in the grad studio; I was an MA student, but acted like and did the work of an MFA student. I was in the studio all the time and had (and still have) a strong interest in what was going on here. With the guidance of fellow students, and ultimately a final nudge from Ken Visocky O’Grady, I decided to make the switch. I’m able to be in school full time, so why not take advantage of that and go all the way?

Q: How do you believe an MFA will better prepare you for a career in graphic design?

RH: It opens doors to being able to teach, which will help support the entrepreneurial track I aim to take following graduate school. Teaching is something I did not give much thought to prior to entering the program. I’ve been in leadership roles before, helping people to understand something and change their perspectives about a given topic is an enjoyable challenge. So I think teaching will be something I look to do concurrently down the road.

Q: In the midst of a rigorous program to finish your master’s degree, how do you balance all of your commitments?

RH: This has been the hardest part about being in graduate school. Things don’t always get done to my liking, and I’m always trying to explore more efficient ways of doing things, but it takes focus, prioritization, and dedication. Lately I’ve been trying work with the idea of getting three meaningful things done per day- and letting everything else be lower on the ladder. But most importantly, scheduling quiet, ‘unplugged’ time for myself has been a life saver.

VCD Homecoming Come celebrate with us this year! FREE TYPE HIGH PRESS ALUMNI WORKSHOP

GLYPHIX 40th ANNIVERSARY OPEN HOUSE

Meet with old friends and former classmates, peruse the vast archives of work—perhaps you will find one of your student projects—and print a project of your own using one of Type High’s eight presses and our vast collection of wood and metal type and art cuts. Unplug, relax and reconnect with your tactile self.

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of our Glyphix student design studio! Join us for a tour of Glyphix and IdeaBase offices located in Downtown Kent, Ohio at 138 E. Main Street, Suite 203. Meet our talented student staff members, view student and alumni works and enjoy student presentations. Light refreshments will be available.

Sat., Oct. 18, 2014: 8 a.m.–noon or 1 p.m.–4 p.m. Sun., Oct. 19, 2014: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Current Type High Press instructor Bob Kelemen will be on hand to help with the equipment and materials and to share his vision to keep letterpress instruction relevant in the 21st Century. Kelemen is an accomplished printer, designer and design educator whose letterpress work has been recognized in regional and national competitions. All are invited, from novice to expert, to join us and get your hands inky. R.S.V.P. by Oct. 12 to VCD Acting Director Sanda Katila at skatila@kent.edu or 330–672–7856 or Jennifer Kramer, APR, of the College of Communication and Information at jlkramer@kent.edu or 330–672–2950.

ALUMNI MEET & GREET RECEPTION Sat., Oct. 18, 2014: 5 p.m.

After the workshop, join us for a School of Visual Communication Design Alumni Meet & Greet Reception at Glyphix student design studio located in Downtown Kent, Ohio at 138 E. Main Street, Suite 203. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served. R.S.V.P. by Oct. 12 to VCD Acting Director Sanda Katila at skatila@kent.edu or 330–672–7856 or Jennifer Kramer, APR, of the College of Communication and Information at jlkramer@kent.edu or 330–672–2950.

Sat., Oct. 18, 2014: 3 p.m.–7 p.m.

For more information, contact Glyphix Creative Director Larrie King at lking32@kent.edu or 330–672–7856 or Jennifer Kramer, APR, of the College of Communication and Information at jlkramer@kent.edu or 330–672–2950.

SCHOOL OF VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN BUILDING TOUR Sat. Oct. 18, 2014: 12 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. (meet in the Art Building)

Join us for an information session and guided tour of the School of Visual Communication Design. For more information, contact VCD Acting Director Sanda Katila at skatila@kent.edu or 330–672–7856 or Jennifer Kramer, APR, of the College of Communication and Information at jlkramer@kent.edu or 330–672–2950.

