We will resume our regular posts in the Fall Season to bring you the latest and greatest happenings in the NYC design community. Get in touch if you’d like to suggest an event. Have a great summer! See you in the Fall!

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Be sure to check back every Monday for a fresh list of events.

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May 25–May 31, 2014

1/ Validating Product Ideas with Quick and Simple Experiments
Grace Ng, Co-Founder of Javelin.com, will share a structured process for designing effective experiments, and talk about some of the common pitfalls and challenges teams face when running experiments in their companies.
When: Tuesday, May 27, 2014, 6pm–9pm
Where: Etsy 55 Washington Street, Floor 7, Brooklyn, NY
Price: $10 NYCUXPA members, $5 students, $20 general public

2/ Dan Rhatigan / Gill Sans after Gill
Dan Rhatigan is a type director at Monotype, based in New York. He works on custom type development projects and consults on typographic issues with customers, and from time to time he gives talks about type and typography.
When: Thursday, May 29, 2014, 6:30pm–8:30pm
Where: Type Directors Club, 347 West 36th Street #603, NYC
Price: Free and open to the public

3/ See, Make, Sip
A multi-sensory experience where you travel through the galleries. Make art along the way, then sip custom-mixed cocktails while listening to live music.
When: Thursday, May 29, 2014, 7pm–9:30pm
Where: Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn
Price: $15, includes museum admission

4/ A Party for Bob Newman
The Friends of Bob Newman community is pleased to announce an online benefit auction featuring the work of dozens of top illustrators and photographers, with all proceeds going to benefit Bob Newman and his family.
When: Thursday, May 29, 2014, 6:30pm–8:30pm
Where: Society of Illustrators, 128 East 63rd Street, NYC
Price: Free and open to the public

5/ Bruce Nauman: The True Artist Book Launch and Conversation with Peter Plagens and Carlos Basualdo
Celebrate the release of Bruce Nauman: The True Artist , one of the most innovative, provocative, and influential artists working today. Always questioning the role of the artist and the very definition of art, Nauman’s pioneering explorations of sculpture, performance, sound, video, and installation have broken new ground and inspired innumerable artists’ careers.
When: Thursday, May 29, 2014, 7pm
Where: The New Museum Theater, 235 Bowery, NYC
Price: $8 New Museum members, $10 general public

6/ Introduction to Robofont
Dan Rhatigan is a type director at Monotype, based in New York. He works on custom type development projects and consults on typographic issues with customers, and from time to time he gives talks about type and typography.
When: Friday, May 30, 2014, 9:30am–5pm
Where: Type Directors Club, 347 West 36th Street #603, NYC
Price: $275 TDC members, $350 general public

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May 18–May 24, 2014

1/ International Contemporary Furniture Fair
International Contemporary Furniture Fair is one of the largest and the most important show that showcases a wide and exclusive range of furniture and home decoration accessories. Events survey contemporary design’s current best and brightest.
When: May 17–20, 2014
Where: Jacob Javits Convention Center, NYC
Price: Various admission prices

2/ Positioning Strategy with Jennifer Rittner
Jennifer Rittner leads a positioning workshop in which participants will work collaboratively to develop the positioning strategy for a model design firm.
When: Wednesday, May 21, 2014, 6:30pm–8:30pm
Where: School of Visual Arts Branding Studio, 132 West 21st Street, 11th Floor, NYC
Price: Free Spark members, $25 general public

3/ Anthony Casalena
Networking and fireside chat with Anthony Casalena, the Founder and CEO of Squarespace, which he started from his dorm room in 2003.
When: Wednesday, May 21, 2014, 6pm–9pm
Where: AOL, 770 Broadway, 4th Floor, NYC
Price: $20 general public

4/ Snøhetta’s Design by Social Democracy
Snøhetta is an international design firm with offices in Oslo, Norway and New York City. Since its inception, the practice has maintained its original trans-disciplinary approach, integrating architectural, landscape, graphic design and interior design in all of its projects.
When: Wednesday, May 21, 2014, 6:30pm–8:30pm
Where: RAB Lighting Studio 535 West 24th Street 6th Floor, NYC
Price: $10 AIGA members, $30 general public

