SDCC Alumni Josh Higgins gets top design job for Obama.

A BIG shout goes out to Josh Higgins, San Diego City College Graphic Design Alumni who was just named the Design Director for Obama for America. He will oversee everything graphic for the campaign including the website, brand systems and collateral. All the graphic design you see for the Obama re-election campaign will be from Josh and his creative team.

Josh is a senior designer / art director who works across all disciplines including print, web, environment, identity and television. For over twelve years, he's been refining the art of connecting brands to people with a concept-driven visual style that has earned him national honors. A native San Diegan, with roots in both advertising and graphic design, Josh has done extensive work for brands including Fender Guitars, The Tony Hawk Foundation, Hewlett-Packard, Qualcomm, Asics Footwear, Museum of Contemporary Art SD, CBS Radio, Perry Ellis International, RedBrick Pizza, IHOP, New Castle Beer, PF Changs, Yamaha, Life Technologies, and firms, Miriello Grafico, Mires/Ball, Hollis BC, and Vitrorobertson.

Before completing his design degree at San Diego City College, Josh's first career was as a musician with his band, fluf. The group has 7 albums out on Cargo, FAT and MCA/Universal Records, and has done national tours with Jawbreaker, Fugazi, Rocket from the Crypt, Blink 182, Sublime, The Vans Warped Tour and many others.

With his involvement in the San Diego design community, Josh served on the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), San Diego Board of Directors, where he curated successful exhibits and lecture series with visiting photographers, designers and film makers. His continual work with AIGA and the larger creative community allows him to advance the cause of San Diego arts and culture, and mentor students in the creative industry.

He quickly re-located to Chicago where he will begin a busy 13 months overseeing a team of 33 creatives. Congratulations Josh!

His amazing community spirit is evidenced in the many dynamic projects Josh created like the Hurricane Poster Project, So-Cal Poster Project, and Haiti Poster Project. He has been a regular speaker and mentor in the SDCC graphic design program, organizing student scholarships through fundraising concerts and events. You can view some of his design work at the link here.

Fall AIGA Student Membership Discounts

We want to encourage you to become an AIGA Student Member as part of a chapter at San Diego City College. If you are interested to become a member or want more information please email SDCC Professor Candice López at candicemlopez@cox.net

If you become a student member of our chapter you can participate in great free workshops, studio tours to some of the top local design firms and go on fascinating field trips and learn to grow your work. You can attend the AIGA Y Design Conference on March 30 and 31st at a discounted student rate.

We are kicking off our first AIGA SDCC events in the month of September for FREE so read the post below. In October we will be taking studio tours where space will be limited. AIGA SDCC student members will have first priority to attend these dynamic events. The best part of AIGA is getting the chance to meet other design students and networking with professionals who you might want to work with one day. It's not just what you know it is who you know.

AIGA encourages the formation of student groups at colleges and universities and is committed to developing these groups as a way of encouraging students to take the first step in demonstrating a commitment to their professional interest and assisting them in understanding the profession. The goal of the student groups is to get the student involved in the local design community, create a community of their own and help them build leadership skills that will be valuable as they move into the professional world.

Why join?

Gain exposure by posting your portfolio in the AIGA Member Gallery

Find design jobs and internships at AIGA Jobs

Network and learn at AIGA Local and National Events

Access exclusive member benefits

There is currently a student membership drive: September 1–30

You can join or renew online at my.aiga.org for $50 instead of the regular price of $95!

To find out more or if you decide to join email faculty advisor candicemlopez@cox.net

September AIGA SDCC workshops

AIGA San Diego is a chapter of the oldest and largest membership association for professionals engaged in the discipline, practice and culture of visual communication and graphic design.At SDCC we have a student chapter of AIGA-the American Institute of Graphic Arts.

The San Diego City College student chapter of AIGA San Diego invites you to attend a series of FREE workshops at San Diego City College designed to improve your conceptual and technical design skills. It's also a great way to connect to your classmates and the design community as a whole. Check this blog for updates on our upcoming October Workshops.

September Workshops

Instructor: Adjunct Professor Sean Bacon

Saturday September 17: Golden Section Workshop

Explore the magic of the golden section and discover principles of geometric composition that will make your layouts soar. This classic proportioning system will change the way you think, plan and organize your design concepts.

