Design Rebels: Project Winterfood

Project Winterfood, the final project of my Design Rebels students this year, had a hugely successful opening event this past Wednesday night. Despite the miserably rainy weather scores of people came out to learn more about local food, sample delicious items from local businesses, enjoy live music, and buy art to support two area non-profit organizations. The art has now traveled over to Gallery 5 for an extended exhibition through the end of December. If you're in the area I hope you'll stop by and check it out.

The exhibition focused on three foods that are available in Virginia in the winter: apples, spinach, and sweet potatoes...

Free brochures with recipes and details on the benefits of eating local...

Fee apples and information on local food options...

Dozens of works on display from students area artists...

Event partners talk with visitors about various local food options, including farmers' markets and CSAs...

A map of the region highlighted local grocery stores, restaurants, CSAs, and farmers' markets...

Free food samples dished out by two of the Design Rebels...

Work by 3-5 year olds inspired by the project!...

The Farm To Family Bus parked outside...

Live music keeping the mood festive...


Kids especially enjoyed the free apples...


Apple Cardigan by Design Rebel Kira Lantz...

ALR on Tour: September - October

I'm going to be doing a lot of traveling and lecturing over the coming months.
If you're in the area(s) I hope you'll check out one or more of these...

This Wednesday September 17th: Richmond, VA
Creative Reuse Workshop for Stuff Inc.
7-9pm @ 812 W. Franklin St. Rm 300
RSVP sarah AT richmondstuff.org
$3 Suggested Donation

September 30th: Richmond, VA
The Pros & Cons of Pro Bono talk for Haustalk
7pm @ Gallery 5 200 W. Marshall Street
FREE

October 7th: Richmond, VA
Talk 20 slide presention on Skull-A-Day
6pm @1708 Gallery 319 W. Broad St.
RSVP HERE
FREE

October 9th: Hollywood, CA
Skulls exhibition opening & Book Signing @ Chaos Gallery at Museum of Death
6-9pm @ 6033 Hollywood Blvd.
(exhibition runs through just October 14th)

October 15th: Louisville, KY
Lecture & Book Signing
Louisville Graphic Design Association 100 Show
6-9pm @ The Mellwood Art Center 1860 Mellwood Ave.

October 17th: Richmond, VA
Book signing at Blood Lake
7:30-11:30 @ 13131 Overhill Lake Lane

October 25th: Sandusky, OH
Skull-A-Day exhibition Lecture & Book Signing.
Sandusky Cultural Art Center
Details TBA @ 2130 Hayes Ave.

October 31st: Philadelphia, PA
Talk, workshop, & book signing.
Day of The Dead event at the M��tter Museum
10am-5pm @ 19 S. 22nd St.
Free with museum admission.

Asphalt Orchestra

Just had to share about a fun project I recently did the logo design for: The Asphalt Orchestra is an alternative marching band created by Bang on A Can. They play songs by Bj��rk, Frank Zappa, and Swedish metal band Meshuggah to name a few composers that you won't hear on the usual school band roster. And to top it off all their first gig is in front of Lincoln Center. NYC peeps have a few more chances to catch them this week for free(!), details about the performances are HERE.

ALR in Austin

Just a reminder that I will be speaking at this year's How Design Conference in Austin, Texas. The event runs June 24-27 and features over 60 sessions on everything from improving software skills to finding creative inspiration. Tickets are still available for the entire conference, though you can also pay for just individual days and/or sessions.

My session is called "Making A Living As A Socially Conscious Designer" and is on Thursday the 25th at 2pm. Hope to see you there!

Get more info on the conference HERE.

Reclaimed Trophies

I was recently hired to design four trophies for the Better Housing Coalition here in Richmond, VA. The organization, which builds housing in the city for people who usually can't afford it, is having their first annual Leadership Awards ceremony in an old wood mill that is in the process of being transformed into a mixed-use community. In the spirit of the transformation I was invited to scavenge materials that were left over from the previous owners to create the trophies. They are entirely made from the reclaimed materials and finished with water-based stains and coatings. Titles and descriptions of each award were used as inspiration for the designs...


Creative Collaborator - Individual or entity that encourages and participates in community enhancing collaborations.























Changer of Lives - Individual or entity that strengthens families and improves lives within Greater Richmond.





















Community Revitalizer - Individual or entity that strives to positively transform areas within Greater Richmond.























Henry David Thoreau Environmental Conservator - Individual or entity that promotes preservation of the earth through exemplary environmental responsibility and innovative green practices.

