Design Futures

In episode 10, the last episode of season four, I talk with Jonny Ouellette, the co-founder and creative director of the motion design firm, Kill 2 Birds and 2002 graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art & Design. We talk about our interactions in the graphic design program at MassArt and our passion for making type move on screen. Jonny shares stories of his client work that involve some of the most watched series and movies in recent years and I dig into our design collaboration on some DVD intros for Aspect Magazine. He also discusses taking that entrepreneurial leap of faith with a friend to start Kill 2 Birds. Additionally, Jonny educates me on some of the industry-specific terminology, like key art, upfonts, MOGRTs, and lower thirds. This episode is full of amazing motion graphics, so be sure to check out the video on Youtube. Let’s do this one more time. Enjoy the show.   Show Links * Jonny’s Portfolio [https://www.kill2birds.tv] * LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-ouellette-k2b/] * Instagram Profile [https://www.instagram.com/kill2birds.tv/] * Responsible Business Initiative for Justice [https://rbij.org] * After Effects [https://www.adobe.com/products/aftereffects.html] * Boston [https://www.meetboston.com] * Massachusetts College of Art & Design [https://massart.edu]   The Intro Music * Synergistic Effect [http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/morgantj/32636] by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In episode nine of season four I interview Ringling College of Art & Design graduate and Director of Product Design at BILL, Greg Tariff. We discuss his appreciation for design’s role in the business world and how to navigate a career in Silicon Valley. Greg talks about how his interest in cars led to an internship at General Motors, how networking in New York City led to an agency job in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and how a side project with some agency friends led to a career in product design. Greg also shares insights about working on start-up projects, advising start-up companies, and mentoring young designers. We also discuss collecting 1990s pop culture (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and Shepard Fairey art. And of course we talk about the dogs — Shelby, Sookie, and Salem. If you are at all interested in design, business, networking, and dogs you’ll want to have a listen. Time to download episode nine and get to work. Show Links * Greg’s Portfolio [https://www.gregtariff.com] * LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtariff/] * Instagram Profile [https://www.instagram.com/gregtariff] * Bill [https://www.bill.com] * Toyota Supra [https://www.toyota.com/grsupra/] * Shepard Fairey [https://obeygiant.com] * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles] * Ringling College of Art & Design [https://www.ringling.edu] The Intro Music * Synergistic Effect [http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/morgantj/32636] by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In episode eight I interview 2015 graduate of Russell Sage College and Director of User Experience at Upside Collective, Krystal Hinckley. In our discussion Krystal shares details of working on large-scale websites for the state of New York, including the attorney general’s website that she spent two years working on. She also talks about scrolling through the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society photos for project research that ended with her adopting her third cat. We also discuss our time together at Sage which included a trip to Boston to visit design firms and the Boston Aquarium because that’s what you do when you go to school in Albany. Krystal shares her love of paragraph styles that she gained in high school that led to her interest in the organizing aspects of UX design. And of course we talk about home projects including stripping paint from stairs, putting up wallpaper, as well as getting excited about a new roof and gutters. Now that’s adulthood! Oh yea, cats are mentioned multiple times in this episode. So sit down with your favorite pet friend and have a listen.   Show Links * Krystal’s Portfolio [https://krystalhinckley.com] * LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/krystalhinckley/] * Instagram Profile [https://www.instagram.com/kryshinck] * Upside Collective [https://upsidecollective.com] * This Old House [https://www.thisoldhouse.com] * Mohawk Hudson Humane Society [https://www.mohawkhumane.org] * Drupal [https://www.drupal.org] * Russell Sage College [https://www.sage.edu]   The Intro Music * Synergistic Effect [http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/morgantj/32636] by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In this episode I talk with 2016 graduate of the College of Saint Rose, Rachel Suflita McKee, about her path from intern to art director at the Boston-based design studio, Pinkergreen. She talks about how the diversity of projects (Boston University Global Music Festival, Flex Rx, Flyte 70, The Bug Club, etc.) at a small studio is special and keeps her engaged with graphic design and the people she collaborates with on those projects. We also discuss a challenging design school assignment, about graphic design style, that had both of us considering some of the ethical questions involved in the creative process. We talk about the wonderful aspects of life outside of work like baking (so much butter), cooking (Bolognese), vacationing (in Maine), and of course yoga where goats climb on you as you try to stretch — it’s mostly about playing with goats. And finally, Rachel shares the wonderful news that she will be a new mom in March. Time to rest up people, episode seven is here now. Show Links * Rachel’s Portfolio [https://www.rachelsuflitamckee.com] * LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/suflita/] * Instagram Profile [https://www.instagram.com/rachel.suflita.mckee/] * Pinkergreen [https://pinkergreen.com] * Bolognese recipe [https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015181-marcella-hazans-bolognese-sauce] * NY Goat Yoga [https://www.nygoatyoga.com] * Boston’s South End [https://www.meetboston.com/explore/neighborhoods/south-end/] * The College of Saint Rose [https://www.strose.edu] The Intro Music * Synergistic Effect [http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/morgantj/32636] by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

Five, four, three, two, one… Happy New Year. In this first episode of 2024 Saint Rose alumni and technical UI designer, Nael Uppal, talks to me about starting a degree in his home country of Pakistan, continuing his education in Albany, NY, and completing his degree back home — it’s called a sandwich degree. Apparently that’s a term. Somewhere in the middle of this culinary delight is some work experience as well. Nael tells us about growing up in a creative family, including hanging out in museums with the older kids in his mom’s art classes. He explains in great detail and clarity the complexity of the development of web and mobile games and his current role at Revolving Games where he works on the user interface side of the process. Nael also talks about the very different experiences of going to school in two different parts of the world. And we learn a little bit of the history and culture of Pakistan. Winter break is over. Time to get listening to episode six of Design Futures. Show Links * Nael’s Portfolio [https://www.behance.net/Nael_Uppal] * LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/naeluppal/] * Instagram Profile [https://www.instagram.com/nael_uppal] * Revolving Games [https://revolvinggames.com] * Sandwich Degree [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandwich_degree] * Partition of India [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partition_of_India] * Lahore, Pakistan [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahore] * National College of Arts [https://www.nca.edu.pk] * College of Saint Rose [https://www.strose.edu] The Intro Music * Synergistic Effect [http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/morgantj/32636] by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)