You Go Girl(s) and Guys.

Where are they now? UAB Graphic Design graduates:

• Cana Grooms is graphic designer at Scout Branding in Birmingham, AL
• Chris Seagle is an Intern at Telegraph Branding in Birmingham, AL.
• Drew Watts is a Graphic Designer at Webster Design in Omaha, NE.
• Samantha Gibbons is now Graphic Designer at Cummings Creative Group in Birmingham, AL.
• Chris Murphy is now Jr. Graphic Designer at Luckie & Co. in Birmingham, AL.

• Stephanie Shiver is now Asst. Art Director at Hoffman Media in Birmingham, AL.
• Jonathan Green is now Designer at blr | further in Birmingham, AL.
• Allison Raines is freelancing at Hothead Studios for Georgia Pacific and Alcan Cable.
• Jacinta Elliot joined designFORMS Architectural firm as graphic designer.
• Brandi Wilson-Sides joined Brownell Travel.
• Scott Dodge joined Cummings Creative Group.
• Courtney Kyle is Art Director at Hoffman Media for Stitch Craft Create magazine.
• Natalie Smith is at Loudhailer New Zealand.
• Zack Williams is freelancing in Venice, CA for TBWA/Chiat/Day, Deutsch, Innerspin.

• Liz Springer is freelancing in B'ham for UAB's Alys Stephens Center and PurMotion.
• Alan Heiman is freelancing for Think+, working on Barber Motors Sports stuff.

Design grad Amy Clark uses design skills to launch fresh family business

Graphic Design student Amy Clark graduate on Saturday, May 11th and the work she has done for her BFA is already helping her to launch her new business.

“I knew that I wanted to make my BFA show work for me as much as possible, so I decided to use the resources I had at my disposal at school,” Clark said. “I used my fellow students as a focus group for branding my budding company. I had a vision that was all my own, but I could take my work into a classroom and enlist my peers as a creative sounding board. My professor, Doug Barrett, gave me the perfect platform to execute my design.”

See the whole story here.

UAB Student Designs New Tag

The State of Alabama requires the redesign of specialty tags every so often and this was the impetus for retiring the old tag. UAB Design student Umair Khan designed the new State of Alabama auto tag for the Cahaba River Society. The tag was created as part of a class project to create a new tag for the Society. Many great designs were created but this is the final design that was chosen for production. The tag features the Cahaba Lily and a cute Otter holding the Alabama State heart in the left corner.

Purchasing this tag will support the mission of the Cahaba River Society. Get the tag that saves the Cahaba and your drinking water!  

UAB Design Students Sweep 2013 Addys!

UAB Graphic Design Students were awarded 12 Student Addy awards at the 2013 Addys. Design students (above) Daniel Twieg, Empress Searight, Tammy Watson, and Amy Clark (not pictured) were awarded Best of Show for student work.

Best of Show - Student

• Daniel Twieg, Amy Clark, Tammy Watson, Empress Searight: Sloss Rebranding Campaign, Steam Punk Since 1882

Gold - Student 

• Jenny Waycaster - Packaging: Dixieland Delights
• Daniel Twieg - Photography: Sloss Furnaces

Silver - Student

• Umair Khan - Packaging: Golden Egg Co.
• Jenny Waycaster - Point of Purchase: The Mandarin, Menu
• Jin Chung- Illustration: See Birmingham!
• Daniel Twieg, Amy Clark, Tammy Watson, Empress Searight: Sloss Rebranding Campaign, Steam Punk Since 1882
• Miranda Hart - Publication: Naked Lunch, Book Cover
• Shannon Robinson - Poster: Beer, Poster/Info Graphic
• Charles Carraway - Poster: Boating Safety, Poster/Info Graphic
• Emily Kerley - Publication: Wedding Invitation Guide
• Jenny Waycaster, Katelyn Armstong, Katie Brasfield, Jasmine Goodman: The Lost Years of Sloss, Branding Campaign

UAB Design Alum Named Graphis Design Best

UAB Design Alum, Drew Watts (09) was awarded a gold and named Graphis 100 best in design, for his Ford Kids Escape project. Watts is currently working at Webster Design in Omaha, NE. Webster Design is an Interdisciplinary design firm working in print, web, environmental and packaging.