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What is CreateAthon at Kent State? CreateAthon onCampus is program designed to give students a chance to learn and give back at the same time. After meetings during the semester, CreateAthon onCampus culminates in a 24-hour, work-around-the-clock creative blitz taking place November 7th and 8th, 2014. During this event, Kent State University students and other student volunteers will produce strategic and creative work for selected Kent area non-profits. Each student team will work with local advertising, design or marketing professionals who will mentor the students’ work, ensuring high-quality and effective materials. The strategic and creative works are delivered to the clients in early January.

What kind of non-profits can apply for CreateAthon? ARE YOU A NONPROFIT THAT NEEDS HELP TELLING YOUR STORY? IS YOUR MARKETING BUDGET NEXT TO NOTHING? The School of Visual Communication Design (VCD) at Kent State University is hosting a CreateAthon during the fall of 2014, apply and you may be selected to receive strategic and creative work for free. Kent State VCD student teams mentored by local professionals will create a wide variety of projects at no cost to the nonprofit organizations.

Any 501(c)3 organization that is in need of help telling their story is eligible to apply and be considered as a CreateAthon client. Organizations are selected in September by a review committee that focuses on how well the project will fit with the students’ skills, the limited resources available for marketing within the organization, and the impact on the local community.

For more information, visit our site or send us an email. CreateAthon onCampus takes place November 7–8, 2014.

Creative Briefs

Q: You’ve been acting as a mentor for Molly, who is new to the VCD graduate program. What has that journey been like?

It has been nothing short of fantastic. She has become a dear friend and colleague in this experience, and I’m so grateful for her. I know how challenging it is to come from an unrelated field into design and try to grasp all that it is—it is life-altering. We help each other out and, honestly, keep each other sane. I’ve also tried to show her the joy and power of design, as a few graduate students did for me when I first came here. You walk in not realizing the widespread presence design has in the world, and soon learn that doing well requires a lot of work. But even with the ups and downs, if you have a passion for this kind of work, you don’t mind changing your life to accommodate it.

Q: What have you been doing to help her acclimate to the program and feel comfortable here?

We’re roommates actually, so that helps with being able to have impromptu brainstorming or critiquing sessions. But, I also think the support during the hard times has been helpful for her. I know the struggle of understanding design, the self-doubt, the overwhelming workload; I’ve tried to help by breaking things down and approaching them in a way that is less intimidating. We’re similar in a lot of ways too, so being able to relate to one another personally works to our advantage. It’s always such a treat to come home after a long day and share some laughs and a drink.

Molly Lawrence MFA Student, Canton, OH By Nicole Gennarelli Q: What was your concentration as an undergraduate?

Photo by Michael Reece

ML: I received my BFA in Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia.

Q: How did you become interested in graphic design?

ML: I formed an interest in graphic design somewhere in my transition from fine art to communication arts during my undergraduate experience. When I finished the illustration program at SCAD, I felt myself gravitating more towards graphic design. Q: How did you make the decision to complete your master’s degree at Kent State University?

ML: The VCD program is highly regarded in the area, and those I’ve known who have attended undergraduate school here have graduated with great portfolios and are now successful in their fields. I was also attracted to the program because it integrates illustration and graphic

design. The MFA program here will allow me to expand my illustration portfolio to incorporate more design work, and will also allow me the ability to teach later on down the road. Q: Do you hold any job positions outside of school? Where?

ML: Attending graduate school full-time consumes most of my week, but I do hold a management position on campus, and I also work a few days a week at a small local shop in Kent. I will be teaching a class this fall semester as well. Q: What has your journey in the VCD graduate program been like so far?

ML: It has been quite a challenging journey so far, to say the least. It’s been sort of frightening and invigorating all at the same time. Everything I have experienced so far has been like nothing I have ever done before, so I feel that I’ve grown considerably in the past couple of months. Things have oddly fallen into place for me here, and the people I am surrounded with daily are very supportive and encouraging.

