AIGA Detroit’s 2024 Student Portfolio Review

We’re seeking professional designers and educators to meet with students and review their portfolios at the AIGA Student Portfolio Review. 

The review will be held Saturday, March 16  at Apple Developer Academy (660 Woodward Ave., Suite 200, Detroit, MI 48226). Design students from various area programs will present their work to you in one-on-one sessions, giving you a valuable opportunity to shape future designers soon entering the profession.

The day begins at 10 am with student registration, guest keynote speakers, workshops and lunch. The one-on-one portfolio review sessions will take place from 1-4pm. You are welcome to join us for the entire day or check in at 12:30 pm.

Feel free to pass this request along to your co-workers and others. We couldn’t do this without you! 

Committed to sharing Black design and art perspectives from our community beyond Black History Month, AIGA Detroit has compiled a list of Black creators that are active in our community.

By Donna Jackson
10 – 12 minute read

MeMe Anderson

Melinda MeMe Anderson obtained a degree in architecture from the University of Michigan. Upon graduation, Melinda’s travels led her to live and work abroad in Berlin and Palermo in architecture and set design, where she developed a global perspective on art and design that she has accessed throughout her career. In 2011 Melinda was hired on as the Creative Director of Design Core Detroit. 

As Creative Director, she was responsible for the vision, strategy and structure of the Detroit Design Festival (now the Detroit Month of Design) for eight years. Within that role, Melinda engaged 3,000 designers and helped to activate 12 neighborhoods throughout the city of Detroit. In 2019 Melinda launched Studio M Detroit full-time to continue to create bold and courageous event experiences. 

She also continues to develop methods to use art, ephemeral architecture, and design to thoughtfully and respectfully engage with communities within Detroit. Through her studio she was awarded a grant from the Knight Art Challenge for a pop-up installation called Electric Fruit. She also was named a Notable Woman in Design by Crain’s in 2020. 

Melinda serves on the board of AIA Detroit, and when she isn’t creating, she frequently serves as a speaker and panelist on matters of design and authentic community engagement. Melinda is proud to use her considerable talents and experience to continue to produce bold and courageous event experiences that positively promote Detroit to a global audience.

www.studiomdetroit.com

Studio M Design is a purveyor of bold and courageous design. Our installations and environments are custom built and tailored to provide a unique event experience for everyone.

Jada Baskin

Jada Baskin is a graphic designer and photographer, who has a passion for visual storytelling. Ever since she was a little girl she loved seeing how all these different pieces of a brand came together to tell one story. She created JayDaché Enterprises LLC. with the goal of inspiring other creatives and women, through design, by just showing them that they can do it too. 

https://www.jaydache.com/
Instagram: @jaydache_ent

James Braddock

James Braddock, Detroit born and raised, is an illustrator/ 3D illustrator. His work focuses primarily on sci-fi and Afro-futurism. His goal is to build a world that is truly unique and important to him. Re-imagining stories from his life and those around him, he hopes to inspire people to go out and be all that it is that THEY choose to be. You can keep up with James’s offerings by signing up for his email list on his shop, Jimbosdrygoods.com.

Nneka Jackson

Nneka Jackson has a specialty in creating body adornment that inspires. A Signature Collection of Jewelry, accessories and wearable wings; handcrafted from rare materials and Divine vision. 

Nneka has been designing wearable art since she was a child but began selling her works in 2001. In 2020, Nneka was one of the winners in the Design in The City Competition sponsored by Gucci Changemakers. Her line has appeared in several prints and online publications including Ellements Magazine, Essence Magazine ( The Hot Hair Issue), The Detroit News, Blac Magazine, HauteIs Magazine, Urban Mainstream, Linger, and a host of others.

www.Nnekaj.com
Instagram: @bflyy7
Facebook: Nneka Jackson

Lindsay Jenkins

Lynzi is a women’s fashion brand for style-conscious women who want to look and feel brazen and feminine with a masculine undertone. It was founded by Detroit-native, Lindsay Jenkins, who began in 2014 when she was a senior at Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies. As a senior, Jenkins was required to create an art project of any kind as a graduation requirement; she chose to make two dresses. She realized that if she could do it for school then she could do it in a business. After all, fashion runs in her family — her mom, both paternal and maternal grandmothers, and great-grandmothers were all fashion designers and/or seamstresses. All the items are uniquely designed and produced in Detroit. We are a continual effort to uphold the Jenkins family legacy in the design and sewing business.

