INTERVIEW WITH JACQUELINE McCARTHY Principal at Vivitiv, formerly known as Art-O-Mat Design as interviewed by Ann Jensen Warman

Jacki McCarthy will be one of the expert panelists at Wednesday's luncheon meeting of the SPGA/Seattle Guild. She will focus on small studio staffing issues and Vivitiv's experiences with both employees and temporary staff. Registration deadline 5:00 today >>

WE: Describe your career interests and goals, your design studio.

Jacki: Our studio operates on a collaborative model. We work with great people to create great work.

WE: What is your niche or target market?

Jacki: We are an issued oriented design firm. We work with organizations that focus on public policy issues such as housing, transportation, the environment, technology and the arts. While we do some work outside this sector, issues are our main field of endeavor.

WE: When did you first decide to enter this industry?

Jacki:This question scares me...1983.

WE: How did you come up with your company name?

Jacki:Our new name is more evocative of the type of work we specialize in. Our old name “artomat” was too kitsch-infused to properly represent who we are and what we do. Vivitiv is a play on the Latin work vividus which means full of life. We hope that Vivitiv will also bring to mind other attributes such as vision, vivid, motive and informative.

WE: What type of education did you have and how has it served you?

Jacki: I have a BA from the School of Visual Arts in NY. I was a lousy student, so it could have served me better if I had done more of the assignments. All the instructors are working or have worked in the field there, so you can pick their brains...if you can get past their fortress-like egos! Seriously, it’s a great school with some awesome instructors. I learned a lot.

WE: Who was your greatest influence?

Jacki: I’m crazy for the old masters Saul Bass and Paul Rand. I also like James Victore a lot, I went to school with him so it’s good to see someone you cut class with do well. My new hero is Jakob Trollback-his motion graphics are exceptional and he’s a real renaissance man - plus he’s nice.

WE: When did you first join the Graphic Artists Guild?

Jacki: I’ve been a member since 1986 or so. It’s been a long time!

WE: What are your plans for the future?

Jacki: We’re starting a clothing company and hope to open an art gallery on the east coast in the next few years.

 

WE: If you have served on the board or done volunteer work please mention it.

Jacki: I am currently the VP of programs on this organization’s board! I also help out the AIGA at some of their events.

WE: If you have received awards, please mention them too.

Jacki: Our work has appeared in Print, Critique, American Corporate Identity, Logo Lounge, Creativity Magazine, Illustration (Japan) and in Thinking Creatively by Robin Landa. Our old stationery is currently in the new Letterhead & Logo Design 9, published by Rockport Books.

 

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JACQUELINE MCCARTHY,
Principal at Vivitiv, formerly known as Art-O-Mat Design
www.Vivitiv.com

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Hear employment experts discuss 2006 employment needs at the next SPGA/Seattle Guild luncheon meeting, this coming Wednesday at Columbia Tower Club. Registration deadline 5:00 today >>

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GUILD CONTEST OPPORTUNITY:
NAME THE GUILD'S OCTOBER 2006 TRADESHOW EVENT
AND WIN A SHOW TABLE! (a $300+ VALUE)
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2006 marks a new era for the SPGA/Seattle Guild's event calendar. In recent years, the membership base at SPGA/Seattle has expanded to include a diverse set of communications specialties. Designers, illustrators, media artists, flash designers, database programmers, website developers, and more now populate our membership ranks.

To support this growing diversity, the SPGA/Seattle Board of Directors has begun planning a comprehensive, new Tradeshow and Educational Event designed to help all of our members, regardless of specialty, market their work and expand their presence on the local and national scene.

Scheduled for October 6, 2006, this upcoming Tradeshow Event will offer booths and display table to artists, designers, illustrators, media artists ....in short, professionals in all visual communications specialties. Display table priorities and discounts will go to our Chapter members.

Hour-long presentations will be delivered by renowned artists, educators, and communications experts throughout the day. As well, highly visible opportunities will be made available for Event Sponsors to extend their presence among the Tradeshow attendees and participants at this premier Tradeshow Event.

To enter the contest, submit your event name ideas by sending emails here. Include TRADESHOW AND EDUCATIONAL EVENT in the subject line. You may enter as many times as you like: here>>

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TRADESHOW COMMITTEE MEETING
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DATE: January 20, 2006

TIME: 2:00 pm

LOCATION: Capital Hill on Seneca

RSVP: email for directions - russ2827@lycos.com

 

Event Co-Chairs: Ann Tydings, Russell Cowgill

This planning meeting will last approximately 1 to 1-1/2 hours. If you have specific talents or interests to contribute, please attend.

Ann Tydings and Russ Cowgill are organizing a publicity subcommittee that will involve web design and database development. If you have specific knowledge in these areas your participation is desired.

If you are not able to attend but have interest, please contact Russ, russ2827@lycos.com or Ann, pr@seattleguild.org.

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COMING UP: CALENDAR & GREETING CARD BUSINESS
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SPGA/SEATTLE GRAPHIC ARTISTS GUILD
February 22, 2006 Luncheon Meeting
12:00 - 2:00
Columbia Tower Club, Seattle

PROGRAM: THE CALENDAR & GREETING CARD BUSINESS
Linnea Riley, Designer and Illustrator
Linnea Design

Award-winning illustrator, Linnea Riley, whose whimsical illustrations have made Linnea Poster Calendars a tradition in homes and offices since 1987, will discuss her business and her experience in the calendar and greeting card industry. Linnea has also designed children's books for Scholastic, Inc. and Simon & Schuster and designed products for a diverse group of companies including The Walt Disney Company, Art Institute of Chicago, and Ito-Ya, Tokyo.

In addition to poster calendars and desk calendars, Linnea Design produces holiday cards, luggage tags, children1s books, and notecards sold throughout the US and in Japan. See the complete line at linneadesign.com.

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Thank you to Our SPGA/Seattle Graphic Artists Guild Sponsors:
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www.studiofile.net: software designed by illustrators for illustrators, to organize business. Track client info, job worksheets, job expenses, copyright transfers, invoicing, payment tracking, invoice reminders, taxes, artwork archiving and business services. StudioFile offers 10% to Guild members.

emailHunter.net: hunts down, identifies and verifies email addresses for your contact list

FunctionFox Systems, Inc: time management tools for creative businesses

eRoi Inc: generate and capture qualified leads online through email marketing

Olympus Press: full service commercial printer

Peachpit User Group Program Member: essential books for the creative community

brandUNITY: branding, design, marketing