Rod Berg Creative promo, Frank Espinoza

New York-based Rod Berg brings us the first of a series of posts on careers advice and interviews with up and coming creatives. Rod is a professional visual arts career coach and also has worked since 2003 as Associate Director of Career Services at Parsons The New School for Design.

Rod recently had the pleasure of teaming up with Frank Espinoza, an amazing conceptual illustrator and artist, with expertise in comics, graphic novels and animation. Based in Brooklyn, New York, Frank is a rising star in the industry and recently completed a wonderful comic strip promo for Rod’s consultancy.

Regenesys™ , Frank Espinoza

Rod Berg: How did you start your career as an illustrator and comic book artist?

Frank Espinoza: I started my career as an illustrator at the end of my sophomore (second) year at Parsons School of Design. I did freelance work as a character designer for a small independent 3-D animation studio. As a comic book artist, in mid 2010, I started my business, The Art of Frank, Inc. and I’m currently self-publishing my original comic book entitled, Regenesys™

RB: What advise would you give to a young illustrator with a passion for drawing and an interest in starting a career as a comic book artist?

FE: Two things, first, find a way to support yourself financially through a stable full or part-time job, design field or not. Second, any waking minute you’re not working at your ‘day job’ use it to produce your comic book! Comics take a great deal of time, effort and money invested to create and market but its all a matter of establishing your name and growing a following for your books.

RB: What didn’t you learn at art school that you wish you had?

FE: I wish I had learnt more of the business side of illustration. Specifically: Breaking-even, making a profit, minor bookkeeping and pricing your particular services. I had to learn the above by taking an additional business course outside of college, attending seminars, paying lawyers and most of all through trial and error.

RB: What projects are you currently working on?

FE: Regenesys™ my first graphic novel series. I am currently creating all the artwork and writing it with co-author Leah Gahagan for an April 2012 release. We’ll have it sold at a few comic book stores and at our booth at New York Comic Con 2012 in October.

Babylon, Silly-mander, Frank Espinoza

FE: In this difficult economy, Passion and more importantly Patience is crucial to your success. Work the day job just to survive but pursue your goal after work and make sure you make it a reality! Get educated, organized and most of all DO IT!

War, Pulling on heartstrings, Frank Espinoza

Image credits: ©Frank Espinoza

More information on Rod Berg Creative

Rod Berg is Design industry professional and educator with 15+ years international experience in visual arts, in the realm of academia, creative recruitment, consultation and mentorship. He is a professional visual arts career coach and specialises in advising and mentoring creatives to help them best understand how to market, position and brand themselves for career success. Rod is based in New York City.

Alongside Rod’s coaching he has worked at the world renowned Parsons The New School for Design, since 2003, as the Associate Director of Career Services, where he is the bridge between creative talent and the international design industry. His knowledge and network covers a broad industry spectrum, including; print, web, multimedia, broadcast, UX, animation, motion, illustration, product, photography and interior design. He works with a vast variety of industry leaders across the board from Apple to Walt Disney.

Beyond Couture, Studio Färg and Blanche, Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair

Stockholm Design Week starts Monday February 06, with its key exhibition Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair opening Tuesday 07 till Saturday 11 February. ARTS THREAD previews the highlights.

The most talked about exhibition at last year’s design week was 20 Designers at Biologiska, picked up last year by ARTS THREAD as our one show not to miss. Curated by Fredrik Färg and Emma Marga Blanche, now known as Studio Färg and Blanche, the duo are now producing an installation called Beyond Couture specifically for next week’s fair. It will be a textile exhibition/bar, combining fake nature filled with dressed-up animals and kilt tribes Most of the objects have been specially created by hand in their studio for the exhibition, featuring some 35 seats, 10 tables, 25 lamps and much more. We can’t wait to see it!

