Event Summary:

AIGA Jacksonville invites you to attend a panel event on February 17th featuring four veteran designers as they discuss best practices for building a portfolio. This special event will help students young and old prepare their work for a career in design and get their portfolio in top shape for the upcoming AIGA Jax Annual Portfolio Review. Here is what you can expect to take away:

• Insights from design professionals on crafting a solid portfolio.
• Presenting your work and yourself, soft skills, and interviewing skills.
• How to take feedback and apply it.
• Nuances of print, UI, Illustration, UX, and motion - how they differ and how they overlap.
• What employers are looking for in the next generation of designers.

Meet the Speakers:

Karen Kurycki

Karen is the Design Director at @industrywest - a modern furniture company based in Jacksonville, FL. Design is her passion and she loves to use illustration as a design tool—experimenting with watercolor, embracing its unpredictability and the surprises that can come out of using it. Karen has worked with a number of national and international clients including The Washington Post, Nike, McDonald’s, AT&T, Reebok, Choice Organic Teas, and Emirates Airline. Karen has been actively involved with AIGA since 2004. She served as president of the @aigajax chapter from 2011-2013 and is a strong proponent of volunteerism.

Web: https://cmykaren.com/

Instagram: @cmykaren

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cmykaren

Justin Labaw-Rivers

As a Design Partner at Hypothesis, Justin helps lead design & product development for a portfolio of emerging start-up companies. Among countless industry awards and accolades, Justin recently spoke with AIGA LA, advocating on not only how important Diversity is in our society, but also within Creative & Ad Agencies. In addition to working with Google as a former Senior Product Designer, Justin was AD for TBWA\Media Arts Lab working on Apple Music. Justin's client experience includes Pluto TV, Walmart, Microsoft, Dosist, Air & Style, Biostrap, & others. Don't miss this.

Web: https://jlabawrivers.com/

Instagram: @originalthought__

Shane Santiago

Shane oversees creative, strategy, and implementation at Bravely. Through a breadth of experience, from startups to Madison-Avenue agencies, Shane has brought big ideas to world-renowned brands like Johnson & Johnson, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Marriott International, Under Armour, Disney, Discovery, the NBA, Daytona International Speedway, Paramount Pictures, and Sony Pictures, snagging myriad industry honors along the way. His entrepreneurial drive has been applied across categories including automotive, food & beverage, sports & entertainment, technology, apparel, education, travel & hospitality, financial, and nonprofits. He’s been published in top industry publications, such as Advertising Age, ADWEEK, Communication Arts, and Mashable. Shane earned his BS in advertising at the University of Florida, where he served as Chair of the University’s Advertising Advisory Council.

Web: https://bravelycreated.com/

Instagram: @sbsantiago

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shanebsantiago

Eduardo Sarmiento

Eduardo Sarmiento is an award-winning creative director who has extensive experience working with global brands in multicultural markets, especially throughout the U.S. and Latin America. Sarmiento works as Executive Vice President of Creative at Brunet-García Advertising where he leads a talented and diverse team. His work has been published in The New York Times, Slanted, Étapes, Society of Illustrators, American Illustration, 3x3, Texas Monthly, ESPN and El Nuevo Herald among others. His work has been exhibited in New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Oaxaca, London, Kiev, Munich, Santo Domingo, Quito, San Jose, and Havana. His work has also won numerous awards including D&AD, Addy, Telly, Angel, Print, How, Healthcare Ad Awards, Adobe Government Awards, GD USA, and Gaucho de Oro among others. Select clients include The New York Times, National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Samsung, MoneyGram, MasterCard, Microsoft, Hyundai Mobile, GE, General Mills.

Web: http://www.brunetgarcia.com

Instagram: @eduardo.sarmiento

Would you like to volunteer?

AIGA Jacksonville is a 100% volunteer-run organization. Volunteering is a great way to network with your peers, improve your organizational skills, and to give back to your community. The plus side is that you don't have to be a member, and you get into each event for FREE!

If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please email volunteer {at} jacksonville.aiga.org.