August Featured Designer Profile:

Terry McDonald

Title: Designer/Owner
Company: Artisan Graphics
Web site: www.portfolios.com/artisangraphics
Residence: Pleasanton, CA

Sample work
"The attached samples are a selection of Artisan Graphics logo designs. One is my own logo symbol, 3 were created pro-bono for non-profit organizations...the rest were for paying clients.

I really enjoy designing logos and at our August CCGDP meeting I'll talk about how I work with my clients in this specific area - including the importance of the initial client interview and how to involve the client in the logo design process. I also look forward to hearing about how other designers approach this area of design."


























Background: I wanted to be a commercial artist since my first calligraphy lesson in the 7th grade. Also, during my growing-up years my Mom made hand drawn posters for the PTA, along with doing lots of other "artsy" projects...I remember thinking "I want to do THAT!" One of my jobs during my high school years was doing the hand-lettered calligraphy for sand-blasting-engraved wedding champagne glasses. In my early 20's I worked as a loan officer, which was good, basic business experience for when I would soon afterward start my OWN business. During the first year I had my business license, I worked for a civil engineer, doing ink-on-mylar drafting while taking on freelance design projects; mostly logo design, ad layouts, and calligraphy projects. My drafting background led to another specialty: cartography. I designed maps and mapping systems for several city planning departments during my traditional design years. I also rented classrooms in the local community center and taught classes in calligraphy and workshops in general graphic design. In 1994, after 13 years in traditional freelance design, I bought my first Macintosh computer system, and since then my business has had a focus on digital design.

Education: Most of my training and experience has been "seat-of-the-pants." I had a mixed bag of art and artisan experiences in high school and then spent some time in the Graphic Arts program at Laney College, Oakland - mostly introductory courses in traditional design: layout & paste-up/illustration & drawing/concepts in design. My computer skills have all been self-taught.

Community involvement: I've been part of many community fundraising projects and events where I've offered my artistic as well as organizational skills. For the past 16+ years I've donated volunteer time each week at a Respite Program for people with dementia - mainly seniors with Alzheimers Disease. What began with the intention of creating art activities for participants has evolved to include doing pro-bono work for the program in general; like monthly calendar, flyers, and whatever other assistance I can offer.

Other accomplishments: I am the "moderator" for a networking group, CommArt (Communication Arts Network), for professionals in the communication arts industry. We have monthly luncheon meetings in San Ramon, and I've managed and led these monthly meetings for over 10 years now.

Career turning points: Making the shift from traditional graphic design to computer-generated design made a big difference in offering me more ways to generate income as an independent Graphic Designer. And wow, the things I can create! No more cleaning Rapidograph ink pens! No more sharpening those blue pencils and heating up the waxer to do layout and paste-up by hand...well, at least I don't do those things TOO often any more...

Advice for an ambitious young designer: Ask questions of all designers you meet; find out what they like about their work and what they don't like. There are many ways to be a Graphic Designer these days, so be open and willing to experiment, and change or expand your focus and your specializations from time to time - to stay fresh and passionate about what you create. As in any work or business, it's not ALL exciting - some designing is just plain work - but I consider it a gift to be able to make money while also being able to express my creativity.

August 2006 Featured Speaker Profile:

Jim Baehr

Representing: American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA)
Role: Treasurer and Executive Committee Member
Company: Speedbump
Web site: http://www.sbump.com...
Residence: Alamo, CA

Discussion Topic
American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) - Jim will discuss what AIGA is doing for the Graphic Arts industry, and the benefits of becoming an
AIGA member of the SF chapter. If you have any questions you would like Jim to come prepared to answer please contact the organizer or send them by e-mail to Nancy.

Biography: Jim is a graduate of California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). He worked for the last 10 years in Los Angeles with Adams Morioka and Maddocks & Company as a senior designer before moving into operations positions with Maddocks and Kim Baer Design Associates (KBDA). Jim also received an Associate in Architectural Design from the Phoenix Institute of Technology and has experience with residential and commercial building projects as both designer and project manager. Currently, Jim?s company Speedbump, located in the East Bay town of Alamo, provides a resource for project-based consultation in multiple areas of design and creative studio operational/management issues.

