The Design Revolution Road Show was here! Featuring a biodiesel-powered truck and super-cool Airstream trailer filled with tangible examples of humanitarian industrial design, the show came to Hillside Campus on Monday. Check out their first-hand account of the visit, and view a video of the foot-powered WEZA pedal-treadle pump generator that powers the trailer, on the Design Revolution Road Show website. What an interesting day—thanks for the visit!
Category Archives: News
Thinking Outside the Dot
When he first arrived on campus in October 2009, Dr. Lorne M. Buchman said one of his first tasks as Art Center’s new president and chief executive officer would be to listen to students, faculty and staff to hear their thoughts on a future direction for the College.
“We must first come together as a community to envision our opportunities, to imagine new possibilities, and to enter into a bold, habit-breaking conversation about our educational future,” wrote Buchman in December when he announced a comprehensive planning process for the College.
To get the conversation rolling, Buchman invited the entire community to attend two back-to-back events: an evening kick-off panel discussion in the Ahmanson Auditorium featuring provocative national thought leaders (for a recap, see yesterday’s post); and a brainstorming session the following day to tackle key issues derived from Art Center’s mission statement.
On January 14, approximately 300 members of the Art Center community—faculty, staff, students and alumni—gathered in the Student Dining Room for the daylong brainstorm. “I want to encourage you all to imagine without limit,” urged Buchman to the larger-than-expected group. “Imagine without limit what Art Center has always been, or what an art and design college ‘ought to be’.”
Rethinking Art Center’s Future: Guest Panelists Weigh In
This past January not only marked the start of a new year and decade, but the beginning of a new visioning process for the College as well. Two back-to-back events—an evening panel discussion featuring national thought leaders, and a daylong brainstorming session tackling key issues relating to Art Center’s mission statement—were open to the Art Center community.
On January 13, faculty, staff, students, alumni, trustees and friends packed the Ahmanson Auditorium for the visioning kickoff. The evening session—Twittered and webcast live—featured a distinguished panel of speakers: Andrew Blauvelt, design director and curator at the Walker Art Center; Katherine Hayles, professor and director of graduate studies in literature at Duke University; Steven Oliver, board member of the grant-making organization United States Artists; and David Rice, chairman and founder of The Organization of Black Designers.
Before introducing the panelists, Art Center President Lorne Buchman stressed the imperative of higher education to value driven learning and thinking. “The capacity of our students and graduates to affect change is enormous,” he said. “We need to be educating responsible citizens—the question is how to do that.”
Concours d’Art Winner Announced
The Dana Point Concours d’Elegance announced today that Transportation Design student John Narciso is the winner of the 2010 Dana Point Concours d’Art.
The Concours d’Art is an annual competition hosted by the Dana Point Concours d’ Elegance and Art Center. Narciso’s winning artwork, which will be used for the event poster, program cover and tickets, depicts the progression of iconic Alfa Romeo designs over the firm’s history. The 28th Annual Dana Point Concours d’Elegance will take place June 27 at Monarch Beach in Dana Point, Calif. This year’s event will feature 100 years of Alfa Romeo and celebrate 80 years of design from Pininfarina.
Congrats, John!
Icsid Calls for Design Solutions Following Haiti Earthquake
In response to the devastation following the earthquake in Haiti, the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) 
has launched a global call to designers from all disciplines to unite in an open dialogue with international relief organizations to assess potential design-effective rehabilitation projects.
To support the UN’s efforts to help the Haitian people overcome challenges in relation to the country’s reconstruction plans, designers, students and relief workers are encouraged to join the discussion by connecting with the Uniting Designers in Disaster fan page on Facebook.
Read more at dexigner.com and Facebook.
Art Center’s Online Student Gallery: Safer Than The Met
Perhaps this is why museum guards say not to get too close to the work: A significant Pablo Picasso painting, The Actor, was damaged after a woman at The Met lost her balance and fell on Friday.
Looking for a safer way to view art? Check out Art Center’s online gallery of student work. All disciplines are represented, from transportation design to fine art to film. Check it out today: Art Center Online Student Gallery
Southern California Portfolio Day a Great Success
National Portfolio Day is an event that gives aspiring art and design students the opportunity to meet with representatives from colleges accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Representatives review portfolios, discuss their school’s programs and answer questions about careers in art.
Southern California Portfolio Day was held Sunday at Art Center’s Hillside Campus. Southwestern Academy students were in attendance, and made a great video documenting the day—check it out! The day was a great success—thanks to all who participated. Check out the video after the jump.
Visioning Process Webcast Tonight
Tonight we are kicking off Art Center’s visioning process spearheaded by President Lorne Buchman. We encourage all members of the Art Center community to join the dialogue.
The discussion begins tonight, Jan. 13, in the Ahmanson Auditorium from 7:30 to 9:30 pm (PST). We have invited a panel of distinguished guests to help us gain a new perspective on art and design education:
- Andrew Blauvelt – Design director and curator, Walker Art Center in Minneapolis
- Katherine Hayles – Director of graduate studies in literature at Duke University
- Steven Oliver – Member of the board of directors for United States Artists and former chairman of the board of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
- David Rice – President of DesignCom, Inc. and chairman and founder of The Organization of Black Designers
Happy Holidays From Art Center!
Happy Holidays from Art Center! We hope you have a happy and safe holiday season. Check out our beautiful holiday card, designed by 5th term Illustration student James Tseng. Its also been slightly animated online: artcenter.edu/newyear2010.
In 2010, Art Center celebrates 80 years of excellence in art and design education. We hope you’ll join us for the yearlong celebration, including the inauguration of our new president, Dr. Lorne M. Buchman on April 22.
Our campus and administrative offices will be closed Dec. 18 through Jan. 3. Happy Holidays!
Schwab Poster Earns Accolades
You might have already noticed the striking image used for the Campaign for Art Center, created by acclaimed graphic designer and alumnus Michael Schwab. We’re happy to report that the poster has won a second gold award in the international design publication Graphis, and will be featured in the Graphis Poster Annual 2010. Earlier this year, it was added to the permanent collection of San Francisco’s Legion of Honor fine arts museum. Schwab’s donation of time, vision and talent underscores the lasting impact that an Art Center education has had on his life and creative career. Congratulations, Michael!
Read more about the poster and the genesis of the Art Center pencil in this intersting article at @Issue.