Columni Magazine

Columni

Columbia College Chicago A Collection of Art and Design Interviews Issue 14

WELCOME TO OUR MAGAZINE!

CREATED BY DESIGN STUDENTS ENROLLED IN PUBLICATION DESIGN (SECTION 01) DESIGN DEPARTMENT, COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO.

Students were asked to name the magazine, and from there they narrowed the name down by vote.

Students were given the task of researching on-line, the various artists and designers from a selection of former students who are working alumni. Since some the students were not native to Chicago, it started with a list of my former students through LinkedIn working within the art and design community. The list grew to cover as many firms and studios as we researched through an on-line search finding contact information [urls, emails, addresses, phones, etc.]. The students selected the artist or designer whose work they admired. Once the initial contact was made via an introduction email, the artists or designers were interested in being interviewed. Students were to design two-double page spreads to total a fourpage layout. Images from the professionals were required to be 300dpi. Layouts were created in Adobe InDesign file formats required from the Design Department Digital Print Center Manager, Steve Knight. All students were to design front and back covers (inside and outside), table of contents (one double-page spread) and the biography pages (2 double-page spreads). Students were required to have the interview submitted to Columbia’s, The Learning Center for grammatical assistance and spelling corrections.

We would like to thank Steve Knight, Digital Print Center Manager for his guidance and patience. He presented us with the initial InDesign file format with the correct documentation needed for a magazine of this size. The state-of-theart technology within the Design Department allows for in-house turnkey from the Digital Print Center. The printing process made use of the Canon Image Press C910 for printing on 32 lb. Matte text with a 100 lb. Matte cover, while guillotine trims, and perfect binding which finished the results you hold in your hands.

I would like to thank the Alumni who responded to the student art or design interview. These professionals base much of their time on a significant hourly rate. We would like to let those who are included know that we appreciated the time taken from their busy schedules. Because of their generous time and efforts, it has helped to make this publication a success.

This is truly a passionate and collaborative project. We hope you enjoy!

RENÉE RAMSEY-PASSMORE,

FACULTY, GRAPHIC DESIGN DESIGN DEPARTMENT

SCHOOL

M.F.A.

OF FINE AND PERFORMING ART

Columbia College Chicago 623 South Wabash Avenue Chicago, IL 60605

Laiqah Hanold

1. When did you decide to become an illustrator?

My counselor at the time was like, “Neurology is really hard… but you draw right? You should be an illustrator at Columbia,” and I realized I did have a knack for drawing. To be able to draw for animated movies became my new ideal. I think because I was still doing whatever, but I didn’t have a niche or a theme but Columbia seemed to promise a career for me when I graduated and that’s what really attracted me to illustration and being at Columbia.

2. How did you get started in this profession?

I got started in middle school when I started drawing cats based on my favorite book series “Warrior Cats” at the time. My classmates really liked the drawings and sold for $5 a pop. So later on in high school, I got another request for a watercolor painting mixed with charcoal and it had a girl sitting on a planet by herself staring out into space, and I was really proud of it and people wanted prints of it and I was able to sell that. So when my counselor said, “You should go to school for art,” I was like “Yeah!” There wasn’t a moment when it officially started; it was more like it built on itself and encouraged it more and more.

3. What inspired you?

Animated movies really inspire me. Especially art books or concept art for movies are really inspiring. My biggest dream is being able to draw for animated movies, and when you look at concept art that is made for it, it’s so different from how the final product looks. But it influences so much to the composition of the shot, how it tells the story, and those are often the most iconic moments in the movie. A good example would be “The Mandolorian.” I have only seen a few episodes, but when I’d watch it I would be like, “That is a concept art piece shot,” and then it would show up in the credits as a painting.

4. How do you get out of a creative block?

At first, I ensure that all of my physical needs are met, like being hydrated, getting enough sleep, etc. But I often go back to things that I enjoyed as a child, like I would watch speedpaints that inspired me to draw in middle school, I would watch movies from my childhood, I would listen to Pokemon video game soundtracks, etc. If I need to push it a little more, often I would collage pictures of what I want on top of each other. I would take a picture reference of something really good and then I would cut that with what I want and manipulate it how I want and I would draw over it. I would help me make a painting without painting it.