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VCD Alumni Magazine

Alumni Spotlight: Anne Berry & Penina Acayo By Meghan Caprez

Master of Fine Arts alumnae Anne Berry ’08 and Penina Acayo ’13 still consider Studio 105 their home, even though they’ve both settled in South Bend, Indiana. It’s where they first encountered a letterpress class...and cried. It’s where they first taught students visual communication design... and cried. It’s where they learned to fail...and cried. “Basically, I cried at least once a week while finishing my thesis,” Berry said. “But it was so worth it. I learned how to grow from my mistakes and that I have to be kind to myself.” “It was very intense,” Acayo said. “I feel a little bit invincible after it.”

“Lakehouse Design was really initiated by students,” Berry said. “They liked the Glyphix model. So, though Lakehouse designers get paid, the idea is similar, i.e., to give students the opportunity to build up their portfolios while working with real clients on the kinds of projects they wouldn’t be able to get from other on-campus jobs.” Berry said the studio is still in its fledgling state, but it has received a lot of support from Notre Dame’s “vast alumni network.”

Because of their VCD experiences, both Berry and Acayo are teaching a variety of design courses at the University of Notre Dame. Berry wasn’t sure she wanted to teach graphic design at a collegiate level until she completed her graduate assistantship with VCD. “My VCD experience helped me figure out how to work collaboratively from research to writing to design to working in a classroom,” Berry said. “I was a teaching assistant with Eric May and Ken [Visocky O’Grady], and I found out that I could do it; I could really teach this stuff.” Currently, Berry teaches a typography course and an environmental graphic design (EGD) course at Notre Dame. She credits VCD professor David Middleton for inspiring her to learn more about EGD. “Dave Middleton really got me interested in EGD,” Berry said. “The course I’m teaching now really gives students a chance to build up their portfolios. It’s good professional practice.” Berry also serves as the faculty advisor for Lakehouse Design, a student-run design firm at Notre Dame.

Anne Berry, ‘08 MFA Graduate

Before she became a professional specialist at Notre Dame, Berry taught at Goshen College where she had Acayo as a student.

Born and raised in Uganda, Acayo moved to the United States in 2007 to pursue her undergraduate degree in pre-architecture and graphic design at Goshen College. She said that she was familiar and comfortable in classes like math and science because she encountered similar studies in Uganda; graphic design was foreign and exciting. “Graphic design was such a mystery to me,” Acayo said. “I’d never used Photoshop before. The whole concept of drawing on the screen or using the computer for anything other than surfing the internet was so new to me. It was very exciting in so many ways, but very challenging.”

Spotlights

“Coming out fresh from Kent, I was able to take some of the things I learned there to try out here,” Acayo said, “we collaborated with the Chemistry department to design inexpensive packaging solutions for their Beta Lactam Paper Analytical Devices.” Acayo and Berry both agree that Masters of Fine Arts students must look beyond graduate school and create lasting relationships with faculty members at VCD.

Peninia Acayo, ‘13 MFA Graduate Acayo said she enjoyed art and working with her hands in high school, but she really loves graphic design because it allows her to tell her own story and make an impact, especially in the way Africa is portrayed in the media. While at Goshen, Acayo met Berry, who encouraged her to not only consider studying graphic design at the graduate level but also consider attending Kent State. “I took a class [taught by Berry at Goshen], and she was instrumental in my decision to study graphic design at the graduate level,” Acayo said. “She went with me to the open house at Kent; she actually drove me to Ohio.” Berry said that she knew Acayo would thrive as a designer at Kent, and she wanted to make sure the faculty had a chance to meet her. “A lot of people look good on paper, and Peni is definitely one of those people,” Berry said. “But as good as she looks on paper, she’s even better in person.” Acayo left a lasting impression on the faculty members she met that day, too. At her going-away party, she said Sanda Katila, VCD acting director and associate professor, reminded her of an answer she gave at the open house. “They asked us, ‘What do you want to get out of the program?’” Acayo said. “One of my answers was that I wanted to be the total package. When she was toasting at the party, she said, ‘We can all attest to the fact that you are the total package.’”

