The Art Institute of Dallas Design Info Source

Design Portfolio Show

2011-09-12T13:26:00.001-07:00

AiDallas student wins Best of Show!

2011-03-18T10:53:00.000-07:00

Taken from: http://www.newschannel5.com/story/14060391/aaf-dallas-dallas-ad-league-announces-2011-addy-award-winners

Feb 18, 2011/PRNewswire/ -- The 2011 AAF Dallas ADDY® Awards show, held last night at Edison's, celebrated the Dallas-area's creative excellence. This year's sold-out ADDY event spotlighted the personal tales of creative woe that lie behind so many great advertisements.
Out of more than 400 entries, 44 entries took home Dallas ADDY Gold, all of which automatically advance to the AAF District 10 regional ADDY competition. Go to http://www.aafdallas.org/ for a complete listing of winners, including TracyLocke for Best of Show, the highest honor awarded in the ADDY competition, given by the judges to the one single piece considered to be the best among all of the entries.
"AAF Dallas strives to elevate the success of the advertising community through education, and we were pleased to have four prestigious North Texas schools participate in the Dallas ADDY Awards competition," said Gayle Boone, AAF Dallas president.
Entering student ADDY categories for first time and winning Best of Show among local student entries was The Art Institute of Dallas.
Boone also noted an overall trend in the Dallas ADDY Awards this year included an increase in non-traditional entries, grass roots initiatives, and an emphasis on innovation. With the exceptions of public service advertising for the arts and advertising industry self-promotion categories, work entered must have been the result of paid creative services and media placement in the normal course of business.

The Art Institute of Dallas Portfolio Show

2011-03-14T08:37:00.001-07:00

STUDENT COMPETITION - Cash Prize - Deadline March 4th

2011-03-01T08:41:00.000-08:00

STUDENTS of Advertising, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Animation, Game Design, Illustration, Photography, Video!!!

The Brass Ring Awards online competition is designed to motivate and reward students for excellence in art and design. This year marks the 25th year for the Brass Ring Awards.http://www.slideshare.net/jprice1000/brass-ring-awards24How to Enter: Visit http://www.brassringawards.com/ and enter using uploaded jpegs, pdfs, or movs. You can even enter jpegs uploaded to Facebook (make sure the FB allows guest viewing).Prizes: “Best of Show”, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Merit awards in each category are based on the judges’ scoring. All winners will be shown online. “Best of Show” winners will receive an acrylic trophy and cash prize (based on the total number of entries).
Price:$5.00 = High School per entry
$9.00 = College per entry
* There is no limit on entries! We accept credit card payments through PayPal (you do not need to have a Paypal account to pay).Groups: We will accept checks from High Schools and Universities entering student work of 25 or more.Eligibility: All college and university undergraduates and high school students.Contest Ends: Noon, March 4Winners Announced: March 26, 2011Email Jeff Price (jeff.price@oc.edu) for any questions. Also “friend” us on Facebook for updates and news. http://www.facebook.com/brass.ring.awards

Scholarship Opportunity!

2011-01-27T08:25:00.000-08:00

AAF Dallas and the Dallas Ad League Foundation are excited to offer the 2011 Sam Bloom Memorial Scholarship this spring! This $2,000 award is being offered to students who are pursuing a graduate or undergraduate degree in advertising, marketing or a related field. The scholarship is designed to recognize academically talented students by providing them with financial support to complete their collegiate studies.

Please pass along this announcement to students and have them visit the AAF Dallas website (www.aafdallas.org) or the Dallas Ad League Foundation website (www.dallasadleaguefoundation.org) to learn more about the scholarship and to download the application. The submission deadline is March 7th.

GeekMeet Happy Hour

2011-01-19T09:26:00.000-08:00

Where: Arthur’s Prime Steaks & Seafood15175 Quorum Drive Addison, TX 75001
When: Thursday, January 20th 2011 6:00PM – 9:00PM
Cost: $10/person at the door. $11/person via PayPal.

Happy New Year Geek Meet Members & IT Professionals! Wow, 2010 was quite the year. Despite the challenges the state of the economy have posed for many of us, we’re glad to see our members understand the importance of networking, continuing to promote themselves and their business.

2011 is a brand new year, and we should all concentrate on maximizing our networking efforts. After all, our ideas and support are what keep the world going now. Not only do we benefit by showcasing our talents, we all learn from each other.

January’s event will feature light hors d’oeuvres provided by Arthur’s Prime Steaks & Seafood, and EZTechworks. To add to the fun, live music and dancing start at 8:00.

Food, drinks & networking, what a great way to kick-off the year, the January GeekMeet Networking Happy Hour is not to be missed!

DESIGN, FLY, AND WIN!!!!

2010-12-13T14:17:00.000-08:00

The Dallas Morning News/Dallasnews.com
College Student Design Contest
Who can create the best college recruiting brochure?

Are you a graphic design guru? The Dallas Morning News, a top 5 media market newspaper and media solutions company, is looking for a two-fold or tri-fold color brochure that we can use at college recruiting events and conferences such as CNBAM. The winner will be chosen by a panel of judges at The Dallas Morning News. This contest is a great addition to your portfolio. And, the winner will receive a $100 Southwest Airlines gift card!

Characteristics of the winning brochure should contain:
Originality
Design that “speaks” to the college audience
Accurate grammar and spelling
Information to be included in the brochure is:
We are offering Advertising Media Sales Careers
We offer over 80 different products between print, online, texting and iphone and ipad applications
We are looking for talented, career minded sales people
We offer career growth and financial reward to those who perform well
Vacation and benefits package, mileage and cell phone reimbursement
Base pay and commission
To apply for jobs with us submit your resume to dmnjobs@dallasnews.com

Please include any other information that you feel would be relevant to a college student. Be creative and innovative in how you present the information. Use this as an opportunity to think about what would be important to a graduating senior when making a career choice. All submissions must be sent to Amber Thigpen, Senior Recruiter for The Dallas Morning News, athigpen@dallasnews.com by February 12th at 5:00 p.m. The winner will be announced on February 22nd. Make sure that your submission includes your name, school, and contact information. If you have any questions about the contest or brochure please email Amber Thigpen at

The ADDY Awards Competition!!!!

2010-12-03T13:12:00.000-08:00

Enter your local ADDY competition and let everyone in your market see what you can do, and if you're really good, ad professionals everywhere are goign to find out when you storm through districts on your way to the coveted gold national ADDY! Get entered, get known, get up that career ladder two rungs at a time!

Student entries are $50 this year.

They can be entered at http://www.omnicontests.com/addy/omnicontests/logon.cfm

Rules and categories are available here: http://www.omnicontests.com/addy/omnicontests/rules.cfm
For more info on the American Advertising Federation - ADDY Awards, click here: http://www.aaf.org/default.asp?id=27

Art Institute Portfoli Show -

2010-11-23T08:40:00.000-08:00

(Click to enlarge)

DAL Luncheon / CABLE DAY - Tues, Dec 14th

2010-11-22T09:07:00.000-08:00

Don’t miss this great educational and networking opportunity. We look forward to seeing you there!

Cable Day
Dallas Ad League EVENT LUNCHEON:
Inside Cable Television – What’s Driving Advertiser Demand
Tuesday, December 14 2010, 11:30am - 1:30pm

Inside Cable Television – What’s Driving Advertiser DemandCable TV advertising is continuing to grow faster than ever. During this past upfront buying season, advertiser demand resulted in a 20% increase in spending over the previous season. In fact, some networks even turned business away.

Although new media and emerging technologies are growing faster than ever, traditional media is not just surviving, it’s thriving.

Why the sudden growth in television advertising with new viewing options available? What do these changes in the $8 billion cable industry mean for advertising?

Come to our December luncheon and discover these answers. AAF Dallas will be hosting a panel of senior-level network executives who will discuss the state of the cable industry, including such topics as:

-the continued growth in ratings
-the innovation behind spin-off launches
-the growth of non-fiction programming
-emerging platforms
-rollout of addressable TV

Our distinguished panel will include:
• Mel Berning, EVP of National Ad Sales – A&E Television Networks
• (speaker to be confirmed) - AMC
• (speaker to be confirmed) – Discovery Networks
• Bruce Lefkowitz, EVP of Ad Sales – National Geographic Channel/Fox Cable Networks
• Jon Steinlauf, SVP of Ad Sales – Scripps Networks

Moderating the discussion is Sean Cunningham, President and CEO of the Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau.