In addition, Studio Färg and Blanche are also part of a one day exhibition on February 08 entitled Extra Material, alongside designers Simon Klenell, Vivianne Hedberg Perron, Alexander Lagergren, Sylvain Runberg and Hanna Gradin. Extra Material is about ‘B-sides, extra material, out-takes or bonus material. The creative process often causes a huge amount of material apart from its main product. Material that is worth taking care of.’

Extra Material; In progress to progress, Linnaeus University

During the four days of the exhibition, Linnaeus University will present the work of nine students from different courses at the Schools of Design in Växjö and Kalmar. This year’s title for the booth is In Progress to Progress and the students’ work from Växjö focuses on sustainable development, while the course at Pukeberg (Kalmar) shows works from students of both BA and MA product design students.

Swift, Johanna Stridh, Linnaeus University; Grow, Steneby, The School of Craft and Design

Never Mind the Object #1 from Beckmans College of Design on Vimeo.

Beckmans College of Design, based in Stockholm, is presenting Never Mind the Object. ‘Why should you care about objects? It is not until objects are filled with content and reason that they become meaningful. This exhibition is about ideas which require the observer to dig a little deeper, penetrating the surface. Welcome to the exhibition Never Mind the Object and have a closer look at ten personal projects by the third year students of Product Design, Beckmans College of Design.’

Everyday Tools, Aalto University, School of Arts, Design and Architecture

Mumrik, Petra Wester Nordgren; Felia, Anna Jonsson, The Swedish School of Textiles

The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, The School of Design will present a unique selection of uplholstered furniture under the theme RÅSTOF and TEKO, VIA University College in Denmark will showcase work from upcoming furniture designers.

Träakademien-Mittuniversitetet

Stockholm Design Week runs February 06-12 and Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair February 07-11 February.

Der Schmuck Salon; Nail Extensions, Sandra Buyck, St Lucas University College of Art & Design

In advance of the show, ARTS THREAD takes a look at the highlights of Object Rotterdam, taking place February 09-12 at the Las Palmas building in the city’s docklands area.

The majority of the exhibitors are Dutch naturally, with a smattering of Belgian galleries. As the show partners alongside Art Rotterdam, there is an emphasis on design with a focus on art, craft and jewellery.

As ARTS THREAD, we are keen to see the university stands at the show. St Lucas University College of Art & Design in Antwerp is showcasing the work of students from the jewellery/silversmithing department. Entitled Der Schmuck Salon, the exhibition is curated by Hilde De Decker and was created within the research project UnScene, jewellery and presentation. The red plush boudoir fixtures are built in as a showcase for the jewellery. We particularly like the Nail Extensions series using hair, silver and brass by Sandra Buyck.

Rot, Jorge Bakker; Pillow, Mirela Srsa, Sandberg Institute

Red Shell, Catherine Truman; Boxes, Chien-Wei Chang, Galerie Ra

Holier that thou, Christel van der Laan, Galerie Louise Smit; Chain, Ineke Otte

New for 2012 is the appointment of featured designers to the fair, who will create a special attraction at the event. This year’s artists are Ralph Nauta and Lonneke Gordijn of Studio DRIFT, who have created an inter­active installation at the fair, playing with light and shadow.

Fragile Futures, Studio DRIFT

Object Rotterdam runs February 09-12 at the Las Palmas building, Rotterdam.

St Lucas University College of Art & Design
Sandberg Institute
Galerie Ra
Louise Smit
Ineke Otte
Studio DRIFT

Design Village/ Puff & Flock

Designersblock collaborated with the UK’s largest trade interiors event, Interiors UK, to curate a Design Village at the Birmingham NEC. The Village contained unique products and market stalls from up-and-coming and award-winning designers, B&Bs designed by top interior designers and even a Village Local where you could grab a pint and chat with the exhibiting creatives. ARTS THREAD select a few of the best things on show at the Village:

Mentsen/ Puff & Flock/Charlie Sekers

London-based interdisciplinary design practice Mentsen showcased a variety of items from a display shelf to tote and shopping bags. We loved seeing Puff & Flock’s playful collection of furniture created in collaboration with Stuart Melrose, especially the chest of drawers with arms! Charlie Sekers’ neon Lightlight also caught our eye. Made from a continuous line of hand-formed neon, Charlie ‘draws’ a 3D outline of a typical table lamp.

