Name: Jill Hunter
Place of Employment: jill hunter photography
Job Title: I’m a freelance editorial and advertising photographer and specialize in photographing people and places on location.
What do you get out of being an AIGA volunteer and member?
The opportunity to network with, be inspired by and learn from others in the design community.
What inspired you to become a photographer?
I’ve always been passionate about capturing the people and places around me and sharing what I see with others. It’s so cliché, but I’ve been obsessed with photography since I was a kid. I even have a series of individual portraits that I took when I was eight years old of all of my Cabbage Patch Kids with my Fisher Price camera. Prior to becoming a professional, I photographed a series of political murals in Northern Ireland that really inspired me to do fine art and travel photography when I returned back home.
Hi Ken,
What are some signs or indicators that a layoff is about to occur? And how do I avoid the cut?
Thanks for your insight,
Rick
read more…
BrandExtract, LLC is an integrated branding and communications firm that guides growing companies by providing strategic branding solutions, marketing communications, advertising, print and interactive services.
AIGA Houston’s John Luu was able to stop by BrandExtract’s studio to speak with partners Jonathan Fisher, Guy Parker and Malcolm Wolter and senior designer Will Cunningham about their studio and the creative process at BrandExtract. read more…
Whether you’re a new graduate, or a seasoned designer – we’re all young at heart, you’ll get something out of this video from the 99percent on Advice for Young Creatives. 99percent is one of my favorite sites, and I happen to be in the middle of reading Making Ideas Happen at the moment (yes, I would recommend it!)
I’ve always found that when you surround yourself with great people, you get better too. What designer doesn’t want to be around people who strive to constantly improve, question everything and are always looking at the world in new ways? The best designers ask “what if…” with every challenge.
Being around other designers, whether at work or through the general design community, means that I’m always exposed to new ideas and perspectives. Sometimes my own views are challenged, but that’s part of what makes our profession inspiring. In this video, as well as Joanna’s podcast, you can see why it’s important to get out into the design community and share ideas.
Other important lessons here… bring your passion to your work, be brave and bold with your choices and collaborate with others.
Hope you enjoyed. Please share your favorite advice too!
Okay, it’s not really Edward Scissorhands. But these topiaries do look like they could have stepped out of a Tim Burton movie.
A little bit about the real Scissorhands: The River Oaks Plant House has been manufacturing topiaries in Houston for over thirty years. These sculptures are created locally inside the store. They have a huge selection of animals and other shapes that they produce and you can also ask for any custom shape you wish for.
From their catalog:
The experience showed that people are getting very attached to their topiaries. They end up being named and considered as a member of the family.
The River Oaks Plant House is located at 3401 Westheimer Road in Houston.
The larger the city the more businesses it has, and the more businesses it has the more outdoor signs get put up, which in turn become part of the landscape. Due to this logic it could be said that Houston is a whole different city at night. It’s many outdoor light boxes illuminate the streets and steal our eyes’ gaze from the surrounding skyscrapers. So what better way to talk about “nighttime” Houston than creating patterns from light.
Joanna talks about the contagious properties of design and inspiration.
Melody George & Associates, MAG & Associates, represents Houston Photographers that specialize in location, corporate, executive portraits, editorial, product, oil & gas and Industrial photography.
AIGA Houston’s John Luu asks photographer rep, Melody George, some pointers on how designers can work with photographers and get the best results from photo shoots.
So we’re trying something completely new here, Houston!
Introducing AIGA Houston Flash Socials. {look for the Twitter hashtag #flashsocial}
We’re restructuring our programming to engage, collaborate, and leave you feeling like you just attended an unmissable event. Here’s the premise:
Each month, we’ll start promoting the a meet-up only 3 days in advance. We’ll meet up at a designated location (this month, it’s Community Bar – 2703 Smith St) to hang out, mingle, and discuss a topic. We’ll have a new topic each time, and you won’t know it until you arrive. Think of it as the continuation of the Future of YOUston event.
This is one of many steps we’re taking to engage and involve the design community, so YOU can help shape the direction and value of AIGA Houston. This will include every level of our membership – from students to industry vets. And while we’re shaping our chapter, why not shape our community beyond just our members? This is an opportunity to discuss how we as a design community can shape the future of design in Houston.
A dedicated board member (or more) will be there each month. Look for the AIGA Houston cardboard cutout that has been circulating at events.
*Remember – we will only promote 3 days in advance via Facebook and Twitter, so be sure to follow us online. All updates will be tweeted via hashtag #flashsocial, use it as much as possible and tweet your heart out so that others that are not attending can see what we’re discussing and how valuable collaboration is to our chapter.
See everyone there, and don’t be afraid to try something new!
Your Prez, April Guzik {I’ll be there!}
Ask Questions. Get Involved. Be in the Know.
I did a little research into long-standing AIGA Members in the Houston area. When I looked at our current members by the date they joined, I get this list of the ten most tenured members (just showing years, not actual dates here):
1984 – Paula Savage Hansen
1984 – Lana Rigsby
1985 – Hal Kantner
1986 – Craig Minor
1987 – Cheryl Beckett
1991 – Kenny Ragland
1992 – Jim Mousner
1993 – Robin Tooms
1997 – Suzanne Powney
1997 – Thomas Hull
Yep, that’s me at number eight above. I’ve benefited from being involved in AIGA, and think this does make me a good person to talk to you about the value of membership (which is now my role on the local AIGA Houston Board of Directors).
First, let me say that it’s nice to be in such a great company of names. Many of the people here have worked hard to provide resources and kickstart great conversations around design. In fact, it would be difficult to mention everyone who’s played a major part in AIGA as that would be a very long list. Most of you might know that it truly takes some dedicated people to provide support for our community, and we are grateful for every one of them.
In looking back, I can see that AIGA helped me at every part of my career. From making that jump from student to professional, to learning more about strategy and business, and everything in between, with AIGA I was able to either get the resources or connect with people that would help me navigate the way.
I often hear people ask why they should join a professional organization when they can just attend the events. I would answer that by saying that you are prompted to get more involved in the design community when you are invested in its success, and the community in return gives back as well. I’ve seen many instances of AIGA members helping other members, me included. Another reason is that it’s a lot more fulfilling to be part of a solution than just watching it happen around you (see below).
So, back in 1993, I joined AIGA because I wanted to know the design community in Houston better (as a student, I really didn’t know anybody!) and discover ways to improve my design skills. Today, I’m still a member because I’m excited about ways design is changing conversations everywhere – from boardrooms to lecture halls – and I want to be a part of that change.
You could say that both sides of my career are sharper today because of AIGA.
Tell us. Why are you a member?