WHEN: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 11:30am – 1:30pm

WHERE: Doubletree Hotel – Campbell Center, 8250 N. Central Expressway, Dallas, TX 75206

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Frank Kopec ( frank@aafdallas.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Click Here for more DETAILS: http://www.dallasadleague.org/index.php?option=com_jevents&task=icalrepeat.detail&evid=166&Itemid=612&year=2010&month=12&day=14&uid=cf1d991de5a3c1129a6cc4e692aab28d&catids=159

Internships - Dieste

2010-11-10T09:25:00.000-08:00

Local advertising agency DIESTE is currently looking for INTERNS to have in place for Summer 2011. They are paid full-time internships. Looking for great talent for their creative department, art directors/copywriters. All about passion and fresh ideas. Bilingual (English/Spanish) are a BIG PLUS!!!!!

TO APPLY, email your resume and portfolio to wannabe@dieste.com

www.dieste.com

DSVC Meeting -

2010-11-03T10:46:00.000-07:00

DSVC Welcomes Designer and Illustrator
Matt Stevens

Date – Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Reception – 6:00 pm Meeting – 7:00 pm
Location – Magnolia Theater (Google Maps)
Members – FREE Non-Members – $20
Students – $10 (ID Required)

NOV 3 - DSVC is pleased to welcome creative director, poster designer, illustrator, fake national brand designer, and semi-pro Layer Tennis player, Matt Stevens.
At his day job, He is the creative director for HAWSE (a Brand Agency) in Charlotte, North Carolina. Away from work, he has made a name for himself with after-hours design endeavors like Nike illustrations, fine art printing, donut shop rebranding, and the occasional game of Adobe's Layer Tennis.

Matt will talk about how his hard work has turned a bit of internet fame, real opportunities with Facebook, The Salvation Army, Inksie (design and culture), some top secret sneaker projects, and a speaking gig at the oldest and largest independent design club in the country
We aren't Matt's only fans. His work has been featured on: abduzeedo, Blogrocious, Brand New, quipsologies, Coudal's Fresh Signals, DesignWorkLife, The Donut Project, Draplin, ffffound, Grain Edit, Graphicology, Northcoast Zeitgeist, Nalden, Signalnoise, and Sneaker Freaker.

We hope you'll join us Wednesday, November 3rd, for a night of drinks and laughs with all your Dallas creative friends, and our special guest, Matt Stevens.

T-Shirt Design Contest

2010-11-02T13:27:00.000-07:00

10th Anniversary 48 Hour Film Project

T-Shirt Design Contest

We are happy to announce our tenth anniversary! That's right, the 48HFP has been bringing filmmaking mayhem to cities around the globe for 10 years. We're proud of all of our filmmakers—you deserve fanfare, accolades, laurels, and of course an anniversary t-shirt! In order to have a great t-shirt design, though, we need your help. So we've started a t-shirt design contest. The details are below.

Prize: Bragging rights, $250, and four t-shirts.
Due Date: December 3, 2010
Colors: Use one or two colors in the design. You may propose a background color. (Note: Our official colors are periwinkle blue and tangerine. Black t-shirts have been our best sellers.)
Sides: Please design for only the front of the t-shirt.
Specs: The shirt must contain:
• Our 10th anniversary slogan: "Celebrating 10 years, 48 hours at a time"
• Our logo (which can be downloaded below)
• (optional) Our name: "48 Hour Film Project"

How To Enter
Download and complete the T-Shirt Design Submission Form and send it, along with your design as a PDF or JPEG file, to tshirt@48hourfilm.com.

Additional Info
If you want to know more about the 48 Hour Film Project, check out what we're about.

Download the 48 Hour Film Project Logo
GIF, on a white background
GIF, on a black background
JPEG, on a white background
JPEG, on a black background
Adobe Illustrator format
Corel Draw format

Art Show this Weekend...

2010-10-15T13:16:00.000-07:00

(click to enlarge)

Portfolio Show - Monday, 9/27

2010-09-21T07:11:00.000-07:00

Come and view the work of our next group of designers!

PORTFOLIO SHOW

Monday, Sept 27th

Drop-In anytime between 12pm-3pm

Fellowship Bible Church Dallas

9330 N Central Expwy, Dallas, TX 75231

PROGRAMS FEATURED:

Advertising Design, Graphic Design, Animation, Photography, Web Design, Digital Filmmaking and Video Production, Fashion Design, Fashion and Retail Management

A "No Cutting Corners" Guide to Getting the Job You Want at a Major Ad Agency

2010-09-20T08:51:00.000-07:00

Robin Marco (pictured below), Creative Recruiter at Tracy Locke, has provided some great tips on what she looks for in great candidates.

1. The idea comes first. Will it catch attention? Will it sell the product? Is it relevant? Is it engaging? Does it connect on an emotional level or hit you on the funny bone? Would the client buy off on it? Is it a viable option to do something like this? Does it cut through the clutter? Is it original, fresh, different or unexpected? Is it memorable? Will people talk about it? Does it have legs? Is it compelling? Less is more. Keep it simple.

2. Must have killer visual and design skills. Typography. Textures. Layout.

3. Flawless execution. Pay attention to ALL the details. That’s what art directors do. Flow. One overall presentation. Brand yourself.

4. Minimum 15 samples – maximum 30. All must be great. Most of your samples are in a campaign format – at least three or four campaigns. Catchy, compelling or clever headlines, taglines and body copy. Tell a story.

5. Demonstrate 360˚ thinking. New media (web, mobile, social media), outdoor, promotions, guerilla/non-traditional, in-store, packaging, field marketing, stickers, stencils, etc.

6. Website with downloadable PDF of your portfolio and resume. This can be your own website or one of the portfolio websites, (http://www.behance.com/, http://www.krop.com/ or http://carbonmade.com/)
but you really need to be able to send out a link of your work. This is by far the best and easiest way to get your work seen.

The site MUST be easy to navigate. Not slow to load. Ads not too small. Be able to enlarge ads or be able to read the copy.

Make sure your name, discipline and contact information is on your portfolio, resume and cover letter. Always put your website, a phone number and an email address on all of your documents.

Make sure to state your discipline front and center on your resume, cover letter and portfolio. John Smith. Art Director. Joe Blow. Copywriter. Jane Doe. Graphic Designer.

Label your attachments or downloadable files with your name and what the document/file contains. (jsmith_portfolio, jsmith_samples, jsmith_book, jsmith_resume, jsmith_cover_ltr).

7. Have a hard copy/physical copy of your portfolio for your interview. I prefer to see portfolios in a book format (11”x17” or 12”x18”). No presentation boards. No plastic sleeves. I don’t like plastic-sleeved portfolios. In fact, I have an extreme aversion to them. They reflect the light and make it hard to see the work. I would much rather see a handmade portfolio that reflects the candidate’s personality.

8. Have a leave-behind/mini book for interviews. The leave-behind should not be bigger than 8.5”x11”, but it certainly could be smaller, as long as you can still read the copy with ease. I don’t like CDs, but that is my personal opinion. Why would you even need one if your work is on the web? It’s so much easier for someone to click a link than to open the CD, put it in the computer, wait for it to load and then open it.

9. Resume/Cover Letter. Does it make me want to meet you to find out more about you because you are so interesting and cool? Or is it just the “blah, blah, blah” same old boring form-letter-resume that you copied off the Internet that I’ve already seen a million times?

I like and expect to see some elements of design incorporated into the resume. Don’t go too crazy with your resume design. It still needs to be professional. You don’t want to get noticed for your garish, over-the-top, unprofessional design. Less is more. Keep it simple.

Have several hard copies of your resume for the interview. Your cover letter and/or email letter should be engaging and intriguing. Not a form letter. Not a long letter; it should be a short, sweet and a to-the-point letter that comes across in a compelling way.

10. Presentation Skills. You must have them. Could we put you in front of our multi-million-dollar client so you can sell your killer idea to them?

11. Personality. Would this person fit in with the overall agency culture and the specific group that is hiring?

TracyLocke has a subsidiary called N-GEN Studios , N-GEN employs production artists, illustrators and retouchers. If your strengths are in these areas, you should definitely look further into N-GEN.