www.shoplynzi.com

Shayla Johnson

Scarlet Crane provides home decor products and lifestyle accessories made from sustainable, hand-printed textiles. Unique surface patterns range from free flowing florals to abstract textures in order to produce stylish and sophisticated collections for the DIY decorator as well as the interior and fashion market professionals. Scarlet Crane Creations operates in an entirely American supply chain with fabrics that are sourced in the US and production focused locally in Detroit, MI. All inks are also eco-friendly. All designs are designed Shayla Johnson, a maker in the Detroit area with a love for architecture and all things pattern.

I am passionate about creating hand-printed art and textiles that I can use to develop beautiful home decor collections and accessories. I love architecture and especially like to tell stories behind the structures. My line, The Detroit Collection, celebrates and supports Detroit’s rich architecture and communities with motifs and patterns that feature some of Detroit’s prized architectural gems.

https://scarletcrane.com/
Instagram: scarletcrane

Deon Mixon

Deon Mixon is a graphic designer, author, and entrepreneur from Detroit, MI who specializes in brand identity design. He is an alumnus of Cass Tech (2013) and Western Michigan University (2017) with his BFA in Graphic Design. Mixon is a Bill Gates Millennium Scholar, the author of the Lethal Creed Saga, designer of the Detroit Rise Flag (a new flag for the City of Detroit), and creator of the world’s premier graphic design education board game, Design Eye. He currently works as a brand identity designer at Gyro and as CEO of Design Eye Game.

https://www.deonmixon.com/
Instagram: deonmixon

Learn about the traditions and history of this Persian holiday leading up to a workshop on March 13th, 2021.

By AIGA Detroit
5-7 Minute Read

Persian New Year, نوروز (Nowruz, pronounced now-rooz) in Farsi and meaning new day in English, celebrates a fresh start and new beginning. Falling on the first day of spring sometime between March 19th and 22nd, also known as the vernal equinox, this Persian holiday dates back to the ancient Persian empire of 3000 years ago. نوروز (Nowruz) is rooted in the ancient Persian religion of Zoroastrianism which predates both Christianity and Islam. In Zoroastrianism, fire and water are considered symbols of purity and are consistent themes in the celebration of the holiday. This ritual isn’t bound to the borders of Iran — you can find نوروز (Nowruz) traditions across the span of the old Persian empire. Reaching from modern-day Iran to Afghanistan, and even within Turkey and India. The heritage of this Persian holiday of renewal and reflection is recognized in many Arab diasporas. When the day and the night are the same lengths, at the exact time of the equinox, the نوروز (Nowruz) celebrations begin! 

The هفت سین (Haft-Seen) and نوروز (Nowruz) Traditions

نوروز (Nowruz) preparations begin roughly three weeks before the equinox with the preparations of the هفت سین (Haft-Seen). هفت (Haft) meaning seven, and سین (Seen) meaning S’s refer to seven offerings laid upon a table symbolizing the essence of renewal in the new year. Seven, a lucky number to the Persian culture and people with regional or historical ties to Persia, also reiterates the bringing of new luck into the new year. The post نوروز (Nowruz) celebration lasting 13 days, a symbol of bad luck, ends with the release of that bad luck completing the ritual. The holiday focuses on bringing in new fortune and dispel any lingering negative energy, allowing for a fresh start.

There are many symbols and traditions that are common among all هفت سین (Haft-Seen), such as سبزه (Sabzeh): Some kind of sprout or grass that will continue to grow in the weeks leading up to the holiday, for rebirth and renewal. سنجد (Senjed): Dried fruit, ideally a sweet fruit from a lotus tree, for love. سیب (Sib): Apples, for beauty and health. سیر (Seer): Garlic, for medicine and protection. سمنو  (Samanue): A sweet pudding, for wealth and fertility and arguably the most important feature of the هفت سین (Haft-Seen). سرکه (Serkeh): Vinegar, for the patience and wisdom that comes with aging. سماق (Sumac): A Persian spice made from crushed sour red berries, for the sunrise of a new day and the defeat of the darkness as the days become longer. Other commonplaces for the هفت سین (Haft-Seen) include a mirror for reflection, a goldfish in a bowl of water for rebirth and renewal, and filling vessels inside of your home with water, to banish bad luck from your home. It is also common to paint eggs, symbolizing fertility. 

