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SCADMOA symposium honors Jacob Lawrence

October
23
2017
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The SCAD Museum of Art hosted a symposium Oct. 19-20, 2017, in honor of "Jacob Lawrence: Lines of Influence," a group exhibition celebrating the centennial of the birth of the acclaimed painter, storyteller and educator. The symposium included lectures, exhibition tours, performances and panel discussions, with leading scholars, artists, SCAD alumni and students commemorating Lawrence's life and legacy.

On Thursday, "Blocked at Five Points," a riveting performance by SCAD alumnus Masud Olufani (M.F.A., sculpture, 2013) and singer Minka Wiltz explored Southern oral traditions and the psychogeography of a former slave auction block, currently the site of a MARTA station, in Atlanta, Georgia. Attendees then learned about the themes and effects of Lawrence's expressive cubism at "The Moral Compass of Jacob Lawrence/Why Black Artists Matter," a keynote lecture by Patricia Hills Ph.D., professor emerita at Boston University.

Thursday's final event, "The Builders, 1947," was a collaborative multidisciplinary, performance by exhibiting artist Derrick Adams and a group of SCAD students in front of a large projection of Lawrence's painting "The Builders" (1947). The painting demonstrates Lawrence's preoccupation with the representation of everyday activities and elevation of labor as a noble activity. Adams and SCAD students mimed the movements of construction workers, bringing the painting to life with the sounds of popular 1940s music, commercials and important moments in African-American history, including an on-air interview with author James Baldwin.

The symposium continued Friday with a tour of the "Lines of Influence" exhibition hosted by Derrick Adams and fellow exhibiting artists Barbara Earl Thomas, Aaron Fowler and Meleko Mokgosi. Additional symposium events included a screening of "Moon Rising," a video created by multimedia concept band Moon Medicine, a lecture by art historian and curator Julie Levin-Caro on Lawrence's teaching experience at Black Mountain College in the summer of 1946, and a panel discussion exploring the importance of Lawrence's legacy as a teacher and art historical figure across multiple generations.

"Jacob Lawrence: Lines of Influence" is on view through Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018. The exhibition is made possible by the generous support of the Jacob and Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence Foundation and the Ford Foundation.

SCAD student collaborators on "The Builders, 1947":
Madison Alford (B.F.A., dramatic writing)
Kasey Appignani (B.F.A., film and television)
Daniel Arguello (B.F.A., performing arts)
Audrey Barbe (B.F.A., fashion)
Zara Bell (M.F.A., painting)
Steven Blevins (B.F.A., sound design)
Scott Boyd (B.F.A., film and television)
Hunter Brown (B.F.A., sound design)
Jordan Denton (B.F.A., sound design (sound)
Melissa Dodge (B.F.A., performing arts)
Kali Lewis (B.F.A., performing arts)
Blaine Little (B.F.A., art history)
Enrique Lopez (B.F.A., sound design)
Celine McDuffie (B.F.A., film and television)
Joe McGregor (B.F.A., performing arts)
Madison Parisi (B.F.A. dramatic writing)
Alex Pepper (B.F.A., performing arts)
Antonina Ramon (B.F.A., film and television)
Sydney Seabron (B.F.A., film and television)
Burke Swanson (B.F.A., performing arts)

Students and alumni garner Red Dot Awards for communication design

October
10
2017
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The Savannah College of Art and Design has again earned international honors in the esteemed Red Dot Award: Communication Design competition. With students and alumni receiving 39 total awards, the 2017 competition marks the most wins for SCAD to date.

SCAD entries earned 12 awards in the film and animation category, 10 in illustration, and five each advertising, and publishing and print media. Projects from SCAD students and alumni earned additional awards in the interface and user experience design, typography, apps, and posters categories. Award recipients include students from SCAD campuses in Hong Kong, Savannah and Atlanta.

"SCAD competed with design students across the globe to bring home an impressive number of awards this year," said Anthony Fisher, dean of the school of communication arts. "These honors speak to the unsurpassed quality of the curriculum and the dedication of our faculty. They exemplify the university's status as the preeminent source of knowledge in innovation and creativity."