If your portfolio meets the requirements here and if you feel like you can adapt and be a key contributor, feel free to apply to TracyLocke through their “Careers West” page on their website, www.tracylocke.com. Be sure to include the link to your portfolio on your resume.

(See Jennifer Magee or Amy Young, if you would like to see an example of a portfolio of a recent hire at Tracy Locke).

Scholarships!!

2010-09-14T07:44:00.000-07:00

Please pass on to CURRENT students. Apply for $9,000 in Scholarships!! The Dallas Ad League and the Dallas Ad League Foundation are proud to offer two scholarships this fall for Dallas area advertising students. The $6,000 AT&T Advertising Excellence Scholarship, and the $3,000 Morris Hite Memorial Scholarship, presented by TracyLocke, are for students that are pursuing a graduate or undergraduate degree in a marketing or advertising related field. Visit the DallasAdLeagueFoundation.org http://DallasAdLeagueFoundation.org to download the application and get more information. Hurry, submission deadline is October 15th!

September Meeting: An Evening with Stan Richards

2010-08-18T15:17:00.000-07:00

Date – Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Reception – 6:00 pm Meeting – 7:00 pm
Location – Magnolia Theater (Google Maps)
Members – FREE Non-Members – $20Students – $10 (ID Required)http://dsvc.org/events/monthly-meetings/09/2010

Summer is over and school is back in session. We're kicking off the 2010–2011 season with Richards Group founder, and national advertising legend Stan Richards.

Stan founded The Richards Group as a freelance practice after graduating from Pratt Institute in New York. Over the next 20 years, it became one of the nation’s premier creative resources. In 1976, it became a full-service advertising agency.Stan’s work has received awards in virtually every major competition in the world. In 1976, Stan was chosen by the Dallas Society of Visual Communications as “the single individual who, over his career, has made the most significant contribution to the advancement of creative standards in the Southwestern United States.”In 1981, 1983, and 1984, Stan was named by Adweek to the Southwest Creative All-Stars Hall of Fame. In 1985, Stan was honored by Pratt Institute as a Distinguished Alumnus. In 1986, he was honored with an Advertising Age cover story. Also in 1986, Adweek named him Executive of the Year, and he was included in The Wall Street Journal’s “Giants of Our Time.” In 1988, the firm was named Agency of the Year by Adweek. Again in 1990 and 1994. And once more in 2002. In 1995, Stan was named an Entrepreneur of the Year by Inc. magazine.

The University of Texas named him the 1996 recipient of its Reddick Award for leadership in communication. Previous honorees include Walter Cronkite, Ted Turner, and Bill Moyers. More recently, Southern Methodist University announced the Stan Richards Creative Chair.Also in 1996, Stan received the AIGA Gold Medal, the award for career achievement in design. In 1997, Graphis magazine named The Richards Group one of the 10 best agencies in the world, and the American Association of Advertising Agencies honored the firm with its A+ Award, given annually to America’s best agency. In 2007, Graphic Design USA named the firm one of America’s six most influential agencies.

In 1999, Stan received the highest honor available to a creative with his election to the Art Directors Hall of Fame, joining such luminaries as Walt Disney, Norman Rockwell, and Andy Warhol. Apart from business, Stan’s interests include skiing in Utah and fly-fishing the backwaters of Laguna Madre. He is an avid runner, having logged 40,000 miles.

In addition, Stan serves, or has served, on many boards: The Salvation Army, Episcopal School of Dallas, YMCA, Cooper Aerobics Enterprises, Dallas Symphony Association, United Way, the Creative Committee of the AAAA, Pratt Institute Board of Trustees, and the Mayo Clinic Center for Innovation. Stan and Betty have been married 53 years and have two sons. Grant is a creative director at his own agency in San Francisco, and Brad is a clinical psychologist.

Geek Meet Event:

2010-08-10T08:33:00.000-07:00

Summer is practically over and I'm sad to see it go. But this also means we can get back to our normal networking schedules and catch up with everyone. I'm looking forward to a great year and hope to see everyone out on the 19th. We're going to Hacienda on Henderson this month. We'll be inside so the heat won't be an issue. There is also plenty of parking (use the valet). Let me know if you have any questions!

When:
Thursday, August 19th
6:00 - 9:00PM

Where:
The Hacienda on Henderson
2326 North Henderson Avenue
Dallas, TX 75206
Cost:
$10 cash per person at the door

The Hacienda on Henderson offers a unique, casual dining experience inside a newly restored 1940’s Henderson Avenue home. Hacienda features a mix of traditional Tex-Mex and authentic family recipes. Come early to eat, stay late to drink. Enjoy watching your favorite sports at the top-shelf tequila bar or just come to relax on the patio.

More Details about Geek Meet: http://www.geekmeet.com

Ad Club Presents Dustin Ballard

2010-08-10T08:24:00.000-07:00

Dustin Ballard from The Richards Group at this week's Ad Club meeting!

Tuseday, August 10 - TONIGHT
5-6pm
Room #217

Dustin Ballard, a copywriter for The Richards Group, has been with the company for around 4 years now, and has offered to come speak to us about various everyday issues at an ad agency, as well as give us some tips about what to expect. He will also be taking questions at the end, so be thinking of what you're going to ask.

We need to make a good showing and speak and act professionally, so please tell fellow students about the speaker at this week's meeting!

Open to all AID students.

2010-08-04T12:51:00.000-07:00

August 2010 Meeting - Business of Production

2010-08-03T13:03:00.000-07:00

The Dallas Producers Association, Women in Film/Dallas and the Dallas Screenwriters Association are joining forces to present a panel discussion on the Business of Production. This meeting will focus on insurance, taxes, legal issues, contracts, payroll - anything and everything concerning the business side of production for features to television to corporate media to documentary to commercials. Join us at InMotion Imagery for this informative evening.

WHEN:
Thursday, August 5, 2010
6:30pm to 9:30pm – Program
DPA, WIF/D & DSA Members – FREE

WHERE:
InMotion Imagery
922 Dragon Street
Dallas, Texas 75207
214-748-2225

View the work of our next group of designers!

2010-06-09T09:42:00.000-07:00

AiDallas student wins -

2010-05-25T11:26:00.001-07:00

2010 Winners Announced!

We are pleased to announce the winners in The Art Institutes Student Design Competition 2010 Sponsored by Adobe. This competition challenged students currently enrolled in an Art Institutes school to submit a design created with Adobe products. There were more than 150 entries into this year's competition! And the winners are...

GRAND PRIZE WINNER:

Dylan Foy, The Art Institutes International - Minnesota
The Grand Prize winner and their faculty sponsor, Anne George, will each receive an all-expenses-paid trip to attend the HOW Design Conference in Denver, CO June 6-7, 2010. The grand prize winner will also receive Adobe Creative Suite 4 Design Premium software and a Canon PowerShot digital camera.
Click here to view art work

SECOND PLACE WINNER:
Daniel Flach, The Art Institute of Dallas
The Second Place winner will receive Adobe Creative Suite 4 Design Premium software and a Canon PowerShot digital camera.
Click here to view art work

THIRD PLACE WINNER:
Colin Brandt, The Art Institute of Portland
The Third Place winner will receive Adobe Creative Suite 4 Design Premium software.
Click here to view art work

Save The Dates!!

2010-05-12T14:26:00.000-07:00

Flash Is No Longer Necessary?

2010-05-12T11:14:00.000-07:00

The debate over Flash support on Apple devices was escalated with Steve Jobs' recent letter on Flash. If you want to read the full text of the letter, you can do so here:
http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughts-on-flash/

As a developer, specializing in Flash development, the debate is of great interest to me, and as you can probably guess, I am not all that thrilled with the stance that Apple is taking. I have a hard time understanding why Jobs is so adverse to Flash, if nothing more than the fact that omitting Flash from the iPad, and iPhone, is omitting any and all profits that could be made from the sale of Flash built apps being sold through the iTunes store.

Let me first mention that I am by no means against abandoning one technology, for a superior technology. My livelihood depends on my ability to maintain my edge, and not become a dinosaur. When Flash introduced AS3.0, I made it a priority to abandon AS2.0, and learn my way around the overhauled language so that I could develop faster, lighter, more powerful, and ultimately better products. If something other than Flash gives me the power to do all I can in Flash, and more, I will be all over it.

