What is a Studio Tour?

AIGA Houston, in partnership with many design studios, firms, and agencies across Houston, hosts events catered to the creative in you! The Studio tours provide opportunities to gain an intimate view of what it’s like to work at design agencies. When attending a tour, not only do you gain a visual perspective of the studio, but you also leave with invaluable insights. These tours are open to students and professionals alike. Here are the benefits offered:

Networking

During the tours, you have the opportunity to network with like-minded creatives as well as engage with company employees. How often do you get a chance to chat casually with senior designers? These exclusive studio tours set the stage for meaningful connections, and who knows—you might meet a future employer! AIGA Houston members are also available to provide information about joining the professional association for design.

Education

As creatives, the learning never stops! Experience first-hand what it’s like to work at a design studio. Gain an understanding of the functionality, operations, and work culture as the studio staff and creatives share their company’s mission, vision, and goals and touch on creative processes. Discover how different roles contribute to project development while exploring various aspects of the industry. 

Guided Tours

Have you been curious about your ideal work environment? A guided tour through the studio provides ample opportunity to ask questions. Many studios feature layouts designed to foster a positive and productive atmosphere. Attend one of our many tours to see if you prefer an open, collaborative space or a private office. Become inspired by the structure, designs, and creativity behind the arrangement of the buildings.

Personal Perspectives

While attending these tours, you have the opportunity to hear about the experiences and journeys of designers. By listening to their stories, you may find motivation in learning how your journey resonates with theirs.

Whether you want to expand your knowledge, pivot a career, explore options for your next job, or connect with the creative community, AIGA Houston’s studio tours offer the perfect opportunity. Be sure to visit our website often for updates on upcoming events.

Words and graphics by Adrina Vines

Professor Floyd Newsum, a deeply influential artist and educator, was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He pursued his passion for art, earning a BFA from Memphis College of Art in 1973 and an MFA from Temple University in 1975. With a heart dedicated to teaching, he joined the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) in 1976, where he nurtured countless students’ creativity through courses in drawing, painting, printmaking and art appreciation. His commitment to education was recognized with UHD’s Scholarship/Creativity Award in 2003 and 2017, celebrating his profound contributions to the world of visual art.

Professor Newsum’s artistic legacy extends beyond the classroom. His works are cherished in the permanent collections of prestigious institutions including the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. His vision and talent brought life to numerous public art commissions, from Houston Metro Light Rail designs to sculptures and paintings that grace public spaces across Houston and Fort Worth.

Beyond his individual achievements, Professor Newsum’s impact on the community is profound. He was one of the visionary founders of Project Row Houses (PRH) in Houston’s Third Ward in 1993. This nonprofit organization has become a beacon of hope, celebrating and uplifting Black art, culture and community in meaningful and transformative ways.

To learn more about Professor Floyd Newsum, you can visit UHD’s post celebrating his legacy here. 

Words by Isabel Almaguer

Overview 

The Houston (and broader Texas) zine scene has exploded in recent years, with record attendance to zine specific festivals. AIGA Houston, and our members, have tabled at Zine Fest Houston (ZFH) and debuted 2 zines: “AIGA Houston Archive” and “Creativity Lives Here.” As interest in zine-making and culture grows, we want to provide a helpful guide to serve as a starting point to support our members and the broader design community to find their footing in the Texas zine scene. To learn more about what a zine is and their history check out the Wikipedia page for “zines.”

How do I find zine communities and festivals? 

Last fall, in anticipation of Zine Fest Houston, AIGA Houston held a guided zine event at one of our free monthly meetups. The event sparked organic conversations among creatives, and attendees were encouraged to continue fueling their interest in zine-making by visiting our table at the upcoming 2023 Zine Fest Houston. 

For our creative community, we recommend attending or tabling at the following events in Texas: 

• Zine Fest Houston: ZFH holds an annual festival in late fall with smaller events throughout the year. Stop by the AIGA Houston table to say hi!
• UH Zine Week: UH Zine Week is a series of zine-related events that are open to University of Houston students, affiliates, and friends.
• Lone Star Zine Fest: LSZF, the largest zine festival in Austin, is hosted by Austin Zine Friends. 
• San Antonio Zine Fest: SAZF returned in 2023 after a digital hiatus and continues to be a destination for community and connection.
• Uncle Bob’s Photo Zine Market: Flats has brought back their zine fest, focused entirely on photo zines! This is a great event to attend or participate in if your creative discipline is photography.