5/ MicroVisions
Richard Anderson, Steve Belledin, Nicolas Delort, Eric Fortune, Robert Hunt, Greg Manchess, Iain McCaig, Tran Nguyen, and Karla Ortiz are featured in an exhibition and an auction to raise money for the Society of Illustrators Student Scholarship Fund.
When: Opening Reception Wednesday, May 21, 2014, 6pm–10pm; ongoing through May 24
Where: Society of Illustrators, 128 East 63rd Street, NYC
Price: Free and open to the public

6/ Whitman Illuminated: Song of Myself
A presentation and book signing of Whitman Illuminated: Song of Myself, illustrated by Allen Crawford.
When: Opening Reception Wednesday, May 21, 2014, 6:30pm–8:30pm
Where: Society of Illustrators, 128 East 63rd Street, NYC
Price: $10 SI members, $7 students/seniors, $15 general public

7/ Dare2Draw
Dare2Draw is a mentoring and networking platform for all artists, an opportunity to connect with each other, face-to-face and to encourage good health and business practices for cartoonists. Special Mentoring Guest Artist: Bill Plympton. 90 minutes of dynamic figure drawing with live-action models and props.
When: Thursday, May 22, 2014, 6pm–9:30pm
Where: Society of Illustrators, 128 East 63rd Street, NYC
Price: $15 in advance, $20 at the door

8/ Kelly Hoey: WIM, Women Innovate Mobile
Networking and fireside chat Kelly Hoey, co-founder of Women Innovate Mobile (WIM), the first seed stage startup accelerator program for mobile tech ventures with gender diverse founding teams.
When: Thursday, May 22, 2014, 6pm–9:30pm
Where: Startup Grind, NYC
Price: $20 general public

Blechman was as a winner of the Rome Prize, a fellowship awarded by the American Academy of Art in Rome, “the Rome prize means you get five things…room, board, excellent food, a stipend, a studio, and freedom — freedom from all the chores that make up daily life,” Blechman explained.

Blechman’s wife and five-year-old son traveled to Rome with him, and all three treasured being somewhere different, away from their repetitive life in New York City. Instead of a quick sandwich at his desk, Blechman lunched at a long table in the American Academy’s arched courtyard. Blechman’s cluttered office was replaced by a huge studio space. And in contrast to New York’s hum of modernity and constant change, the city of Rome was infused with its connection to antiquity. “It felt like we were in a time machine going in only one direction — into the past,” said Blechman. “There’s always a story, and there’s always a past, to everything in Rome.”

Blechman’s primary project during the fellowship was to research and visualize food chains. “The food chain has become extremely complicated, because every time we eat something it sets off another chain of events. I wanted to somehow map this out,” he said.

His first endeavor was a study of how olive oil is made. He made his own olive oil straight from the olives growing on trees at the American Academy. Blechman described the process of harvesting olives from the trees and transporting them to a small, family-own mill to be cleaned, crushed, and separated into oil, water and pits. The pits were burned in the furnace to heat the building, and the excess water was used to water the trees outside. “It’s a completely self-sustaining,” said Blechman. “They don’t do it because they want to be tagged as ‘green’ — it’s just a more efficient way of working.”

Next, he studied industrial-scale olive oil making, a process rife with imported olives, and questionable oil blends. He turned these findings into a New York Times op-art piece, Food Chains: Extra Virgin Suicide.

Next, Blechman shared Food Chains: Planet Pasta about the Barilla, the world’s largest pasta factory, and illustrations of his research into Parmesan cheese production in Parma.

Lastly, Blechman showed off his two children’s books: Night Light is a guessing game, a counting tool, and a set of graphic illustrations of vehicles, and Animal Kingdom, a compendium of illustrated facts about animals. Following the talk, attendees who had pre-ordered copies of Animal Kingdom had the opportunity to have their books signed by the author.