While Jobs makes several of his opinions come off as though they are facts in his letter, the one I find most outrageous is that thanks to HTML 5, “Flash is no longer necessary to watch video or consume any kind of web content.”

Who is Jobs to tell us what is necessary and what is not. Was James Cameron’s Avatar in 3D necessary? Is an Aston Martin necessary? Is a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label necessary? All online content should serve a purpose – sometimes that purpose is to get the right information quickly and without a lot of fluff (which is usually true for mobile devices with small screens), and other times that purpose might be to get a 15-year-old boy excited about the soon-to-be-released installment of Call of Duty for their Playstation or XBOX 360. And just like any tool, Flash, HTML 5, Objective C, PHP, or AJAX… you need to select the proper tool for the job.

I’ll be honest, I am not an expert on HTML 5… yet, but from what I have seen, it is impressive, and shows a great deal of potential, and is ultimately a step in the right direction.The only problem is, since HTML 5 is not plug-in based, if your browser does not support HTML 5, you are out of luck. I know that most of us in the design and development industry are savvy enough to install and run the latest technology, especially when it comes to browsers, but sadly we are the exception, not the norm.

Macromedia, and now Adobe, have worked hard over the years to make upgrading one's Flash player a simple, smooth, and painless experience for even the most novice of users. This is one of the reasons Flash has become so successful over the years. Not only being able to tell your clients that what you are about to build for them will be viewable by over 98% of the population, but also allowing us developers to spend more time developing content, rather than fussing around with browser compatibility issues.
If HTML 5 can help make H.264 encoded video the standard, I have no real problem with that, but when it comes to the demand for rich, engaging, brand driven content and interaction, I just don’t see how HTML 5 can compete with Flash at this time. And by the time HTML 5 becomes any sort of realistic standard, with enough browser support for us to start responsibly pushing HTML 5 upon our clients (which I estimate is still 3 to 5 years out), I expect advances in what Flash can do, will make HTML feel severely outdated.

The simple truth is that player based technology, proprietary or not, is not only a great way to develop once, and run anywhere, but it is also the best way to minimize the span of time between when the latest technology becomes available, and when the latest technology is accepted as a standard.
If Flash is really so lousy, Apple should trust that the market would naturally weed it out, rather than playing the Big Brother role, and restricting it from their devices. If the claim that Flash content chews through battery life on mobile devices, people can choose not to install those apps if they don’t feel the sacrifice is worth it. If Flash content experienced through multi-touch yields a subpar experience, again… let people choose to not run those apps in favor of ones that do.

In the end, it’s not Flash, or any other language/platform that is to blame for bulky content, or lousy experiences, it’s the development community. Depending on the skill of the developer, any program, written in any language, can be well written and highly optimized, or it can be sluggish, full of memory leaks, and prone to cause a system crash.

Like myself, there are tens, if not hundreds of thousands of Flash developers who have spent the last 3, 5, or 10 years refining their craft when it comes to using Flash to create anything from non-interactive animations, banner ads (which help keep much of the online content free, by the way), embedded components, micro-sites, custom video players, touch-screen kiosks, games, etc. And I’m guessing most of us would like to start applying that experience to building iPhone/iPad apps, which could be sold via iTunes to the benefit of Apple’s bottom-line – but thanks to Apple and Steve Jobs, that reality was snatched from us in a spiteful and vindictive fashion that proves there is more at play than Apple wanting to “provide the most advanced and innovative platform…”

Regardless, the fact remains that there are still billions of dollars worth of web content that has been developed, and will continue to be developed via Flash, and the thought that businesses around the globe have the desire and or budget to scrap these sites and components, and rebuild it so that nominal iPad community can consume the content is simply unrealistic. This coupled with the lack of USB port or SD slot, means the device is effectively hobbled as a serious consideration for a laptop replacement. And as Google and others begin releasing their tablets to the market, without such restrictions, it will be hard for those of us who don’t worship at the altar of Apple to justify the purchase of a device as restrictive and limiting as the iPad.

Apple is an impressive organization that has done so much to help define and refine the user experience, and for that I commend them. I personally love my iPod, and my iPhone, thanks to their sleek and compact design, the ease of use, and the utility they provide on a daily basis. But more and more lately, Apple is starting to evolve into everything they hated about Microsoft twenty years ago. I also expect that the 10 years from now, we will probably look back on the recent letter from Steve Jobs and chuckle just a little, just like when we look back on the quote from Bill Gates, from 1981, where he made the claim that “640K ought to be enough for anybody.”

Joe Mease is a Denver-based designer and developer, specializing in building heavily branded, dynamic, user-centric applications using Adobe Flash. Joe has been a respected member of the Flash development community for over 10 years. Find his work at joemeasecreative.com.

Dallas Ad League / ASMP Happy Hour Social/Networking Event - Thursday, April 29th

2010-04-29T09:51:00.000-07:00

Join us for a great social and business networking HAPPY HOUR at Margarita Ranch in The Mockingbird Station (5321 E. Mockingbird Ln.Dallas, TX 75206)
Thursday, April 29 2010, 5:00pm - 8:00pm

Dallas Ad League / ASMP Happy Hour

This month, Dallas Ad League is having a joint event with the ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers).

The ASMP:
The ASMP has over 5,000 members, including many of the world’s greatest photographers.The organization has three purposes:- To protect and promote the interests of photographers whose work is for publication.- To promote high professional standards and ethics.- To cultivate friendship and mutual understanding between photographers.

ASMP: The Dallas Chapter
The Dallas chapter is one of 40 chapters nationwide of the American Society of Media Photographers, a trade organization which promotes photographers’ rights, educates photographers in better business practices, and produces business publications for photographers. It was founded in 1944 by a handful of the world’s leading photojournalists and is recognized internationally for its leadership role. Photographers helping photographers since 1944. For membership information go to the National ASMP site http://www.asmp.org/. The more the merrier so bring a friend, colleague or client along. It's sure to be another great social and business networking event! Great drink specials and appetizers!

Career Services Week Workshops AND Job Fair!!!!!!!

2010-04-19T13:14:00.000-07:00

Make plans to attend CAREER SERVICES WEEK ~ All week-long!

Job-a-Palooza Job Fair – 8th floor – Tuesday 11:00am to 1:00pm

Network Workshop – Room 216 – Wednesday 12:00pm to 1:00pm – You will leave with a Networking Action Plan!

Freelance 101 Workshop – Room 216 – Thursday 12:00pm to 1:00pm – You will leave with a greater knowledge of how to run a freelance business!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are IN NEED OF A JOB, attend...

JOB-A-PALOOZA: Student Job Fair & Student Clubs Fair

Week 3: Tuesday, April 20th
11AM – 1PM
8th Floor

Apply for part-time/full-time survival jobs, and some part-time industry-related jobs & gigs!

Dress to Impress!

Bring copies of your updated resume if you have one

Questions? Contact Jennifer jmagee@aii.edu or 469-587-1213

As of 4/19, these COMPANIES (JOB OPENINGS) will be there:
· American Industries (Graphic Designers, Fashion Merchandisers, Web Designers, Fashion Designers – All Contract Positions)SouperSalad (Various Positions)
· White House Black Market (Sales Associates – full & part-time, and Management)Victoria's Secret (Sales Associates, Stockpersons, Visuals)
· Old Navy (Sales Associates, Stockpersons, Supervisors)
· FC Dallas and Pizza Hut Park (Event Staff, Culinarians)
· Dallas Market Center (web designers, temporary positions)
· Food Team (Kitchen Staff, Bartenders, Servers)
· Swagg Magazine (graphic designers, website designers)
· Green Mountain Energy (event Agents)
· UPS (warehouse, package handlers)
· FedEx Ground (package handlers)AiDallas School of Design Internships

10 Job-Search Mistakes

2010-04-19T09:24:00.000-07:00

People entering the job market (and all job seekers) should avoid these common errors.

Although this year's college graduates are facing a tough job market (and the smart ones are facing it now, rather than waiting until after graduation), they have an advantage over other job seekers, according to Andy Chan, vice president of career development at Wake Forest University: they are among the age group most likely to be hired in coming months.