AIGA Houston’s 2023 Zine

Our zines are a celebration of our broad Houston creative community. Our 2023 zine, titled “Creativity Lives Here,” was a collaborative labor of love. Contributors include Melton Bell III, Hugo Jimenez, Dani Newman, Tracy Ngo, Priya Ramkissoon, Camila Ruiz and Sabrina Smith. The zine also includes a quote from former AIGA Houston board member, Jo Skillman’s manifesto Creativity Lives Here that functioned as our guiding star as we celebrated our 25th anniversary.

We are incredibly proud to be part of a city with such vibrance and originality, and our work is intended to facilitate connections between talented designers and celebrate the incredible work that Houston creatives share. 

Inside Peak of “Creativity Lives Here” Chapter Zine

Stop by the next Zine Fest Houston to say hello and purchase a print copy.

Showcase Your Best Work and Make a Good Impression

Get excited! 

AIGA Houston’s 2024 Portfolio Review is right around the corner. Spring is the season for design students to polish their portfolios before graduating and entering the creative field. For emerging designers or those transitioning into the field, it is also the perfect time for a portfolio spring cleaning or refresh.

Every year, we get questions from our design community about portfolio review. Here are frequently asked questions and what you need to know.

Design: Camila Ruiz

Is Portfolio Review only open to students?

No! AIGA Houston’s Portfolio Review is open to students, early- to mid-career designers, transitioning designers and any practicing designer who wants to receive feedback on their work. Designers who received their design training through non-traditional routes – bootcamp graduates, on-the-job learners, career pivoters – are all welcome. We want to see your work!

How is the event formatted?

Portfolio Review is conducted in a speed-dating format. You will be paired with a reviewer and have 15 minutes per round to introduce yourself, present your portfolio, listen to feedback and ask questions. We typically hold 4–6 rounds of review with a break in between. If there is extra time, additional rounds may be added. We encourage you to get in as many rounds of review as you can.

How many projects should I have in my portfolio?

No set number of projects is required to participate but we recommend bringing up to 8–12 pieces of your absolute best work. Google recommends that its design applicants showcase at least 3 projects in their portfolio. With each portfolio review round lasting 15 minutes, you may only have time to present 3–5 pieces. Remember, this is an interview environment so be selective and strategic in the work you showcase. 

How should I format my portfolio?

There is no set format, but we encourage a mix of digital and print. For digital, you can use your website, Dribbble, Behance, print or digital PDF tools and video players. Tactile printed items or products are great to bring as reviewers enjoy physically interacting with pieces. For print, make sure to bring star pieces that highlight well-executed craft and intentional physical design choices; e.g. a well designed booklet with smart intentional touches of die-cuts or various print techniques. 

Will there be Wi-Fi?

Yes. Our venue has free Wi-Fi, but do not rely on the venue’s internet connection. Be prepared for any technology issues by downloading digital pieces if possible.

What devices can I bring?

Laptop and tablet devices are welcome. Charge your devices before you arrive. Not all review tables will be near a power outlet. If you are showing screen-based work, have your pieces up and ready on your device. Remember, you only have 15 minutes per round. Use your time wisely.

Is this also open to illustrators, videographers and photographers?

Our Portfolio Review caters to professionals and students in the graphic, UI, and UX design industries. However, we encourage you to incorporate your cross-disciplinary practice into your portfolio. Whether illustration, photography or videography, your multifaceted skills distinguish your portfolio. 

Should I bring business cards? 

Yes! Bring business cards as most reviewers are looking to hire talent. Most reviewers ask for business cards, but occasionally, resumes are also requested. You are welcome to bring copies of both. 

Is there a dress code?

This event is designed to model the interview process. Wear appropriately comfortable and professional attire (e.g. business casual, creative professional attire) to showcase your best professional self.

I’m nervous to talk to reviewers. What should I do? 

We encourage you to rehearse and practice your talking points before the event to help you feel more prepared. If you’re still nervous, write down a few career and portfolio-related questions to ask reviewers. 

Please remember, our reviewers are people too. They volunteer their time to provide feedback to improve your portfolio because they value mentorship. Most reviewers have been in your place, and they want you to be successful. Ultimately, be yourself, be confident and be professional. You will do great.

What if I have a negative interaction with a reviewer?

If you receive negative feedback on a project, do not take it personally or be discouraged. Criticism is common in our field, and we encourage you to learn from all feedback, whether positive or negative.