When asked whether he planned to turn his ‘Food Chain’ work into a book, Blechman answered, “I have no idea!. That would be awfully nice, but right now I’m just focused on creating as many of these as possible, and on doing more research. That was the fun thing about working on this project in Rome: I had no idea how it would be used. It was more about creating a body of work around a certain topic.”

Additional Information:

Nicholas Blechman
The Rome Prize
Food Chains: Extra Virgin Suicide
Food Chains: Planet Pasta
Night Light
Animal Kingdom

Event Details:
AIGA/NY Nicholas Blechman: Food Chains

Event Photos:

Click here to view all photos from AIGA/NY Nicholas Blechman: Food Chains on Flickr.
To view additional photos, or to contribute your photos, visit our AIGA New York Flickr group.

Special thanks to contributing writer Karen Vanderbilt for the AIGA/NY Breakfast Club: All the Tricks in the Book event recap and photos. Karen can be found at karenvanderbilt.com, @k_vanderbilt and Studio Kudos.

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May 4–May 10, 2014

1/ Taking the Mystery Out of Acrylics for Calligraphers
Fine artist Randy Hasson will be in NYC to teach a painting workshop. If you’re ready to take your calligraphy to the next level, what’s your next step? Want to see what you can do with your lettering besides envelopes? In this workshop, you’ll see the value in learning painting techniques from someone who is both an artist and a calligrapher.
When: Sunday, May 4, 2014, 10am–4pm
Where: School of Visual Arts Annex, 214 East 21st Street, NYC
Price: $50 SoS members, $70 general public

2/ NYC Creative Week
Creative Week is the preeminent festival featuring presentations, panels, workshops and exhibitions showcasing the intersection of advertising, innovation and creative thinking.
When: May 5–9, 2014
Where: Various locations
Price: Package prices vary

3/ Century Expanded: Jerry Kelly, The Centaur Type at Monotype
Bruce Rogers remains a towering figure in the graphic arts, arguably the single most important American book designer of the twentieth century. The unrivaled subtlety of his style also sets apart Rogers’s most widespread accomplishment, the Centaur type. Numerous other Jenson revivals of his day (as well as more recent attempts) appear at best quaint, and at worst hopelessly dated, compared to Centaur, which stands as a perennial classic, as sublime as it is impossible to replicate.
When: Tuesday, May 6, 6:30pm–8:30pm
Where: Type Directors Club, 347 West 36th Street #603, NYC
Price: $5 TDC members, $15 students, $20 general public

4/ Dan Rhatigan / Gill Sans after Gill
Since the release of Monotype’s Gill Sans Titling in 1928, Eric Gill’s namesake family has been enormously successful for the company. As a result, there has been a demand for many variations of the design over the years, from the variants conceived by Gill himself to those produced in-house by Monotype, with or without Gill’s involvement. Thanks to the commercial success of the Gill Sans family, it is one of the more fully documented examples of the growth and evolution of a design, with ample drawings, samples, and correspondence still held in Monotype’s archive.
When: Wednesday, May 7, 6:30pm–8:30pm
Where: Type Directors Club, 347 West 36th Street #603, NYC
Price: $5 TDC members, $15 students, $20 general public

5/ MIX: Designer + Drinks =
Open will host the May edition of MIX, AIGA/NY’s monthly party at the Wooly.
When: Wednesday, May 7, 7pm–10pm
Where: The Wooly, 11 Barclay Street, NYC
Price: Free AIGA members

6/ F1RST
F1RST: The Masters Thesis showcase presentations of the inaugural graduating class of the SVA MFA in Products of Design program. Opening remarks from Allan Chochinov, chair of the program, followed by a Keynote by author and social theorist Douglas Rushkoff. Fifteen graduating masters students will each present their year-long thesis work, comprised of research, artifacts, services and platforms. Guests in all facets of design and innovation, including designers, entrepreneurs, teachers, advocates, journalists and cultural critics are welcomed to attend.
When: Thursday, May 8, 1pm–6pm
Where: SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street, NYC
Price: Free and open to the public

