Saundra Marcel is a graphic designer who lives and works in New York City. The creative insights she shares with Visual Ambassador are inspired by her professional experience and personal observations. Saundra’s goal as a diplomat is to share stories that are interesting, accessible, and inspirational to any kind of creative individual. In addition to receiving numerous design awards, Saundra has also served on the AIGA board for many years, helped lead a successful mentoring program that pairs college students with professionals, and taught a college-level class that examines aesthetic, ethical, and pragmatic issues related to design. Her obsessions with books and podcasts border on the unnatural. She’s excited to add her voice to the creative dialogue.
I grew up on “the island.” It has a name but locals don’t need to use it, there’s only one island. You can stay on the island, go off the island, go over the island, or go around it. Navigating these choices weren’t difficult, but for a busy young family getting off the island required [...]
How quickly a new view can change how we see. Take, for example, the slower-than-average pedestrian. At street level they’re a human obstacle. On the High Line, Manhattan’s new elevated park on the West Side, there’s no rushing. Move as slow as you like. Below, destinations are hurriedly sought. Above, on the park, dreamy and [...]
Muji’s “no brand” policy is being challenged. The problem is that Muji itself has become a brand. Walking through the store is a minimalist experience—unadorned practical commodities in limited color selections have become part of the store’s image. The logo’s bold English and Japanese lettering have become familiar to the consumer, symbolic of quality.
Originally called [...]
The most famous design stories of our century weren’t born for museum walls, but for retail shelves (and showroom floors). Much can be learned from examining two famous design icons—one great success and one magnificent failure. The iconic and unforgettable Coca-Cola bottle and the unfortunate Ford Edsel have become symbols of the best and worst [...]
If you live in a metropolis like New York City and use public transportation you know how easy it is to lose your orientation. You’re not lost, exactly. It just might take a minute while you get your bearings. On the gridded streets of New York, knowing which way is North is everything.
Above ground, finding [...]
Scott Hull is the founder of Scott Hull Associates, and for the last 28 years, Scott, designer-turned-creative entrepreneur, has developed a knack for assembling the right team of talented individuals, which enable global advertising agencies, design firms, and Fortune 500 companies to reach a desired response within a target audience through the use of original visual communication. Scott remains actively involved with AIGA and American Association of Museums, frequently acts as an advisor to colleges and universities nationwide, and is a contributor to such books as Fresh Ideas in Promotion, Artist’s and Graphic Design Market, and The Power. His greatest professional satisfaction comes from working with you to develop equity-building solutions while bridging the gap between art and commerce. After all, original art works.
Mig Reyes is a diplomat because he aims to be a thought leader for the young creative generation of today. He wants to create awareness of what's real and what's expected, and to re-establish a higher value in creative education. He values greatly the power of art and design for its impact on communication. He has worked for numerous social media groups (he ran his school’s AIGA Student Group) and his resume, for being so young, is impressive. Mig Reyes hails from the Windy City and has a deep and sometime frightening affection for chocolate chip cookies.
Melissa Jackson just recently joined the Scott Hull Associates team as the Editor and PR Manager. She published her own magazine which had global subscribers at the age of 14, at 16 she co-founded a dance academy. She is also a published poet. She immerses herself in the arts and is a passionate follower of artistic trends and culture. Melissa has always found her niche in the art world, and her constant thirst for knowledge lends her an especially keen eye for what will work and what won’t in the business. Writing is her supreme hearts desire and being "Editress-in-Chief" for SHA is just icing on the cake.
Saundra Marcel is a graphic designer who lives and works in New York City. The creative insights she shares with Visual Ambassador are inspired by her professional experience and personal observations. Saundra’s goal as a diplomat is to share stories that are interesting, accessible, and inspirational to any kind of creative individual. In addition to receiving numerous design awards, Saundra has also served on the AIGA board for many years, helped lead a successful mentoring program that pairs college students with professionals, and taught a college-level class that examines aesthetic, ethical, and pragmatic issues related to design. Her obsessions with books and podcasts border on the unnatural. She’s excited to add her voice to the creative dialogue.
With over 20 years of talent development experience, Jerry Duff, Ph.D., has coached thousands of executives, managers and employees in twelve countries. With nearly five academic degrees under his belt and a plethora of commercial management skills, Jerry feels that, “The only real antidote to outsourcing is up-skilling. The old "show up and shut up" business mantra can no longer compete with the wage rates of a world market. Employees must be fully engaged and possess up-to-date skills, the creativity to generate new products and services, and the emotional intelligence to deal with customers, both internal and external. Only knowledge-based enterprises that can tap into latent creativity will survive. Employees are the only sustainable competitive advantage.” He is a key element in bridging the gap between art and commerce. And thankfully, we’ve got him on our side.