If you are being treated negatively or experiencing misconduct by a reviewer, alert one of AIGA Houston’s board members. This is a professional event and we expect everyone, including attendees, reviewers and volunteers, to follow our Code of Conduct. Unprofessional or inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. 

Key Takeaways 

1. Bring your best work. Finalize your portfolio with your best work, with at least three projects.
2. Come prepared. Remember all your materials, double-check that your digital portfolio works and bring business cards.
3. Remember to socialize. Connect with peers and potential mentors during reviews and while you’re waiting.
4. Recommended: Follow up with any reviewers after the event to thank them for their advice and feedback.

Additional Sources

Want more portfolio tips? See the links below for additional reading.

• AIGA: Presenting Your Portfolio
• AIGA: 4 Easy Steps to Create a Beautiful Design Portfolio
• Coursera: Tips for Creating an Impressive Graphic Design Portfolio
• IBM: Racial Equity in Design | Portfolio

Design Thinking is not just for Designers: Fostering objectivity for human-centered solutions.

Design thinking is a process used by various industries to create better experiences, products, and services. This process centers around empathy for humans and considers how our beliefs and environment shape our way of living. The methodology helps designers overcome subjectivity, dispel assumptions, and arrive at possible outcomes with minimum biases. Collaborative brainstorming and audience research develop critical thinking and empathy while building soft skills like communication and presentation. 

Intro To Design Thinking workshop will provide an overview of the Design Thinking process and its application. It is an excellent primer before diving deeper into a comprehensive UX Design or Design Thinking course. You will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the workshop on the last day. 

Schedule

Who Should Sign Up For This Workshop

• Graphic Designers who are curious about UX Design, Product Design, of Design For Good!
• Educators who’re looking to create better curriculums to Improve student engagement and help students enhance their projects.
• Researchers who’re looking for creative ways to present their findings
• Students, 18+ who’re exploring college majors and career pathways. 

Registration will open soon. Follow us on IG FB Li for updates.

What You Will Learn

Intro to Design Thinking is a hands-on workshop where you will learn:

• Careers in Design Thinking
• The 5 steps of the Design Thinking process by applying each step in an exercise 
• How to develop personas of your effected audience 
• The various tools for brainstorming, synthesizing, visualizing, and presentation
• How to prototype and test your solution
• How to provide constructive feedback in a safe space

Fee

AIGA Member:  $160
Non-member: $200
AIGA Student Member:  $125
Student Non-member:  $150

Refreshments will be provided. Instructional materials and supplies are included in the fee.

Student Membership Fund Program

As we celebrate 25 years of service to our community this year, AIGA Houston has set out to increase opportunities that support early career development. We have launched the Student Membership Fund Program, granting an AIGA membership to students experiencing financial hardship or hailing from marginalized or underserved communities.

The Program is designed to achieve the following objectives:

Promote Diversity and Inclusion: By extending AIGA memberships to students from marginalized and underserved communities, we aim to create a more diverse and representative design community.

Access to Valuable Resources: AIGA membership provides students with access to invaluable design resources, events and industry insights that can augment their education and career prospects.

Foster Creative Excellence: Supporting students during their formative years can help nurture excellence in the design field, benefiting the industry as a whole.

Through a qualitative application process and review by an external selection committee, we are excited to announce that UH Graphic Design Senior, Gerald Sastra, has been selected as the inaugural recipient of the Program’s award. 

Our goal is to extend memberships to even more students in 2024, and are eager to continue building on initiatives that positively impact their careers. To help us do so, please consider making a gift to the fund through our PayPal donation page.

For further information or more ways to support this initiative, please contact us at  membership@houston.aiga.org or visit the Student Membership Fund Program page on our website.

Your votes have been counted.

We are excited to announce the results of our 2023 Chapter Slate Election and officially welcome the next group of AIGA Houston chapter leaders. These newly elected board and committee members will begin their terms on July 1, 2023.

Design: Bruce Chao

Incoming Board of Directors

(2023 – 2025)
Melton Bell III, Programming Director
Sara Iqbal, Design Advocacy Director

Incoming Committee Members

(2022 – 2023)
Samantha (Sam) Delgado, Volunteer Coordinator
Samantha (Sam) Benitez, Design Advocacy Chair
Priya Ramkissoon, Design Advocacy Coordinator
Christie Le, Design Advocacy Coordinator
Sanders Anderson, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Chair
Chris Robinson, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Coordinator
Joshua Unikel, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Coordinator
Maha Aziz, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Ambassador
Qi Guo, Programming Chair (Community)

As a 100% volunteer-run non-profit organization, we would not be anywhere without the passion, support and dedication of our chapter board and committee members. Please help us thank our outgoing and continuing board volunteers, who have worked hard to serve you and our local creative community. 