7/ Basics of Web Design
Ideal for designers that have little web design experience or anyone interested in learning more about designing for the web, this class provides an introductory approach to web design as well as the basics of designing a website.
When: Thursday, May 8, 8pm–9:30pm
Where: General Assembly East, 902 Broadway, 4th floor, NYC
Price: $35 general public

8/ Spring Card Making Party
Curious about hand-lettering? Drop by and watch a calligraphy demonstration, ask questions, and/or give a pen a test drive, or bring your own project and let’s get creative together! Join the Society of Scribes for a card making party.
When: Friday, May 9, 6:30pm–8:30pm
Where: School of Visual Arts Annex, 214 East 21st Street, Room 701A, NYC
Price: Free and open to the public

9/ NYC x Design
NYCxDESIGN is New York City’s official citywide celebration of design, which spans all design disciplines and brings together commerce, culture, education, and entertainment with a full, varied program of exhibitions, openings, installations, shows, talks, and open studios.
When: May 9-20, 2014
Where: Various locations, NYC
Price: Varies by event

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April 20–April 26, 2014

1/ Photographs of Sandy
Presented to mark the one-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, Rising Waters draws on work submitted by over a thousand photographers, both professional and amateur, who responded to an open call for images in the storm’s wake. The juried exhibition features striking before-and-after images of the hurricane’s impact on the New York region, including preparations, the storm’s destructive effects, and the ongoing rebuilding efforts.
When: Closing Sunday, April 20, 2014
Where: Museum of the City of New York, 1220 5th Avenue, NYC
Price: Museum admission

2/ Sesame Street
Branding for Sesame Street, a beloved and complex organization, takes a dedicated creative team to maintain the heritage of the past, while continuing to evolve the brand for future generations. Join AIGA/NY for a walk down “the longest street in the world” to discuss the multi-layered, multi-media effort to attract and maintain loyal fans and why nearly 50 years later, it’s more important than ever.
When: Tuesday, April 22, 2014, 6:30pm–8:30pm
Where: John L. Tishman Auditorium, University Center 63 Fifth Avenue, Room U100, NYC
Price: $10 AIGA members, $30 general public

3/ A Journey of Design Transformation
Bob Schukai, Global Head of Mobile Technology at Thomson Reuters, will share his experiences guiding the company’s journey as it transformed its culture. He will share visual examples that show the contrast between its mobile products today and from before, as well as his perspective on innovation, wearable technology, and how the team used design workshops to catalyze breakthrough innovation in mobile design and beyond for Thomson Reuters.
When: Tuesday, April 22, 2014, 6pm–9pm
Where: Thomson Reuters, Thomson Hall, 195 Broadway, 4th floor, NYC
Price: $10 NYCUPA members, $5 students, $20 general public

4/ Slow Motion Collision: How Digital Design Careers Evolve
Discussion with four designers who navigated the landscape of digital design, each in their own unique way, to build unique, inspiring careers. Whether they’re still new or have achieved veteran status, they’ll each explain how they got to where they find themselves today, and what were some notable landmarks along the way. Moderated by Khoi Vinh, who will draw on the interviews he conducted with the panelists for his forthcoming book, How They Got There: Career Paths in Digital Design. Attendees will get free digital previews of the book.
When: Wednesday, April 23, 2014, 7pm–9pm
Where: Bumble and bumble Auditorium 415 West 13th Street, NYC
Price: $10 AIGA members, $30 general public

5/ Contemporary Art in Healthcare Environments
Look at how contemporary art is integrated into healthcare environments and the affect it has on patients and their families.
When: Wednesday, April 23, 2014, 7pm–9pm
Where: New York School of Interior Design, Satz Auditorium, 170 East 70th Street, NYC
Price: Free NYSID students, $10 students/seniors, $12 general public

6/ David Carson
David Carson was named as one of the 30 most influential designers by Apple Computers in January 2014, calling him, “a pioneer with profound impact.” David was also named as an AIGA Gold Medalist for 2014. Also this year, The Smithsonian Institute commissioned Carson calling him “one of Americas most important artists.” Come see David and some type stuff he’s been up too lately.
When: Wednesday, April 23, 2014, 6:30pm–8:30pm
Where: Type Directors Club, 347 West 36th Street #603, NYC
Price: $5 TDC members, $15 students, $20 general public

