Omaha Gives! (Big)

The 5th annual charitable challenge for the city of Omaha was on a Wednesday this year. I started the day by listening to the news and hearing the details of the Trump budget that cuts an insane amount of money from heath, education, and environment programs designed to help those in our society who are struggling. So the juxtaposition was motivating considering I could respond to this horrible budget by donating a bunch of money to nonprofits in our community who do great work. It doesn’t change the fact that Trump and Republicans will stop at nothing until the parts of our government that help people are decimated. But I digress.

During Omaha’s 5th annual 24-hour charitable challenge, more than $7.83 million was raised for 923 nonprofits with 52,886 donations. Over the five years of the event, 200k donations have totaled more than $35 million. Money that goes to important nonprofits who are doing crucial work. Having participated in the event since it started and being the design partner for the last 4 years working with Omaha Community Foundation to get people excited about donating, it’s quite an inspiring thing to see.

The way we all celebrate giving, the way we work together to help others, and the way we recognize sharing is better than taking. Until next year, remember, there’s plenty to go around and there’s only so much we can do individually. After all, it takes a village to make sure the village is the best it can be.

daOMA at 10

In 10 years Design Alliance Omaha (daOMA) has brought some of the world’s best architects and designers to the city. Last night it was Michael Bierut. Before that Enrique Norten, Austin Howe, Jeanne Gang, Michael Rock, Yves Behar, Fritz Haeg, Paola Antonelli, Majora Carter, Craig Dykers, Walter Hood, Hani Rashid, Karim Rashid, Linda Loudermilk, Thom Mayne, and Bruce Mau. Inspiring, motivating, challenging, illuminating, and on and on. Here's to the next 10.

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Antionette Carroll: Designing Inclusion & Equity

AIGA Nebraska has a couple great events coming up this week. Founder of the Creative Reaction Lab Antionette Carroll is visiting Omaha to talk inclusion and equity. She started AIGA National’s Diversity and Inclusion Initiative and will help further our local chapter’s mission to Embrace, Engage, and Empower the community. I’m very excited to learn more.

Lecture: Antionette Carroll
Friday, April 14, 2017 @ 7:30 pm
The Omaha Community Playhouse

Workshop: Designing Inclusion & Equity
Saturday, April 15, 2017 @ 8 am
Malcolm X Center

Michael Bierut: How To

Design Alliance Omaha welcomes Michael Bierut of Pentagram to commemorate 10 years of creative dialogue. Big time design leader coming to our fine city. Very much looking forward to hearing his stories first hand. I loved his How To book. Hopefully he’ll talk about his HRC experience. Either way, I think we could all use some simplicity, wit, and good typography.

Michael Bierut
Thursday, April 13, 2017 @ 7 pm
Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha

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Omaha Design District

Design Alliance Omaha First Friday Discussion. Join us Friday, March 3rd to review an investigation of precedent and context into the idea of a design district in Omaha, NE. Talk with members of the community and leave us your thoughts on these questions:

  1. Does Omaha need a design district?
  2. If so, what does a design district need?

Omaha by Design Gallery
618 South 11th Street
5:30 PM – 9:00 PM

Beer and wine served with light hors d’oeuvres.

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The Union

Since 2013, I’ve drawn pictures, set type, and pushed pixels for a great little nonprofit in north Omaha. The Union for Contemporary Art brings together artists and the community to inspire positive social change. We started with a redesign of their logo and followed that with stationary, event posters, and website update. And then more posters, icons, brochures, and annual appeals. All done to clarify, communicate, and inspire. To help tell their story and, when needed, raise funds for their important work.

This week is the culmination of a very important journey. They’ve spent the past 2 ½ years building a spectacular new home in the completely renovated, historic Blue Lion on 24th & Lake. It’s an amazing new space. I’m so excited for what’s to come and so humbled to have been involved with the organization for the past 3 years. Working with Brigitte McQueen Shew, founder and Executive Director, has been such an honor. With her vision, we’ve created some impactful pieces of graphic design.

I’m looking forward to what’s next for them and for north Omaha. In these uncertain, often divisive times, The Union is an example of what we can do when we come together to build something beautiful. It’s not a wall, but a window. And now, it’s time to celebrate all the hard work that’s gone into making this dream a reality. To Brigitte, and to the team I’ve been fortunate enough to work with, to Paige, Holly, Josh, and Kjell, you are all so inspiring. Congratulations on this momentous achievement. Bring on the celebration!

Grand Opening: January 14th »