I know design can actually influence change in people's habits and lifestyles.
Rachel Ariyavatkul studies graphic design at the College for Creative Studies and will be a senior this coming fall. Her studies have helped her to use her passion for interacting with others in combination with her ever-growing love for design. She looks forward to meeting everyone participating in Moving Design and working to make this Call to Action successful.
Honestly, I get sweaty palms just glimpsing the helmeted heads of bikers as they skim under my window on the bus.
Lauren Ayers is a graphic designer with butterflies in her stomach, magic in her bones, and a BFA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is currently working as a print designer for the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and looking to rule the world by the end of the year.
I'm an urban cyclist, and I want to make an impact on bicycle safety and awareness in the city in which I ride.
Heather's background in marketing and psychology have led to her most recent position as an Insights Analyst at creative agency, Saatchi & Saatchi X. As an advocate of user-centered design, she's a strategic thinker focused on applying the creative design process to the solution of complex social and environmental challenges often considered outside the realm of traditional design disciplines.
I am eager to engage and collaborate with other designers that I admire.
My name is Garret Bodette and I grew up in Delta, Ohio. You've probably never heard of it. Not in the pretentious way, but in the small, country bumpkin town kind of way. I may or may not be a bumpkin. It's fine. I graduated from Bowling Green State University in May 2009 with a BFA in Graphic Design and became an intern at 3st the following Fall. I've continued to live in Chicago since then and I currently work at 50,000feet doing design things. I also occasionally work with a couple Ohio friends in a small collective called Excuses.
I see this experience as a personal education.
Erin Borreson is a freelance graphic designer and Marketing Director for the Society of Typographic Arts. She has a well rounded design background having worked in industries such as publishing, environmental design, and marketing. Companies range from the Nature Museum to McGraw-Hill. In her free time you can find her knitting, enjoying craft beer, biking, or planning events for the STA.
While contemplating the new protected bike lane
on Kinzie riding home from work last week, I was hit by a car.
Mary Clare Butler has made books and "typefaces" since she was 8. These were mostly variations of bubble letters, but nevertheless, the love of type runs deep. While her doodles still reflect those early letterforms, she focuses on clarifying complicated ideas through design. When Mary Clare is not freelancing for Motorola, she's designing for friends and getting paid in vegetables.
Creating great work is an absolute and great observation of the power of the design process.
Craig is an interdisciplinary designer living in Chicago & working in the 'burbs. Striving to better the world through engaging and purposeful online experiences, Craig is currently exploring user-driven interactive design at the Agency of Innovation, Maddock Douglas. He believes in people and purple.
I want to be a part of Action!
My name is Michael Cone and I am originally from the nasty nati. I Attended Bowling Green State University and eventually transferred and graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I worked for Digital Kitchen, Thirst/3st, DDB, Gyro, MGfest, etc… I am currently working in the field of motion graphics and am basically famous! Nough said..
Pete is a designer, illustrator and thing maker living in Logan Square. His formative years were spent on a farm in St. Louis, MO which naturally led to studying design, illustration and art history at Missouri State. For the past four years he has worked at VSA Partners during the day. At nite he paints silly pictures, makes furnitures and gardens.
I just moved to Chicago three weeks ago and a lot
of drivers don't seem to want to share the road
with me.
Tyler is a very recent graduate of Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design, and is currently working as a junior graphic designer for the Goltz Group in Chicago.
He loves pizza and good tunes (especially at the same time).
I'm inspired by the energies of the city streets the beauty and realism found in everyday life.
As a youth, Erik DeBat was a student of Chicago's inner city Magnet program, which offered gifted arts programming and multiculturalism during the 70s. Students were trained to be creative independent thinkers who contribute to the community and the world at large. Erik’s intuitive process is based on an organic methodology, appropriation, and typography referencing symmetries from the urban landscape.
I began my path as a designer because I longed for more than a job and the desire to make a difference.
“Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will.”
—George Bernard Shaw
As a cyclist and automobile driver I have experienced accidents behind both wheels
and can understand personally the dangers
and repercussions of such incidents.
By today's standards Ben Deter is a pretty good guy. He wears his heart on his sleeve (well… there's a tattoo at least) with hopes of that love showing up somewhere in his work. He has worked as a designer at the studio Faust since 2009 where
he continues to practice design through an experimental and collaborative process.
This would be a great opportunity to combine
my love for cycling with my passion for design
and innovation.
Stefan Draht is a Chicago native and interdisciplinary designer currently working as a designer/animator at Mode Project, a Chicago based digital studio. Stefan's personal work strives to combine a fascination for innovation through technology with good design. Cycling has long been a passion for him and you may spot him racing throughout the Midwest for a local team.
Moving Design is one of those rare opportunities to use design methodologies in their broadest sense, towards an end that will raise our quality of daily life.
Dominic Fortunato is a designer and artist living in Chicago. Since receiving his undergraduate degrees from DePaul in 2010, he has worked for several clients including the DePaul Art Museum and HBG Health.
Two weeks ago I was riding my bike home from work, when I was doored by a group of people exiting their cab stopped in a line of cars at a light on Milwaukee. They managed to open both of their doors at just the right moment, which pinched me between them, leaving me in a twisted mess on the bike lane.