Global design authority Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen administers the annual Red Dot Awards. For the Communication Design competition, an international jury of 24 judges from 11 countries selected pieces of compelling quality and creativity. One of the most ambitious worldwide design competitions, the Red Dot Awards garnered submissions from 50 countries. This year's Communication Design program drew a total of 8,051 submissions across 18 categories.

SCAD alumna Whitney Renea Stephenson (B.F.A., film and television, 2016) received the coveted "Best of the Best" award for "Dreamkeeper," a narrative short film about Tom, a dream watchman, and how an encounter with an observant young girl alters his perspective on the world of dreams.

The Red Dot Gala on Friday, Oct. 27 will honor the distinguished recipients at the Konzerthaus Berlin in Berlin, Germany. Stephenson will receive her "Best of the Best" trophy and compete for the Red Dot: Grand Prix award, which recognizes the top work in each category. Following the ceremony, Red Dot winners will celebrate "Designers' Night" at E-Werk Berlin and an exclusive work showcase, "Design on Stage," exhibiting the winning pieces.

Congratulations to the following SCAD student and alumni recipients of Red Dot Awards in Communication Design 2017:

Illustration
Lidan Chen (M.A., illustration, 2017)
Nick Erickson (B.F.A., animation)
Irena Freitas (M.F.A., illustration, 2017)
Yevheniia Haidamaka (M.F.A., illustration, 2017)
Jamie Kao (B.F.A., graphic design, 2017)
Shann Larsson (B.F.A., graphic design, 2016)
Taylor McCaslin (B.F.A., illustration, 2017)
Amalia Restrepo (M.F.A., illustration)
Sunny B. Yazdani (M.A., illustration, 2017)

Film and Animation
Justin Boon (B.F.A., visual effects, 2016)
Meadhbh Deeney (B.F.A., film and television, 2016)
Mohamed Echkouna (B.F.A., visual effects, 2016)
Milena Goncalez (M.F.A., animation, 2016)
Kuozheng Hao (B.F.A., animation, 2016)
Robyn Hicks (M.F.A., film and television, 2017)
Melanie Amanda Ho (B.F.A., film and television, 2015)
Andy Koeger (B.F.A., film and television, 2016)
Lamia Lazrak (B.F.A., film and television, 2016)
Ieva Lukauskaite (B.F.A., film and television, 2016)
Paula Andrea Sprenger (B.F.A., film and television, 2016)
Whitney Renea Stephenson (B.F.A., film and television, 2016)

Advertising
Kendra Bergman (B.F.A., advertising, 2017)
Timothy Carvalho (M.F.A., advertising, 2017)
Hannah Gilbertson (B.F.A., advertising)
Nick Lamando (B.A., visual communication, 2016)
Mikayla Lapierre (B.F.A., advertising)
Isabel Taborga (B.F.A., advertising, 2017)
Brian Alexander Madert (B.F.A., advertising)
Bryson Schmidt (B.F.A., advertising, 2017)
Nick Taormina (B.F.A., advertising)
Yugendu Vyas (B.F.A., advertising, 2017)

Publishing and Print Media
Keeley Gribb (M.F.A., graphic design, 2016)
Shann Larsson (B.F.A., graphic design, 2016)
Sharon Martie (B.F.A., graphic design, 2016)
Alanna Minor (B.F.A., graphic design, 2017)
Carmen Rodriguez Lo (B.F.A., graphic design, 2017)

Interface and User Experience
Dipali Bajaj (B.F.A., user experience design)
Zhaolin Cai (B.F.A., user experience design)
Nolan Canady (B.F.A., user experience design)
Gonzalo Gelso (B.F.A., graphic design)
Je Sun Hwang (M.F.A., service design)
Hwang Hah Jeong (B.F.A., user experience design)
Yuri Jai Johnson (B.F.A., computer arts, 2004)
In Won Jong (M.F.A., interactive design/game development, 2017)
Joe Kennedy (B.F.A., user experience design)
Jenn Lee (B.F.A., user experience design)
Cody Reppert (B.F.A., user experience design)
Andrew Sibert (B.F.A., user experience design)
James Simmons (B.F.A., user experience design)
Fernando Zeledon (B.F.A., industrial design)