Outgoing Board of Directors

Alexandra Velez, Programming Director
Aditya (Adi) Shah, Interim Programming Director and Chair (Community)

Outgoing Committee Members

Flor Barajas, DEI Ambassador
Sandy Pham, Programming Chair (Education)
Jessica Tsao, Programming Ambassador (Community)

Continuing Board of Directors

Tracy Ngo, President and Co-Operations Director (2022 – 2024)
Camila Ruiz, Vice President and Interim Co-Operations Director (2022 – 2024)
Alicia Pena, Finance Director (2022 – 2024)
Sabrina Smith, Communications Director (2022 – 2024)

Continuing Committee Members

Dani Newman, Communications Chair (2023 – 2024)

Interested in volunteering?

See one-off volunteer opportunities here. For those interested in getting involved at a more dedicated level, mid-term board vacancies can be filled by board appointment. Please note that members may leave or transition mid-term, so if you are interested in a role that appears to already be taken, we still encourage you to reach out. Get in touch with the officers to learn more.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month! To celebrate, we are highlighting members of our local creative community by sharing the creative process, achievements, and personal stories of AAPI designers, artists, photographers, and other creatives. 

Angelena Phavorachit

Angelena Phavorachit (@YourArtSenpai) is a Lao-American Graphic Designer based in Houston, Texas. Her mission is to build a strong online presence that might lead her to exciting and unique opportunities in life.  

What does being Asian American or Pacific Islander mean to you?

To me, being Asian American means I get to live out the dreams of my ancestors, where I get to have opportunities they didn’t have. I get to have the freedom to choose my path in life, and that means I get to be creative!

What are the proudest accomplishments of your career?

One of my proudest accomplishments in my career was inspiring my peers to integrate parts of their own culture into their projects. It feels good to have a positive impact on other people & grow with them.

What drew you to your creative field?

I switched from Multimedia to Graphic Design when I went to my school’s portfolio show and saw there was a student who integrated cutesy designs into her letterheads, envelopes, etc. I was mostly learning to be a jack of all trades until I saw that I could also integrate cute things into my designs. 

How does your heritage impact your work?

As a Gen-Z Lao-American woman, most of my passion projects consist of my life stories or my family’s stories. In a way, I’m keeping our traditions alive and our stories heard through art.

How has your creative practice changed or evolved over the past year?

Lately I’ve been learning Typography and Digital Communications. These help me understand how to communicate my clients’ messages, be it serious or playful, to their audience through art and type. 

What AAPI designers and creatives inspire you? Why does their work resonate with you? 

When I was younger, I used to really look up to Domics, JaidenAnimations, Emirichu, and Lilypichu. I liked that Domics delivered a lot of his life stories in a lighthearted way via animated storytimes. Whenever he’d talk about growing up Asian, it helped me cope with being different in a predominantly white neighborhood. The others inspired me for the same reason. As for Lilypichu, her impact of being a woman in a male-dominated field like music and gaming encouraged me to also dip into that field. Their presence inspired me to take those steps.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration through music, gaming, and even my peers. I like to mindlessly scroll through Instagram or TikTok sometimes because there’s so many talented artists out there with great ideas.

What’s next on the horizon?

There’s so much I want to do in the future… I want to create little stickers and assets for aspiring streamers who want overlays, and students who want cute little stickers on their digital notes! Eventually, I’d like to make an illustrated book consisting of the stories I’ve collected from my grandmother. Hopefully I do that justice!

Anum Chowdhry

Anum Chowdhry is an illustrator focused on creating south Asian cultural designs in both digital paintings and line art.

What does being Asian American or Pacific Islander mean to you?
Proud of showing and sharing my south Asian culture.

What are the proudest accomplishments of your career?
Selling my art and sharing my heritage with the world.

What drew you to your creative field?
Self expression of my life’s journey.

How does your heritage impact your work?
My work focuses on the south Asian diaspora narrative

How has your creative practice changed or evolved over the past year?
By expanding my style to incorporate my expression of my culture and what it means to me from my point of view

What AAPI designers and creatives inspire you? Why does their work resonate with you?
@papersamosa and Babbu

Where do you find inspiration?
In cultural practices and daily life.

