Aaron Draplin,  principal of Draplin Design Co., a Portland, OR-based design studio will present The Speaking Fiasco in the Opalka Gallery on Tuesday April 22nd at 6pm.
Aaron was a speaker at the AIGA Head, Hand, Heart National Conference in Minneapolis, MN in October last year and has done work for Esquire, Nike, Wired, Timberline, Chunklet, Incase, Giro, Cobra Dogs, Burton Snowboards, Hughes Entertainment, Megafaun, Danava, Ford Motor Company, Woolrich and even the Obama Administration.
His unique and witty manner that is sure to enlighten and entertain. Presented by the Sage College of Albany AIGA student chapter. Tickets available through Eventbrite. 

On March 27, 2014 Sage alumni Matt Stipano, a graphic designer at J. Crew in NYC and Michael Rivette of Upside Collective in Schenectady joined Christina Sharp, also of Upside, to speak to Graphic + Media Design seniors in Professor Jean Dahlgren's Portfolio Preparation class. Matt showed some of his recent design work for J. Crew and spoke about being a designer in NYC . Michael and Christina gave a presentation chocked full of tips and inspirations, including their latest design initiative PixelScouts. After sharing how they got started in their design careers post-college they looked at the seniors' portfolios to give them some guidance. It was great to have them back on campus, and we're very proud of their accomplishments!

Alumni Michael Rivette and Sage student Ariel Smullen discuss her portfolio.

A busy day of rushing around the city on foot and by train, this year’s Senior Capstone trip was memorable, inspiring and a whole lotta fun!

After an early boarding of the chartered bus from SCA, students were first treated to Manuel Estrada’s Sailing Through Design exhibition at the AIGA headquarters. Looking up at the wall literally covered with the designer's sketchbooks, it was instilled in all of us the value of keeping a sketchbook. Estrada’s exhibit shows his thought process from the items that inspired him, to concept sketches, and through to his final solutions for numerous projects. There was also an array of book cover designs that used very clever visuals to match the titles. We all know "You can’t judge a book by its cover," but Estrada's design solutions crushes that saying by enticing even the most reluctant reader to open the book and start reading.

After the visit to AIGA, students had lunch al fresco two blocks north in General Worth Square making choices from a string of outdoor eateries in the shadow of the iconic Flatiron Building. Everything looked so delicious and there was so much to choose from. A few even braved the long line at the famous Shake Shack across the street in Madison Square Park — well worth the wait!

Next, students and faculty headed downtown to The Herb Lubalin Study Center for Design and Typography at Cooper Union. There curator Alexander Tochilovsky showed many pieces of historic graphic design work from their private collection. Works from Herb Lubalin’s studio, the controversial hardcover magazine Eros by Ralph Ginzburg, original pharma advertising, and an original copy of the graphic standards manual for the NYC Metropolitan Transit Authority subway system, created in the 70’s. Tochilovsky's presentation was enlightening and very informative.

Finally, students went on to review the very interesting Image of the Studio exhibition next door at the Lubalin Study Center Gallery. This widely varied collection from over 75 design studios based in New York City, included original work, portraits, data visualizations that documented the structure, history and culture of each studio, and how the city itself has been a major influence.

With only an hour or so to spare before returning to the bus, students were able to go out on their own, grab a bite to eat, and see more of the city. The weather was beautiful and it turned out to be a wonderful fall day that everyone will remember for a long time to come.

Congratulations to Sean Hovendick, assistant professor and Coordinator of the Graphic + Media Design BFA program at Sage College of Albany! Professor Hovendick recently took 2nd place at the Lakeside Statewide Juried Art Exhibition. The exhibit displayed diverse works of art from artists throughout New York State.
Sean’s work titled, Be a Man / Sugar and Spice is an 
interactive piece showing looped audio/visual clips from sitcoms of the 70’s and 80’s. Gender roles typically portrayed on these television shows are presented on two separate touch screen monitors, one for the man Be a Man, and one for the woman Sugar and Spice.
Television has great power to influence behavior of its viewers. Professor Hovendick's work allows people to examine how men and women were commonly portrayed during the years these sitcoms were playing on TV. The artwork also intends the viewer to realize that continuous viewing of certain behaviors in the media have an emotional toll our psyche... most times without us even knowing. "[...] will the power of television forever be the driving force of cultural control?"

Professor Jean Dahlgren presented at  the National Art Educator's Convention on March 8  in Fort Worth, Texas. Her presentation entitled "Authentic Assessment in the College-Bound Art Portfolio" explored how colleges assess art portfolios for admission and outlined strategies for improving student portfolios. Over 6000 art educators attended the conference from all areas of the United States.