Jason Frohlichstein keeps it simple.
chicagoartdepartment.org
facebook.com/jasonfrohlichstein
@frohlichstein
I'm a designer and am inspired by abstract ways to create awareness and help everyone become equal travelers on the road.
Lauren is a recent graduate of Bowling Green State University and freelance designer/art director from Ohio. She gets excited about the woods, the city, making things, exploring, and Michael Jackson.
Dan Godston teaches and lives in Chicago. His writings have appeared in Chase Park, After Hours, Beard of Bees, Drunken Boat, Kyoto Journal, Horse Less Review, Moria, Apparatus Magazine, Requited Journal, Teachers & Writers Magazine, and other publications. His poem "Mask to Skin to Blood to Heart to Bone and Back" was nominated by the editors of 580 Split for the Pushcart Prize. He also works with the Borderbend Arts Collective to present Chicago Calling, Mingus Awareness Project, and other programs.
I would love to ride a bike to work, but I'm too terrified that I'll be hit.
Kelly Goggins is a Chicago-based graphic designer. She recently moved to Chicago from Washington D.C., where she worked at Discovery Communications. In her current role, she is designing downtown at The Simons Group. There she designs print and web marketing campaigns.
This is an opportune time to take advantage
of the city's changing political climate‚ it's the
perfect storm.
"Impeccable, superlative, well-organized, creative genius ... " These are some of the words Michael has written down, because they sound really nice, though don't necessarily describe him. After graduating from School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Michael has been organizing the valuable insight acquired from his professors and is preparing to start the next chapter of his design career.
This is an exciting endeavor for using design thinking to collaborate and make change
happen locally.
Amy believes in the power of design to provoke change and instill knowledge. Through research-driven design, she unravels complex data and ideas to create meaningful and compelling stories. Amy currently works as an in-house designer and holds a BFA in Visual communications from Washington University in St. Louis.
It will be a pleasure to work, collaborate, and converse with fellow citizens and designers united in the effort to make a difference.
My name is Jeff. I work as a designer at Studio/lab.
I like design, photography, science, books, culture, and a lot of other things. I ride my bike every day.
I post things at blog.massivemeasure.com
Being an avid bicycle enthusiast, I know how poorly bicycle culture and bike safety are within the community.
My name is Signé Higgins, pronounced “si-nay.” Many would consider me to be the sunshine in the studio on a cloudy day. I find myself not only constantly immersed in the vast world of design, but have a strong passion for live music, traveling and photography. Within each of these pursuits, I’m constantly getting exposed to so many different cultures and life experiences that have helped me mature into quite the intriguing individual.
I'm happiest when I am riding my bike!
You may have seen Jana’s illustrations if you’ve ever picked up a CB2 magazine, or her design skills if you’ve ever entered a Crate and Barrel. Since working on band flyers in high school, she has developed her own voice through illustration and street art. Jana also specializes in letterpress printing and print production for offset printing.
She has experience in wedding invitation and collateral design, as well as large signage and environmental graphics.
To ride a bicycle in the city is to be liberated.
The last 7 years of Kara’s career have been spent surrounded by fish at Shedd Aquarium. As a Senior Graphic Designer, Kara primarily handles visual communications for exhibits and digital media projects. She teaches in the Art + Design department at Columbia College, and is an active participant in the AIGA Chicago chapter.
Bikes have the ability to make a positive impact on the world.
Bicycle safety is a subject that I have been involved with for the past 6 years while working at a Lakeshore Bike, a bike shop on the Northside of Chicago off the lakefront bike path. While at the shop I repaired and built bikes, gave first aid to people who have crashed nearby, Barbequed for hungry riders visiting from out of town, and taught eager riders how to repair and ride their bikes properly. I design with the same passion.
I am an urban planner and a bike commuter interested in fixing the inequitable distribution of safe space among cars, pedestrians and bicyclists.
Kevin Lawler has a master’s degree in Urban Planning with a concentration in physical planning. While most of his work experience has been in real estate finance or development Kevin also worked at the Delta Institute that has a mission to create funds and implements programs that promote a healthy environment, a strong economy and thriving,
vibrant communities.
Design is as much about visual communication as it is about community.
Hendrika Makilya has been a committed pedestrian her whole life. As a former ATL-ien, she’s always been passionate about supporting alternatives to driving in traffic. In Chicago, she spends her time pursuing her career as a graphic designer, serving as an EPIC junior board member, and walking as much as possible.
It is a great challenge and opportunity to engage and activate the community of Chicago.
Nicole Malcolm is a graduate architect with a Master’s in Architecture. Following graduation she worked for RTKL in Los Angeles and Chicago. She has focused on sports/entertainment, retail and residential projects including: LA Memorial Coliseum, Bai Hui Garden and Sands Bethworks Casino. Nicole currently works at Urban Innovations producing their marketing materials. Her interests in architecture, urbanism, art, graphic design, photography and fashion allow a diverse approach to design.
This Call to Action is an opportunity to bring about change to an entire community by design.