"Organizations are very interested in hiring young people because they have a lot of energy and are willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done," Chan says.
But no matter how well-positioned these young people are, they--and all job seekers--will have a better chance of success if they avoid these common job-hunting mistakes of new college grads:

1. Not being proactive enough Emily Bennington, the author of "Effective Immediately: How to Fit In, Stand Out, and Move Up at Your First Real Job," says, "This isn't the time to sit back and be casual in your approach. Create a hit list of five to ten target companies, and really utilize your network to locate an 'in' at each."

2. Relying solely on the Internet In a recent Yahoo! HotJobs poll, 57% of respondents said networking was a factor in landing their current or most recent job. Brad Karsh, president of JobBound, says, "When thousands of candidates are applying to the same jobs online and posting their resume to the same job boards, candidates need to stand out by making connections and networking their way into a company." Job boards are an important tool, but Karsh says new grads also need to focus energy on networking.

3. Not creating wide networks Career expert Liz Ryan agrees: "Use your parents', grandparents', and friends' networks to help you in your post-graduation job search," she says. "Don't be shy--reach out to any long-ago Scoutmaster, choir director, or babysitting or leaf-raking boss. ... There's no statute of limitations on networking." (Read more Yahoo! HotJobs articles about effective networking.)

4. Not creating customized resumes Ryan says, "Don't send out any resumes that simply list your courses, the degree you've earned, and your part-time and summer jobs--use this opportunity to make a stronger statement about what you want to do with your adult life." And according to Jay Block, the author of "101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times," younger job seekers often haven't thought about what they have to offer an employer (as opposed to what they want to get from one). With this mindset, they create resumes that are "boring biographies" instead of effective marketing tools. (Read more Yahoo! HotJobs articles about crafting better resumes.)

5. Misusing the Internet Tory Johnson, CEO of Women For Hire and the author of "Fired to Hired," says, "New grads don't use LinkedIn--it's not sexy like Facebook or Twitter. But it's the best resource for getting names and building a professional identity. Don't overlook it."

6. Failing to follow up Johnson says, "It's not enough to send resumes and pray the phone rings." She cautions that job seekers can't expect a resume to be discovered in that "big black online hole." "Hustle to follow up," she says.

7. Setting expectations too high Johnson says new graduates too often focus on looking for the perfect job, instead of a first job: "Especially in this economy, the first job should be about finding a position where you'll learn a great deal, you'll be super busy, and you'll be surrounded by lots of people."

8. Appearing unprofessional Make sure you're ready for employers' scrutiny, says Tim McIntyre, president and CEO of The Executive Search Group. That means you should "sanitize your MySpace page--right now. It will be checked," he says. He notes that many college students will need to change off-color voicemail greetings. Ryan adds, "Don't assume that Facebook's privacy settings will keep your youthful antics away from curious eyes. Rid your profile page of any photos of the 'three Bs' (beer, bongs, and bikinis)."

9. Not taking the job interview seriously Even when you're applying for an unpaid internship, you need to adhere to common standards of professionalism. McIntyre says those standards include demonstrating you've done your research on the company and dressing appropriately. Block adds that new grads are often unprepared for tough (but standard) interview questions, such as "Where do you see yourself in three years?" and "What are your weaknesses?" (Read more Yahoo! HotJobs articles about effective interview tactics.)

10. Not using the college's career office "A career office can help [students] identify networking contacts, learn important job-search skills, and significantly improve their resume and cover letter," says Wake Forest University's Chan. Ryan agrees, but adds that this is just a first step. The career office's job is to "to prepare you for your job search, not to conduct it for you," she says. "Use LinkedIn, reach out to everyone you can, and begin researching employers who'd be likely targets for your job-search." (Start your job search now.)

by Charles Purdy, Yahoo! HotJobs

Design Competition

2010-04-14T10:56:00.001-07:00

Got a great print that would look fantastic on the textiles used to create PJ Salvage pajamas?

Click HERE!

Submit all artwork to contest@pjsalvage.com in JPG, PDF or TIFF Format (No larger than 5MB). Submissions due by May 21st!

DSVC & Ai Dallas Meeting @ The Magnolia Theater - Wed 4/14!!

2010-04-13T12:31:00.000-07:00

The Art Institute of Dallas is DSVC's School of the Month!! Please come and show your Ai support!! Also, it's a perfect way to meet industry folks with your fellow Ai peeps!

WHO: Dallas Society of Visual Communications (DSVC), Ai Dallas, & Lousie Fili

WHERE: The Magnolia Theater in the West Village, 3699 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX (Uptown Dallas)

WHEN: Wednesday, April 14th

RECEPTION: 6:00PM
MEETING: 7:00PM

WHY: Meet industry pros, students, and listen to a great speaker

HOW: The Art Institute of Dallas is DSVC's SCHOOL OF THE MONTH in APRIL!!

PRICE: Bring $5 and your Student ID for a special price!

For more information, visit www.dsvc.org

Career Services Week! April 19-22

2010-04-08T12:47:00.000-07:00

Students and Alumni are welcome to attend all events! Alumni should RSVP to jjanik@aii.edu.

Click on the image to enlarge:

KERA's CEO Series features Stan Richards of The Richards Group - March 26th

2010-03-24T12:22:00.000-07:00

On Friday, March 26th, CEO (a KERA television and radio series) will explore the unique culture of a company considered one of the best places to work in North Texas. As the founder of the Dallas-based The Richards Group, Stan Richards leads the largest independent advertising agency in the country. Richards tells host Lee Cullum what it takes to create large, effective campaigns for national brands like Chick-fil-A, Home Depot and Motel 6.

Tune in to KERA Channel 13 at 7:30pm, on Friday, March 26th, to hear his discussion.
Sunday following the TV broadcast, 5pm, KERA 90.1 FM

CEO is a KERA television and radio series hosted by Lee Cullum featuring Texas chief executives from the corporate and not-for-profit sectors. The show explores what it takes to make a company successful in today's global marketplace, asking questions about leadership style and ethics.

Listen Up, People!

2010-03-18T14:18:00.001-07:00

The Art Institutes and The Creative Group have teamed up to create meaningful contnt and relationships that will positively benefit the students of The Art Institutes nationwide.

The podcast series was designed with you in mind by The Art Institutes and http://www.creativegroup.com/. The Career Blueprint Podcasts give you smart, insightful information from those in the know. Why not invest five minutes in yourself and your career? You're worth it!

Click the link below to hear Megan Slabinski, District President of The Creative Group give practical tips on finding early career jobs and internships that are the right fit for you.

Groundfloor Opportunities: Doorways to the Future

Free Portfolio Review event - March 20th!

2010-03-17T10:25:00.000-07:00

AIGA DFW is putting on a no-frills portfolio review on March 20th from 12noon-4pm at The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). This would be a great tune-up for soon-to-be design graduates! It's FREE, but you will need to register via the link below so we can get a head count. Details in this link: http://dallas.aiga.org/events/2010/03/42407654

Design Portfolio Show -

2010-03-09T11:53:00.000-08:00

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GeekMeet Networking Event -

2010-03-09T11:47:00.000-08:00

GEEKMEET - This Thursday we will be at Duke's Original Roadhouse in Addison. Meet us by the main bar. We will have $5 pitchers, $3 vodka, $5 burgers and a free taco bar too! Bring your business cards and get ready for a great night of networking.

More Details: http://www.geekmeet.com/march-happy-hour-1.html

March 11, 2010
6 to 9pm
Duke's Original Roadhouse
4180 Beltline RoadAddison, TX
972.503.2337

http://www.dukesoriginalroadhouse.com/

RSVP to tom@geekmeet.com

AIGA Dallas Meeting - Alexander Flores

2010-03-08T16:28:00.000-08:00

AiDallas Alum, Alexander Flores, will be speaking at the next AIGA Dallas meeting...

Wednesday, March 10, 2010
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Clampitt Creative Center
9207 Ambassador Row
Dallas, Texas 75247

For more information, click here.

MeetUp.com

2010-02-22T10:08:00.000-08:00

Have you heard about MeetUp?

It is a great online resource to find groups, organizations, happy hours, etc. with people in your industry! MeetUp today!

Disney Internships

2010-02-22T08:50:00.000-08:00

Disney Professional Internships: Apply Now!

Greetings from Disney Professional Internships!

We wanted to make you aware of some exciting news! The recruiting season has officially begun for Disney Professional Internships and you can start applying for internships in which you are interested today!