Project M now accepting applications

The Project M summer 2009 program is now accepting applications. Since 2003 the Project has taken design students on a month long journey to discover ways to use their skills for social good. In 2007 they produced the project Buy-A-Meter project to help area residents buy electric meters. This year the project, which only accepts 8 students, will be in Greensboro, Alabama. For more details download the application PDF HERE.

Donations For Creations: Richmond, VA - Nov. 22nd

As part of their final project, students from Design Rebels, my class on socially conscious graphic design at Virginia Commonwealth University, have set up an event for this Saturday called Donations for Creations that will benefit Daily Planet, an area homeless services center. Folks throughout the Richmond area are encourage to attend:

Donations for Creations
November 22nd, Saturday
2:00pm ��� 8:00pm
1509 W. Main Street
Richmond, Virginia

Come bring donations of winter clothes and non-perishable food for the Daily Planet homeless aid provider, and exchange them for artwork from local artists and artisans.

Check our blog for a list of items the Daily Planet needs to aid people without a place to live this winter.

The more generous your donation, the more fabulous the art piece you can take home with you. Please come out and join together with Richmond's artists to promote art while helping the community.

If you can't make it to our event or would like to support the Daily Planet directly, you may do so here.

There will also be musical acts performing throughout the afternoon.

The students/event were already featured on a local web video program MashUp (click the Nov. 14th episdoe).

Get more info on their blog HERE.

Haustalks: Richmond, VA

Folks in the Richmond, Virginia area should check out Haustalk, a series of free, monthly socially conscious design forms curated by John O'Neil of Thinkhaus Design at Gallery 5.

The upcoming schedule is as follows...

October 22
Living, Working, and Designing Green: Eco Friendly Consciousness, Part 2
Gallery 5, 7:00 PM

Featuring:
Jocelyn Tice, owner of Green Duck
Green Duck Biodegradables is a local company that makes plant-based packaging available to customers who strive to be Green.

Copeland Casati, President of Green Modern Kits
Green Modern Kits is a team of green architects, house kit fabricators, industrial designers, and furniture craftsmen who produce eco friendly affordable green housing and furniture plans.

Scott Kyle, Founder of Full Scale Architecture
Full Scale Architecture believes advanced green is better than good design. It���s great design. It���s not just about aesthetic appeal, but environmental harmony. And it���s not just sustainable, but regenerative.

November 19
Ethnic and Racial Stereotypes In Mass Media
Gallery 5, 7:00 PM

Featuring:
VCU Graphic Design Sophomore Students
A group of students from the VCU Graphic Design Department, School of the Arts, will be presenting their research on how ethnic and racial stereotypes are currently being used in advertising, brands, and other media outlets.

The Conciliation Project
The Conciliation Project is a social justice nonprofit theatre company in Richmond that develops and conducts theatre performances concerning the historical legacy of racism in America. The theatre performers will be discussing their plays and will provide an overview of the history of racism in America.

December 17
The Gift of Design: Design It Yourself (DIY)
Gallery 5, 7:00 PM

Gallery 5
200 W. Marshall St.
Richmond, Virginia 23220
Phone: 804 644-0005
gallery 5@gallery5arts.org

ALR on tour: South Carolina

I spent this past Thursday through Sunday in Columbia, South Carolina as a guest of the South Carolina AIGA. I gave a lecture on living/working as a socially conscious designer and my Skull-A-Day project to student and professional members of the AIGA, I also met with design students at South Carolina University, and was one of the judges for the AIGA InShow design competition. Thanks to all of the AIGA folks who were such kind hosts, I really enjoyed my visit!

Designism 3.0: October 2nd, NYC

On Thursday, October 2nd the Art Directors Club in NYC will host Designism 3.0, the third annual installment of an ongoing series of talks/discussions about socially conscious design...

Design activism deconstructed! Participate in an evening of discussion, debate, and presentations on Design Activism produced by Brian Collins, COLLINS, and Benjamin Palmer, The Barbarian Group.

A Designism Manifesto delivered by Allan Chochinov, Core77, is followed by IDEO who will share three design-driven projects that initiated real change. Six creatives present forward-thinking projects, and their results, in lightning speed���TAXI, Brainforest, MendeDesign, Avenue A|Razorfish, lettera27, and Brian Hurewitz with lolz. Milton Glaser shares his thoughts on Propaganda. Steven Heller moderates a discussion on the design of politics between Helen Walters, BusinessWeek Innovation & Design channel, Tony Hendra frequent contributor to The Huffington Post, Milton Glaser and surprise guests. ADC introduces its ingenious new tool to support the creative activist community with some additional tools for creatives doing pro bono work.

$30 ADC Members
$40 Non-Members
Opening Sappi Reception from 5:30-6:45pm is free to all who RSVP.

For more details visit the ADC website HERE.