Other than the هفت سین (Haft-Seen), the “shaking of the house” is another important part of the holiday. “Pretty much everyone goes into a serious spring-cleaning mode, ridding their homes of any unnecessary clutter and lingering grime that’s settled in over the past year so they can start fresh. At this time of year in Iran, you’re likely to see countless Persian rugs hanging outside, where their owners can beat the dust out of them.” – Caroline Framke, from her article Nowruz Explained published via Vox. The Wednesday leading up to the holiday also carries significant traditions for purifying yourself of the previous year and preparing you for the new one ahead. On the last Wednesday before نوروز (Nowruz) participants jump over bonfires symbolizing the burning away of bad luck/negative energy, and the light overtaking the night. The قاشق زنی (Qashoq Zani) takes place at the beginning of the festival, where children go door to door banging spoons on cooking pots; they won’t relent until something sweet is put into them! Once the time of نوروز (Nowruz) arrives, it kicks off a 13-day celebration of dinners, family visits, and reflections on the year ahead. On the 13th day, you take the سبزه (Sabzeh) that’s been growing in the هفت سین (Haft-Seen) to whatever natural body of running water you can find and let it float away, to release the old and usher in the New Year. 13, an unlucky number in Persian culture, and this end to the 13th day is the final ritual in clearing the negative energy and beginning a new year. 

Celebrate With Us! نوروز مبارک (Happy Nowruz!)

AIGA Detroit is celebrating نوروز (Nowruz) with a greeting card workshop welcoming spring! Hosted by Parisa Tashakori, graphic designer and Department of Advertising, Public Relations & Media Design, University of CO, Boulder, This workshop will take place on Saturday, March 13 | 11am-2 pm EST, 9am-12pm MST. The event costs $10 for members and $20 for non-members of AIGA* and includes a set of greeting cards of your own design for you to send out wishing نوروز مبارک (A happy Nowruz)! We currently have space for 15-30 attendees. Register Here: https://detroit.aiga.org/event/persian-new-year-greeting-card-workshop/

About this event

Attention all design students! Network with industry leaders and receive valuable feedback in one-on-one portfolio reviews from experts.

Q: Who should attend?

A: If you’re a design student or a recent graduate, AIGA Detroit’s Student Portfolio Review 2024 is tailored just for you.

Q: What if my portfolio is only partially completed?

A: No worries! You’ll receive invaluable feedback from industry experts and educators who can guide your portfolio development.

Q: What if I’m only beginning my studies in graphic design and don’t feel ready for a portfolio review?

A: You’re in the right place! Join us to receive feedback on a single project, polish your resume, and gain insightful advice on kickstarting your design career. Discover what it’s like to speak with recruiters and attend enlightening presentations on careers in design. AIGA Detroit’s Student Portfolio Review 2024 is your stepping stone towards meaningful progress.

Register now and take the first steps towards a successful career in design!

• AIGA Student Members: $30
• Students Non-Members: $40
• No Refunds
• Keynote Speakers TBD and will be announced soon.

Call for Reviewers

We’re seeking professional designers and educators to meet with students and review their portfolios at the AIGA Student Portfolio Review.

The review will be held Saturday, March 16 at Apple Developer Academy (660 Woodward Ave., Suite 200, Detroit, MI 48226). Design students from various area programs will present their work to you in one-on-one sessions, giving you a valuable opportunity to shape future designers soon entering the profession.

The day begins at 10 am with student registration, guest keynote speakers, workshops and lunch. The one-on-one portfolio review sessions will take place from 1-4pm. You are welcome to join us for the entire day or check in at 12:30 pm. Be aware of traffic, parking and security check in will take some time as we will be in the heart of Downtown Detroit.

Feel free to pass this request along to your co-workers and others. We couldn’t do this without you! Reviewer Link

Workshop: Headshots via HNH-Studio
H&H Studio, where every photograph narrates a unique story.