Disney Professional Internships are available at the Walt Disney World® Resort, Disneyland® Resort and Walt Disney Imagineering. Each of these unique areas of our global company offers students the ability to apply classroom learnings while networking with Disney professionals, gaining valuable experience from a Fortune™ 100 Company and having fun!
Internships are offered in a wide range of areas, including but not limited to:

Disney's Animal Programs
Art and Graphics
Communication
Education
Engineering
Entertainment
Events
Finance
Horticulture
Human Resources
Information Technology
Labor Operations
Management
Merchandise
Operations/Guest Relations
Sales and Marketing
Sports

Visit disneyinterns.com for more information and to apply!

Disney Professional Recruitingwdw.disney.interns@disney.com

"Me 2.0" by Dan Schwabel

2010-02-05T09:36:00.000-08:00

Check out

"ME 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand To Achieve Career Success"

by Dan Schawbel
http://www.personalbrandingbook.com/

#1 Career Book for 2009 - New York Post

It was an honor to have him speak on a conference call that I was a part of today. Dan Schawbel is profound and inspiring! I highly recommend you go to your nearest bookstore and buy this book.

Some highlights from the book include:
- A proven 4-step process for building a powerful brand (discover, create, communicate, maintain).

- Tips on using social media tools for personal empowerment, confidence building, and professional networking in order to attract jobs directly to you, without applying!

- Tested advice on how to create an online and offline presence for career protection and self-promotion.

Bottom line:

This is the handbook for surviving and thriving

in the digital age !

Building an Online Portfolio -

2010-02-03T13:43:00.000-08:00

Whether you're a new media professional or in the marketing or communications field, it pays to put your work on the Web. Your online portfolio holds the advantage of showcasing your services 24/7, enabling potential clients to find you with just a few clicks. When building a website, keep in mind that anyone can visit it at any time before contacting you. Therefore, a key goal should be to provide enough information about your services to convince prospects to take the next step: making personal contact. Following are six essential elements every site should have to ensure a positive user experience:

1-Home page. Some visitors may not go any further than your home page, so make sure it clearly conveys who you are and the services you offer, and provides complete contact information.

2-Biographical information/credentials. Your visitors will want to know about the person behind your website. A brief professional biography gives clients a snapshot of your qualifications, experience and expertise.

3-Printer-friendly resume. This is especially necessary if you're looking for a full-time job, so make sure it's easily accessible and ready to print. (PDF files work well for this.)

4-Work samples. The primary reason anyone will visit your website is to see your work, so give them enough to look at - but not too much - and organize your pieces strategically. Be sure you have permission to post any work that belongs to clients or employers.

5-Partial client list. Include a list of your past employers and clients (with their permission). Testimonials lend even more credibility.

6-Contact information. Make it as easy as possible for anyone with the slightest interest to reach you. Give them as many options as possible: phone, fax, e-mail, mail - and make the contact information accessible from every page on your site.

Here are some additional tips for creating an effective online portfolio:

* Keep it clean and concise. The best web portfolios are succinct and straightforward. You risk irritating visitors by showing too many samples or requiring excessive scrolling and clicking. Include only your best pieces and make them prominent or easily accessible from the home page.

* Make it "mega-lyte." All your files should be sized appropriately for the Web. The last thing you want to do is cause a prospective client's computer to crash.

* Tell the story. Just as you must clearly label the pieces in your print portfolio, you also should describe the samples you post online. For each item, provide the client name (with their permission), your role in the project, the date, and any software or special skills used.

* Take it a for a test drive. Make sure your e-portfolio can be accessed using a variety of platforms and browsers before directing anyone to your site. Also, check that all URLs you post are still active and displaying your work.

Contributed by The Creative Group

Networking Event -

2010-02-03T08:04:00.000-08:00

(click to enlarge)

GeekMeet Networking Event:

2010-01-19T09:10:00.000-08:00

Come out to La Duni at North Park Mall and enjoy another great networking event with professionals in the technology industry. See you on the 28th!

Happy Hour information: January 28th Happy Hour

La Duni is providing several drink specials for us - $5 mojitos and margaritas, $3 import beer and $5 house wine selections. We will also have a few munchies available. See you there!

Date: Thursday, January 28, 2010
Time: 6pm-9pmAddress:La DuniNorth Park MallDallas, TX
Cost: $10 cash per person at the door

More information regarding GeekMeet: http://www.geekmeet.com/

Thanks for the Copyright Info!

2010-01-08T13:57:00.000-08:00

Dear Columbia Law School,
Thank for creating KeepYourCopyrights.org.

As a designer, I know how important copyright management is, and KeepYourCopyrights.org has helped me understand my rights and responsibilities. I believe that all graphic designers and web & interactive media designers should check it out!

Love,
Jane

All March AiD graduates...

2010-01-08T11:15:00.000-08:00

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An Evening with a MadMan...

2010-01-07T12:01:00.001-08:00

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Event Details:
AAF-Fort Worth harkens back to the golden age of the advertising industry by taking a closer look at the Golden Globe winning television series Mad Men. On January 14, 2010, join us for an evening with Matthew Weiner, creator and executive producer of the show.
Practitioners from all aspects of the advertising profession – and even those who are intrigued or infuriated by it – are invited to hear historical perspectives and anecdotes of the industry. The stunning Casa Mañana theatre will provide an ideal backdrop.

7:30 pm
Historic perspective on the American Advertising Federation – Fort Worth and area industry professionals

7:45 pm
Matthew Weiner presentation focusing on the development of Mad Men and its characters

About Matthew Weiner:
Matthew Weiner is creator and executive producer of Mad Men, an AMC original series set in the ruthlessly competitive world of Madison Avenue advertising executives of the 1960s. Previously, Weiner was executive producer and writer on The Sopranos, HBO’s critically acclaimed drama series. The show garnered him an Emmy nomination with co-writer Terence Winter. Weiner’s credits also include a 2007 Writers Guild Award (TV) and a 2005 PGA Golden Laurel Award, as well as stints working on various television series such as The Naked Truth, Becker, and Andy Richter Controls the Universe.

About Mad Men:
The sexy, stylized and provocative AMC drama follows the lives of men and women in an ego-driven world where key players make an art of the sell. Mad Men has received wide critical acclaim, particularly for historical authenticity and visual style. The series has won numerous awards, including 3 Golden Globes and 6 Emmys. It is the second cable series to win the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series and the first basic cable series to do so.

Come see our new graduates -

2009-12-15T16:44:00.001-08:00

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Alumni show in Austin -

2009-11-16T15:08:00.001-08:00

Wednesday night.

Six Artists...two djs...free spectacle sunglasses...

ultimat vodka...art exhibition

Running Your Own Business -

2009-11-12T08:03:00.000-08:00

1. There is a fine line between building good client relationships and getting too close. Maintain great customer service, because it will bring you more business from that client and others that they may know. If at all possible, DON’T get over acquainted with you client. It will give them a false sense of comfort when it comes time to pay you, and they will almost always expect more for less. It will also make you want to charge less than you normally would. In the end you just lose money.

2. Striving for perfection is always the goal, but it can also hurt you. It’s important to realize that more than likely, you are good at what you do, and that is why people seek your services rather than just doing it themselves. Quality work is always important, but spending too much time making something perfect can hinder you drastically. You’ll end up losing time better spent seeking new clients, marketing, or doing something better worth your time. You be the judge – if you can afford the time, it’s always good to squeeze all the “creative juice” out it, but if there’s more work out there. Go for quality and move on to maximize efficiency. Most often, your client would never know the difference.

3. Never pre-determine a person’s ability to pay for your services. Determining cost is perhaps the most difficult aspect of being a freelancer. Do everything you can to get your client to state their budget prior to you stating your cost. If you must give a cost, give ballpark figures or a range of lowest to highest. Much of your cost, of course, is determined by how bad you need/ or want the work. Be VERY careful of how you speak of costs. The slightest misuse of words can unknowingly suggest that you think your client is incapable of affording your services. Assuming that a person CAN pay the full amount and charging too much will send your clients running for the next available person.

4. Always be professional! In many ways, treat your business like it’s a major corporation. Always take care of the necessary paperwork – Contracts, Invoices, Payment schedules, etc. Not only will it cover your tracks legally, but your clients will take you and your work seriously. They will be most susceptible to pay when and what you ask, and also more likely to return to you for work. It will also make your clients feel more secure when they have documentation of every business encounter.