POSTextiles

POSTextiles showed their range of innovative material samples which resembled choral, seaweed and other objects from the ocean.

Peter Bullock

We were mesmerised by Peter Bullock’s live shoemaking performance. Peter sat in the Village all day, expertly crafting his high quality, exceptionally British footwear, seemingly unphased by the droves of visitors milling by.

The New English

We’ve expressed our love for The New English and their incredible tectonic plates several times before, and we can’t stop singing their praises. The New English had a market stall and a fireplace mantel installation in the center of the Village, with our favourite ceramic pieces being the Silence of the Lambs inspired cup and saucer sets.

Mentsen
Puff & Flock
Charlie Sekers
POSTextiles
The New English

Colleen Ellington/ Lucy Alice Porter/ Sophie Adamson

Interiors UK 2012 showcased the work of this year’s New Design Britain Awards finalists with the winners in each design category being announced on the 23rd of January. Each winner in the four categories (furniture, furnishing accessories, surfaces and fabrics) were awarded a placement within the industry.

Although Colleen Ellington and Lucy Alice Porter didn’t take home first prize in their categories, we were really impressed with their work. Colleen, who graduated from Cleveland College of Art and Design, created some vibrant, luxe surface designs for interiors covered with decorated with animal and figurative motifs. Lucy Alice Porter’s series of owl and squirrel shaped wall decorations were also really eye-catching.

Heriot-Watt University – School of Textiles and Design graduate Sophie Adamson scooped up the top prize in the fabrics category for her Pouffe design. Drawing inspiration from bird feathers, Sophie created a wonderfully thick yarn which incorporated both hand and machine knitting techniques.

Rachel Hagger

Taking home first prize in the Surfaces category was Rachel Hagger who designed hand-printed wallpaper covered with an architectural motif. Drawing inspiration from Cavern Home interiors and Trove wallpapers, Rachel layers the different images to great a busy, bustling cityscape.

James Uren/ Roland Beaven

James Uren was lucky enough to take home both the people’s choice award and the award for best furniture design. James’ Luso Lounger is a modern reinterpretation of the classic Chaise Longue while his Dorso Stool is an investigation into different ways of joining wooden components together using a second material. Roland Beaven was awarded the prize in the furnishing accessories category for his Peaucellier Lamp.

Camilla Barnard

ARTS THREAD and Designersblock teamed up once again to bring you some of the best and brightest emerging design talents, this time at Interiors UK, Birmingham. From our Call for Entries, we selected six unique creatives from the realms of illustration, ceramics, product design and textiles.

University of Brighton 3D Materials Practice BA (Hons) graduate Camilla Barnard was there, displaying her three dimensional illustrations. Using wood, Camilla recreates everyday objects such as telephones, pencils and screwdrivers, all to surprisingly life-like effect.

Camilla explains: ‘I made the objects to trick my classmates. When they were looking for tools I would trick them into picking up the wrong ones. It will annoy them at first but I think it also makes them really appreciate the real thing once they have it.’

Catherine Frere-Smith

Catherine Frere-Smith also joined us to showcase her beautiful prints for interiors and fashion design. The Chelsea College of Art & design graduate also showed her lovely Old Farmhouse collection of hand embroidered fabric birds.

Sarahjane Harrison/Holly Wilson

We were pleased to see so many visitors at the Designersblock Design Village were enjoying sitting on Sarahjane Harrison’s Urbanisation chairs. The Liverpool Hope University Design BSc graduate printed the upholstery with photographs of Liverpool which she took during her investigation into how Chinese culture has affected the city.

If you visited The Local pub in the Design Village then you would have spotted University of Worcester Illustration BA (Hons) graduate Holly Wilson’s brilliant owl illustrations. The incredible amount of detail which goes into Holly’s illustration really impressed us and visitors.