Apps
Gentry Baird (B.F.A., graphic design)

Typography
Jenna Sullivan (B.F.A., graphic design, 2017)
Katherine Weaver (M.A., visual effects)

Posters
India Torrez (B.F.A., graphic design, 2017)

A'ndrea Wilson's 'Grace Period'

October
5
2017
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With a background in marriage and family counseling and educational leadership, A'ndrea Wilson (M.F.A., dramatic writing, 2017) often integrates her clinical background into her storytelling. The author of over 20 published works, including the award-winning "Wife 101" series, Wilson will have her inaugural play "Grace Period" presented as a Main Stage Reading on Friday, Oct. 6 at 5:30 p.m. at the 2017 Atlanta Black Theatre Festival. The reading will feature SCAD undergraduate and graduate performing arts students as both cast and the assistant director, all of whom have been working closely with the storied alumna.

SCAD: How was "Grace Period" born?

A'NDREA WILSON: I wrote it in a playwriting class at SCAD while pursing my M.F.A in dramatic writing last year. It was an assignment, everyone had to write a full-length play. At the time, I did not see myself as a playwright. I had just transferred into the dramatic writing program. I started off as a professional writing student, but after two quarters taking classes in both programs, I thought dramatic writing was more exciting!

SCAD: You've had some great experiences with "Grace Period" this year. Where does this Friday's Main Stage Reading at the 2017 Atlanta Black Theatre Festival sit among them?

WILSON: I'm planning on this being the final reading for "Grace Period." With every reading that I've done with the play, I've tweaked and refined it based off of audience reaction, audience feedback or what I see that could be made better. This is my last chance to get that feedback before I start to submit it to actual theater groups and companies. I'm really looking forward to this opportunity to see it on its feet, on a big stage in front of up to 500 people.

SCAD: What has it been like having SCAD performing arts students help you with this workshop period?

WILSON: Not only has this been my debut as a playwright but it has also been my debut as a director, which has been a great learning experience. I've been so happy to offer this opportunity to SCAD students who are seeking out these kinds of opportunities. I'm not just grabbing people who sort of want to act, these students really want opportunities, they're incredibly focused on their careers and also very appreciative. There's a certain level of excitement and energy that you get working with university students. I've felt very blessed to give them this chance to refine their art.

SCAD: What's next for "Grace Period?"

WILSON: After Atlanta, I'm going to make my final revisions. I'd really love to workshop it as a production at SCAD. At the National Black Theatre Festival in August, I met people from theaters around the country, so I'm looking forward to capitalizing on the interest "Grace Period" received there. I never saw myself as a playwright before all of this. I didn't even know if the play was good! It's been a huge compliment that people have really taken to this play. I can't wait to see what kind of stories I'll write in the future, even two or three years from now, when I've really had time to develop this skill.

WordCast offers media insights

October
4
2017
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Students filled the halls of the SCAD Museum of Art Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, for WordCast, a day-long media conference connecting students with industry leaders in journalism, broadcast and multimedia storytelling through hands-on seminars, career advice workshops and one-on-one critiques.

Presented by SCAD Student Media, WordCast speakers included Adam Cole, science writer and multimedia journalist for National Public Radio, Mary Anthony Green, featured columnist for GQ magazine, Miguel Fuller, WPOI Hot 101.5 radio personality, and documentary filmmaker Gabriella Garcia-Pardo (B.F.A., film and television, 2012).
 
"Making it as a food and travel writer," a workshop led by Hannah Hayes (M.A., arts administration, 2013), associate travel editor at Southern Living, offered a meme-filled PowerPoint presentation complete with straight-talk about the business of being a freelancer. Hayes began her workshop discussing the current state of magazine industry, including recent editorial cutbacks and decreasing freelance rates.

"But there's good news!" Hayes said among a wave of relieved laughter. "There's never been a better time to be a younger person in the industry — we know how to do all the things!"