Chris Mitchell is a designer specializing in visual identity systems. Based in Chicago, Chris runs his own one-man studio called Seamitch. He received his BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Illinois‚Chicago and has previously worked as a designer at znpartners and Morningstar. He is also extremely passionate about the radio and pizza.
I view this opportunity as a call to action to not only engage drivers, but to engage a wider audience of all those on the road in order to come to a relationship based on respect and safety.
Originally a wild westerner, Audrey is currently an art director at Acquity Group, a Chicago-based digital consultancy. She is also an avid violinist, an adventurer, and a bicycle enthusiast. Before joining Acquity Group in 2010, Audrey was an intern at the MCA Chicago, a web freelancer, and an entrepreneur. She was recently married so has trouble remembering her name sometimes.
This call to action can help save lives, and help relieve the pain and suffering of being hospitalized due to a biking accident.
Ekram Othman recently graduated from UIC with a BFA in Graphic Design. Previously worked for six years in the field of Radiologic Technology (xray). Interested in languages, cultures, and maps. Design can totally make positive change and am seeking to do just that!
I have become disenfranchised by the design industry's motivations.
Robyn Paprocki, a graphic & production designer
of impeccable professional pedigree, has more talents than digits. A native of the Chicago area, she is said to be intelligent, conscientious, and kind... and did I mention humble? She enjoys baking, scrabble and road trips.
(photo credit: Joseph Mohan)
I stop at every ghost bike along my route, and always take a moment to think that to solve a problem, you have to live it first.
I am a professional freelance graphic artist. A recent transplant from Bowling Green, Ohio, an avid dog lover, and an everyday biker, I am ready to start using my graphic design powers for good.
I've noticed a need for an initiative like this, having encountered many dangerous situations while cycling lately, and I'd like to help in any way possible!
I am a recent graduate from the University of Illinois (Urbana–Champaign) with a BFA in Graphic Design, but by no means do I consider myself solely a Graphic Designer. I enjoy the ability to instill emotions within people, which transcends many mediums and trades. I hold knowledge and education very close to me, and my intent is to continue to understand and progress my craft throughout life.
The more bikes on the road, the safer it is for us to ride, but without that sense of safety, we won't be able to get more people on two wheels.
Annie Ranttila is an architect and sustainability coordinator concerned with creating healthy and effective spaces for end users through a holistic and project specific design methodology, for both small and large scale work. In her free time, she enjoys riding her bike, telling stories, eating pizza, traveling, playing banjo, collecting furniture, staring at brick walls, fixing things and wandering.
Chicago needs to catch up with a lot of other urban environments to provide a safer environment for its biker citizens.
Currently working as a Senior Visual Designer with the Online User Experience Team at Grainger. In the past I have worked in various capacities with large and small project life cycles (exploration, problem definition, concepting/prototyping, deployment and feedback) to create successful design solutions in branding, exhibits, websites and rich-media. Some of the industries I have worked with include: Education, Financial services, Non Profit/NGO’s, Small + Emerging business, Healthcare and Consumer goods manufacturing.
The thought of working on the subject of cycling, something so near and dear to my heart, is exhilarating!
Habitual maker and compulsive thinker, Craig Stover is your average designer. Beyond his job working on consumer products, he's interested in exploring the intersection of objects, experiences and people. As a recent graduate, he anticipates a future working on fantastic interdisciplinary projects. If he's not working on a project, he's probably out riding his bike.
I've never been daring enough to venture into the streets on a bike!
Julia Tsarpalas is a fun-loving, eager, and curious designer, who recently earned a BFA from the University of Iowa. Julia loves graphic design, typography, letterpress printing, words--both written and spoken, and soy chai lattes. Give her 1 minute 24 seconds and she can win at solitaire, make instant oatmeal, or listen to half of “Ain’t It Funny” by Missy Elliott.
I see this project as an opportunity to not only do my part to address concerns and reduce the risks of cycling in the city.
As a child tumbling through the radium ether of life, one day Bradley found himself on the other side with no desire but to make pretty pictures. Such he endeavors to accomplish. With his God Machine's LCD glow illuminating the path through perilous nights, he rides his golden Univega along the yawning divide between thought and action, creation and destruction.
I wear a helmet when I ride to work, because I don't feel confident that drivers are truly aware of bikers.
I’m Tinne, a designer at 3st who is interested in humanity. I design with people in mind; whether it manifests itself in approaching interactive design on a user experience standpoint, or exploring the implications of culture and language in everyday life; the overarching theme has continually been to provide people with meaningful experiences.
As the world of design continues to evolve it can be a challenge to focus on your strengths and work.
My name is Alexa Viscius, pronounced very similar to the word vicious, which I assure you, I am not. I hold a BFA in Graphic Design from UIC. I studied under extremely talented designers. The past few years I have interned for McGraw-Hill, Morningstar and currently Plural. I love photography, thrift stores, music, my pooch, cycling, my family and of course, pizza.
Bicycles are the pinnacle of human engineering, but bicyclists still have to deal with many safety hazards.
A designer originating from Detroit; focused on creating captivating experiences in all forms, media, and manifestations. Colin looks at problem solving with a macro-esc perspective taking cues from philosophical thought and psychological undertones.