7/ NY Tech Day
A full-day event for the NY tech startup community.
When: Thursday, April 24, 2014
Where: Pier 92, NYC
Price: Free and open to the public

8/ From the Borscht Belt to Seinfeld: The Evolution of Jewish American Comedy
A panel discussion on how Jewish humor grew out of Yiddish culture, defined New York City’s character in the early 20th century, and filtered into our American culture, literature, art, film and television from the 1950′s to the present. Steven Heller, SVA Co-Chair MFA Designer as Author Program and New York Times Book Review columnist who will serve as moderator; panel includes Edward Portnoy, Ph.D, Yiddish language, literature and theater expert, Larry Storch, film and TV comedian, Drew Friedman, illustrator and author, Bill Persky, legendary TV sitcom writer, Tom Leopold, contemporary sketch comedy writer.
When: Thursday, April 24, 2014, 7pm–9pm
Where: Society of Illustrators, 128 East 63rd Street, NYC
Price: $10 SI members, $7 students/seniors, $15 general public

9/ Design and Identity between global types and local characters
Boris Kochan’s branding agency KOCHAN & PARTNER is engaged in many fields of typography. The GRANSHAN project explores, melts, translates, connects worlds of script, ways of communication, sign languages. With their focus on Non-Latin Typefaces, the GRANSHAN competition and conference are unique worldwide.
When: Thursday, April 24, 2014, 6:30pm–8:30pm
Where: Type Directors Club, 347 West 36th Street #603, NYC
Price: $5 TDC members, $15 students, $20 general public

10/ Gourmet Typography Workshop with Ilene Strizver
Gourmet Typography Training teaches the typographic skills and aesthetics rarely taught or fully understood by professionals. Whether you are a beginner or seasoned pro, this training will sharpen your eye and give you the practical skills that will visibly improve your type. Learn tips for more professional typography, as well as how to get the most out of your software (typographically speaking).
When: Friday, April 25, 2014, 8:30am–4pm
Where: Type Directors Club, 347 West 36th Street #603, NYC
Price: $275 TDC members, $350 general public

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April 13–April 19, 2014

1/ Balanced Team Sunday Salon
In coordination with LeanUX NYC 2014, Balanced Team will hold a one-day synthesizing symposium to share ideas, socialize, and continue the conversation.
When: Sunday, April 13, 2014, 10am–4:30pm
Where: Pivotal Labs, 625 Avenue of the Americas, Second Floor, NYC
Price: $10 general public

2/ Accumulated Wisdom: The Collector as Inventor
When is a discovery an invention? When is accumulation art? Is recombination transformation? In an evening of short performances and talks, artists and scholars consider case studies in the relationship between collecting and creating.
When: Tuesday, April 15, 2014, 6:30 pm. The exhibition A Collective Invention: Photographs at Play will be open at 5:30 pm for program attendees
Where: The Morgan Library & Museum, 225 Madison Avenue, NYC
Price: $10 for Morgan members; Free for students with valid ID, $15 general public

3/ Music, Machines, and Meaning
Andy Cavatorta, MIT Media Lab alumnus, Bjork collaborator, and TED exhibiting artist, explores the pleasures and perils of creating sound and music using physical machines and materials. Topics include recent projects, a brief history of musical machinery, unusual aesthetic issues, an overview of useful skills, and the importance of fake rules.
When: Wednesday, April 16, 2014, 6pm–8:30pm
Where: School of Visual Arts, MFA Interaction Design, 136 West 21 Street, 3rd Floor, NYC
Price: Free and open to the public

4/ History Behind Trends
Amy Azzarito, managing editor of Design*Sponge, will talk about pieces you see everywhere—from inlay furniture (currently the rage at Anthropologie) to the Crate and Barrel standby, the Windsor chair—and delve into the history of these iconic design objects.
When: Wednesday, April 16, 2014, 6:30pm–8:30pm
Where: New York School of Interior Design, Satz Auditorium, 170 East 70th Street, NYC
Price: Free NYSID students, $10 students/seniors, $12 general public