Hayes encouraged students to learn skills that complement their writing, including video production and editing, and experience with CMS, coding and analytics. On a slide titled "What do you need to show people to get a job?," Hayes spoke about the importance of holistic storytelling.

"Consider all the different ways to tell your story," she said. "If you can show an editor real reasons to spend money on a video component, they'll be impressed by the amount of research you already put into the story."

Following Hayes' class was "Editing for broadcast," a technical audio editing workshop taught by Tracie Hunte, a reporter for RadioLab/WNYC.

With the Avid Pro Tools application projected onto a monitor, Hunte reviewed the post-interview steps she took in one of her favorite RadioLab stories, "One Vote," about how a single state legislator's vote in 1920 changed the outcome of the American suffrage movement. Throughout her presentation, Hunte played clips from the both the edited and unedited versions of the interview, showing how audio was changed.

"The first thing I do with an interview is cut anything unusable and group by topic," Hunte said, cutting and pasting her favorite quotes from the interview to demonstrate. "I'm already thinking about the story arc when I do this—how should we open the story and what will make a good ending?"

Another tip Hunte shared concerned the process of finding and logging each interjection in an interview — every time a person says "and," "but," "yes," "no," and other connective words.

"Once I have a log of interjections, it is much easier for me to connect sentences and ideas when I edit an interview," Hunte said.

Hunte concluded her workshop by suggesting resources for students interested in podcasting, from books about ethical editing to the best microphones and other equipment.

"Always feel free to pitch me story ideas," Hunte said. "Maybe you're more interested in the storytelling aspect than the technical editing. We need it all!"

Wordcast logo

Joey Chu's extraordinary documentary

October
2
2017
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"I know a small person shouldn't hope for any attention," says Ka Foon Chau. "They should fulfill themselves, be the best they can be, and others will see your importance. There's no need to beg for any attention." This small, important scene, from the documentary "$30 to Antarctica," finds Dr. Chau reading from a personal diary composed during her exacting girlhood.

Concise in length and epic in breadth, the film charts the true story of how an impoverished child in Hong Kong became a nephrologist and transplant activist and eventually fulfilled a lifelong dream of travelling to Antarctica. Utilizing interviews with Dr. Chau's friends, husband, and former high school teacher, the film demonstrates how a seemingly token kindness lead to empowering self-belief, and how a commitment to learning and helping others can create transformative change in the lives of many. The film is a work of clear-eyed inspiration and natural beauty. It also reveals, in its end credits, that director Joey Chu (B.F.A., film and television, 2017) is Dr. Chau's daughter.

SCAD: How did "$30 to Antarctica" evolve?

JOEY CHU: I filmed the ending first, the trip to Antarctica. We were in a two-person kayak, my mother in front, and I put a GoPro between us, then filmed her walking on the beach of Deception Island. I had that footage, and mentioned to my mother that I'd develop it into a documentary someday. I told her it'd be powerful for people to see her story on film. She's been interviewed on TV many times for her work as a doctor, so being in front of a camera isn't a strange thing for her. The scene where she's reading from her diary she wrote while she was struggling as a kid, I was behind the camera with my DP Dumaine Babcock (B.F.A., film and television, 2017) and my mother started tearing up. I was crying but trying not to make a sound.

The fact that the subject of the film is my mother isn't really important to the film. If she wasn't my mother and I only learned about her and her incredible story, I would still want to make a film about her. Some people told me to make it more about her being my mother, some said not to mention it at all. Mentioning at the end credits felt like the right thing to do.

SCAD: What was your experience like as a SCAD student making this film?

CHU: Being at SCAD means being surrounded by passionate people and learning to collaborate. It's inspiring because it makes you want to work hard and see how your passions can connect. When I made "$30 to Antarctica" the entire crew were my friends. My professors Alexander Newton and Lubomir Kocka were incredibly helpful. They took extra steps to help the film fulfill its potential. And they're there for me now, after graduation, as resources.

SCAD: What's next for "$30 to Antarctica"?

