Everything Nac

The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art will present a graphic design conference Thursday and Friday. Oct. 15 and 16, featuring visiting SFA alumni who work professionally in the design arts.

The conference is intended for interested SFA students studying art, communication, marketing and related fields, SFA faculty and staff, as well as regional and junior college instructors, high school art students and teachers, and design professionals in all areas of marketing, advertising and public relations.

“The conference will provide networking opportunities for design-interested persons,” said Peter Andrew, graphic design professor in the SFA School of Art, “and it will showcase SFA’s graphic design program to interested and incoming students.”

Guest designer presentations will be made from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in Room B121 of the Art Building on Wilson Drive on the SFA campus. Alumni presenters include Kaitlyn Porterfield, creative director for Tyler Today magazine; Whitney Kelley, art director, Freed Advertising, Houston; and Andy Cummings, senior graphic and web designer, Excentus Corporation, Dallas. The presentations will include a question-answer session, followed by dinner.

Friday’s session will include a roundtable design discussion with the presenters and students from 10 a.m. to noon at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, 329 E. Main St. in downtown Nacogdoches. The session will be followed by lunch, followed by student portfolio reviews by the alumni designers.

The conference is co-sponsored by the newly formed AIGA-SFA. Founded in 1914 as the American Institute of Graphic Arts, AIGA is now known simply as AIGA, the professional association for design, according to information at aiga.org.

The conference is free and open to the public. However, those interested in attending may sign up by calling the School of Art office at (936) 468-4804.