What’s next on the horizon?
Hopefully more opportunities to create and share!

Billy Mounchan

Billy Mounchan is a digital content producer who specializes in creating and producing various forms of digital content for online platforms. Billy is mainly skilled in videography and photography using a variety of digital tools and software to create engaging and interactive content. Billy’s journey in producing content began in his backyard filming basketball videos with his friends inspired by Nike basketball commercials. Throughout Billy’s career, He has worked with a variety of clients, from professional athletes to brands and businesses. He enjoys collaborating with other creative minds to produce innovative and effective content that meets the needs of his clients and their audiences.

What does being Asian American or Pacific Islander mean to you?
Being AAPI means embracing my Lao heritage and cultural identity while navigating the complexities of living in a multicultural world. It also means being part of a community that shares similar experiences, struggles, and showing love through food!

What are the proudest accomplishments of your career?

The proudest accomplishments of my career will always be seeing my clients’ joyful reaction to deliverables after spending all night powered by caffeine to create something special for them. 

What drew you to your creative field?

My dad was always capturing family moments with his video camcorder. Naturally I picked it up and started telling stories of my own. 

What AAPI designers and creatives inspire you? Why does their work resonate with you? 

What’s next on the horizon?

Producing original content centered around things I’m passionate about which is basketball, tech, and my Laos culture.

Jon Inthavong

Jon is most known for his rambunctious laugh and enthusiastic energy around the office and his friends, to which he carries into his creative work every day. He finds inspiration and captures beauty in the small details, always brings innovative ideas to the table, as well as being a huge advocate for the creative talent in Houston. Jon brings collaboration and connection to life in all he does.

What does being Asian American or Pacific Islander mean to you?

There’s ALWAYS something new and interesting to learn about each of our cultures; either it be the food, the crafts, the traditions, or way of life.

What are the proudest accomplishments of your career?

Being able to collaborate on big, multiple environmental concepts, designs, and applications.

What drew you to your creative field?

Drawing dragon ball z and x-men characters in the early 90’s.

How does your heritage impact your work?

It doesn’t LOL.

How has your creative practice changed or evolved over the past year?

Because of the team I work with, i’ve learned new perspectives and techniques within different applications.

What AAPI designers and creatives inspire you? Why does their work resonate with you? 

The Great Chris Do. @thechrisdo. The advice and direction he delivers has allowed me to value myself more as a creative.

Where do you find inspiration?

Traveling. Experiencing and learning about different cultures/subcultures allows us to grow outside of our comfort zone.

What’s next on the horizon?

Looking forward to pushing more animation through various media.

We’re dedicated to our civic duty.

Our AIGA Houston community is home to  creatives of action! As Election Day comes closer, we’re sharing voting resources and student work driven by AIGA’s civic engagement initiative, Design for Democracy.

Design for Democracy was started in 1998 to encourage designers to use their design skills to promote actionable change in their cities, counties, states and countries. Last year, AIGA partnered with Nonprofit VOTE and the League of Women Voters for the 2022 Get Out the Vote (GOTV) campaign. This campaign motivates Americans to vote by spreading awareness through a gallery of original, nonpartisan and apolitical posters created by AIGA members.

2022 GOTV Student Work

Last year, students from University of Houston (UH) and Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) participated in the GOTV campaign. UH Students further explored the role of graphic design in social activism by designing an AIGA GOTV poster and a related identity system for the Fall 2022 elections. The project was part of Assistant Professor (and AIGA Houston’s very own DEI Coordinator) Joshua Unikel’s Senior Graphic Design Major I course. This gallery of AIGA Houston student work showcases the broad creative style and perspective of Houston’s emerging designers.

Full gallery on Facebook coming soon.

Project by Vanessa Rosacina

Project by Courtney Williams

Project by Jakob Hoffmann

Project by Sydney Higgins 

Project by Linda Ly

Posters by (left) Zohina Karim and (right) Wayne Page

Vote in Harris County

As you head to the polls this election season, our Communications Director Sabrina Smith has gathered helpful resources to make registering and finding your polling station to vote as simple as possible.

This Uniform Election Day is Saturday, May 6, 2023 but early voting begins April 24. Take advantage of the early voting period before it ends on Tuesday, May 2. This election includes local political subdivisions holding regular general elections for members of their governing bodies or special elections to fill vacancies. 

