Patty Devlin-Driskel

President – AIGA Santa Barbara
president@santabarbara.aiga.org

Senior Art Director, Mark Oliver, Inc.
Adjunct Faculty, Brooks Institute

• How long have you been a member of AIGA?
  Six years and president for three.
• How did you get involved with AIGA SB?
  I attended a meeting and enjoyed finding a local group of creatives gathered to discuss design and design business topics. It was very appealing to be part of a community. And joining the board only added to that sense of community.
• What type of work do you do? I am an art director for a firm that specializes in food and beverage packaging and branding. And I teach an occasional class at Brooks Institute, sharing my knowledge of packaging and navigating the business of design.
• What inspires you?
  Smart thinking. Simple solutions that solve the design problem with clarity. And walking the hills, being out doors and seeing things up close.
• What’s your favorite thing to do?
  Making things and making things happen. That is why I do what I do. I get a kick out of being involved with packages you see in the marketplace. I enjoy designing special cards and graphics for my family. And I love planning events and programming for AIGA.
• What is the coolest thing about being involved with AIGA SB?
  That ability to connect with others in the business, none of our jobs or careers are identical but we appreciate each other’s challenges and successes and share information. And this connection is not limited to Santa Barbara alone. Being part of a national organization, in a leadership role, has added to my professional growth in countless ways and the gratification of investing in my profession.

Sarah Schumacher

Vice President – AIGA Santa Barbara

Art Director/Designer

• How long have you been a member of AIGA? 3 years
• How did you get involved with AIGA SB? I wanted to join a vibrant design community after moving to Southern California from New York. AIGA SB was so welcoming and very active as an AIGA chapter.
• What type of work do you do? I specialize in editorial and typeface design, but now I also do web design and marketing.
• What inspires you? Kickstarter culture, Python programmers, Dutch graphic design, Finnish architecture, Icelandic bands, non-latin typefaces, Milton Glaser.
• What’s your favorite thing to do? Working on start up ideas that inevitably fall apart.
• What is the coolest thing about being involved with AIGA SB? Meeting new people, talking about design and ideas, feeling that we are contributing to a larger conversation in our own small way

Jennie Jacobs

Membership Director Designer membership@santabarbara.aiga.org

• How long have you been a member of AIGA? I’ve been a member since May 2010.
• How did you get involved with AIGA SB? While I was going back to school for design I started to meet AIGA Santa Barbara Directors and went to numerous AIGA events. Members and directors were always so involved on campus and I utilized their presence to get feedback on my portfolio of work. It was through them that I learned what a great organization AIGA is.
• What type of work do you do? Currently work I as a Project Manager and Lead Designer for Web Marketing Therapy, a Santa Barbara based web marketing firm. I get to oversee marketing projects for many clients and still get to design, which is the best of both worlds for me. I also do a little freelance graphic design and illustration work to help keep me fresh.
• What inspires you? Art and illustration, reading, being around other creative professionals, fashion blogs, and food (I love to cook). I am also a firm believer in getting out to play; exercise, travel, eat delicious food and the inspiration will come naturally.
• What’s your favorite thing to do? I love to do a lot of things and I think that I am really lucky to feel that way, but a few are running, yoga, drawing, painting, cooking and AIGA Santa Barbara of course!
• What is the coolest thing about being involved with AIGA SB? Hands down, the people. Everyone that I have had the chance to work with through AIGA has influenced me in some way. There is something so rewarding and exciting about being a part of an organization that draws creative professionals together and creates a support system for one another. Plus, it’s so much fun!

Joya Thomas

Secretary & Treasurer joya.rose.thomas@gmail.com

• How long have you been a member of AIGA? One year..
• How did you get involved with AIGA SB? I was taking classes at City College by two instructors who were very involved in AIGA and joined at their urging.
• What type of work do you do? I work as a Development Associate for Storyteller Children’s Center, a nonprofit, tuition-free preschool for homeless and at-risk children and families. I manage their E-Marketing and Social Media as well as support the Director of Development in fundraising and relationship building.
• What inspires you? I’m inspired by classic design – I like firsts. I am inspired by anything crafted by a skilled hand be it furniture, textiles, ironworks, paper goods, etc.
• What’s your favorite thing to do? Winking.
• What is the coolest thing about being involved with AIGA SB? As someone new to graphic design and the design community here, I love the exposure to events, speakers, and designers in the community, and the opportunity to meet and get to know other enthusiastic creatives.