Jim currently serves as the Treasurer on the board of the San Francisco chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) and previously served AIGA Los Angeles as Vice President of Events as well as holding a position on their Advisory Board. His professional affiliations include the AIGA and the SEGD (Society for Environmental Graphic Design). In addition, he teaches design courses at The Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

January 2007 Featured Speaker Profile:

Cindy Ng

representing: Graphic Artists Guild (GAG)
role: Committee Member
company: Favorite Printing, Finger Magic
web site: www.favoriteprinting.com and www.fingermagic.com
residence: San Leandro, CA

discussion topic:
Graphic Artists Guild (GAG) - Cindy will discuss what GAG is doing for the Graphic Arts industry, and the benefits of becoming a NorCal GAG member. If you have any questions you would like Cindy to come prepared to answer please contact Nancy before Sunday, January 14th.

background: self taught graphic designer coupled with some design classes at the City College in San Francisco

education: Bachelor of Science in Business Economics from UC Davis

community involvement: members of the GAG, & WADC(Western Art Directors Club)

business accomplishments:

• achieved in selling origami kits to over 200 stores around the nation, including the SFMOMA, the Smithsonian, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Victoria & Albert Museum, and the NY Botanical Garden.
  
• my products has been featured in The Washington Post, Craftrends Magazine, along with a 15-20 sec feature on Channel 26 KTSF demonstrating how to fold a giant origami froggie.
  

advice for an ambitious young designer: believe in your talents and ideas, always think about & work on sales, establish good relationships with everyone you meet, especially your vendors, and along with a lot of hardwork and maybe some luck and patience too...I am still learning too - so much to learn!

February 2007 Feature Designers:

Terry McDonald

Title: Designer/Owner
Company: Artisan Graphics
Web site: www.portfolios.com/artisangraphics
Residence: Pleasanton, CA

Brian Thivierge

Title: Web & Graphic Artisan
Company: Epoch Graphics
Web site: www.EpochGraphics.com
Residence: Brentwood, CA

Nancy Sinsel

Title: Design Partner
Company: Red Dog Graphics - official site sponsor
Web site: www.RedDogBytes.com
Residence: Pleasant Hill, CA

April 2007 Featured Designer Profile:

Cindy Ng

title: Owner
company: Favorite Printing, Finger Magic
web site: www.favoriteprinting.com and www.fingermagic.com
location: San Leandro, CA

discussion topic:
A presentation from Cindy Ng about self promotion to the press and to potential clients; plus on sales - starting from zero and how she found clients one at a time.

background: self taught graphic designer coupled with some design classes at the City College in San Francisco

education: Bachelor of Science in Business Economics from UC Davis

community involvement: members of the GAG, & WADC(Western Art Directors Club)

business accomplishments:

• achieved in selling origami kits to over 200 stores around the nation, including the SFMOMA, the Smithsonian, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Victoria & Albert Museum, and the NY Botanical Garden.
  
• my products has been featured in The Washington Post, Craftrends Magazine, along with a 15-20 sec feature on Channel 26 KTSF demonstrating how to fold a giant origami froggie.
  

advice for an ambitious young designer: believe in your talents and ideas, always think about & work on sales, establish good relationships with everyone you meet, especially your vendors, and along with a lot of hardwork and maybe some luck and patience too...I am still learning too - so much to learn!

April 2008 Featured Designer:

Laurie Prindle

title: Graphic Designer
company: Blue Heron Graphics
web site: www.creativeshake.com/BlueHeronGraphics
residence: Walnut Creek, CA
background: Non-profit

education:
Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Ethnic Studies - Humanities, University of California, Berkeley.
Certificate in Visual Communications, Diablo Valley College

community involvement:
Laurie has been active in the green business movement for several years. Blue Heron Graphics has been a Certified Contra Costa Green Business since 2004. Laurie's company is also a member of the Sustainable Business Alliance and Co-op America. In addition, Laurie has worked in the fields of adult literacy and child abuse prevention. Blue Heron Graphics is a member of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and the Communication Arts Network (CommArt.)

current activities:
Laurie will be facilitating a Green Business Networking Luncheon at Sunrise Bistro in Walnut Creek on May 1, 2008. For more information, click here to contact Laurie.