Portland Senior Field Trip

This year 34 Graphic Design seniors along with our four faculty Stephanie, Jeffrey, Meta and Nathan made the pilgrimage to Portland, Oregon for the annual field trip. Perhaps the most successful trip ever! MSU graphic design alumni rolled out the red carpet with Emily Cellan giving a VIP tour at Nike and Annie Regnier at the ever-popular Columbia Sportswear. Then on Wednesday evening Mary Kysar at Makelike hosted an exceptional reception in their new studio. Thanks again to all the alumni who came to meet us and talk with the seniors! All of them truly enjoyed meeting you.

Other memorable tours included visiting Trevor Graves at Nemo, Gary Houston at Voodoo Catbox, Char Bjorklund and Lucy Nobles at Adidas and with special visit to the Ace Hotel by poster artist Dan Stiles. This year several new stops were included to the Portland itinerary including Ziba, Leopold Ketel and Opolis Design. Of course it couldn’t be a trip to PDX without visits to Powell’s Books, Mississippi Records, Voodoo Doughnuts, the Portland Art Museum for the China exhibit and the Portland Zoo to see the cheetahs and giraffes. So you can expect a repeat visit next year to Stumptown, before we start dreaming of studio tours in Denver, Minneapolis or San Francisco.
















Seniors listen in while Dan Stiles talks about his poster design projects.


















Gary Houston at Voodoo Catbox.


















Bryon McCotter and Bryce Vietz at Mississippi Records.
















Alumni Reception at Makelike's beautiful new studio.
















Patrick Broom and others take in Sister Corita's exhibition at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA.

Good 50x70 Workshop!

Tommaso Minnetti and Pasquale Volpe held their Good 50x70 Poster Workshop on Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26 with 30 MSU students at the School of Art. Blitzing through concepts and finished comps in two days, this group worked together to produce poster ideas to help raise awareness about suicide prevention.
















Students worked up ideas on paper and presented loose concepts to Tommaso and Pasquale before moving into the production phases of their posters.















Jessie Paluga shows her notebook to Pasquale and Tommaso.
















Tommaso and Pasquale take a look at Todd Schilling's concepts.

Good 50x70 in Motion.

Good 50x70's website has posted links to type-in-motion assignments created by MSU Graphic Design Students. Congratulations go to Jeremy Scott, Fletcher Eidum, Sarah Kinney, Kayla Campbell, Cheyenne Osmundsen, Tess Aversen and Rafe Stewart for having their work chosen and exhibited on this international design organization's website. These projects were produced in the Art 366 Intermediate Graphic Design course taught by Assistant Professor, Meta Newhouse. To visit this section on the Good 50x70 site directly, click here.

Good 50x70 Exhibition in Bozeman.

The Good 50x70 Social Communication Project is coming to MSU! The School of Art is sponsoring this amazing international poster exhibition that features work from over 36 different countries and 210 different artists/designers. Meta Newhouse, Assistant Professor in Graphic Design, has a poster in this exhibition. Come out and see it (on the Mall, in the center of Campus) between September 25 – October 8.

Also, there will be a Symposium featuring Tommaso Minnetti and Pasquale Volpe from Good 50x70. They will speak about forming Good, and where they plan to take the organization in the future. It will be held at The Ellen Theatre on Tuesday, September 29 from 5:30-8pm with a reception afterward. They have come all the way from Milan to share their story, so please try to make it.

Both events are free and open to the public. For more on Good 50x70, visit their website: http://good50x70.org/2009/

Class of 2009.

Only a few months after graduation and the class of 2009 is already making its mark in the profession of graphic design. Here in Bozeman, Ben Fjare has launched his own design business, with several web clients keeping him busy — he is spending more time tossing around ones and zeros than enjoying the summer on his bright yellow sportbike. Other MSU design grads, Skye Saylor and Thomas Marnin, have already packed their bags, said goodbye to all their Bozeman friends and headed off to Seattle. With a sewing machine in hand and notebooks full of ideas, they are planning to launch a product-based company called Regular Bear. They (along with business partner and long-time cohort Thane Lund, Studio '09) are currently working on a top secret project for Kid Robot. Finally, it is probably no shock to most of you to hear that after a very long interview process at K2 Sports, our very own Drew Pigott was selected from over 700 applicants for the new Junior Graphic Designer position on the ski-side of K2. Looks like Drew will be starting his new job on August 31. Please keep us posted on other great developments for the class of 2009 — and we want to hear from the rest of you as well.

