Go Font Yourself

On November 9, 2010 the Tyler Gallery at NOVA Alexandria hosted the opening for the Communication Design Topic Show. Every year, each of the three art programs (Fine Arts, Communication Design and Photography) organizes an exhibit on a special topic, usually inviting guest artists. This fall semester, the communication design program decided to involve its students in the special topic exhibit.

Everything started with a workshop that was offered in April. Students, faculty and advisory board members gathered to make improvised letterforms from found objects and the most unexpected materials. Some of these creations were so exciting that they ended up inspiring a show, as communication design instructor Angela Terry explains in a brief interview that we had with her.

A Conversation with Rodney C. Williams, 2010 AIGA DC Fellow

Rodney C. Williams, advisory board member for the communication design program, was awarded the 2010 AIGA Fellowship from the AIGA DC Chapter on October 6.

Stepping into RCW Communication Design Inc.'s headquarters is almost like entering a Zen temple. The furniture in the conference room is clean and essential, with a sleek, black bookcase carrying all sort of design books and magazines on one side of the glass table, which faces another sleek, black bookcase neatly displaying samples of the company's design work. The ample glass window lets in plenty of natural light while soothing and uplifting classical music is playing in the background. Rodney C. Williams, President and Founder, is extremely approachable, laid back and friendly, as are his team members.

Get Inspired with... Bookstruction

Starting October 2010, our blog is hosting a "Get Inspired" feature in which we will more often than not be interviewing local artists and showcasing their work. Sometimes the work may not be strictly graphic design, but it will be in some way, shape or form related to it and will serve as wonderful inspiration for graphic designers and graphic design students.

Our first artist is DC-based Robin Delaloye from Bookstruction, who specializes in altered books and exhibited on October 2nd at Crafty Bastards (the DC arts and crafts fair sponsored by City Paper, Hello Craft and Etsy this year in its 7th edition) where she won second place by popular vote.

"That's It"—Seymour Chwast at the Corcoran

Seymour Chwast signing a copy of his new graphic novel, Dante's Divine Comedy, at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art + Design.

The sun was going down in an unusually hot September evening when a somewhat nervous Maria Habib appeared on stage to introduce Seymour Chwast to a crowded auditorium. The audience included Bob Capps and Pat Taylor, former advisory board members for the communication design program. Habib, director of design at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art + Design, referred to Chwast as one of her idols, "a revolutionary, a designer, an illustrator, an entrepreneur, and a cultural icon."