Name: Chris Lockwood
Place of Employment: Herring Design
Job Title: Illustrator

How long have you been an AIGA member and what do you get out of being a member?
About ten years, off and on. I like the social aspect of being in a community of people who like what they do for a living.

What inspired you to become a designer?
I was studying fine art in college and one of my professors intuited from my work that I would be more interested in graphic design. She brought in several issues of Communication Arts Magazine to lend me and I was hooked.

What has been the most challenging aspect of the evolution of design over the years? How do you see print/web evolving in the next 5 years?
The most challenging part of this business is how rapidly technology changes and the effect it has on the work we do. Keeping up with the technology and the pressure brought on by the economy are the two biggest issues for me. I think print will continue to become less important and offer fewer opportunities to execute really good design. Web, however will continue to evolve, but whether that evokes good design will depend on the people adopting the new technologies.

What project do you have the most bragging rights to?
None come to mind immediately. Most projects I work on are team efforts and it’s hard to point to one and say I did that.

When you aren’t working, what are you doing?
Riding my bike(s).

What advice would you give to an aspiring designer? What advice would you give to a graduate? What advice would you give to a professional?
I’d tell aspiring designers to listen and observe. I often tell graduating students to get involved with non-profit organizations to help them with projects they need design help with. I’d tell professionals to stay on top of the technology— it’s so easy to get left behind.

You’re very active in the AIGA Houston community as well as the Houston art community, how did you become so submerged in the culture? What sites do you get your event information from?
Glasstire.com is the best source for what’s going on in the visual arts. Their blogs and reviews paint a good picture of what’s going on in the visual arts community. Spacetaker and Fresh Arts are good runner-ups. Facebook is a good way to get connected to groups, galleries, clubs and other organizations. By becoming a fan to the organizations I like, I am able to know what and when events are happening.

Where can we find you?
I’m on facebook.