Irene Hoffman

Marketing Director

Creative Director / Owner, Irene Hoffman Design+Advertising, irenehoffman.com

• How long have you been a member of AIGA?
  2 years
• How did you get involved with AIGA SB?
  I’ve always admired AIGA from afar (until two years ago, I lived in London, UK), so one of the first things I did when I moved to Santa Barbara was to join the organization.
• What type of work do you do?
  Creative strategy and brand communications, advertising and innovation that strives to connect with people on a meaningful level. I run my own studio and, thanks to the web, have clients on three continents.
• What inspires you?
  Everything. I’m sponge for creativity and knowledge.
• What’s your favorite thing to do?
  Churchill said “If you find something you really love, you will never work again.” It’s true.
• What is the coolest thing about being involved with AIGA SB?
  Connecting with others in the design tribe.

David Cowan

Sustainability Director sustainability@santabarbara.aiga.org

Editorial Director, AIGA Living Principles Owner/Creative Director, Cowan Communication Arts, Inc.

• How long have you been a member of AIGA? Have been an AIGA member on and off for many moons.
• How did you get involved with AIGA SB? Attended interesting AIGA SB events.
• What type of work do you do? Branding and integrated communications with a focus on projects and programs that benefit society and the environment.
• What inspires you? Art. Music. Nature. Critters. People. Storytellers. Humor.
• What’s your favorite thing to do? Playing guitar in the yard with a steamy mug of dark roast and my Black Lab Oliver by my side.
• What is the coolest thing about being involved with AIGA SB? Talented members and inspiring programs.

German Garces

Media Director
Graphic Designer
german@choosecircle.com

• How long have you been a member of AIGA?
  4 years
• How did you get involved with AIGA SB?
  Anna Lafferty introduced me to the AIGA group in Santa Barbara before we were formally a chapter.
• What type of work do you do?
  As a graphic designer I solve any graphic communication challenges clients have. Included in the final product I deliver to clients are but not limited to: digital, print, website and video art. I have been involved in TV informercials, marketing videos for DVD delivery and digital distribution and activism work.
• What inspires you?
  Looking at magazine covers, Russian constructionism, De Stijl, Rietveld’s Red and Blue Chair, etc are among the different types of art that inspire my work.
• What’s your favorite thing to do?
  Work on projects that are for the greater good, like environmental and natural and animal conservation. Also I enjoy playing with my two boys and wife, playing Super Mario Bros Wii and learning how to juggle more than 3 balls in a two-hand pattern.
• What is the coolest thing about being involved with AIGA SB?
  Meeting really cool people and participating in educational, informative, entrepeneurial and fun events.

Cole Parnell

Social Media Coordinator

• How did you get involved with AIGA SB?
  I was always involved with and encouraged to join AIGA while in the Graphic Design program at Santa Barbara City College. Ultimately Jennie Jacobs the Membership Director sold me on the benefits and led me to sign up.
• What type of work do you do?
  I currently work for an Eco-Friendly company called Be Green Packaging LLC here in Santa Barbara. I’m also taking in freelance design work whenever I can.
• What inspires you?
  I like simple design that makes you stop in your tracks. Architecture inspires me and specifically old architecture. I really like walking through old industrial neighborhoods of cities. One that really sticks out in my mind is Ballard in Seattle, WA. Sometimes I would say it might not even be architecture but just urban environments. Walking through a city that is full of life is one of the most inspiring events I can think of. I’ve also always been an enthusiast of classic cars and motorcycles. Taking something apart and reassembling it to make it better relates directly to graphic design.
• What’s your favorite thing to do?
  This is a pretty hard question but if I had to choose one I’d say Traveling is my favorite activity. I love it because I think life is based on experiences. There is nothing quite like experiencing a culture or environment that is completely different then the one you see day to day.
• What is the coolest thing about being involved with AIGA SB?
  I’m fairly new but I’d say the best thing is the opportunities that it provides. You get to meet new people through out your design community and get involved with events within that community. It also extends outside of the community to National Events which is also amazing.

Keir DuBois

Communications Director
communications@santabarbara.aiga.org

Chief Creative Officer, BBM&D Strategic Branding
kdubois@bbmd-inc.com

• How long have you been a member of AIGA?
  3 years. 2013 is my 2nd year on the board.
• How did you get involved with AIGA SB?
  My colleagues had been AIGA members for years, but when AIGA SB conducted a studio tour of BBM&D in early 2010, I was hooked. For someone who’s not a natural networker, AIGA events are a great way to get to know my fellow creatives.
• What type of work do you do?
  Project management and design for brand development, splitting my time almost 50/50 between print work and web/online work.
• What inspires you?
  Creative people of any stripe. For me, brilliant work in disciplines outside design—music, literature, photography, history, film—is at least as inspiring as great design or fine art.
• What’s your favorite thing to do?
  I play bass guitar and write/record songs, so I love designing for music—album covers, websites, posters, anything!
• What is the coolest thing about being involved with AIGA SB?
  I’m one of those creative people that tends to live in my own little bubble while creating. It’s healthy to come up for air every once in a while and AIGA SB certainly offers that, connecting me to just about everyone in the design community.