5. Be punctual. Time is money! This cannot be stressed enough. Respond to emails within 24 hours! Call within 24 hours and have a professional voicemail! Nothing impresses clients more than your ability to work well and work efficiently.

6. Educate your client. Many times, your clients will not fully understand the services you provide. As you work, explain to your client your thought process. Just don’t ramble on about how good you are. A little education shows that you know what you’re are doing and adds value to your work. Your client will feel more comfortable investing their money in you and more appreciative of your services.

7. Don’t be afraid to try something new. Business ALWAYS comes with risks. If your client presents you with a project that you may be only 75-90% familiar with, take the initiative to challenge yourself to learn how to do the other 10-25%. Ask questions. The internet is full of people who have asked the same questions as you, and you can never underestimate a good book. In the end, you’ll be proud of what you’ve done for your client; you will have added a new skill to your repertoire and value to your business.

Submitted by Jeremiah Shepherd

GeekMeet Happy Hour at Blue Mesa -

2009-10-29T07:12:00.000-07:00

You are invited to attend ...
GeekMeet Happy Hour at Blue Mesa - Nov 12

Come out to Blue Mesa for our monthly networking event. Blue Mesa will have a complimentary quesadilla bar until 7:30pm. I look forward to seeing everyone there!

I should also have pictures from the last event on our Facebook page soon. If you aren't already a fan, please go join - http://www.facebook.com/pages/GeekMeet/176631970695

See you November 12th at Blue Mesa!

Date
Thursday, November 12, 2009 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Location
Blue Mesa - Addison
5100 Beltline Road
Addison, TX 75254

Will you be attending? Attend Event

DSVC November Meeting:

2009-10-27T12:26:00.000-07:00

November Meeting:
Dan Covert and Andre Andreev

of Dress Code, NYC

Date – Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Reception – 6pm Meeting – 7pm
Location – Cityplace (get directions)
Members – Free Non-Members – $20
Students – $10 (ID Required)

NOV 4 – At a combined age of only 53, Dan and Andre of dress code have already had the dream jobs of working in motion and print at MTV. They met while studying graphic design at California College of the Arts, moved to New York, got to MTV and left to start their own studio a few years later. Their work has been shown in 3 museums and graced magazines and annuals, including I.D., BDA, Communication Arts, PRINT, Graphis, Metropolis, the Type Directors Club, The Art Directors Club, CMYK, HOW, Adobe, STEP Field Guide to Emerging Design Talent, and Young Guns.

Dan and Andre also wrote a book called Never Sleep — a book about transitioning from school to work in the field of graphic design — which is in stores now. To add to an already impressive set of resumes, they also co-teach Design, Type and New Media classes at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn which led to their Fun Is Learning site — a resource for everything concerning graphic design students and young professionals.

See more of Dan and Andre's work at neversleepbook.com, funislearning.com and swishahouse.biz.

What a 30-Second Commercial Can Do For You

2009-10-19T07:29:00.000-07:00

DALLAS (KERA) - In one of our recent Economy segments, we offered tips on the 30-second elevator commercial. We offered counseling if you who wanted to send us your own. A listener stepped up, and here's what happened. KERA's Bill Zeeble reports

Bill Zeeble, KERA reporter: For Dallas native and commercial art director Heather Ezell, this economy has taken a toll.

Heather Ezell: My situation is, I was laid off a year ago, & started my own business.

Ezell is confident she's good at what she does - helping clients advertise and market their products. But she admits she's not so good at marketing herself.

Ezell: I'm rotten at this. Most friends tell me. Heather - you can't sell yourself, girl.

So after hearing KERA's story, she emailed her job pitch for a review by Scott Peek. He is an experienced trainer of these personal, 30-second commercials. He says the goal is to start a conversation that could connect to a hiring manager and a job you want. Ezell's first try, he says, didn't offer enough specifics. He says the pitch should always start with your name and what you do.

Scott Peek: The second thing you do is you want to talk about the value you could bring or have brought to clients. The third thing you do then is how you would do that with future clients. The fourth one is where you want to do your work and the help you need.

Here is one of Ezell's first attempts.

Ezell: Hello, I'm Heather Ezell and I'm an art director and I specialize in branding and strategy. I brainstorm potent, creative marketing strategy to expand opportunities for my client's business. I mentor everyone involved throughout a project fostering a healthy enthusiasm for their new direction, and most importantly, results. I want to work with businesses big or small that have an appetite for effective ideas which stretch creative limits and wake up their audience.

Peek praises Ezell's commercial. Now he says she needs to include another element.

Peek: Giving the person you're talking to a way for them to help you. What are the areas of help
Ezell help that you can give me?
Peek: Yes, yes.
Ezell: And how do I ask that?

Working together, Peek and Ezell conclude small, young businesses in Southern Dallas, near Ezell's office, would be her ideal clients. She's now working with a specialty medical company and wants to build on that.

Ezell: And their primary goal is to get in front of surgeons. To get their message across. That's a hard nut to crack. And so I'm working with them to go in a bunch of different directions to get in front of surgeons.

Ezell reworks her script, this time adding that client information to the end.

Ezell: For example I've worked with a company called medCAD, and their goal is to reach surgeons. I work with them to go in very unusual directions, to get in front of surgeons to get their message across.

Scott : So what help do you need?
Ezell: I need help finding those different small businesses that have a little bit unusual need in their marketing.
Peek: So let's take this further. So if you had a target area, what geography would you be targeting first?
Ezell: Downtown and Oak Cliff.
Peek: See how the conversation starts?

The whole session between Peek and Ezell lasted about half an hour. Ezell says she now feels more prepared to sell herself.

Ezell : I'm going to take what I learned here. And obviously refine my statement. So that it is a conversation when I state it, it is a "Hi how do you do," ...and this is what I do.

Peek gives his student high praise. Ezell is feeling ready to go, hoping these new skills lead to more people who could then lead to good job prospects. Bill Zeeble KERA news.

Bill Zeeble (2009-10-19)

Threadless Design Contest

2009-10-07T09:08:00.000-07:00

(click to enlarge)

For more information, check out their site!
http://www.threadless.com/loves/tatepoplife

10 Reasons to Politely Decline a Web Design Gig

2009-10-07T07:44:00.000-07:00

When you’re in that first round of meetings with a potential web design or web development client, there are certain statements, revelations or bits of information that serve as huge red flags.

Here’s a list (submitted by a designer friend who shall remain anonymous) of the biggest all-time deal-breakers:

10. He can’t stop telling you about how horrid his last developer was.

9. He wants to make sure you can build his site so it will show up first on Google.

8. He’s already got a list together of 100 words for his meta tags.

7. There isn’t much money for this job but it could really lead to a lot more work down the road.

6. He wants to know if you are flexible about your deposit.

5. He explains that you will be responsible to his organization’s “website committee.”

4. He wants to know if you know how to “do Flash.”

3. He wants his start-up site to be “kinda like eBay.”

2. He could actually build the site himself but he just doesn’t have the time.

1. He’s looking for a new “webmaster.”

By Michael Calore July 17, 2009

DAL November Happy Hour -

2009-10-06T09:16:00.000-07:00

The DAL invites you to its monthly happy hour. The more the merrier so bring a friend, colleague or client along. It's sure to be another great social and business networking event! Great drink specials and appetizers!

Location:
Margarita Ranch
Mockingbird Station
5321 E. Mockingbird Ln.
Dallas, TX 75206

Date & Time:
Thursday November 19, 2009

5pm-8pm

DSVC Meeting -

2009-10-06T08:35:00.000-07:00

Oct. Meeting: Advertising Madwoman, Nancy Vonk

Date – Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Reception – 6pm Meeting – 7pm
Location – Cityplace (get directions)
Members – Free Non-Members – $20
Students – $10 (ID Required)

OCT 7 — Nancy Vonk has been the Co-Chief Creative Officer of Ogilvy Toronto since 1998 with partner Janet Kestin. They have won Cannes Lions, One Show Pencils, Communication Arts and Clios. They are the creative directors of “Evolution”, winner of two Grand Prix at Cannes in 2007 and “Diamond Shreddies”, winner of a Grand Clio in 2008.

She has judged awards shows including Communication Arts, The One Show, Cannes, the Clio Awards, D&AD and the Creativity Awards, and has chaired shows in the U.S. and Canada including the 2008 Art Director’s Club of New York 87th annual awards, where she was the first female chair in their history.