5/ Nicholas Blechman: Food Chain
Join us for a fascinating night of conversation with Nicholas Blechman about the future of food through the eyes of a designer.
When: Thursday, April 17, 2014, 6:30pm–8:30pm
Where: Tishman Auditorium, Parsons, 66 West 12th Street, NYC
Price: $10 AIGA members, $30 general public

6/ OLD’S KOOL: The Roots of New York Graffiti
Blazing a trail for graffiti art back in the 1970s, New York City teens claimed the city’s walls and mass transit system for their canvases—and in the process invented a new art form. Jay J.SON Edlin, veteran graffiti artist, historian, and author of Graffiti 365, discusses graffiti and street art with revolutionary but unsung writers of the ‘70s: icons COCO 144, JESTER ONE, LSD OM, and Al Diaz, a.k.a. BOMB ONE and later SAMO (in collaboration with Jean Michel Basquiat). Presented in conjunction with exhibition, City as Canvas: Graffiti Art.
When: Thursday, April 17, 2014, 6:30pm
Where: Museum of the City of New York, 1220 5th Avenue, NYC
Price: Free MCNY members, $12 students, $16 general public

7/ Sites of Criticism: Studio and School
The critique is a cornerstone of a studio education in design and art. This use of criticism can be a generative and positive force encouraging growth and refinement for the individual maker. Exploring how the critique is embraced, rejected and manipulated, this roundtable discusses the role of criticism in the sites of the designer’s studio and the school.
When: Thursday, April 17, 2014, 7pm
Where: Museum of Arts an Design, 2 Columbus Circle, NYC
Price: Free with Pay-What-You-Wish museum admission

8/ Post Typography: Greatest Misses
Nolen Strals and Bruce Willen of the Baltimore design studio Post Typography give a behind-the-scenes peek at the design process, illustrated with never-before-seen projects that fell short, missed the mark, or were blown off-target by the fickle winds of client taste.
When: Thursday, April 17, 2014, 6:30pm–8:30pm
Where: Type Directors Club, 347 West 36th Street #603, NYC
Price: $5 TDC members, $15 students, $20 general public

8/ Francis Bitonti vs CRATED on Disruptive Manufacturing
Join Francis Bitonti (best know best for Dita Von Teese’s 3D printed dress) and the VFL’s Artists in Residence, Maddy Maxey and Mari Kussman from CRATED, for a debate on disruptive manufacturing.
When: Friday, April 18, 2014, 6pm
Where: School of Visual Arts, Visible Futures Lab, 132 West 21st Street, 7th floor, NYC
Price: Free and open to the public

9/ Ai Weiwei
In celebration of the exhibition Ai Weiwei: According to What?, attend special screenings of films by and about the artist throughout the day.
When: Saturday, April 19, 2014, 11:30am–5:30pm
Where: Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn
Price: Museum admission

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April 6–April 12, 2014

1/ Breakfast Club: Making Sense of Social Media
As the terrain of social media continues to grow, your clients need more than just a logo and a website. Learn the best uses for different social media platforms, how to establish a consistent tone, and how to maintain content. Get tips on developing the social media strategy for a project and presenting it to a client.
When: Tuesday, April 8, 2014, 8am–9:30pm
Where: General Assembly East, 902 Broadway, 4th floor, NYC
Price: $5 AIGA members

2/ Calligraphic Paintings by Eleanor Winters
A la Mémoire des Enfants Déportés: In Memory of the Children of Paris, Deported to Auschwitz, 1942–1944 is a collection of calligraphic paintings by Eleanor Winters. She began work on this series using the texts from the A la Mémoire plaques as the inspiration for and the content of the paintings. Her purpose is to express the gravity and emotional impact of the texts through calligraphy, color and texture.
When: Opening Reception Wednesday, April 9, 2014, 6pm–8pm; Exhibition ongoing through June 20
Where: The Anne Frank Center USA, 44 Park Place, NYC
Price: Center admission