CHU: This week it's going to screen at the I Imagine Film Festival in New York City. It just won Best Short Documentary at the Around International Film Festival Amsterdam monthly competition. I finished the film in August, and the deadline for the Savannah Film Festival had already passed, so I plan to submit it for the 2018 SAVFF. I look forward to bringing it back to Savannah.

Audra Osborne: Party Cat time!

September
29
2017
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No time for naps: Audra Osborne (B.F.A., photography, 2011) stays busy in her adopted home base of Portland, Oregon. Founder of photo booth business Party Cat Events, Osborne also works for Photolucida, an arts nonprofit dedicated to promoting the work of emerging photographers.

SCAD: What inspired Party Cat Events?

AUDRA OSBORNE: I like to make things, and do a lot of paper crafts. I realized I could make a photo booth and run it myself. I started Party Cat in September 2015. The business really picked up this year, which makes me want to work even harder on it.

As for the name, I am definitely a cat lady. I like being home and I have a core group of friends, so for me to go into a social event business is pretty funny.

With Party Cat, I do everything small business owners do: accounting, marketing, props and backgrounds. My husband, Aaron Norberg (B.F.A., photography, 2011), also a SCAD grad, is my No. 1 unpaid intern.

SCAD: What goes into a Party Cat Event?

OSBORNE: I have standard props I bring and will make up to five new ones if people want something specific, like a hashtag. For my most recent wedding, I worked on a Hulk mask and an Iron Man mask. Some people have specific ideas and will show me a Pinterest board, while some will just send me their colors and tell me to run with it.

Party Cat photo booth set up with blue and pink backdrop

SCAD: How did you get involved with Photolucida?

OSBORNE: Photolucida is one of reasons I moved to Portland. It's an art and photography-heavy city, and I wanted to be in the same atmosphere SCAD provided, and have a support group. 

I've worked with Photolucida for four years, first as a volunteer, then for a stipend. As program manager, I'm in charge of Critical Mass, an online photo competition whose goal is to provide exposure to emerging photographers. Along with marketing and administration, my job is to find over two hundred jurors who have access to or are able to give photographers opportunities including exhibitions, publications, introductions to collectors and features on photo-famous blogs. There are awards, always a good incentive.

SCAD: How did your SCAD education prepare you for your career? 

OSBORNE: The facilities were amazing. Being able to use all types of cameras, scanners and darkrooms allows you to experiment with any type of photography you want. My professors were really key to my education. They were no-nonsense, and rather than being patted on the back their honest critiques shaped me going into the real world. 


SCAD: What's one lesson you learned at SCAD that guides you in the professional world?

OSBORNE: Photography professor Rebecca Nolan told us to apply to the job you want and not the one you're necessarily qualified for. Women statistically don't apply to jobs because of that fear. She told us to tell future employers that you'll learn anything you need to know that you don't know already. I tried not be anxious starting my own business. I just dive in and do it.

Audra Osborne poses with her hands under her chin the middle of a photo booth set

Interior design programs named nation's best by DesignIntelligence

September
26
2017
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Savannah College of Art and Design is home to the nation's top interior design programs. The DesignIntelligence report of "America's Best Architecture & Design Schools 2017-2018" ranked SCAD undergraduate and graduate interior design programs first overall.

This prestigious recognition is determined by leading practitioners in the field, guiding students and industry leaders to discern which universities are best preparing students for successful futures in the profession. Savannah College of Art and Design's graduate architecture program was also recognized as one of the top 25 programs in the nation.

"I'm proud that the SCAD undergraduate and graduate interior design programs earned No. 1 rankings for 2018," said SCAD president and founder Paula Wallace. "Over the past seven years, SCAD's undergraduate and graduate interior design programs have been ranked No. 1 together an unprecedented five times. This fall, the university is also delighted to welcome the founding editor of DesignIntelligence, James P. Cramer, as a distinguished professor of architecture."

SCAD interior design is part of the school of building arts, under the leadership of Dean Ivan Chow. Interior design students learn to employ aesthetic theory, culture, materiality and function in the design of interior spaces. SCAD B.F.A. programs are accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, affirming SCAD graduates are thoroughly qualified for professional practice. The M.A. curriculum emphasizes emerging materials, human response and research methods. M.F.A. students investigate the design discipline in-depth to become expert practitioners and educators.