5. What designer or artist inspires you?

Right now who inspires me is neytirixx. I particularly love her YouTube channel. The series that she really delved into is called “OC redesign.” She does a lot of storytelling in her work. Another artist that inspires me is called River Spirit, and she is more present on YouTube and DeviantArt as well, and she started getting a fanbase because of Warrior Cats fanart. My other favorite artist, not style-wise, but who I think about a lot is Qinniart; she did a lot of watercolor pieces. I didn’t know about her [medical] condition while she was making art, and it inspires me more. Another one is Yuumei; she does a lot of really beautiful digital paintings and what I love about her paintings is that she really tries to take advantage of the horizon lines. A lot of her works make commentary on modernism/industrialism vs. nature.

6. What do you do in your spare time?

I spend time with my roommates and my boyfriend. I don’t go out much, unless it is planned two weeks in advance, because that is how my life is now. I cook a lot. I have a fish tank, I would guess fishkeeping because I take care of a fish and a snail. I would visit my family. Just relax in general.

7. Did

have anyone show you the ropes of illustration? Like a mentor?

I never had a specific mentor, it was more copying whatever I liked from other people. It is very helpful to have a mentor but I was very lucky because in my Illustration program we had this Illustration Student Group (which I am now the president of) and we would have these regular meetings. Before COVID, we would always meet in person and everybody would be drawing, and we would show what everyone would be doing, and it would always be a nice opportunity to learn from each other. We would be networking illustrators, and I am hoping to get this going back this semester but it is hard since people are still adjusting and burnt out.

8. What are your proudest achievements?

I suppose the first time was when I created an art series and sold it at a convention. Illustration Student Group 2020 hosted an art convention called INK Fest [Illustration N Krafts festival] and it happened in the fall and I had an idea to create an inktober series and I called it “Flesh and Bones,” and I adored the series because I could do it in a reasonable time and it was practice for me. I was also making friends and being inspired by other artists at the school, and it was a really cool experience. My roommate and I would help each other cut stickers and afterwards it was like, “Wow I did it, I can’t wait to do it again!”

Recently, my proudest achievement was putting on a Wicked Week coloring for the Illustration Student Group and students submitting a coloring sheet design that we printed, and students would then come in and then they would pick out what sheets they wanted and they would color them. A lot of people were making connections, and we had a mini gallery there so freshman students were like, “I have never seen my work on a wall before,” and I thought “Man, I should do that more!” And there were other events like that: a portrait event where we helped people who might have body dysphoria or are trangender and those who weren’t fully happy with the way they looked, so we would draw them the way they wanted to look.

9. If you were not in illustration or design in general, what would be your Plan B?

My Plan B would be Marine Biology or tutoring. I had a lot of campus jobs, one of them being a peer tutor, it was definitely one of the best jobs on campus being a peer tutor at the ACT, because they really teach you skills that you’ll use. So a fall back would definitely be to be a tutor or help in education somehow. Another one would be similar to my other campus job where I worked as a community director so I kind of helped clubs manage themselves so that they could stay recognized. I made monthly newsletters. So I love to do that for art exhibits, because they send newsletters on upcoming events or call for work and stuff like that.

I N T E R V I E W

you

10. Any wacky stories you have?

A lot of things in the school are planned very last minute which can be kinda frustrating. One example could be when I asked the staff in this one space for the Wicked Week event for more tables and they never got back to me on that, so I ended up asking faculty that was helping me with the event, and we were able to find tables in a room and kinda take them the event.

At another event that was run by the previous ISG president, she was helping a guest speaker with her virtual panel and they ended up having a troll there, and their audio was on and they ended up playing really crude and sexually driven music and they kept unmuting themselves and making noises. They kept coming back as a different account each time somehow.

