Brief Case Art

A Few New

2011-06-14T12:52:00.003-04:00

I have a friend in the industry who's been known to say that graphic design is more than just selling pizza to the masses. I agree, sometimes it's about selling soda to the masses too. (Kidding!) I do believe that as a graphic designer I have the chance to promote good in many ways. Fortunately for me, I've been able to work lately with clients who are passionate about promoting good as well. These are all companies that I personally believe in. Here's some of what I've been up to so far this summer:

Kent's Soda (kentssoda.com)
9-year-old Kent Melville, who is autistic, was the driving force in developing his own soda company. I created the web site for it. A portion of the soda proceeds are used to promote positive social interactions and experiences within the autism community. The company motto is to "do good and have fun!" Kent comes from a wonderful family and extremely supportive parents who have been helping him achieve his goal to "help others." This week articles about Kent's company have been featured on the Huffington Post and MTV's blog.

Renewable Resources Development Co (http://2rdco.com)
This company is dedicated to the development of clean, green energy projects. I created the logo, stationary, business cards, and web site for them.

Craftmaster Inc. (http://craftmastersc.com)
President Val Aldridge says, "We believe that if you provide customers a quality built home, at a better price, and treat customers with respect always following good, honest principles, our business would be successful." Aldridge stands behind his words. This project included the logo, business cards, and web site.

Home Care Pulse exclusively provides client and caregiver satisfaction services to private duty home care agencies. In other words, they are helping measure the quality of the at-home care the seniors in our lives are receiving. I've been involved in several small projects for Home Care Pulse. Here are a few recent Web Banners:

Thank You!

2011-05-11T14:18:00.000-04:00

Another school year has now come and gone and, unbelievably, summer school is now underway! The 2010-2011 academic year was fantastic and I have the wonderful graphic & web design students to thank for that. I really enjoy teaching and creating, but when the students buckle down and work hard it boosts the learning process into a whole new realm for all. There are few things finer than watching a student begin to discover their own potential. I watched many students reach new personal heights this year.

A big huge THANKS goes out to all of my students this past school year, especially to those who anonymously went out of their way to make sure I received honors as CCU's "Professor of the Year." I was deeply touched at the unexpected award from the student body. Here's to many more wonderful school years ahead!

Coastal Carolina University's "Professor of the Year" 2010-2011

I am excited for what the summer holds. It promises to be busy! Since resuming my freelance business in January I've been working with a handful of clients on some exciting branding and web projects. Perhaps I'll be able to post some of those soon.

Happy Summer Y'all!

2011 Student ADDY Awards

2011-03-01T20:21:00.002-05:00

One of my favorite things about teaching is watching a student "nail" a design. I was thrilled to learn that a handful of my students earned ADDYs for the work they did in my class last semester. Rock on!

Here is the CCU press release about it:

"Coastal Carolina University graphic design students dominated the 2011 ADDY Awards in the Student Division, hosted by the American Advertising Federation, Coastal Carolinas.
Fourteen student ADDYs were awarded to CCU students at the annual awards ceremony held in Myrtle Beach Feb. 18.

CCU senior Lisa Tyree took top honors as she was awarded Best of Show and also a Gold ADDY for her poster called "His and Hers Deconstruction." In addition, Tyree received a Gold ADDY for her Old Bicycle Company logo.

Junior Kayla Looysen was awarded three Gold ADDYs for her packaging, logo and poster work. Seniors Barbara Astrini and Allie Tague also picked up Gold ADDYs for their posters. Students who received Silver ADDY awards include Molly French, Dani Brass and Alecia Lewis.

Three publications from the University nabbed ADDY awards, including Archarios (Gold), the student literary art magazine, the student-produced Tempo Magazine (Gold) and Tapestry Magazine (Silver), which is produced by the University's Department of English.

The prestigious Student ADDY awards are presented for the most outstanding student work in the region. The region includes the Florence, Georgetown and Myrtle Beach areas as well as Wilmington, N.C. The gold winners of the regional ADDYs will now be forwarded to broader district competition and a chance to compete for national recognition and awards."

From left, Kayla Looysen, Dani Brass, Deanna Lutz, Ursula Hockman, Allie Tague, Barbara Astrini and Lisa Tyree.

Get Your Fortune from Jeff Case Design

2010-12-31T22:57:00.001-05:00

Jeff Case Design is sending you wishes for good fortune in 2011!

The New Jeff Case Design

2010-12-30T10:48:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year! After several years of having an academically-based personal web site, I've re-launched the new www.jeffcasedesign.com. I'm excited about the shift in focus, and being able to serve more freelance clients.

Good Neighbor Site

2010-09-30T14:01:00.001-04:00

I just finished re-branding and re-designing materials for a real estate brokerage in the Rocky Mountain region. It's a huge departure from what I've designed for Kristen and Good Neighbor Real Estate before, but I think it's a fun, fresh, updated look that will serve her and her company well.

www.KristenSellsUtah.com

So you want to be an art/ graphic design professor?

2010-09-22T21:06:00.014-04:00

I love my job. I really do.