AIGA Detroit is excited to announce our 2024 In-Kind Photography Partner HNH- Studio: Hyder Alfalih + Haidar Alkaftani will not only be documenting the whole day for AIGA, but will be providing 50 headshots for your professional profiles online. The first 50 who sign up at the door will be eligible for a Headshot at no extra cost. Come fresh, come clean and say Cheese.

When the opportunity arises we open our space to listen, learn, and live design together.
#AIGADetroit

Our guest on Thursday, November 9th, 2023 from 6:30PM – 9:00PM for our first Open Space Conversation will be Anne H. Berry, she is a writer, designer, and design educator at Cleveland State University. Her published writing includes “The Virtual Design Classroom” for Communication Arts magazine and “The Black Designer’s Identity” for the inaugural issue of the Recognize anthology featuring commentary from Indigenous people and people of color. She is also co-creator of the award-winning project Ongoing Matter: Democracy, Design, and the Mueller Report and managing editor of The Black Experience in Design: Identity, Expression & Reflection.

Our evening will consist of an open conversation with Anne H Berry, followed by a panel of black designers sharing their experiences and insights, concluding with a mix and mingle. Drinks and light snacks will be served.

Registration is open a flat fee for all students, members and general public.

We look forward to seeing you there.

IXD2 is for anyone interested in the intersection of design, technology, and community building. Whether you are a seasoned professional or just starting out in your career, IXD2 has something to offer everyone who is passionate about the digital spaces.

The opportunity to see peers in real life at IXD2 is an opportunity for attendees to connect with other like-minded individuals in the industry. You never know where these connections go next. You can reach out to exchange ideas, share experiences, and collaborate on projects.

The focus is on design and our legacy, to embrace fresh faces for the future. The speakers will discuss their experiences with cultivating community through craft and culture and how this has set them up to succeed.

Visit IXD2 to learn more about the agenda and purchase your tickets.

Share with friends! #IDX2 #AIGADetroit

AIGA Detroit is partnering with Adobe to connect with other local creatives for a fun and inspiring evening while you discover new features and workflows in Adobe Creative Cloud design tools. Plus, get a first hand look at Adobe’s new generative AI tool, Adobe Firefly! Let us show you just how easy it is to integrate Adobe Express into your workflow and quickly access your Photoshop and Illustrator assets to create standout content, videos, marketing materials, and more. 

Drinks and light appetizers will be available courtesy of Adobe. Attendees will be entered to win one of two Creative Cloud subscriptions.

Please note that our event has limited capacity, so kindly RSVP only if you plan to attend. Looking forward to connecting with you!

Share with friends! #AdobeCommunity #AIGADetroit

Free Registration

We’re seeking professional designers and educators.
The day begins at 10 am with student registration, guest keynote, and lunch. The one-on-one portfolio review sessions will take place from 1-4pm. You are welcome to join us for the entire day or check-in at 12:45 pm. If you are interested in participating, please complete the following form 2023 AIGA Student Portfolio Review: Reviewer Signup Form.

Thank you, we couldn’t do this without you! 

Attention all design students! Are you ready to take your portfolio to the next level? Join us for the AIGA Student Portfolio Review on Saturday, April 1st at 10:00 AM at the Kresge Art Center. You’ll have the opportunity to network with industry leaders, receive one-on-one portfolio reviews, attend informative workshops, and enjoy delicious food. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to gain valuable insights and make meaningful connections.

Register now and take the first step towards a successful career in design!

• AIGA Student Members: $15
• Student Non-Members: $25
• At the door/Flat Fee: $30
• No Refunds

Keynote Speakers:

Kelly Mier O’Hara
Art Director, Herman Miller 

Kelly is an experienced art director with a background in both agency and in-house design. She specializes in bringing brands to life through visual storytelling. Her work has been featured in global advertising campaigns, events and exhibitions, editorial layouts, and digital media. Kelly currently leads the design team at Herman Miller, continuing the American furniture brand’s 100-year legacy of bold, joyful graphic design. 
 

Ken Walker 
Brand Strategist, Entrepreneur, Educator

Ken is an impact leader who in 2018, launched a lifestyle clothing brand, K. Walker Collective, setting
out to alleviate the barriers of self-expression for urban professionals. He opened his flagship storefront in Midtown Detroit on November 2022 and recently designed a custom jersey for the Detroit Pistons’ NBA G League. In advertising for a decade he has built marketing campaigns for Cadillac, Travelocity, Ford, Smashburger and Delta Vacations. 