Blog Header #4: Patrick Broom

Patrick Broom is an incoming Senior in the Graphic Design Program. Freshly back from a semester abroad in Italy, Patrick was kind enough to contribute this header design during the Summer break. (And, sly enough to sneak in his self-portrait on the right-hand side.)

Tin Can Design Studio Goes on the Road.

Graphic Design alumni Eli Clark and his wife Jen have hit the open road in their Airstream Bambi trailer. Building on connections they made while in Carlsbad, California that include Adidas, TaylorMade, Burton, O'Neill Wetsuits, Rip Curl and Von Zipper…they are now traveling cross country while working remotely for various freelance clients. Enjoying the gypsy lifestyle living in a 19-foot long live/work space the big adventure has begun.

Check out their blog or see a complete portfolio of recent work on their website.

Job Hunting Resources

Thanks for attending the Job Hunting Forum.

The resources mentioned have been moved to the Careers Blog.

PRISM Contest Winners.

LEFT: Machi Block, junior Graphic Design student
RIGHT: Chelsea McKenna, senior Graphic Design student

A showcase of student poster and artwork entries to the PRISM (Preventing and Reducing the Incidence of Suicide in Montana) campaign contest was held Wednesday, April 29, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. in SUB room 233. MSU Graphic Design students Chelsea McKenna, a senior, took first place (and a $1000 cash prize) and Machi Block, a junior, took third place (and a $300 cash prize). MSU, University of Montana-Western in Dillon, and the Montana Mental Health Association organized the poster contest. Montana has had one of the highest per-capita suicide rates in the nation for the past 30 years, according to the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.

Drew Pigott, Blog Header #3.

Drew Pigott is a graduating senior from the Graphic Design Program. Last summer he took an internship with K2 skis in Seattle. His senior thesis project featured ski design, print collateral and apparel graphics for Seneca Ski Company.

Opening Reception Big Hit!

Literally hundreds of guests showed up for the opening reception of the 2009 Graphic Design Thesis Show. With the Copeland Gallery teeming with patrons, proud graduates showed their artwork to friends and family. Gallery Director Erin Anderson exclaimed, “There are so many people here it’s hard to see the artwork.” Way to go seniors! If you missed the show, a special one-day-only exhibit of the seniors work will be displayed downtown at a Main Street venue on Friday May 8th for those in Bozeman for graduation. Keep eyes here for details!

2009 Graphic Design Thesis Show

The wait is finally over! The 2009 Graphic Design Thesis Show will be open Monday April 13th and be up for two weeks until Friday May 1st. All 32 graduating seniors will be displaying their capstone projects, from high-end corporate branding to wild-n-crazy motorcycle graphics there is something for everyone. Come to the artist reception Tuesday April 14th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm in the Copeland Gallery located on the second floor of the School of Art. The gallery is open from 8 to 5 Monday through Friday. See you there!

CMYK Call for Aspiring Creatives

CMYK Call for Aspiring Creatives #45
Deadline: Monday, April 20, 2009 | 11:59 PM CDT

Prize: Published in CMYK Magazine
Entry Fee: $45.00
Maximum Entries: 15 Images
Categories: Advertising (Copywriting), Illustration, Graphic Design, Art Direction, Copywriting, Photography

Get your name out there in the most affordable - with the greatest exposure - student/graduate creative contest. Entries will be judged by today's most influential professionals in all fields. Open to current students, recent graduates and the self-taught. Accepting entries from all art-design schools, programs and departments. FREE Online Portfolio to all who enter.

Click Here to Learn More

Students Win Gold & Silver Addy Awards

Students Win Gold & Silver Addys!

In their first attempt at entering designs in the 2008 Montana Addy Awards, MSU Graphic Design students swept five categories receiving 3 Gold Addy awards and 13 Silver Addy awards. Graphic Design Professor Stephanie Newman made the road trip to Great Falls to receive the student accolades and visit with alumni at the award ceremony. All of the student winners will be forwarded to the American Advertising Federation District Xl Student Addy competition held this April in Spokane, Washington.