I get asked about my job as a graphic design professor quiet often. Whether it’s a student considering the same career path, a confused family member, an acquaintance, or just the lady passing out samples at Costco (true story), I get questioned! As I field questions from the curious, I find there are a few misconceptions about the industry, and about what is expected of an art professor.

I thought I’d take a minute to address some of the most frequently asked questions, statements and misconceptions that I come across.

"Professors sure make a lot of money!"

Some probably do. It depends on your point of view, I guess, but I would argue that art professors aren’t among them! There is great variation in professors’ pay scale across a university campus. Business professors tend to make the most and those in an art department tend to make the least. Although some artists can “strike it rich,” generous compensation shouldn’t be a motivator in selecting the arts as your profession!

To get an idea of the salary that can be expected, view the most recent Design Educator Salary Survey from the AIGA (the professional association of design).

http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/salary-survey-design-educator

Those thinking about traveling down a career path in higher ed. should carefully consider how much debt they would need to acquire to obtain the requisite education. I have a friend who entered graduate school with an unrealistic expectation of how much money he could make as a professor. He took out hefty student loans. Once he graduated, he had to abandon his teaching aspirations because he couldn’t afford to pay back his student loans with the salary he would earn.

"It must be nice to have so much time off! How many hours a week do you work?"

When I get asked this I have a hard time keeping my answer very concise. Expectations vary from one institution to another, but currently I am expected to teach 3 courses a semester. This equates to about 18 hours a week spent in the classroom instructing/working with students. I am also required to have 8 hrs of office time where students can meet with me if needed. (This is where you start thinking, “Gosh, 26 hours a week sounds pretty good to me!”) But alas, it is not always so.

Factor in department meetings, committee work & university service, class prep & grading, personal projects, and university events, and it easily can turn into a 50+ hour workweek.

Outside of class, there is a lot of flexibility, which is nice. For example, if I need to schedule a dental appointment in the middle of the day, or help out at my son’s school, I can!

"Do you really have the entire summer off?"

Yes and no. There is increased flexibility during the summer. I don’t go to my campus office during the summer, but an artist never truly leaves their work “at the office.”

When a semester is completed, the real work begins. I often engage in personal artistic exploration, research, and professional development during my “off” time. (Translation: I engage in freelance work with paying clientele to develop web sites and marketing materials. I also create work for future gallery shows and to enhance my portfolio.)

I am not required to teach courses during the summer, but I do. Since becoming a full-time teacher, I’ve been spending the first half of the summer teaching. After my student loans are paid off, I probably won’t continue to teach summer courses.

“Are you going to get a PhD/ Why don’t you have a PhD?”

I cannot obtain a PhD in my area of expertise, as no such program even exists. Aside from Art History and Art Education programs, PhD programs in the arts are very, very rare and are not accepted as the standard for university art faculty. An MFA is considered a terminal degree. (Sounds deadly doesn’t it?)

“What is the difference between an assistant, associate, or full professor?”

Tenure-track professors generally begin their careers with the “assistant” title. This title does not imply that an assistant professor “assists” more senior faculty. It's just a title.

After approx. 6 years of teaching, an assistant professor will be up for tenure and promotion and receive an “associate” title. The decision to grant tenure and promotion is a lengthy and involved process.

Some professors never move beyond the associate title, but most will apply for final promotion to a full professor. The timeline for when this happens is much less strict than the promotion of an assistant to an associate.

“What do you have to do to get tenure?”

This varies from institution to institution, as there really is no set standard accepted across the entire discipline that I’m aware of. The caliber of school is an important component. Obviously, more is going to be expected of a professor at a top research institution than from a professor at a small state college. One who is hired as a tenure-track professor is generally eligible to receive tenure after a 6^th year of teaching. I personally am not up for tenure for a few more years.

I think it is safe to say that most schools will require art professors to engage in some professional and scholarly work in addition to teaching courses, advising students, and serving on committees. Getting into juried art shows, showing in work galleries, winning industry awards, publishing research, and working professionally with clients, are the types of things that contribute to a professor receiving tenure and promotion.

“I think I want to be an art professor. What will it take for me to get hired?”

Some God-given talent paired with lots of hard work!

During undergraduate school, it is important to soak up all you can from successful artists you have access to. Find out what makes them successful.

Yes, it’s important to get decent grades, but more importantly you need to be building a smashing portfolio. This may require lots of outside-of-the-classroom work, internships, and some professional employment. Don’t be afraid to put in extra effort to learn something that may not be available on campus.

When I first started out, I really wanted to learn motion graphics. At the time no courses were offered on campus, so I drove 3 hours to attend a weekend workshop at another University. I’ve never regretted doing that. I obtained my first industry job based on those skills.

When it comes time to apply to graduate school, be sure to take ample time gathering your materials. It’s okay to spend a few years (in fact, it’s advisable) working in the industry first. Also, cast a wide net. Don’t limit yourself by only applying to one school. You could be setting yourself up for disappointment. Many top programs are very competitive. You may be very talented, but not what they are looking for. Be open to different possibilities.

