illumin.art Introduction

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  Chris Jessick

  illumin.art

  Founder/Director

  Chris Jessick is a creative director, filmmaker and international branding and marketing specialist currently living in Shanghai where he conducts business throughout China, and also across the global marketplace of art, design, fashion, new media and other related industries. With an extensive background in higher arts education, primarily with experience in New York City for 15 years, and 5 years of experience across China developing intensive programs with visiting artists and designers, one of his main areas of expertise is building relationships with international institutions and identifying brand partners for professional development and other opportunities. Through his own brand, Holograph, he works to bridge together companies and creators from all industries and disciplines to provide innovative creative solutions for brand marketing, events and other design campaigns. In his positions as Chief Creative Officer, Creative Director and Event Host, these allow him to provide his expertise to organizations with regard to creative content strategy, both internationally and within the unique Chinese marketplace, and to host workshops and events to provide peer to peer education across all industries.

International RISD 101, Rhode Island School of Design Presentation

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  Zack Davey

  Rhode Island School of Design

  Admissions Officer

  Zack Davey is an Admissions Officer for International Students at Rhode Island School of Design. He is also an alumni from RISD, having graduated with the Class of 2020 from the Painting department with concentrations in Computation, Technology, and Culture, and Theory and History of Art and Design. He welcomes you to reach out to him via email with any questions or just to say hello!

What Is Parsons? Parsons School of Design Presentation

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  Lei Niu

  Parsons School of Design

  Head of Parsons China

  Lei's mission is to reshape the current innovation landscape in China by improving the Chinese corporate and young generation's creativity and problem-solving skills. Since 2018, as the Innovation Director of XNODE, Lei has been working with a list of MNCs (Intel, SAP, BMW, Osram, Merck, Foxconn, Kering Group, etc.) in China to create innovation strategy, accelerate the innovation development, and grow innovation talent. Lei established SocialSway consulting firm in 2011 and since then SocialSway has been working closely with corporate and colleges in China to introduce Design Thinking and Core4 methodology to students and young professions. In 2015, Lei joined Shanghaitech University to develop the Design Thinking and Applied Innovation curriculum and programs to speed up the university innovation strategy. Lei's mission is to reshape the current innovation landscape in China by improving the Chinese corporate and young generation's creativity and problem-solving skills. Since 2018, as the Innovation Director of XNODE, Lei has been working with a list of MNCs (Intel, SAP, BMW, Osram, Merck, Foxconn, Kering Group, etc.) in China to create innovation strategy, accelerate the innovation development, and grow innovation talent. Lei established SocialSway consulting firm in 2011 and since then SocialSway has been working closely with corporate and colleges in China to introduce Design Thinking and Core4 methodology to students and young professions. In 2015, Lei joined Shanghaitech University to develop the Design Thinking and Applied Innovation curriculum and programs to speed up the university innovation strategy.

School of Visual Arts Presentation

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  Vikki Zhang

  School of Visual Arts

  MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Alumni

  Vikki Zhang, born in 1994, is an award-winning artist, illustrator, fashion designer based in SH & NYC After finishing MFA Illustration as Visual Essay at School of Visual Arts, she worked on advertising, branding, packaging, fashion, film, book covers, children's book publishing, for clients all over the world. Clients: Apple / Washington Post / New York Times of Kids / United Nations / Alibaba / Tencent / FILA / Silk Museum of China / McDonald's / China Post / PlanAdvisor / Lee & Low ... Her work were exhibited in museums and galleries. She held her solo in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou... Art Collection: Red Box (红盒子）

Intermission

Careers in the Arts, ArtCenter College of Design Presentation

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  Jocelynn Nobouphasavanh

  ArtCenter College of Design

  Assistant Director, Admissions

  The first in her family to attend a four-year university, Jocelynn Nobouphasavanh graduated from the University of California – Berkeley with a BA in History of Art. Her passion is connecting individuals with meaningful professional and academic opportunities. In her current position as Assistant Director of Admissions, she advocates for dedicated visual artists and supports their journey to ArtCenter College of Design, a global leader in art and design education. She recently earned a MS in Higher Education Administration degree from National University, where her graduate thesis explored the challenges facing first-generation college students seeking opportunities in art and design. In her free time, Jocelynn enjoys reading fantasy or sci-fi fiction books or spazzing over paintings in art museums. Some of her favorite things in life are delicious eats, boba milk tea, alpacas, and Pokémon.