Another time I was actually concerned, a faculty member was losing it because he likes to ramble a lot normally. He doesn’t have a lot of confidence and he gets nervous when he speaks so he tends to talk more which can make his classes be drawn out, and this can be hard for virtual classes. So he created this character called “Father Time.” He dressed up as a big, white bearded wizard and he would speak like “T’was foretold,” but he did it for so long, like it was not for one class, it was for a whole semester! I mean, in any community of artists, you will have a lot of individuals. Very diverse!

All works by Laiqah Hanold

Biography

I am a Graphic Design student at Columbia College Chicago. I am from the south side of Chicago. During my free time I like to hang out with my friends or girlfriend. I also enjoy playing video games and sports. My goal after college is to work as a Graphic Designer at a company in downtown Chicago.

Oskar Adame

I am an Aquarius/Pisces Cusp, cat lover, screen obsessed, if it ain’t caffeinated caffeinate it again, I have been creative always, got my BS from Stanford in English, but decided a needed a change. I love proper grammar, pop art, sarcastic humor and playing colorfully. I am currently a Senior, Graphic Design + Publication student at Columbia College Chicago. (btw, I hate the camping)

Hey! My names Sarah and I’m currently pursuing a BFA in graphic design from Columbia College Chicago. When I’m not working, you can find me thrifting, doodling, watching movies and drinking copious amounts of coffee.

Hi! I’m an illustrator and designer pursuing my BFA in graphic design at Columbia College Chicago. For work I design for The Department of Exhibitions, Performance and Student Spaces! While not at work, I enjoy making comics and spending time with my two cats.

My name is Kevin Block, and I am a Chicago based graphic designer with a strong passion to grow and learn. I am currently a student at Columbia College of Chicago majoring in graphic design and minoring in marketing.

Alexa Anderson

Sarah Balog

Gray Beyer

Kevin Block

Hi! I’m a third year graphic design student here at Columbia College Chicago. I dream big and work hard to achieve my goals. The long term goal is to have my own design studio specializing in advertisement design and branding.

I am a dog lover, a bookworm, and haven been artistic my entire life. I love using illustrations and color, and those reflect heavily in my designs. I am currently a graphic design student at Columbia College Chicago.

Im a Graphic Design Major with an Associates in Fashion Merchandising. I believe Art and Design is a powerful thing that brings us together. I am passionate in what I do and I hope to one day use my passions and skills to make the world a better place through the use of design in our world.

My name is Magnus Gallegos, an undergrad at Columbia College Chicago, and I am majoring in Graphic Design. I take inspiration from many different mediums, and I like to venture into new territory. My main inspirations come from music, fashion, and sneaker culture. I do illustrations, logo work, photography, and cover artwork. However, I hope to stretch my hands wherever I can.

Hi, my name is Cassidy, an undergrad at Columbia College, and I’m currently pursuing a major in graphic design with a minor in photography. I am a lover of all things nerdy and pop culture which is what inspires my work a lot. I am really excited to see how my talents can work together for me in the future.

Nona Burkhanova

Emma Damm

Nataly Flores

Magnus Gallegos

Cassidy Hicks

Hey! I’m passionate about storytelling through graphic design and illustration. I love expressing offbeat narratives through unconventional visual languages. When I’m not working you can find me reading fantasy books, binge-watching reality tv, and writing queer love stories.

I am a Graphic Design student at Columbia College Chicago with an Associate’s in Graphic Arts. Who likes to set goals and achieve them at the best of my ability. My short term goal, is to get a job in the design industry. Long term goal is to make movie posters for companies like Warner Bros and Disney.

Hello! I’m a Graphic Design major aiming for my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Columbia College Chicago and I’m President of the Columbia student chapter of AIGA. My hobbies include collecting vinyls, reviewing movies, and binging my favorite shows, Friends or One Tree Hill, all over again. My biggest career aspiration is to be a Creative Director in the music industry, and I hope to be able to intern or work at a record label sometime soon as a designer.

Hi, my name is Paola Nuno. I am currently a student at Columbia College Chicago majoring in Graphic Design and minoring in Animation. I like to experiment with different art mediums but I mainly prefer to work with inks. During my free time I enjoy watching anime, playing games or collecting/reading manga.