Once you get to graduate school, take every opportunity given you to teach courses. This experience will be invaluable for you and will help you to be able to snag your first post grad full-time teaching gig.

Right now the market is soft. Universities aren’t hiring like they have in the past and competition for jobs can be intense. Make sure to acquire skills that will help you become versatile and stand out of a crowd. You may be a print designer, but perhaps you should spend some time learning a bit about working with the web. Just like when applying to graduate school, cast a wide net. Be open to new possibilities. It will open more doors for you.

Up and Coming

2010-09-01T22:00:00.005-04:00

After a busy summer split between Vermont, the entire west coast, and Myrtle Beach, I think I've finally gotten "back to work". To counterbalance the stress of starting a new semester, I've been working on a beach scene for my wife. It's always relaxing to pick up a paintbrush. I wish I could do it more often.

I'm planning to dive into some motion type work soon and I'm excited to get back to creating some new media pieces after spending so much time on illustrative work.

Next week is the opening for the Faculty Biennial Exhibit at the Rebecca Randall Bryan Art Gallery at Coastal Carolina University. I'm looking forward showing a few illustrations in it.

I just got word that my mixed media illustration titled "Bondage" was accept into the Emerging Carolinas Juried Art Exhibit. William Dunlap is the exhibit juror.

The exhibit will open in downtown Spartanburg, SC in HUB-BUB's Showroom Gallery on Oct. 2, 2010 from 7-9pm. The show will feature the work of young, contemporary artists between the ages of 20-35 who currently reside within North or South Carolina.

Coastal Carolina University

2010-05-07T08:57:00.000-04:00

It looks like I'll be trading in my snow boots for sandals. I recently accepted a position as a graphic design professor at Coastal Carolina University, near Myrtle Beach, SC.

It will be a challenge to leave behind the enchanting Vermont countryside, but I am looking forward to the opportunities that await me and my family. The sunny skies and beach won't hurt either.

On the Easel

2010-04-13T13:17:00.004-04:00

I may be a "new media guy" but the simple truth is that I love creating artwork in all its forms. In the last couple of months I've had work shown in 3 different galleries, all of which were created using different mediums. (printmaking & watercolors, mixed media collage, and interactive multi-media)

I took one painting course in undergrad school, which I enjoyed immensely, but once the class was over the brushes were shoved into the back of the supply cabinet. That is, until last year, when I developed a friendship with revered painter Frank Magleby.

Forgive the quickie point-and-shoot photos, but here is the painting that is currently on my easel:

Maples of Sugar Hill.

Up-close detail

Another detail shot

Desotorow Gallery Show

2010-03-31T07:36:00.002-04:00

A couple of my illustrations are being featured at the Desotorow Gallery in Savannah, GA right now. Here is the blip from the gallery's website:

Rapprochement of Cultures

2010-03-09T13:31:00.001-05:00

This poster design illustrates two people facing each other, open to new dialogue that not only emphasizes similarities, respect, and cooperation but also optimistically showcases celebration of diversity. I chose to use brush strokes of primary colors to highlight the idea that while differences can often be striking, they too reveal a most harmonious beauty when appointed well.

Free Market Invaders

2010-02-24T21:40:00.000-05:00

This interactive piece is based on the first commercially successful computer game, Space Invaders, which was released in 1978. In this small version it's difficult to see some of the details of the game that has a political twist. I'm especially fond of the "pork" that adds near obscene amounts to the national debt score. It has 84 levels of difficulty. How many levels can you complete?

Tax Dollar Roulette

2010-02-21T20:01:00.000-05:00

I've been able to indulge in creating art that I never had enough time to do before, since officially finishing grad school. I'm having fun with mixed media illustrations right now. The topics have mostly been political, but I'm excited to start branching out soon.

Off the Fence

2010-02-18T16:27:00.000-05:00

I'm not a controversial, confrontational, or shouting-match type of guy. I believe that everybody is entitled to their opinion, but I'm not one to yell mine from the rooftops. I keep respectful silence when I don't agree with a friend or co-worker. It's just my way. When I have something to say, before long it usually seeps into my artwork. I'd rather let the art do the talking.

“Red Sky in the Morning”

Mixed Media

10” x 13”

“Burst Bubble”

Mixed Media, 8” x 10”

“Stuck”

Mixed Media

10” x 13”

“United”

Mixed Media

10” x 13”

“It’s Not Easy Being Green”

Mixed Media

10” x 13”

“The Forgotten Worker”

Mixed Media

8” x 10”

“Slipping Through”

Mixed Media

14” x 11”

“Axed” Mixed Media 10” x 13”

The Brief Case

2010-02-06T17:51:00.000-05:00

With encouragement (and perhaps some assistance) from my wife, I've decided that I'm going to try my hand at blogging. I am a full time visual arts professor at a 4-year liberal arts college in Vermont and also a full time practicing artist. I showcase some of my work on a web site (www.jeffcasedesign.com), but I get complaints that it isn't updated often enough with new material. So, to appease my fans (both of them) a blog is born!