“I’m very appreciative of the post-graduate school connections and relationships,” Acayo said. “In school, Ken [Visocky O’Grady] was my advisor. For me, it’s been very special to see how that’s developed after graduate school. He came all the way to Notre Dame to visit us and make sure we’re doing okay. The faculty will really, really look out for you.” Berry also says that designers must remember to “be forgiving of themselves.” She said her time at Kent State gave her the confidence to teach because she had the full support of the faculty and the freedom to “run a classroom” in ways that worked best for her and the students.

Acayo agreed, saying, “Kent did a really good job with preparing me for where I am today. The collaboration between the faculty and graduate assistants was great because yes, we were students, but they treated us like colleagues.”

Acayo uses that “total package” while teaching a class at Notre Dame. Instructing a combined packaging design and research methods course, Acayo is a post-doctoral research associate at Notre Dame. This is the first time a packaging and research methods course has been offered, and Acayo said she was able to incorporate many of the things she learned at Kent State into the curriculum.

VCD Alumni Magazine

iMPC Pro, the digital drum machine application created by Retronyms, as featured in the new Apple commercial series.

Entrepreneur Spotlight: John-Paul Walton By Meghan Caprez

Few companies can say they started with an event that can be described as “The Debacle,” but that’s exactly how VCD alumnus John-Paul Walton’s organization Retronyms began.

Walton, his brother, and one of his design friends rented a beach house in California for a two-week hack-a-thon in 2008, brainstorming interactive design ideas and trying to pull together a new product. Everything was going great, too, until what Walton describes as a “huge, immense storm with hurricane-like winds and rain” swept through the area where they stayed. The beach house roof was leaking water on their laptops as they tried to power through their hack-a-thon.

“We called it ‘The Debacle’ for pretty obvious reasons,” Walton said. “We still do this kind of retreat to this day. There’s around 10 people with the company, and we go away for this hack-a-thon. It’s still called ‘The Debacle,’ too.”

Despite its stormy start, Retronyms remains a successful digital media development company with 10 mobile applications for music, audio and fun currently available on Apple’s App Store. According to Walton, the original Retronyms trio were some of the first few hundred application developers that were given access to create apps for the App Store. They developed a basic voice recorder and started Retronyms to expand on that mobile application. Walton’s favorite Retronyms application is Tabletop which is, as Walton says, the “backbone of music technology we’ve built everything off of.”

Spotlights

Tabletop, a modular music environment for iPads, allows users to create their own songs and reCDmixes using a variety of effects at once. From its sequencers to its synthesizers, Tabletop has attracted creators of electronic music who can share their work directly from the application. “It’s really exciting to see people creating with our products,” Walton said. “Every day, several hundred songs get posted to the internet through our apps. They’re get something out of the products we worked really hard to create.” Retronyms has also created IMPC, a digital version of the drum machine.

While the company’s main focus is creating products, it also offers consulting to one or two clients at a time. Previously, Retronyms has worked to develop applications for Adobe, Hrmonix and Justin.tv. Currently, Walton, his partners and their employees are working with BACtrack to enhance app content for the company’s mobile breathalyzer, which Retronyms helped build. “It’s really cool because they were the first company with this product on the market,” Walton said. “It’s a very accurate sensor, and we’re trying to add a smartphone aspect to it so people can look at their alcohol consumption trends and make smart choices.” The application will store data received from individual breathalyzer tests on the Cloud, making the results a public data source where scholars can research alcohol consumption by geographical location and time of day. Walton said his VCD education gave him the skills he needed for both research and product design. “Design drives every aspect of our business, from planning a product to realizing and marketing it,” Walton said. “My actual design education I use constantly. When I design products, I’m applying my design skills to visual realization.” His design education also allowed him to grow as a designer and become comfortable and confident in his creations.