A recent official survey determined 99 percent of SCAD graduates of the school of building arts report are employed, pursuing further education or both within 10 months of graduation, including employment by notable firms Gensler, Ainsworth Noah, ASD | SKY, and Roger Ferris + Partners.

"The annual DesignIntelligence rankings honor university design programs that best prepare students for professional success," said President Wallace. "At the vanguard of design education, SCAD continues to earn top recognition."

Dragon Con attracts top SCAD talent

September
21
2017
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There are many reasons SCAD students and alumni attend Dragon Con, the annual four-day celebration of all things "geek." Be it the attraction of open video gaming sessions, the utility of networking with top film industry talent, or the joy of showing off cosplay outfits created in SCAD's Body as Concept course, Dragon Con shines with opportunities for Bees.

Hosted at locations across Atlanta, Dragon Con 2017 emphasized disciplines aligned with the specific interests of SCAD students and alumni. A discussion with animator and puppeteer Toby Froud of Laika attracted those interested in stop motion animation. Bees majoring in interactive design and game development appreciated speakers touting the importance of mobile gaming businesses. As Georgia's film industry soared to an economic impact of $9.5 billion in 2017, the relevance of SCAD degree programs including film and television and visual effects has never been higher.

SCAD alumni whose successes brought them to Dragon Con 2017 included Lauren Brown (M.F.A., illustration, 2011), lead environmental artist at EA Games Mobile. Brown spoke on the Saturday afternoon panel "Why Representation Matters in Video Games" where she explained how video games have changed during her time in the industry.

"For the SCAD students attending my panel," Brown said, "I hope they take away the fact that their voice matters, and that they can make a career in the video game industry. Since I've been in gaming, I've seen people making an effort to see different perspectives and put different-looking characters into their games. People value my input. It has been really empowering."

Lauren spoke about the camaraderie of her experience at SCAD, and how it prepared her for the professional workplace: "Before SCAD, I didn't know what it was like to work on a team of animators to create a product. Professional animation is all about working together. That sense of teamwork really prepared me for my career, and set an expectation of what is achievable."

Among the 86,000 Dragon Con attendees was Joe Karg (M.F.A., painting, 2011). An illustrator for Floyd County Productions who works on the hit FX series "Archer," Karg was happy to chat while overseeing the sale of his artwork in Dragon Con's Artists' Alley. "SCAD prepared me so much for the role I'm in now. We learned about how best to market ourselves, and SCAD encourages you to make your own path." Any advice for students attending conventions like this one? "Being at Dragon Con is about sharing our love of pop culture and comic books. Utilize your skill, show off your successes, and be unique in what you do. But most of all, use conventions like Dragon Con to be on the ground with people who enjoy your artwork as fans."

Dragon Con concluded this Labor Day, but expect to find the work of SCAD students and alumni present at next year's event, already scheduled for August 30 through September 3, 2018 in Atlanta. Visit scad.edu to learn more about the academic programs that prepare alumni to stand out at Dragon Con with rewarding creative careers.

SCAD grads get animated for charity

August
31
2017
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Lucky Bone Studio is a boutique animation shop that cares about bringing positivity to the world. Founded by SCAD alumni Jessica Doll (B.F.A., animation, 2011), Max Golden (B.F.A., film and television, 2011) and Kathryn Nicolas (B.F.A., animation, 2012), Lucky Bone showcases storytelling skills the co-owners honed at SCAD. This weekend Lucky Bone premieres a new animation at PAX West for Child's Play, a charity dedicated to providing games and toys to children in hospitals worldwide.

SCAD: How did you all form Lucky Bone?

MAX GOLDEN: I wrote my first script that Jessica animated while I was still doing an internship during my senior year at SCAD. We continued to work together on various animations, and after graduation formed our own studio. I was a film major and Jessica and Kathryn majored in animation. Our distinct but complementary skillsets make for a unique mix. We tackle all kinds of projects, specializing in hand-drawn 2-D animation, creating everything from explanatory and informative videos to animated short films. We're ready to tell any story.  