Karin Soderquist/Katy Jennings

Camberwell College of Arts graduate Karin Soderquist had several of her 3D illustrations dotted around the Village while Royal College of Art
Ceramics & Glass MA graduate Katy Jennings had a display full of her ornamental Knitwear Birds. The birds are purposefully chipped during production in order to give each one its own individual ‘personality’.

Camilla Barnard
Catherine Frere-Smith
Sarahjane Harrison
Holly Wilson
Karin Soderquist
Katy Jennings

STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL LONDON 2012 from SFFL on Vimeo.

ARTS THREAD will be at Student Film Festival London next Friday 3 February to Sunday 05 at London College of Communication – drop by our stand to say hello! We are alongside our partners Prime Cuts with whom we will also be handing out an award – more on that later! In the meantime, we preview the festival and the work of up and coming international student filmmakers, set designers, animators and more – and highlight the key events that bring together industry experts and young creatives.

Alex Barrett, the Head Programmer for the festival says: ‘Since opening our call for submissions, we have seen literally hundreds of imaginative, gripping and moving films arrive in the office…. With so many great films to choose from, pulling the programme together has not been easy. But I’m very proud of the final result and I believe there will be something to suit all tastes, from explosive westerns to wordless wanderings.’

Still from Student Film Festival Shortlisted film promo

Still from Student Film Festival Shortlisted film promo

Outside of the competition, there will be a number of screenings. A special screening on Saturday at 10.00 celebrates the Spanish film school ECAM (Escuelas de Cine y Televisión de Madrid), whose students present a wide range of work in fiction and animation. There are stories of misunderstood vampires, a washing machine playing Cupid, zombies, a cathartic destruction of a home, unlikely friendships, a very odd girlfriend and edgy animations (including a clever noir and one about a vengeful chicken!).

Still from Student Film Festival Shortlisted film promo

Educational events Friday include the Yomi Ayeni Multiplatform Workshop, Commissioning for International Documentary ideas, International Documentary Master Class and From Student to Filmmaker.

Still from Student Film Festival Shortlisted film promo

See the festival programme

Student Film Festival London takes place Friday 3 February to Sunday 05 at London College of Communication, London.

Tickets cost £15 for a student festival pass and £20 for a non-student and individual event tickets are £3/£5.

Birmingham City University, Tender

Birmingham City University presented their interpretations of Global Color Research and Mix Publications trends for Autumn/Winter 2012-13 at Interiors UK 2012. The students from the University’s Institute of Art and Design interpreted two up-coming trends: Ember and Tender.

The Tender trend draws reference from late 18th and early 19th century design. Georgian shades of blue and grey are given a contemporary twist by being mixed with contrasting pinks and azure and a touch of glitter.

Birmingham City University, Ember

Ember contained an autumnal palette of oranges, browns and reds. The trend drew inspiration from natural and manmade objects, fruits and foliage, volcanoes, derelict buildings and fire damage.

Helen Stevens/Lianne Mellor/Camila Prada

British retail adviser and television presenter Mary Portas teamed up with House of Fraser to find Britain’s next top homeware designers. The top entrants were exhibited at Interiors UK where the designers were given the chance to pitch their ideas to Mary Portas’ business partner, Peter Cross. ARTS THREAD select some of the best designs on show.

Helen Stevens of Surface Philia presented her beautiful collection of printed ceramics and textiles which drew inspiration from Portas’ own designs. Lianne Mellor showed some cute tea party sets which featured delightful watercolour depictions of British wildlife enjoying typical British pastimes. We also really liked Camila Prada’s bone china tableware which came shaped like adorable little creatures.

Emma Cowlam/Tara Willis

Emma Cowlam’s wallpaper was wonderfully illustrated with continual line drawings of women rushing around urban environments. Tara Willis presented some humorous illustrated handkerchiefs as a replacement for traditional greeting cards.

Helen Stevens
Lianne Mellor
Camila Prada
Emma Cowlam