As the date draws closer, it is important that all citizens are able to exercise their right to vote. Every county and state’s voter laws differ slightly so here are tips on understanding your voting rights and how to navigate voting in Texas in the next few months.

In-Person Voting

Monday, April 24–Tuesday, May 2: Early voting period for in-person polling. 

• Find your polling location
• Accepted forms of voter ID
• Assistance options for in-person voting

Mail-In Voting

• Mail-in ballot requirements & FAQs
• Mail-in ballot application
• Steps for submitting your ballot

Visit harrisvotes.org or votetexas.gov for more information.

The month of February is Black History Month, an annual celebration of the contributions and achievements of Black members of our communities. Celebrate this month’s heritage with us by learning more about the lives and work of Black designers, artists, performers and photographers in Houston.

Chris Kennedy

Chris was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, but has been living in Houston for the last 2 years. He is currently a UX Designer at GoFundMe, where he drives the visual design experience based upon user data, research, best practices and consumer needs for a given capability and persona. Outside of crafting experiences you can usually find him out and about with a camera in his hand, watching or listening to true crime documentaries and podcasts, trying to stay active, or talking about Star Wars.

What does being part of the BIPOC community mean to you?
To be black is to be connected to and have an awareness of a broader deep rooted community, culture and value system. It involves embracing those values and contributing to and enhancing the community and the culture.

How does your heritage impact your creative work?
It helps me communicate and bring another perspective. I think about diversity throughout all of my work and how I can make a user experience as inclusive as possible. This includes making sure that underrepresented users are considered from the beginning.

What are the proudest accomplishments of your career?
In my current role I’m on a team that sets the standards for all of the designs and interactions. I think it’s pretty cool knowing that other designers and also users are using pieces of things that I’ve researched.

How has your creative practice evolved over the past 12 months?
Most recently I have put a higher emphasis on accessibility and making sure that my work is inclusive. It’s a much needed additional challenge to tackle to set higher standards than what we currently have.

Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration from pretty much every product that I interact with. Whether that is a self checkout station at a store, an intro from a tv show, or the dish brush I use everyday. I’m constantly thinking about usability.

Phillip Pyle, II

Billy Mounchan (@billymou) is a digital content producer who specializes in creating and producing various forms of digital content for online platforms. Billy is mainly skilled in videography and photography using a variety of digital tools and software to create engaging and interactive content. Billy’s journey in producing content began in his backyard filming basketball videos with his friends inspired by Nike basketball commercials.Throughout Billy’s career, He has worked with a variety of clients, from professional athletes to brands and businesses. He enjoys collaborating with other creative minds to produce innovative and effective content that meets the needs of his clients and their audiences.

Phillip Pyle, II is the Graphic Designer and Retail Manager at CAMH. He is also a visual artist, photographer, and agitator based in Houston, Texas. Pyle’s primary interests are race, humor, advertising, sports, and popular culture.

What does being part of the BIPOC community mean to you?
There is immense satisfaction in knowing I represent a community of such dynamic individuals and creativity.

How does your heritage impact your creative work?
Each opportunity is an attempt at showing the ancestors how much I appreciate the tremendous effort they put in. “If you don’t value your history, it’s not worth doing.” – Anthony Bruno

What are the proudest accomplishments of your career?
Being selected as Artist in Residence by the City of Houston, the 2021 Texas Biennial, and designing for the CAMH.

How has your creative practice evolved over the past 12 months?
Patience has been the main lesson. Learning to let information really resonate before going full speed.

How have your personal and/or professional goals shifted over the past 12 months?
My goals have remained on course. I am a year away from completing my MFA in Photography/Digital Media at University of Houston and we will see what’s in store after that.

How does Houston’s diversity add value to the creative community and/or city as a whole?
Diversity is simply the influx of varied ideas and perspectives. Something that is very important.

What BIPOC artists, writers, or other creatives do you admire? And why?
Fred Wilson, Kenya Evans, Jabari Anderson, Jamal Cyrus, Robert Pruitt, Felandus Thames, Gregory Michael Carter, Cauleen Smith, Nathaniel Donnett, Ryan Dennis, Mitchell Reece, Jawwaad Taylor, Brian Ellison, Mich Stevenson, Anthony Suber, Tay Butler, Matt Manalo, Garrett Griffin, Mark Francis, Marc Furi, Bria Lauren, Ronald Jones, Jasmine Zelaya, Marcelese Cooper, April Frazier, Alexis Pye, Jamie Robertson, Elena Gross. This list could and should keep going but I admire all the creativity and passion each of these people have for their practice.