POSTER CATEGORY
Gold - Caitlin Field - Vote Poster
Silver - Ryan Stevens - Vote Poster
Silver - Bailey Wogrin - It's Not Hard
Silver - Dan Quinn - Eraserhead

MAGAZINE CAMPAIGN CATEGORY
Gold - Bobby Biskupiak - iPod
Silver - Virginia Nienaber - iPod
Silver - Brianna Fenner - New Classic
Silver - Brandon Mead - iPod
Silver - Jeremy Scott - iPod

LOGO CATEGORY
Silver - Thomas Marnin - Thyme Savors logo
Silver - Ellen Herlant - Radical Reels Redesign logo

ILLUSTRATION CATEGORY
Gold - Patrick Broom - Rubber Stamp Self Promo
Silver - Kelsey Dzintars - Amelie Promotional Film

PACKAGING CATEGORY
Silver - Brian Arnold, Silver, Aesop Rock Box Set
Silver - Alex Lanning - Eric Clapton CD Package
Silver - Dan Quinn - Tool CD Package

Skye Joynes, Blog Header No. 2.

Skye, a senior in the Graphic Design Program designed this header with characters she is working with on a current project. She included a reference to Harry Langohr's header with the "Go Cats" voice balloon. The character on the right has jumped off the typography right out of the frame. Perhaps out of joy regarding the upcoming graduation?

Lynsey Dyer, Back from Japan.

Lynsey Dyer, an unbelievably talented skier/illustrator AND MSU Graphic Design alumna is recently back from Japan!
(Above) is one of her illustrations inspired by the journey, as well as a few photos (below) from the trip.



















































Her travel group consisted of two athletes, a writer, cinematographer and photographer. The results of the trip will be published in the Red Bulletin in Austria and Germany.

Check out some of the highlights on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/lynseydyer

Warren Miller (world-famous skiing and snowboarding filmmaker) is checking out the footage for a segment now and the Ski Channel will also be reediting the 8 hours of tape into a 22 minute television piece for their millions of viewers.

Lynsey is now off to Alaska for more skiing and illustration adventures!

Congratulations Chelsea!

Chelsea McKenna, a graphic design Senior, was chosen as one of this year's MSU Women's Center's "Students of Achievement".

The Women's Center and the Alumni Association will honor the "Student of Achievement" Awardees at a reception later this month. Recipients are all students who promote diversity and equality, demonstrate leadership abilities, excel in their school work, and serve as strong role models for their peers.

Congratulations Chelsea! We are all really proud of you and what you have accomplished here at MSU.

Our First Blog Header is Designed by Harry Langohr.

Harry, a senior in the graphic design program and 2nd Place Winner in the Ride Snowboard Contest (Congrats Harry!) says: "Upon designing this visceral representation of morbid delight, I wanted to reflect the vast melting pot of creativity and vivid galore that surges through the supreme gates of the MSU design program.  This scene reveals the dreadful hardship of spontaneous creative combustion. It is the true creative process. Through macabre and visual malevolence, we recognize that, in its everlasting state of disintegration and re-generation, the creative process isn't always pleasant... 

XL Country Logo Competition.

Students in Art 366 Intermediate Graphic Design participated in a logo competition to rebrand XL Country radio station. Congratulations go to (work pictured from the top, left to right) Fletcher Eidum, Brandon Warner, Bobby Biskupiak, Tasheena Fogle, Brandon Butler and Cheyenne Osmundsen. Their work will be posted on the XL Country Club website next week, where XL Country Club members will get the chance to vote on the logo they feel best suits their favorite radio station.

MSU Graphic Design Careers Blog.

Please check out our new Careers Blog. U1 gaming is looking to hire two graphic artists now. Go to MSU Graphic Design Careers to learn more.

Inaugural Post.

Welcome to the Montana State University Graphic Design Program blog! Check back here frequently to learn all about what is going on with students, faculty and alumni. Practical updates regarding upcoming speakers and other graphic design related opportunities will also be found here. Quick links on the right hand side feature graphic design sites & blogs, design competitions, alumni sites and other relevant information. If you wish to announce job openings or freelance opportunities for MSU students, please contact Meta Newhouse at her email address: meta.newhouse@montana.edu. Some Job and freelance opportunities as well as some internship opportunities will be published on a different blog: MSU Graphic Design Careers.