Call to Action: An Intervention on Water

Nick Adam

I live to improve our lives. My aspirations started seemingly simple… work towards being happy and making others happy. This has proven to be complicated while being aware of humanity’s current state. That said, I know that points of awareness are the invaluable catalyst that precipitate positive shifts in our paradigm. Working to create new social norms fulfills me, evening the playing field for all ill-effected provides me with purpose. In a pit of fire I would be found contented by knowledge. 1.nick.adam@gmail.com

Todd Childers

Over the years I have come to see my life as a series of diverging interests, philosophies, themes, and concepts. Examples of these conflicting issues of art & design are reconciling the past (classical, historical) with present (experimental, technological) and/or work with play. Over time another dialectic has had a constant presence in mind: resolving serious problems with creative, poetic solutions. To sum it all up I cannot imagine a better venue for learning ways to resolve serious problems with poetry, creativity and grace than spending six weeks in Rick Valicenti’s Moving Design workshop.

Dawn Hancock

Julie Heyduk

I believe we are in a particularly special time to influence our life patterns and shape the way things work. I believe each of our strengths can and should contribute to the world around us. As a graphic designer, I've helped in creating educational materials. I believe this is one way my abilities contribute. As a person in this world at this time, I feel the apprehension of change, the excitement of possibilities. This workshop of creative thinkers and do-ers has amazing potential for helping to shape some of this change. I would be honored to be apart of it.

Matthew Hoffman

Rich Klevgard

Lisa Korpan

MY WATER, MY LIFE. We have been asked to investigate our relationship with water. I have always held the philosophy that water is life, but 3 years ago I experienced a tangible manifestation of this concept. In my battle against a life-threatening illness, I experienced thirst and exhaustion so intense that I drank 3-4 liters of water per day simply to function. Without water I would not have been able to work, or even get out of bed on most days. I emerged victoriously, but only because I happened to have unlimited access to clean water. Women in Africa walk an average of 3.75 miles a day to retrieve 5 gallons of fresh water. The water cooler was a mere 20 feet away from my desk. Surviving this crisis left me with a new appreciation of the abundance of fresh water that the Great Lakes provides – a resource that many Chicagoans seem to take for granted. It’s our water, let’s take care of it!

Bill Linehan

Design is empowerment. Design can affect change - environmental, social, political. This 'call to action' group which is targeting real world cause and effect, the water crisis, does just this. What do I bring to the table. I am an amalgamation of various art/design disciplines: undergrad architectural studies, grad: fine arts/design/photography. Professional work in Design splits time with role a an educator. I can wear multiple hats and challenge a problem. I lived a stones throw away from creek in Texas until the age of 14 where unbeknown to me I experienced my first ecosystem.

Stacy Peterson

I'm a graphic designer with a passion for design, illustration, photography and social responsibility. I’m also an artist and coordinator at the non-profit, Chicago Art Department. At Archeworks, I was surrounded by a group of inspiring students who studied social and environmental issues and created positive solutions. I want to continue pushing ideas with designers.

Scott Reinhard

I'm friendly, I care, I am involved, but want to be more involved. I want to learn, I want to teach. I design at an institution with powerful ideas that impact our community. I am part of that, but want to be more a part of that.

Bud Rodecker

At age 14, Bud Rodecker discovered a passion for design when his brother gave him his first copy of Photoshop. He has been cultivating his love for a solid grid ever since. Beautiful type causes heart palpitations, but seeing Papyrus in a menu makes him cry inside. A multidisciplinary designer at Thirst since 2006, Bud has collaborated with Valicenti and Pobojewski on TV commercials' for Detroit's College for Creative Studies (CCS) new MFA program; branding campaigns for Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.'s cultural events, NeoCon and Art Chicago and for the Lyric Opera of Chicago; lecture series posters for IIT/College of Architecture and the recent gallery exhibition titled, Curiositites: Rick Valicenti and the 21st Century Thirst.

Killian Tobin

I know and love water in it's every form. I am the son of an activist and a sailor. I see the big picture and seek understanding of detail. I possess intimate knowledge of water's properties. I have been fighting inertia and promoting efficiency for over 10 years. I want to inspire and be inspired. I need your workshop like a fat kid needs cake. I will access, control, and present data to serve our purposes. I listen, teach and can be taught. People tell me their life stories when I meet them.

Lyndon Valicenti

Rick Valicenti

Rick Valicenti is the founder and design director of Thirst/Chicago, a communication design firm devoted to art, function and real human presence. Rick was recently awarded the American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA) Medal in 2006 for his sustained contribution to design excellence and development of the profession. This medal is the highest honor in the graphic design profession.

Tinne Van Loon

Matt Wizinsky

Three Reasons I am On Board 1) Change starts within. My drive to move others starts with the desire to improve myself as a human being, a Chicago citizen, and a responsible resident of this planet. 2) Design is magic. When ideas reach us on a cultural, intellectual, and deep emotional level, transcendence happens. I believe in the magic potential of design. 3) Now is the time. Zeitgeist is real; today is different from yesterday or tomorrow. The world continually needs bold, courageous, fresh perspectives to stay alive. Right now, the world is actually listening, so I want to speak.