The Center for Graphic Facilitation

IFVP 2006: Jan Adkins, Illustrator

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Jan Adkins is an illustrator, museum designer, educator and expert in the profession as an artist.

For nine years he was the associate art director at National Geographic Magazine, explaining the space shuttle, lasers, submarines, Soviet rockets, satellites, nuclear physics, marine archaeology, forest fires, volcanoes and the voyages of Christopher Columbus. Directing a team of researchers and doing original field research himself, he unraveled some of the most interesting topics ever addressed by Geographic during its golden age. Jan's job, according to his editor-in-chief Bill Garrett, "was like getting a doctorate every third month."

He has written scripts and treatments for the Discovery Channel, NOVA, and the BBC, and narrative voiceover for interactive corporate training programs. He taught editorial illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design for several years, and taught illustration and graphic design at Maryland Institute, College of Art, in Baltimore. He’s associated with several exhibit design firms and frequently consults on exhibits for zoos, art museums, science and natural history museums. 

Pain, Rejection and the Agony of Drew

Rejection hurts. But in the art "bidnes" it is a way of life.

Don't believe me? Ask Drew Dernavich.

His woodblock print-style cartoons appear regularly in the Boston Globe and The New Yorker. It's an artists dream!

Or is it?

Drew estimates that only one out of 20 of his cartoons make it to print... and astoundly good batting average, by the way.

He describes the experience for an article in the Boston Globe celebrating the forth coming book of rejected cartoons, titled "The Rejection Collection: Cartoons You Never Saw, and Never Will See, in The New Yorker" (Simon Spotlight Entertainment).

Where to Go on Your Summer Vacation--Conferences!

A short list of upcoming design conferences from the American Institute of Graphic Art (AIGA):

     

Aspen Design Summit 2006 June 20–23, 2006 Aspen, Colorado The Aspen Design Summit is a forum of design-minded people from around the world making positive, measurable impacts on social and cultural concerns.   More...

 

 

       

Icograda Design Week in Seattle July 9–15, 2006 Seattle, Washington Icograda Design Week in Seattle is an international forum for discussion about the role of design in the face of incredible change in the world. It will address how designers can contribute to a healthy world economy while being mindful of the cultural, environmental and political impact of design.   More...

 

 

       

Image, Space, Object 3: Above Brand August 10–13, 2006 Denver, Colorado At Image, Space, Object 3 (ISO3), small teams of participants and studio mentors work together to create multi-dimensional environments, human interactions and brand strategies.   More...

 

 

       

Gain Business and Design Conference 2006 October 26–28, 2006 New York, New York The Gain Conference will demonstrate the value of designing as a strategic process that adds substantial value to business and organizations.   More...

 

   

   

AIGA Design Conference 2007 Fall 2007 With a backdrop of western sunsets and breathtaking views, the 2007 AIGA Design Conference will offer an exciting program, featuring engaging design and thought leaders.   More...

Doodling My Life Away - Pen, Paper and Plentitude

The principal of my High School was a large, serious man named Mr. Snodgrass.

And, no, I am not making that up. As I was nearing graduation, Mr. Snodgrass tried to give me some helpful advice. "Perhaps," he said with gravitas, "you should go into Accounting. You know, to have something to fall back on if this whole art thing doesn't work out."

I think about this suggestion at odd times--once while scribing at the Pentagon in a vault/room five stories below ground; once while a CEO of a Fortune 50 company asks what business school I graduated from; and, once this week, while presenting to a graduate level class at the Carnegie Mellon Heinz School of Business.

The irony is that, professionally speaking, I am still doing what I did at age seventeen. Back in the Reagan 1980s, I was scribbling quotes from Monty Python's The Meaning of Life in the end pages of my English Lit book. These days, I'm doodling while people struggle with complex issues facing their organizations and the world at large.

During the lecture to the CMU students (using my trusty Neuland walls, of course!), I asked the group how they felt the school should teach Entrepreneurship, especially in the growing field of "social enterprise".

So, You Want to be a Graphic Recorder?

by Christina L. Merkley, MA
http://makemark.com/   

A few times a month, I get a call or an email from  someone who is very interested in the Graphic  Recording/ Graphic Facilitation field;  usually someone who wants to  know how I got into the field and who is seeking any advice to help them do the same.      

This article is written as a response for those kinds of  inquiries. For people who are primarily interested in  being full-time, self-employed Graphic Recorders or  Facilitators.   I’ve taken the general questions that  people ask me and have written my responses.      

Obviously my answers are only one person’s point of view. So, I invite you to continue to ask  questions and gather data as you explore this unique work.   

Marketing Magicians and Advertising Wizardry

Suggested links from Leah Silverman:

Hocus Pocus. For all you antique postcard buffs, a story about a 50-year-old trunk from a magician turned priest.

Wizard Academy. Roy Williams is a great writer and teacher. Nice book list and Monday morning newsletter on marketing, advertising and design.  

UseIt.com: Tips on marketing, web usability and user interface design. Hosts of the Usability Conference. (The downside is that Jacob Nielsen doesn't use graphics, mostly due to optimize download time, but also because he doesn't want to hire an artist!)