Diversity Spotlight

Join us for our informal monthly gathering to show off some recent work, get feedback on works in progress, or do some fun drawing exercises to keep your skills sharp.

All creatives are welcome. Whether you want to show off your work (and enjoy some oohs and ahhs), or just participate in the tell part, come and schmooze with us!

Got new stickers in your store? Working on a website? Designing a business card? Come share with us!

We meet monthly at 7:00pm ET (6:00pm CT / 5:00pm MT / 4:00pm PT).

Sign up for one event, or as many as you’d like!

Limited space available.

*RSVP HERE*

The Lone Artist is a monthly event series occurring on the fourth Thursday of each month. It’s designed for solo graphic artists, designers, illustrators, and more. Let’s break out of the isolation of our creative caves and come together to discuss the business side of our work, while nurturing a supportive community.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with fellow artists, gain valuable insights, and expand your professional network.

The Lone Artist is hosted by:

Carl Cleanthes
Carl Cleanthes is a creative entrepreneur who, in 2006, founded Epic Made, a team of millennial gamer-nerds who live and breathe advertising, digital art, and storytelling.

Over the years, Carl and his team have created powerful and eye-catching creative assets for some of the most notable brands in the world, including USA Network, Nickelodeon, SyFy, WWE, Shopify, and many others. Carl aka “Colorful Carl” has a YouTube channel and Twitch live art stream where he promotes and inspires creativity in his community. He is an avid proponent of web3 technology and understands the potential it has to empower the creators for generations to come.

In addition to his professional endeavors, Carl is an urban homesteader, believing that a sustainable lifestyle is practiced in all aspects. He shares his knowledge of growing, heirlooms, seed harvesting, and the art of self-reliance. He is a husband of 17+ years to his inspiring wife Alden and father to his semi-feral, wild-child gamer son. They are both the light of his life.

Learn and be inspired by Global Award-Winning UX/UI and Graphic Design Projects in Social Service. This 1-hour online lecture will explore how both UX/UI and graphic design have been leveraged in global award-winning projects to create impactful social services. The lecture will feature 2 distinguished experts from the design industry, each with a record of excellence in international design competitions. Attendees will gain practical knowledge of the role of design in addressing social challenges, such as healthcare, education, and community service. The session will also cover the essentials of participating in global design competitions and the process of publishing design work in reputable journals.

Presenter:
Junru (Jennie) Xu

Junru (Jennie) Xu stands out as an exceptional global award-winning product designer and UX lead, boasting eight years of rich experience in product design, user experience, and human-computer interaction. After graduating from Columbia University, she currently serve as a senior product designer at DirecTV in Seattle. ( https://www.junruxu.com/ )

Junru’s remarkable UX design initiatives, particularly those focusing on social impact, have earned her 30+ global awards gold winners, including The Red Dot Award, A’ Design Award & Competition, the Indigo Design Awards, the ADC Awards, the Muse Design Awards, the London Design Awards, Asia Design PRIZE, and the first prize from Chicago Women in Architecture. She is also a jury member for international design awards including the Muse Design Awards, London Design Awards, Orpetron Web Design Awards, and the American Business Awards.

As the West Region Representative, Junru takes on significant responsibility and contributes greatly to the mission of the Graphic Artists Guild. Her efforts strengthen the Guild’s influence and ensure that the voices of artists in the West Region are effectively represented.

Augustina (Ao) Liu

Augustina (Ao) Liu is an award-winning innovative user experience and product designer and researcher based in Seattle, Washington, USA. Her design journey ignited her passion for making technology empowering and accessible to all. Today, Augustina is recognized for her dedication to creating accessible and inclusive designs that empower users of all backgrounds and abilities. She co-founded the IDEATe Institute of Design, Engineering, Art, and Technology, a community where enthusiasts from these fields come together to create meaningful impacts on the world.

Currently serving as a Senior Product Designer at Toast, Augustina is envisioning the next generation of restaurant retail experiences. Her commitment to user-centric design strategies and pursuit of excellence have played a pivotal role in propelling Toast to new heights.

Augustina’s outstanding work has received recognition from 20 prestigious awards, including Red Dot Design Awards, iF Awards, Indigo Design Awards, UX Design Awards, DNA Paris Awards, Creative Communication Awards, etc. Furthermore, Augustina currently serves as a jury member for various international design awards and programs, including the Communicator Awards, w3 Awards, Davey Awards, Orpetron Web Design Awards, Online Design Awards, and others. She has publications at the IHCI 2024 Conference,  2022 CHI Conference, and CSCW 2021. In addition, Augustina actively participates in design communities, serving as a mentor, workshop speaker, and panelist, and has made valuable contributions to the design community.

Join us for our informal monthly gathering to show off some recent work, get feedback on works in progress, or do some fun drawing exercises to keep your skills sharp.

All creatives are welcome. Whether you want to show off your work (and enjoy some oohs and ahhs), or just participate in the tell part, come and schmooze with us!

Got new stickers in your store? Working on a website? Designing a business card? Come share with us!

We meet monthly at 7:00pm ET (6:00pm CT / 5:00pm MT / 4:00pm PT).

Sign up for one event, or as many as you’d like!

Limited space available.

*RSVP HERE*

The Lone Artist is a monthly event series occurring on the fourth Thursday of each month. It’s designed for solo graphic artists, designers, illustrators, and more. Let’s break out of the isolation of our creative caves and come together to discuss the business side of our work, while nurturing a supportive community.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with fellow artists, gain valuable insights, and expand your professional network.

The Lone Artist is hosted by:

Carl Cleanthes
Carl Cleanthes is a creative entrepreneur who, in 2006, founded Epic Made, a team of millennial gamer-nerds who live and breathe advertising, digital art, and storytelling.

Over the years, Carl and his team have created powerful and eye-catching creative assets for some of the most notable brands in the world, including USA Network, Nickelodeon, SyFy, WWE, Shopify, and many others. Carl aka “Colorful Carl” has a YouTube channel and Twitch live art stream where he promotes and inspires creativity in his community. He is an avid proponent of web3 technology and understands the potential it has to empower the creators for generations to come.

In addition to his professional endeavors, Carl is an urban homesteader, believing that a sustainable lifestyle is practiced in all aspects. He shares his knowledge of growing, heirlooms, seed harvesting, and the art of self-reliance. He is a husband of 17+ years to his inspiring wife Alden and father to his semi-feral, wild-child gamer son. They are both the light of his life.