Nancy was included in Creativity magazine’s Top 50 creative people of 2008 list and ‘boards magazine’s “It List” in 2006 and 2007. Nancy and Janet were named advertising women of the year by the WIN Awards in Los Angeles and by the AWNY Awards in New York in 2007. They are on the AlwaysOn 2009 Madison Avenue IT list.

Nancy and Janet have a widely read advice column, “Ask Jancy”, on ad site ihaveanidea.org. They penned a critically acclaimed Adweek Book, “Pick Me” in 2005, which has become a staple in advertising schools. They were the keynote speakers at the 2009 “Women of Influence” event. HarperCollins has commissioned a business book based on that speech (due on shelves in 2011). In 2006 Nancy co-founded “Been There”, a group of top North American female creative directors that offer online mentoring on creativeskirts.com. She is on the advisory board of the Ontario College of Art and Design and a mentor and lecturer at VCU Brandcenter. Nancy was elected to the board of the One Club in 2009.

Josh Levy, Senior Art Director at Sony...

2009-09-14T14:42:00.000-07:00

Joshua Marc Levy has been with Sony Music for 3 years and works as a Sr. Art Director and Illustrator. His basic duties include setting up photo shoots, cover design and/or illustration, package design, color proofing, and press runs.

(click on image to enlarge)

How did you make your way to Sony? Its a long story of strange fate and odd twists...and I took an independent study with someone who used to work here.

What are the greatest challenges you face in your position?
Really depends from job to job. Sometimes its a matter of working with a band that has 5 members with 5 different opinions. Sometimes you win an artist over with your first cover design and other times its the 200th cover. It might thunderstorm your photo shoot day in the park. And of course office politics.

What are some of your favorite/most memorable projects?
AC/DC (one of my all time favorite bands)...We shot in London, special packaging with 4 different covers and a hard-bound deluxe edition. Went to 4 shows on the tour and everyone is wearing my art! Also Ozzy Osbourne, Modest Mouse, Love As Laughter, and Buddy Guy to name a few. (Josh's AC/DC cover below...)

Lots of students would love to work at Sony. What are some tips you can provide for students wanting to work in Graphic Design at Sony?
For Art Directors: (we no longer have designers, the AD does everything from start to finish) You have to be the best! Work your hardest, make sure you are up to date on what is out there....Visit the record store, hit up the music blogs and see what your competition is already doing. It won’t just happen, it takes years, so don’t be discouraged too easily. Do it better. If you choose an album that exists as a school project, make sure that its better than the original artist. If you know someone in the business, even better...connections are gold.

What advice can you give to Graphic Artists and Photographers about how to break into the music industry? Try and get into advertising or fashion, because the music industry is dying and the pay for photographers gets cut in half every year. If it really truly is your passion then go for it and don’t give up.

Recently, you made a trip to Dallas for a shoot, so… do you know who shot J.R.? Yes, I actually do. But do any of your students even know who J.R. is? I bet they’ve never used a typewriter before.

If you could be on the cover of any musician’s album (living or dead) who would it be, and what would the image look like?
ahhh, there are many I’d love to design. A lot of the old rockers...My top are Pearl Jam, Neil Young, Mudhoney, Bruce Springsteen, The Buzzcocks, Social Distortion, Iggy Pop, to name a few. What would the covers look like? I have no idea. It’s a giant puzzle you have to solve when the time is right.

See more of Josh's work HERE.

Advertising Documentary...

2009-09-10T13:16:00.000-07:00

(click on image to launch website)

We're looking for VOLUNTEERS/INTERNS...

2009-09-03T12:03:00.000-07:00

This year VideoFest needs your help more then ever. We have a lot of exciting films and artist coming to town. And our 4-day Fest start Nov 5th but we need help getting ready right now. We're looking for some enthusiastic people to help. This is a great opportunity for college students. Come see how a nonprofit works and be on the inside of Film Festival screenings and parties. All jobs are part time and not paid. But please let me know if you want to help, you don't have to know anything about film or video. You just have to have fun.

Marketing Manager Volunteer: You find business and corporations to raise funds and inform about advertising opportunities. Meet the business of Dallas

Festival Event Coordinator: Plan the parties and events that make a festival fun. You'll be working closely with Marketing to engage the business community and gain sponsorship.

Graphics/office Intern: We have a lot of message and no messenger. If you'd like to have a chance to build a portfolio and work with artist, this will be a good place to start.

Office Intern: If you're interested in working with Non-profit Organizations this is a great place to start. We are a small Org. so you'll be able to see all the parts working up close, from grant writing, fund raising, organizing the people , to board meetings.

FEST Volunteer: Help during the Fest Nov5-8th.

Please send an e-mail with your name, background, and availability. Put the position you'd like to take in the subject line of your e-mail.

Johnny Rutledge, VAD Managing Director - askme@videofest.org

Recent client visit to Drive Collective...

2009-09-03T11:10:00.000-07:00

Andrea Maiella and Andrew Urbanyi, AiDallas interns

and Kevin Hanson, Principal

Drive Collective

2009-09-01T13:28:00.000-07:00

This is an email from one of my Alumni -

Ok friends, I know normally no one does this but I find it funny seeing myself messup allot. I was applying for a job yesterday and I was required to do a video portfolio profile of myself which pretty much means you record yourself talking about who you are and etc. So at first I thought it was gonna be fast and easy but was i wrong! I literally took 2 hours to get it right which means I had allot of bad takes so here it is for you and world to see. My Messups compiled just for you.... Enjoy!

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5d_xbGbmKc

Welcome!

2009-08-14T19:40:00.001-07:00

Welcome to our new Career Services/School of Design Informational Blog! As a resource to students and graduates of The Art Institute of Dallas, we will be continually posting industry-related information and will invite Guest Bloggers to provide inside-information. Please email David atmailto:delias@aii.edu if you would like to ask a question or suggest a topic. Also, ALWAYS feel free to leave comments.

The Art Institute of Dallas Design Info Source

Design Portfolio Show

AiDallas student wins Best of Show!

The Art Institute of Dallas Portfolio Show

STUDENT COMPETITION - Cash Prize - Deadline March 4th

Scholarship Opportunity!

GeekMeet Happy Hour

DESIGN, FLY, AND WIN!!!!

The ADDY Awards Competition!!!!

Art Institute Portfoli Show -

DAL Luncheon / CABLE DAY - Tues, Dec 14th

Internships - Dieste

DSVC Meeting -

T-Shirt Design Contest

Art Show this Weekend...

Portfolio Show - Monday, 9/27

A "No Cutting Corners" Guide to Getting the Job You Want at a Major Ad Agency

Scholarships!!

September Meeting: An Evening with Stan Richards

Geek Meet Event:

Ad Club Presents Dustin Ballard

August 2010 Meeting - Business of Production

View the work of our next group of designers!

AiDallas student wins -

Save The Dates!!

Flash Is No Longer Necessary?

Dallas Ad League / ASMP Happy Hour Social/Networking Event - Thursday, April 29th

Career Services Week Workshops AND Job Fair!!!!!!!

10 Job-Search Mistakes

Design Competition

DSVC & Ai Dallas Meeting @ The Magnolia Theater - Wed 4/14!!

Career Services Week! April 19-22

KERA's CEO Series features Stan Richards of The Richards Group - March 26th

Listen Up, People!

Free Portfolio Review event - March 20th!

Design Portfolio Show -

GeekMeet Networking Event -

AIGA Dallas Meeting - Alexander Flores

MeetUp.com

Disney Internships

"Me 2.0" by Dan Schwabel

Building an Online Portfolio -

Networking Event -

GeekMeet Networking Event:

Thanks for the Copyright Info!

All March AiD graduates...

An Evening with a MadMan...

Come see our new graduates -

Alumni show in Austin -

Running Your Own Business -

GeekMeet Happy Hour at Blue Mesa -

DSVC November Meeting:

What a 30-Second Commercial Can Do For You

Threadless Design Contest

10 Reasons to Politely Decline a Web Design Gig

DAL November Happy Hour -

DSVC Meeting -

Suggested reading list…

Josh Levy, Senior Art Director at Sony...

Advertising Documentary...

We're looking for VOLUNTEERS/INTERNS...

Recent client visit to Drive Collective...

Welcome!