Retronyms’ iMPC digital drum machine application

“People have a lot of fondness for the drum machine because it’s essentially the thing that gave birth to hip hop,” Walton said. “The app recreates that classic experience of using a drum machine. People are sharing some really cool beats.” Walton said one of the best features of Retronyms’s mobile apps is that they all work together. For example, users can take the beats they create in IMPC and place them in a song they create in Tabletop. “The applications all work together,” Walton said. “We have a longer-term vision than some app developers might. The way we see it is that these new platforms are going to be the way people create and explore creativity in the future. We’re really excited to be playing around with new platforms and interfaces.” Currently, Retronyms focuses most of its app development in Apple’s IOS. According to Walton, the company is looking to expand onto other platforms, though, and move into Android in a more serious way in the future.

“VCD helped me develop the design skill set that is so useful,” Walton said. “It taught me to create things that have value for myself and other people. To have your own business, you have to think entrepreneurially with that skill set. If you have an idea for a cool business, as a designer you’re super equipped to realize that vision.” Walton credits the atmosphere of VCD with his drive and determination to stay on top of technology trends. “In terms of interactive design, you have to learn by doing it,” Walton said. “In VCD, what you really learn is to stay willing to always learn. In technology, that’s every day. You always have to be interested and engaged in learning.” Walton encourages VCD alumni to maintain connections with the school. Last year, Walton flew to Cleveland to work with VCD graduate students on wire frames for product design. “That was a really cool experience,” Walton said. “We got into the nitty-gritty of product design, and it was cool to see what students today are capable of.”

Pictured above in Print Magazine are just a few of the illustrations created for the curriculum.

VCD in Print Magazine Tackling a Major Global Health Problem By Madeleine Bensinger

MFA students engage their design and research skills to create icons promoting disease prevention that can be easily understood by a largely illiterate populace. The August 2014 edition of PRINT Magazine featured a story about a semester-long project by Professor Ken Visocky O’Grady’s graduate seminar students in the School of Visual Communication Design. The article, written by Bryn Mooth, is titled “Test and Iterate: Grad students tackle a major global health problem that can be solved with the simplest action: hand-washing.” Print magazine is one of the most respected publications in our industry, and it is an honor to have them do a spotlight on us,” Visocky O’Grady said. “I’m really excited that our school is getting coverage in publications that reach broader audiences, not just academic ones. It’s one of the best ways we can get our name out there.” The featured project began in the fall of 2013 when Justin Ahrens of Rule29 design firm—previous project partner of Visocky O’Grady— recommended Visocky O’Grady’s students to his new client, Lifewater International. Lifewater is a non-profit water development organization that is currently working to promote the education of hand washing to prevent the spread of disease. The graduate

seminar students’ task was to create a new curriculum to teach hand washing across the African continent and to any developing nation where Lifewater operates. The students studied photos of the environments for which they were designing the curriculum. Their visual communication problem was that to develop a curriculum specific to each country where they were working would be both time-consuming and costly. The students discovered that a universal icon-based system could be understood by a wide array of cultures and dialects. “Done well, these visual symbols could work, and they could work everywhere,” Visocky O’Grady stated in the article. The students created a series of drawings and graphics, which will be tested by Lifewater International in the near future. Visocky O’Grady hopes that his future graduate students can continue to build on this project based on the results of current testing.

Spotlights

ADDITIONAL AD OR STORY?

From the Archives During a special topics course last year, several students in the School of Visual Communication Design recreated an iconic photo taken of the Department of Graphic Design’s Glyphix team at Kent State University circa 1977–’78. Photo on the left: (l. to r. from top) Rick Williams, Jeff Ulich, Chris Meluch, Jane Gothel, Pat Job, David Middleton, Alex White, Elizabeth Cabana, and J. Charles Walker, Director of the Department of Graphic Design. Photo on the right: l. to r. from top) Marivi Dionisio, Brittany Deighton Besma Almusallam, Daniel Echeverri, Erica Trennel, Larrie King, Stephanie Snyder, Penina Acayo, Rachel Hellgren, Brian Buirge, Jesse Snyder, Jason Bacher, Ernest Fesco.

VCD Alumni Magazine

Honor Roll

Let’s get together Join Glyphix for our first ever VCD Alumni + Student Open House October 18, 2014 3–7 PM 138 E. Main Street, Suite 203

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