Omar Ojeda is a senior graphic design student at Columbia College Chicago. He has a strong passion for designing compelling brand identities, packaging, and merchandise. When he is not occupied on a design project, he spends his time at museums, concerts and shopping around.

Ariana Marshall

Anthony Medina

Kaia MorrisonBurks

Paola Nuno

Omar Ojeda

I’m a Senior Graphic Design Student at Columbia College Chicago. Outside of the classroom I’m TRIO Cap Colum’s waffle making guru. While my desire to make Michelin star level waffles is great, my life goal is to make my home a museum of instruments from around the world.

I am a junior Graphic Design major at Columbia College Chicago. When I am not doing homework I am watching or listening anything to do with horror which is the reason why I got into graphic design. My goal in life is to either go to haunted locations or design movie/album covers.

Hi! My name is Sara Stead and I am a Senior majoring in Graphic Design at Columbia College Chicago. I am a lover of all things art, fashion, and design. I really enjoy publication and packaging design, and I am excited to see where these interests will take me through my career in the future.

I’m a student at Columbia College Chicago, studying for my BA in Graphic Design with a concentration in Web Design. I love learning about anything and everything, and using that information to experiment with my designs. I also love spending time with my family, trying new restaurants, and walking my dog Hero.

I am Xuewei Wu and I am a graphic design student of Columbia College Chicago. I am really looking forward the future, even though I do not know what will happen. Moving forward, and not turning back.

Marco Rodriguez

Sofia Salgado

Sara Stead

Kimberly Vela

Xuewei Wu

ABOUT COLUMBIA

Columbia College Chicago is a private, nonprofit college offering a distinctive curriculum that blends creative and media arts, liberal arts, and business for 8,000 students in more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Dedicated to academic excellence and long-term career success, Columbia College Chicago creates a dynamic, challenging and collaborative space for students who experience the world through a creative lens.

VALUE

-Columbia has more than 96,000 alumni, making our network among the largest of any arts and media college in the world.

ACADEMICS

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-More than 100 exciting academic majors and programs.

 -We believe a solid foundation in the liberal arts and sciences is essential to any creative career. That’s why every undergraduate must complete the requirements of the Liberal Arts and Sciences Core.

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-Emphasis on the body of work: Students can develop professional-grade portfolios over their course of study.

 -Average class size: fewer than 20  -Accredited by The Higher Learning Commission

STUDENTS

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-7,809 undergraduate and 311 graduate students come from nearly every state and more than 25 countries. (Fall ‘16)

-One-third of our student body is African American, Latino, Asian, Native American, Pacific Islander, or multiracial.

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-Approximately 20 percent of Columbia students are first-generation college attendees.

STUDENT LIFE

-Columbia students are creatively charged, seeing and understanding the world through a creative lens. They’re driven to pursue their passions and are willing to put in the hard work to get there.



-The city is our campus and a major part of student life at Columbia. Chicago is our



laboratory and our playground, and our students explore and sink their teeth into the vast cultural and professional opportunities that abound in this world-class city.

 -Nearly 2,500 students live in our residence centers, all located just steps from our main campus.

 -More than 85 student organizations – from the Student Dance Organization to Japanese Anime and Manga – express the diversity, interests, and energy of our students.

 -We do it, watch it, support it, applaud it: We are one of the largest presenters of cultural events in the city, with hundreds of events crowding our calendar each year–including student performances and gallery showings, faculty and guest lectures, readings, and performances.

-Columbia College Chicago’s first-ever Student Center is open to our community of creatives. The five-story, 114,000 square-foot space is the campus hub for gathering, collaborating, learning and celebrating. The Student Center is a stage, a canvas, a hub for innovation and creativity—a place to Shape What’s Next

Columbia College Chicago and the institution continue to expand its educational programs and add to its physical campus by purchasing available buildings in the south loop. This plays a significant part in its presence in the south loop and downtown Chicago. Today, the college occupies almost two dozen buildings and utilizes over 2.5 Million square feet.