UAB Designer Teas featured on Project Splash

One of UAB's Introduction to Graphic Design projects is featured on Project Splash this month. The project titled, "Designer Teas," is an introductory project where design students are paired with historic designers as a way to interact with and build their own aesthetic. Student research other designers such as, El Lissitsky, Art Chantry, David Carson, Paul Rand, Lester Beall, etc., and use there work as a collaborative spring board to inspire their own work.

The project also requires considering the work in 3D and building a box from a template, using those all important craft skills!

New Home for the UAB Art Department

The UAB Department of Art and Art History will have a new home in the fall of 2013. The building (pictured) was designed by Los Angeles-based Randall Stout Architects. Randall served as Senior Associate to world-renowned architect Frank Gehry from 1989 to 1996 and, in 1993, started his own architecture firm.The firm has designed numerous noteworthy buildings both in Europe and here,including the new wing of the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, and the Art Museum of Western Virginia in Roanoke.

The new building will feature multiple gallery spaces and a unique metal exterior. Groundbreaking will begin over the winter holiday of 2011.

UAB Design Students Win Big at 2011 Addys!

pictured: Alexandra, Elizabeth, Brittany, Alyssa

Thursday, February 24, 2011 - UAB graphic design faculty and students won 9 awards in several different categories on Thursday night at the 53rd Annual Birmingham Addy Awards. The event was held at the Alabama Theatre. Addys recognize excellence in advertising and graphic design. Three creative directors hailing from San Francisco, Denver and Chicago juried the work.

Assistant Professor, Douglas Barrett received 2 Silver place awards in the category Advertising for the Arts and Sciences for work done for the Department of Art and Art History.

Student awards are:

Alexandra Crawford, Student Best of Show
Alexandra Crawford, Gold, Student Editorial
Brittany Fox, Gold, Student Non-Traditional Advertising
Brittany Fox, Gold, Student Collateral
Alyssa Mitchell, Silver, Student Non-Traditional Advertising
Lindsey Griggs, Silver, Student Collateral
Elizabeth Springer, Silver, Student Collateral

IDEO Workshop - Jemison Lecture Series

Beau Bergeron of IDEO

IDEO Communication Designer, Beau Bergeron, spent 3 days lecturing, ideating, making, and remixing at UAB’s graphic design studios. His lecture, “How to Get Everything You Want out of School, Job Hunting and Life,” takes students on his own wild-ride to score the job of his dreams and live life by his own rules. Through his personal insight and experience, students learn to take control of their own design practice and future.

Using IDEO’s creative method of learn, look, ask, try–students brainstorm the idea of connecting a soda vending machine to cell phones and social networking. The session began with these words of wisdom, “No idea is too crazy, do not play it safe today!” Students worked, shouted and waved for 40 minutes, drawing out ideas on sticky notes. Beau worked the floor like a DJ at a party, shouting out “THANK YOU” and “REMIX IT!”

The workshop also featured a poster design session and a one-on-one portfolio review. 

UAB Students Tour Atlanta Studios

On November 12th, members of the UAB graphic design program along with students from Samford University and Montevallo University spent the day touring Design Studios in Atlanta. Over 30 students participated in the tours. Students were also treated to a tour of MAC Paper's Design Center and were able to take home paper samples and promos. Above, students talk with Chris Miller of the Jones Group. The tour was a joint venture between the schools and the local AIGA Birmingham chapter. We wish to thank everyone who graciously gave time and effort: Mac Papers - Andrea Hill, Mohawk Papers - Rebecca Pilgrim, The Jones Group, Fletcher-Martin, Primal Screen, Unboundary and the AIGA Birmingham.

Adbusting in Berlin

Great Photoshop Adbusting of a boring advertisement which you see everywhere in Berlin, Germany: Britney Spears, Leona Lewis and Christina Aguilera selling their albums. The adbusting was done by the FTW crew (Mr. Tailon, Baveux Prod., Kone & Epoxy) and consists of overlaying the image with stickers from Adobe Photoshop’s interface panels. See all the photos...