How can design or your creative field be more supportive and inclusive of underrepresented people, especially BIPOC creatives?
The best way is to seek out and hire people of color and most importantly pay them handsomely!

Where do you find inspiration?
In history and how incredibly awful and wonderful it can be.

What’s next on the horizon?
More work.

Headshot by Lawrence Elizabeth Knox courtesy of Weingarten Art Group and Houston Endowment

Marc Furi

Marc Newsome aka Marc Furi is a filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist currently drawing inspiration from his neighborhood – the Third Ward area of Houston, TX. His art is influenced by the emotional toll of the rapid socio economic changes due to the area’s gentrification. He has engaged in public art practices including the I Love 3rd Ward House at Project Row Houses, the Trephonos Audio Phone Project, and the city funded Mini Murals project. His current art installation ‘Third Ward Gentrified Edition’ is a 10 foot monopoly board satire at Station Museum of Contemporary Art. Much of his art uses the monopoly board satire because he feels the popular game is a life sized emotional translation of what it feels like to live in a gentrified area.

What does being part of the BIPOC community mean to you?
I feel that being a member of the melanated people born and raised in the United States has provided me a collectively unique circumstance of experiences and perspectives. Being members of the BIPOC community means we function within a system which historically and systemically was not created for us. This in turn creates the need for us to be collective in our approach for inclusion without diluting our needs within our individual cultures,  ethnicities, and orientations. 

How does your heritage impact your creative work?

My heritage can be grounded in my neighborhood of Third Ward. There is a strong Louisiana creole undercurrent which arises in it’s food offerings and church fundraising events. An example is St. Mary’s Catholic Church which offers the Gumbo Cook Offs each year. It brings people together for fellowship, zydeco music, and creole food. There is comradely and nostalgia. My alma mater, Texas Southern University is also a place of collective memories for me with fellowship at the annual homecomings and it’s University Museum. The area is intertwined within me. The sights, sounds, and the people all inspire my creative practice. The most recent inspiration has been the rapid socioeconomic changes to the neighborhood due to gentrification have altered much of the heritage of the area. So I feel the documentations of the Third Ward is important in an aesthetic way. So I feel it’s part of my mission to record videos, take photos, and creating public art when the opportunities arise.

What are the proudest accomplishments of your career?

The I Love 3rd Ward project is my proudest career accomplishment. It has allowed me to connect with the community on the biggest scale. I was (am) able to utilize all my creative skills be they filmmaking, graphic design, photography, storytelling, installation, augmented reality, etc. But the most gratifying aspect of it all was the many people who would walk up to me randomly and say ‘thank you’. That was the most fulfilling.

How has your creative practice evolved over the past 12 months?

Through being in the UH MFA program I have incorporated more experimental film and sound art in my art practice. I am currently focusing on using sound and moving pictures to encourage emotion from the engagers of my work in abstract ways. Individually a sound, a moving visual, and a song can be 3 different stories. But all combined can create a new emotional story.

How have your personal and/or professional goals shifted over the past 12 months?

Lately I’ve been more focused on the legal side of my art, specifically copyrighting and trademarking all my material before sharing to the public. I think it’s very important for artists to do so these days. It’s like, we love for folks to see our work but at the same time people can utilize our styles and financially benefit themselves with no acknowledgement to the original artist. That has happened to me a couple of times in recent years. I think artists should be prepared to understand contracts and how to formulate their own. We should also understand our worth in negotiating with galleries and art institutions if we choose to go that route with our careers. As I move forward with expanding the content I create I am definitely spending the expenses for preemptive legal preparation.

How does Houston’s diversity add value to the creative community and/or city as a whole?
Because I’m a naturally curious person, for me, Houston is a buffet of people’s stories from all over the world. I think it’s a great experience to go to different art shows by BIPOC artists of different ethnicities and see what inspires their work. And speaking of buffet, creativity also flows into the many aspects of inventive food fusion experiences via food trucks and dining locations. Music and performance art also benefits from Houston’s diverse creative community as the mixture of creative styles produces new and inventive works. All of this benefits Houston as a whole in that it creates a unique footprint different from any other major city.