Watts explained: In the process of having a new Ford dealership built, an architecture agency behind the project came to Webster Design and asked us to create a play area that went beyond the typical crayon table and wooden train set. My concept was to create an outdoor space that would juxtapose the vast field of concrete and vehicles that are always associated with car dealerships.

We created a theatrical outdoor setting that would inspire the children to be imaginative and active. The small hills and the artificial grass also give the parents a comfortable place to sit, relax and interact with their kids as they wait for service.

UAB Alum awarded Best in Show

UAB Design Alum, Chris Murphy, was awarded first place in the AIGA Birmingham 25th Anniversary Poster Competition. The theme of the competition was Design for Good. His poster, titled I NEED YOU was chosen as Best of Show by renowned illustrator/designer Luba Lukova. Lukova was in Birmingham for the opening of her show at the UAB Gallery and as guest juror for the AIGA event. Chris is currently working as a junior designer at Luckie Branding in Birmginham. Luckie created a special page to note Chris award.

UAB Graphic Design Awarded Sappi Grant

Assistant Professor Douglas Barrett and UAB Design students, Samantha Gibbons, Amy Clark, Daniel Twieg, and Jenny Waycaster, are the recipients of a 2012 Grant from Sappi Fine Papers. The grant will fund the creation of a printed book that will tell the story of the Chaba River. The book is being developed in conjunction with The Cahaba River Society (a non-profit organization), Alabama Engine and Cayenne Creative. 

More info on Sappi's website.http://www.na.sappi.com/ideasthatmatterNA/

Chris Murphy on Everywhere Project

UAB Design Alumni, Christopher Murphy was asked by the Everywhere Project to design the badge for the city of Chattanooga. When talking about the project Murphy said:

"Chattanooga is a perfect example of the new south in the 21st century. It's a city in transition from its historic and industrial past to its technological and environmental future. Its a city that's creating its own typeface, a city that can see seven states. Chattanooga is the scenic city with plenty on the horizon, Y'all!"

Murphy used a typeface designed specifically for the city of Chattanooga as a way to reinforce the importance of design and how it can build a powerful message about everything that we do. Murphy's "Chat" Badge is also featured on Smithsonian.com in an article that explores the importance of design to development.

UAB Design Graduate Awarded CORE77

Last week, Alyssa Lauren Mitchell was awarded a Student Runner-up award in the Packaging category for the Core77 2012 Design Awards program. The project, Split Milk, is for the Earth Fare milk products made of French Paper Company’s Smart White line to employ the mill’s commitment to conservation. The concept highlights a growing trend in America’s eating habits. The cows that appear across the packaging rotates so that the cartons form a shelf stable system and also encourages the consumer to interact with the product.

Recognizing excellence in all areas of design enterprise, the Core77 Design Awards celebrates the richness of the design profession and its practitioners. In 2012 there were 17 categories of entry, providing designers, researchers and writers a unique opportunity to communicate the intent, rigor and passion behind their efforts. From client work to self-initiated projects, entrepreneurial to pro-bono engagements, the Core77 Design Awards embrace a wide diversity of enterprise: commercial, cultural, social, environmental and discursive.

For more information about the full awards program please go to Core77DesignAwards.com

9th AIGA Birmingham Student Portfolio Review

This Saturday, April 14th, the AIGA Birmingham will hold their 9th Annual Student Portfolio Review. This year the review will be held at UAB's Design Studios in HB 104. The reviews begin at 12 noon and continue on to 3pm. Local designers from many of Birmingham's top design studios and agencies will be on hand to give feedback on student design portfolios.

After the reviews, stay for the round-robin discussion, "You Have the Degree Now Get a Job." 5 recent UAB grads will be on hand to discuss their first year out of school and what it takes to get a design job in Birmingham. The discussion will be held from 3 to 3:45.

Sign up for the review at: AIGA Birmingham

$5 for AIGA Members, $15 for non-members.
Current students only please.