SCAD Alumni Association’s Blog

The SCAD office of career and alumni success invites you to join SCAD faculty and representatives from Crispin Porter + Bogusky Friday, Oct. 29, at 9 a.m. in the Oglethorpe House Ballroom (201 W. Oglethorpe Ave., Savannah, Georgia) for coffee and networking. Feel free to bring your portfolio for review. Those interested may remain for a workshop boot camp during which company representatives will discuss opportunities for alumni with experience in advertising, graphic design, interactive design and game development, motion media design and interaction design.

9-10:30 a.m. – Alumni Networking Coffee
10:30-11 a.m. – Introduction: Yanira Rodriguez, talent scout
11 a.m.-12 p.m. – Portfolio Tips: Natalia Cade, talent scout
12-1 p.m. – How to Apply for Internships/Jobs at CP+B: Simone Chen, talent relations manager

R.S.V.P. by Oct. 27 online.

Ruth’s Chris Savannah, 111 W. Bay St., will be celebrating their grand re-opening with a formal artist reception featuring Tiffani Taylor (B.F.A., painting, 2002; M.A., art history, 2003) and a collection of her expressionistic marsh paintings Thursday, Oct. 28, 5-8:00 p.m. A silent auction will take place during the reception with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the Tiffani Taylor SCAD Painting Scholarship. The scholarship annually awards a senior painting student with a $500 scholarship for art supplies. If you can’t make it in person to the event, you can make an online donation to the scholarship.

The SCAD office of career and alumni success invites you to join Chuck Chewning (B.F.A., historic preservation and interior design, 1986), creative director of Donghia, Inc., Wednesday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. at the Student Center, 120 Montgomery St., Savannah, Georgia. Chewning will present the exceptional interior designs of company founder Angelo Donghia. Recently named one of the century’s most influential interior designers, Donghia created bespoke interiors for Ralph Lauren, Diana Ross, Mary Tyler Moore, Liza Minnelli, Marvin Hamlisch, Barbara Walters, and Donald Trump in the 1970s and 80s. Learn how Angelo Donghia’s legendary design philosophy lives on today through the company’s vision for Donghia lifestyle showrooms throughout the world along with iconic product designs and the interior design division Donghia associates.

Fringe founder José Reyes (B.F.A., graphic design, 1995) has forged a creative collaboration with Tiffani Taylor (B.F.A., painting, 2002; M.A., art history, 2003). Fringe blends a cocktail of music and visual arts that brings back the original, intimate experience of chamber music in an approachable, exciting way—especially for younger audiences weaned on pop music and even poppier culture. Taylor will be featured as the gallery artist for the Saturday, Oct. 23 concert. The concert includes chamber music, dj spinning electronica, documentaries of the musicians, and short films curated by Gabe Wardell, former executive director of the Atlanta Film Festival. For a full concert lineup, visit the Fringe website online.

Katherine Buchanan (M.F.A., fibers, 2009) is a textile designer by day and fiber artist by night. Katherine is celebrating her new role as a designer at Couristan, an international carpet company. Katherine credits the recently launched SCAD Atlanta Alumni Career Club, of which she is the inaugural leader, with enabling her to successfully market her capabilities and accomplishments to her new employer through strengthening her own self-marketing skills.

Alumni in Atlanta, Savannah, and online have formed career clubs to support each other in the speedier acquisition of career-oriented roles for SCAD alumni who are unemployed or underemployed in their fields. Through the group meetings, members build their interviewing, networking and other skills important to conducting a successful job search. Members also share contacts, brainstorm solutions for challenges encountered in their career search or progression and share opportunities that come to their attention with other club members.

Katherine’s role as volunteer leader of the club played an important part in demonstrating her leadership skills during the interview for the designer role at Couristan. Katherine commented that discussions such as how to create an “elevator speech’ and “the hidden job market” were important contributors to her success and others in the club.  Katherine further stated, “I would recommend that all alumni who are navigating today’s challenging job market check out the SCAD alumni career clubs.”  She recommends that if a graduate decides to become a member, that they “be an active member”. Group members who attend meetings and take part in online forums on LinkedIn leverage networking to increase exposure to potential employers.

Katherine has been successfully working as a designer since finishing her course of study at SCAD four years ago. Her advice to alumni searching for their first or next career opportunity is,“Realize the best career move can be challenging. I have secured both of my design roles by utilizing tools that SCAD’s office of career services provides to students and alumni. SCAD set up the resources, so make the connection and move your career forward. Having a little help makes it much easier to find what you are looking for! I could not be happier with the support that I have had from SCAD after graduating. I have a design job that I love and what could be better that that?”

If you would like to see what Katherine is up to, visit her website http://www.kdbdesigns.info/.

Ben Morris was an inspiring professor at SCAD for 13 years, beloved by his students, fellow professors and alumni. In marking what would have been his 80th year, SCAD would like your help in honoring his legacy by contributing to the Ben Morris Scholarship which provides tuition for a student to study off campus. Visit the website to read stories about Ben, see photographs and illustrations, and share your own stories and photos.

Gallery5 of Richmond, Va. seeks submissions and proposals for “Papier-Machete.” This juried fine-art exhibition will focus on artwork utilizing paper and organic fiber media as the primary construction means. Deadline is Nov. 23, 6 p.m. Enter now.

Have you registered yet for the inaugural SCAD Alumni Weekend in Atlanta Oct. 15-16? Friday night includes a reception followed by a screening of animated shorts. Saturday kicks off with tours of SCAD Atlanta followed by the “How SCAD is Changing the Face of Art and Design” session and culminates in the Fall Festival of Lights Celebration.

To register, simply send an e-mail to alumni@scad.edu with your name, number of guests, and events you plan to attend. The cost of $16.95 for Saturday’s dinner can be paid in cash at the door.

Congratulations to Gyun Hur (M.F.A., sculpture, 2009) for being one of five finalists for the Hudgens Prize. The five finalists will participate in a group exhibition Nov. 30-Feb. 19. The winner will be announced Nov. 30 and will be awarded $50,000 plus a solo show at the Jacqueline Casey Hudgens Center for the Arts. Read more.

Untitled by Gyun Hur
2010

Yoxi, a competition that applies the power of the world’s most creative thinkers to the world’s most important problems, is seeking teams of three to battle to create and communicate the best solutions for social issues. Teams must register for Competition #1: “You Are What You Eat” by Oct. 15. Although not required, it is strongly recommended that teams be located the same city/town. The winning team receives the funding opportunities and positioning to make their idea a reality. Learn more about Yoxi teams and register.