What BIPOC artists, writers, or other creatives do you admire? And why?
I’m a big fan of the works of Trenton Doyle Hancock and his wife JooYoung Choi. Both are magnificent artists. I’m inspired by how they use youthful characters inspired by action figure toys, the style of Saturday Morning Cartoons and expand them into whole universes. They inspired my art installation work. 

Photographer Earlie Hudnall is an old friend of mine who has great historic photos of Houston. I love his composition eye as well as his ability to capture organic moments with people. Another street photographer I’m a huge fan of is NY legend, Jamel Shabazz. His geometric group shots of people in New York from the 80s to the present are stellar. 

Lately I have been inspired by the vintage propaganda and movie poster styles of Jan Tschichold, Armin Hofmann and Lester Beal from the earlier 20th century. I enjoy their use of bold, simple yet impactful composition, color, and unconventional font arrangement.

How can design or your creative field be more supportive and inclusive of underrepresented people, especially BIPOC creatives?
I feel that most of the BIPOC creatives I know need access and opportunity. The talent is there. I would generally say grants and funding would be the top need. In addition, guidance and encouragement are needed for those artists who aren’t familiar with how to benefit financially and support their art as a career. There are some great community offerings through Houston Arts Alliance, FreshArts and Project Row Houses. I personally encourage creatives unfamiliar with the tools and opportunities available to apply to these services. I’ve even walked artists through the process of grant applications and some actually won grants! 

Where do you find inspiration?
Much of my inspiration comes from my neighborhood of Houston’s Third Ward area. The scenes, the local businesses I patronize, the old buildings still around, the history are all a part of me. Lately I’ve gained a lot of inspiration from grad school. The Master of Fine Arts Program at UH has been quite enlightening for me. I’ve been exposed to so much art I would never have considered before. I’m also inspired by my great collective of friends I’ve met through life with our conversations, hopes and dreams. The Black art scene is really booming in Houston and I definitely find inspiration in being a part of that community.

What’s next on the horizon?
I’m currently developing some furniture pieces with a focus on coffee table designs. I’ll also be continuing in the filmmaking world and hopefully produce my first narrative feature film within the next 2 years.

Michelle C. Ferrell

Michelle is a third generation Houstonian raised in the East End and Garden Villas communities. Currently, she is the senior in-house designer for a local credit union, focused on visual design and content strategy. She is also a community organizer, illustrator, and gardener.

What does being part of the BIPOC community mean to you?
It means to be a part of a vibrant community that endures and thrives despite the odds.

How does your heritage impact your creative work?

It influences my design direction, as I consider how to make my designs more inclusive from photography to color palettes. It is important to consider diversity and inclusion especially in the financial industry.

What are the proudest accomplishments of your career?

Being recognized for my community activism by the City of Houston, which was not at all expected in 2019. Currently, I’m proud of my efforts toward making my credit union’s in-house product designs more accessible and building out a comprehensive design system component by component.

How has your creative practice evolved over the past 12 months?

On the product design end, I’ve been learning new tools and methodologies to create more inclusive designs focusing on visual accessibility. As more people are online we should try our best to be aware and follow WCAG standards. A newer addition to my practice is making myself more aware of cognitive biases and how we all have them.

How have your personal and/or professional goals shifted over the past 12 months?

During my personal time, I have been shifting toward spending more time on illustrations and craft projects, such as painting and embroidery. On a more professional end, I have been doing research on design ethics via artificial intelligence and cognitive biases. I’m trying to find a balance between my split creative endeavors.

How does Houston’s diversity add value to the creative community and/or city as a whole?
It adds value by fostering opportunity which has grown into a thriving creative community here.

What BIPOC artists, writers, or other creatives do you admire? And why?
Regine M. Gilbert, Kevin G. Bethune, Yoshitaka Amano, Satoshi Kon, Itabari Njeri, Octavia E. Butler, Witi Ihimaera, Charles George Esperanza, Yesenia Moises, Eric Velasquez,  Ann Lowe, Haruki Murakami, Dapper Dan, N.K. Jemisin… is a varied list of a few folks I admire, finding either inspiration, instruction, and/or community from those listed.

How can design or your creative field be more supportive and inclusive of underrepresented people, especially BIPOC creatives?
By not only hiring, but retaining creatives and paying them their fair due.

Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration from nature, new experiences, and being engaged in my environments. Going on walks, gardening, or having a riveting conversation are all occasions for inspiration.

What’s next on the horizon?
Becoming an expat. Lots of paperwork. Creatively… I have some ideas brewing.