3/ Creative Mornings: Cindy Gallop
Part of a series on Sex, this talk features Cindy Gallop, Founder & CEO, IfWeRanTheWorld/MakeLoveNotPorn.
When: Friday, April 11, 2014, 8:30am–10pm
Where: Galapagos Art Space, 16 Main Street, Brooklyn
Price: Free and open to the public

4/ Activist New York
Have you ever thought that something wasn’t fair and that you wanted to change it? Visit the exhibition Activist New York to learn how New Yorkers have fought for change over the past 350 years. After exploring the gallery, create your own button that expresses a view or idea about a cause that is important to you.
When: Saturday, April 12, 2014, 11am–2pm
Where: Museum of the City of New York, 1220 5th Avenue, NYC
Price: Museum admission

5/ Remixing the Figure’s Form
Afternoon-long, hands-on workshop gives participants the chance to learn innovative and exciting ways to rework, reconsider and remix ceramics into unique, individual creations.
When: Saturday, April 12, 2014, 1pm
Where: Museum of Arts an Design, 2 Columbus Circle, NYC
Price: $55 MAD members, $65 general public

6/ International Space Apps Challenge
Join the New York Technology Council, StartupBus NYC, and NASA for a two-day hackathon that will produce technologies to improve space exploration missions and quality of life on Earth.
When: Saturday, Sunday, April 12, 13 2014, 8:30am
Where: AlleyNYC, 500 7th Avenue, NYC
Price: Free and open to the public

7/ Sign Painting Techniques Applied to Type Design
The workshop will cover principles of letterform design which are easily learned, but aren’t often covered in drawing classes. John Downer teaches students ways to draw traditional caps and execute them efficiently in tempera paint by using a sign
painter’s flat brush.
When: Saturday, Sunday, April 12, 13 2014, 10am–5pm
Where: The Cooper Union, NYC
Price: $375 general public

Design and Violence is an ongoing online curatorial experiment that explores the manifestations of violence in contemporary society by pairing critical thinkers with examples of challenging design work. Contributors’ weekly essays have been published since November 2013, creating a body of opinion and a set of case studies that spark discussion and bring the ambiguous relationship between design and violence to center stage for designers and the people they serve—all of us.

Design and Violence is organized by Paola Antonelli, Senior Curator, Department of Architecture and Design, MoMA; Jamer Hunt, Director, graduate program in Transdisciplinary Design, Parsons The New School for Design; and Michelle Millar Fisher, Exhibition Coordinator, Department of Architecture and Design, MoMA. Talks are in conjunction with the exhibition Design and Violence.

Tickets ($30; $25 members and corporate members; $5 students, seniors, and staff of other museums) can be purchased online or at the information desk, at the film desk after 4:00 p.m., or at the Education and Research Building reception desk on the day of the program.

Open Source: Design and Violence Debate I
Thursday, March 27, 2014, 6:30 p.m.
Bartos Theater, The Museum of Modern Art, 4 West 54 Street
Moderated by Paola Antonelli, the first debate centers upon The Liberator, the world’s first 3-D printed gun. The gun’s designer Cody Wilson and author and journalist Rob Walker (Yahoo Tech, The New York Times, Design Observer, Slate) will deliver debate motions, after which will follow a discussion focused on open-source design and our assumptions about the ethics of design.

Designing Empathy: Design and Violence Debate II
Thursday, April 10, 2014, 6:30 p.m.
Bartos Theater, The Museum of Modern Art, 4 West 54 Street
The second debate focuses on the Menstruation Machine (2010), designed by Sputniko! (aka Hiromi Ozaki) to allow its wearer to experience the pain and tribulation of menstruation, regardless of his or her age or gender. Chris Bobel (author, New Blood: Third-wave Feminism and the Politics of Menstruation) and Mickey Boardman (Editorial Director, Paper magazine,) will deliver debate motions, moderated by Jamer Hunt.