T309 Graphic Design lab

12 noon to 1:30 pm

Friday September 30: Techniques and Tips Workshop

with special guest Norman Ramos

Discover some of the best special techniques you can use to add the ahhhh! to your design comps such as laser engraving, embossing, faux foil stamping and much more.

At this workshop we want to make it hands-on and so there will be a small materials fee at the event [$3-5] to try out the techniques.

T310 Graphic Design Classroom

1:30pm to 3:00 pm

These workshops are FREE and are part of the San Diego City College AIGA Student Chapter. To find out more about AIGA contact AIGA SDCC Faculty Advisor: Candice López at candicemlopez@cox.net

Book of Spells - which/witch

Don't miss the dynamic show Book of Spells - which/witch by graphic design

Professor Andrea Singer at Bay Park Press.

The opening reception is September 16, 5:30-8:30pm at 4318 Napier Street in San Diego.

You can get more information and a map at this link for Bay Park Press.

The gallery hours are Friday and Saturday 11am-3pm.

Fall 2011 Graphic Design Schedule

To register for SDCC graphic design classes this Fall click here and select list classes.

If you don't know the order you should be taking classes then please view this link. Should you wish to view information on transfer schools and graduate programs for further study click here.

Design 100 T 12:45-3:30pm Partially online Andrea Singer

Design 100 MW 9:35-12:40 On campus Andrea Singer

Typography 106 MW 9:35-12:50 On campus Amy Becraft

Typography 106 TTh 5:55-9:00pm On campus Amy Becraft

Graphic Design History 118 3 sections offered Fully online Candice López

Design History 118 MW 9:35-10:55 On campus Candice López

Illustration 120 MW 9:35-12:20 On campus Blair Thornley

Int. Graphic Design 1:124 Fully online Lisa Starace

Digital Media 125 2 sections offered Fully online Julie Warren

Digital Media 125 MW 1-4:05pm On campus Julie Willis

Int. Graphic Design 2:133 TTh 8-11:05am On campus MaeLin Levine

Web Page Design 144 MW 5:55-8:25pm On campus Julie Willis

Portfolio A: 148A Th 11:10-2:10 Partially online Sean Bacon

Studio Practices: Book Arts 149 MW 1-4:05pm On campus Andrea Singer

Advanced Typography 206 TTh 5:55-9pm On campus Amy Levine

Viewing Portfolios of our Graduates

Congratulations to all our amazing San Diego City College graphic design Portfolio Graduates. We are part of the San Diego City College School of Visual and Performing Arts. These books were created in portfolio class for students completing our graphic design certificate and associate degree program.

Thanks to SDCC portfolio class alumni who have posted their work to share. Please click on the links to view their stellar portfolios. Students who attend San Diego City College create portfolio books that can be used to obtain transfer to four year design programs or get an entry level job in the field of graphic design. Please click on the orange links next to each name to view their portfolio.

Desiree Aspiras Portfolio:
Class of 2011

Ying-Jen Lai Portfolio:
Her portfolio won best packaging design and the Doyald Young-best aesthetics at the 2011 San Diego American Institute of Graphic Arts Portfolio Review.
Class of 2011.

Judie Le Portfolio:
Class of 2010. Judie won the identity and branding category at the AIGA San Diego portfolio review and secured a huge transfer scholarship to continue her design studies at Columbia College in Chicago.

Larisa Mamonova Portfolio:
Class of 2011. Won the Doyald Young Logotypes and letterforms scholarship at the AIGA San Diego portfolio review.

San Diego City Portfolio Preparation:
Courses: Portfolio Preparation ART G 148A and Portfolio: ART G 148B

2011 AIGA San Diego Portfolio Review: May 28th

Please plan to attend the 2011 AIGA Student Portfolio Exhibition on Saturday, May 28, 2011 from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm at the University of San Diego Joan Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice. It is your opportunity to see the finished portfolios of students from graphic design programs all over San Diego as well as meet many of the top local practicing professionals in San Diego. There will be a dynamic panel of speakers including Bennet Peji and Scott Mires talking about how to get a good job in the field of design. The cost for observers is just $20 and it is the one event students simply don’t want to miss! By attending you will see how the work you create at SDCC will be compiled into a finished portfolio book and can begin to prepare yourself for portfolio class.
We are exceptionally proud of the SDCC class of 2011 and hope you will come out and support them.

You can register online at:
http://sandiego.aiga.org/events/2011/05/61005302