2022 Achievements:

• Rising Star Award
  Detroit Phoenix Center
• Entrepreneur of the Year
  Michigan Diversity Council’s National Black Men in Leadership Summit 
• Spirit of Detroit Award
  Office of Mary Sheffield, Detroit City Council President

Workshops:

• Risograph with Rachel Hays of Taxonomy Press
• Profile Picture Booth
• Career Development: Resume / Interview Tips / PR

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AIGA Detroit

AIGA West Michigan

MSU

Cumulus Conference 2022 will take place in Detroit at the College for Creative Studies. 

Design for Adaptation will look at what role designers play in fostering Adaptation through a wide range of approaches, methods, visions, & experiments that draw on Adaptation to reduce vulnerabilities & foster resilience for any community, big or small.⁠

⁠Registration is open! There are virtual and in-person registration options, so make sure you choose the appropriate one!⁠

Register

Sadie Red Wing | Assistant Professor, OCAD U

CoAD’s Design x Technology Lecture Series presents:
Sadie Red Wing: Designing for Sovereign Tribal Nations
This lecture is co-presented by AIGA Detroit.

Thursday, October 13, 2022 | 6:00pm – 7:00pm (ET)
Room: Lear Auditorium (T429) at LTU and live-streamed
Free and open to the public. Lite pizza dinner will be served.

REGISTER: https://www.ltu.edu/architecture_and_design/events/9def294b-6222-4180-8676-74dbba0e84a0 

Join Lawrence Technological University’s College of Architecture and Design as we present another innovative Fall 2022 lecture with Assistant Professor at OCAD University, Sadie Red Wing.

Native American graphic design presents a strong modality based on graphical representation to express distinctive qualities of sovereignty. The understanding behind sovereign distinction of representational forms requires the indigenous education of traditional symbolism specific to the tribal audience. Any form created by an indigenous designer reflects the identity of the intended audience, for the cultural norm of tribal communication demands identification from the form to the engagers.

When engaging in tribal communication through representational forms, the visual language—of the form—needs correct translation to the fluent receiver. A problem in Native American graphic design remains the designer’s irresponsibility to communicate a sovereign visual language appropriately due to their lack of education in the traditional symbolism. Indigenous designers uneducated in their tribe’s graphical conventions resort to “pan-Indian” imagery when creating visual forms.

The term pan-Indian refers to the grouping of all Native American tribes into a single, denounced category when classifying a genre. Pan-Indian graphic design conveys meaningless and inappropriate messages that continue the stream of Native American stereotypes. Stereotypical imagery substituted for traditional symbolism degrades the visual representation of an (already-sensitive) indigenous culture.

When bringing indigenous perspective into design research or the practice of graphic design, various definitions need to be explored. Terms such as: decolonization, decoloniality, pan-indianism, cultural appreciation, and visual sovereignty will be defined during the session.

About Sadie

Sadie Red Wing is a Lakota graphic designer and advocate from the Spirit Lake Nation of Fort Totten, North Dakota. Red Wing earned her BFA in New Media Arts and Interactive Design at the Institute of American Indian Arts. She received her Master of Graphic Design from North Carolina State University. Her research on cultural revitalization through design tools and strategies created a new demand for tribal competence in graphic design research. Red Wing urges Native American graphic designers to express visual sovereignty in their design work, as well as, encourages academia to include an indigenous perspective in design curriculum. Currently, Red Wing serves as an Assistant Professor at OCAD University (Toronto, ONT).

@ltu_coad | @aigadetroit | @sadieredwing

Hear us at Clubhouse on Friday, April 30, 2021 at 1 PM!

What makes a product stand out? How do we provide audiences with stories that are engaging and add consistent value for the consumer? Join our panelists as we discuss ways to break through the noise in the marketplace with compelling creative content across a variety of platformsPanelist: Kacha Azema Creative Director at Skidmore Studio and Nakita Pope, Co-founder of Bella Boss Box.

Register via https://aiga.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEqduGprzooHd08rP-UwKT5FkvApPRaVRcl 

Clubhouse: https://www.joinclubhouse.com/event/xla3nZQw or Zoom