Eating Animals: Design and Violence Debate III
Thursday, April 17, 2014, 6:30 p.m.
Bartos Theater, The Museum of Modern Art, 4 West 54 Street
The third debate will center upon Temple Grandin’s “serpentine ramp,” a slaughterhouse design modification that attempts stress reduction and a more humane death for animals. Gary L. Francione (Distinguished Professor of Law, Rutgers, and author, Eat Like You Care: An Examination of the Morality of Eating Animals) and Nicola Twilley (editor/author of Edible Geography.com, co-founder of the Foodprint Project, and director of Studio-X NYC) will deliver debate motions, moderated by Paola Antonelli.

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March 30–April 5, 2014

1/ Peter Bil’ak, Works That Work, Making Magazines Today
A year ago, Peter Bil’ak started Works That Work, a new magazine devoted to creativity. In this talk, he will share his experience of starting a new magazine at a time when many printed periodicals are disappearing. He will also discuss the business models for publishing periodicals, and how they affect the editorial decisions.
When: Tuesday, April 1, 2014, 7pm
Where: School of Visual Arts, MFA Design Criticism, 136 West 21st Street, 2nd Floor, NYC
Price: Free and open to the public

2/ The Painted Mantra
Tibetan calligraphy is a contemplative practice, or a Dharma art, known to purify and heal the practitioner. Tashi Mannox, calligrapher and artist, demonstrates the actualization of the Medicine Buddha Mantra, and invites the audience to draw with him. Part lecture/demonstration, part workshop. No experience necessary.
When: Wednesday, April 2, 2014, 7pm
Where: Rubin Museum of Art, 150 West 17 Street, NYC
Price: $18 Rubin members, SoS members, $20 general public

3/ Placement
Placement, the speaker in AIGA/NY’s new series, Owner at Self: Adaptive and Innovative Design Practices, will present work on site-specific projects that examine the interaction between people and places.
When: Thursday, April 3, 2014, 6:30pm–8:00pm
Where: Museum of Arts an Design, 2 Columbus Circle, NYC
Price: $10 AIGA, MAD members, $30 general public

4/ Future Tense: eBook Typography
eBook typography is in its awkward teen years: There’s clear evidence it will improve dramatically and soon, but for now, it’s struggling to define itself. Panelists will discuss the challenges and opportunities facing typographically-minded eBook designers as they shape new reading experiences.
When: Thursday, April 3, 2014, 6:30pm–8:30pm
Where: Type Directors Club, 347 West 36th Street #603, NYC
Price: $5 TDC members, $15 students, $20 general public

5/ Calligraphic Wallpaper: Barbara Close
Calligraphy and lettering artist Barbara Close discusses her process and her work.
When: Friday, April 4, 2014, 6:30pm–8pm
Where: School of Visual Arts Annex, 214 East 21st Street, Room 701A, NYC
Price: Free and open to the public

6/ Target First Saturdays at the Brooklyn Museum
Engaging and eclectic free art and entertainment programs.
When: Saturday, April 5, 2014, 5pm–11pm
Where: Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn
Price: Free and open to the public

7/ 3D Printing for Fashion
Learn how to use 3D printing to create clothing. From synthetic textiles to solid structural elements, ready-to-wear and couture, this afternoon-long workshop will explore all aspects of producing fashion using digital fabrication.
When: Saturday, April 5, 2014, 1pm
Where: Museum of Arts an Design, 2 Columbus Circle, NYC
Price: $12 MAD members, $17 general public

8/ Art & History: Tracing the Diversity of Japanese Culture
Japan’s cultural diversity, geography and history are illuminated through an in-depth exploration of rare works in the exhibition, Points of Departure: Treasures of Japan at the Japan Society. In this two-day course, learn about Ainu designs, Edo-period woodblock prints and screens, contemporary ceramics and more through interactive lectures, a gallery tour and a hands-on art session. Recommended for grade K-12 educators. Also open to the general public.
When: Saturday, Sunday, April 4–5, 2014, 10am–4pm
Where: Japan Society
, 333 East 47th Street
, NYC
Price: $80 for both sessions Japan Society members, $100 general public