Small blue circular character sits between two larger purple creatures

SCAD: What clients has Lucky Bone worked with thus far?

GOLDEN: Our team has had the pleasure of working on projects with a number of charities and companies promoting social well-being including BabyCenter, a Johnson & Johnson company, and MeYouHealth, a platform focused on promoting health and wellness. Members of our team have worked on videos for big companies and brands like New York Magazine, PETA and Epicurious.

SCAD: How did SCAD prepare you to run your own business?

KATHRYN NICOLAS: There's something inherently entrepreneurial about SCAD. Everything about its structure rewards being self-motivated and promotes creative problem-solving. SCAD gave us impeccable, state-of-the-art technical skills, and instilled a drive to fix things on our own and forge our own path.

Illustration of a pixelated earth surrounded by clouds

SCAD: Can you tell us more about your animation for Child's Play?

JESSICA DOLL: We're excited to be working with Child's Play. It's a great cause, bringing therapeutic play to kids in need. Our video helps them explain exactly how their charity works and shows how much of a difference they make in children's lives. We were thrilled when they told us it was going to make its premiere at this year's PAX West, a community-based gaming show being held in Seattle this September 1-4. We're hoping as many people see it as possible, and that we can keep using what we learned at SCAD to do something good for the world.

Three student headshots

For more information on Lucky Bone Studio visit their website.

To learn more about Child's Play click here.

Life on Planet Fun

August
29
2017
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John Croley (B.F.A. animation, 2006) arrived in Savannah to study animation and ended up creating a retail oasis for serious collectibles and nifty toys. Learn from the master of character culture as he discusses how he makes our planet more fun.

SCAD: What was the big bang that started Planet Fun?   
 
CROLEY: When I attended SCAD, I always wondered why there wasn’t a place like this downtown. After I graduated, I decided to come back to Savannah and create the kind of store I wanted to see. We started off with a much smaller store down the block. The first day we were open, it was primarily stocked with my treasured personal collection of toys, comics and video games. I planted the seed with that fun stuff and hoped something bigger would grow. Of course, on our second day, someone showed up to sell me more, and it hasn’t stopped growing since!
 
SCAD: Would you say you’re a purveyor of fine fun goods?
 
CROLEY: My criterion for what we buy is really simple: Is it fun? We offer cash or store credit for the merchandise people bring to the store, and we’ve had all sorts of cool things come in. Popular video games, valuable collectables, bizarre memorabilia —you never know what will turn up. I order new items too, which I like to think of as a carefully curated selection. When ordering a toy, I try to find something children will want, but an adult might also find interesting. We really do try to have something for everyone. My main hope is for everyone visiting Planet Fun to have a good time.

Inside store Planet Fun with shelves of small dolls and other merchandise

 
SCAD: How did your SCAD education help prepare you for this?
 
CROLEY: Just being in Savannah helped me get a sense how Planet Fun would fit in. Without SCAD, it never would have occurred to me to open a business in Georgia. And there are plenty of lessons I learned that helped. For example, I did a painting of the Ghostbusters’ ECTO-1 in a foundations class, but I cropped the bumper off. My professor asked me why, and I said I ran out of space. She explained that I control the drawing on the canvas, so I couldn’t run out of space.
 
That lesson can be applied to a lot of things in life, from properly composing a painting to trying to cram six arcade cabinets into a store. The animation department shaped me, as well, from the focus on pop culture to the art itself. In some ways, animation deals with creating spaces and arranging details to make things flow and fit. That’s an important part of making a store fun and lively.
 
SCAD: Any advice for those aspiring towards their own creative success?
 
CROLEY: Pay attention to what occupies your thoughts and try to create something out of it. It was important that I started small and worked to build something sustainable. Listen and keep your mind open so you don’t miss unexpected opportunities.

John Croley stands inside his store Planet Fun in front of shelves of toys and figurines

 

Visit: Planet Fun 127 E. Broughton St. Savannah, GA 31401

(912) 201-0228