Maryland Institute College of Art Presentation

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  Joy Li

  Maryland Institute College of Art

  MICA China Representative

  Experienced Graphic Designer with a demonstrated history of working in the design industry. Skilled in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Indesign CC, Graphic Design, and Costume Design. Strong arts and design professional with a Bachelor of Arts - BA focused in Interdisciplinary Sculpture from Maryland Institute College of Art.

Intermission

illumin.art Creative Careers Introduction

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  Matt Wills

  illumin.art

  Chief Creative Advisor

  Many businesses suffer from being forgotten after first contact - I create relatable, recognizable and memorable brand mascot characters that create an ongoing brand/customer relationship, resulting in more repeat sales. I have an extensive background in IP and consumer products development, working with international partners including Disney, Warner Brothers and Dark Horse Comics, as well as local Chinese studios such as Huayi Brothers (华谊兄弟) and various governmental agencies. Creating great products is all about storytelling! Please visit my company LinkedIn page here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/floob-creative/ or our website: www.floobcreative.com And get in touch any time for a chat at hello@floobcreative.com

Creative Careers Featured Guest Presentation

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  Gianmauro Vella

  PepsiCo

  Head of Design

  Gianmauro is a pure, enthusiastic business lover that leverage Design, Design thinking, Creativity and Curiosity to generate successful Brand Stories & experiences establishing and advocating a design culture across multiple geographies. Gianmauro is currently the Head of PepsiCo Design for Apac & Amesa, leading both the in-house design team as well as external design partner with the mission to advocate and develops the design culture throughout the company; His focus extends from the physical to the digital expressions of PepsiCo’s brands, including product, packaging, fashion, customer activation, spatial & architecture, motion and digital. During his 6 years in PepsiCo Gianmauro built and led the Shanghai, New Delhi, Cairo and Bangkok PepsiCo’s Design center, elevating the role of Design in the company while partnering with Global and Local business partners, proving the importance of Design & Design Thinking through multiple successful results across brands & Geographies. Since the creation of PepsiCo’s Greater China Design team in 2014, led by Gianmauro, the team has been recognized with more than 170 design awards. Prior PepsiCo Gianmauro worked 6 years at 3M where his mission was to elevate the role of Design & Design thinking in an Innovation & technology driven global corporation. Starting in 3M Italy, in 2010 Gianmauro joined 3M China, where he created and lead the 3M Greater China Design Team office where he was able to win over a dozen of Design award while redefining the product portfolio of brands such as Scotch brite, post-it, Scotch, Filtrete and many more. Gianmauro hold and MBA at Shanghai Jiao Tong University a Master in product design at IED Milan and a Bachelor Degree in Interior & Exhibition Design at the Faculty of Architecture in Florence. Experienced Design Leader with a demonstrated history of working in the food & beverages industry. Strong creative and design professional skilled in Design Leadership,, Design Management, Brand Design, Design Research, Innovation Design, Product Design and Experience Design.

Ideas on Ideas, Kingston University London Presentation

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  Jake Abrams

  Kingston University London

  Associate Professor & International Director

  I am both an educator and active practitioner. As an educator I work on the multi-award winning BA in Illustration Animation at Kingston University. I also work internationally for Kingston School of Art. I have also worked at a range of other institutions throughout the UK and abroad. I am currently external examiner at the University of Northampton. As an Illustrator I have worked for a range of publications including The Times, Creative Review, The Independent, The Observer, The Spectator, The Financial times, GQ, Blueprint.. I have illustrated book covers for Picador, Hodder, Vintage, Hamish Hamilton, Penguin Books and Random House and been part of Advertising campaigns for Amnesty International, Smile Bank, Top Gear, The Royal Mail, Waterstones and Holstein Pils. I have been Artist in Residence at THE London Sinfonietta culminating with an exhibition at The Southbank Centre, London. I have participated in many group and solo exhibitions at home and abroad. My latest exhibition at UEL in 2017 , was called 'Seated' Together with Georgina Potier, I have recently co-created Get Better Books, a publishing and design company that specialises in helping paediatric patients understand complex medical procedure and treatment, to make a patient's journey through treatment a less scary and much more informed experience. more information on my education practice: https://jakeabramseducator.wordpress.com more information on my Illustration practice: http://jakeabrams.co.uk more information on Get Better Books: https://www.getbetterbooks.co.uk/about

Royal College of Art Presentation

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  Richard Nash

  Royal College of Art

  Senior Tutor, Art and Design Graduate Diploma Course Leader, RCA Art and Design Portfolio Development Short Course

  With over 25 years’ experience as a practitioner, educator and researcher, Richard is Senior Tutor (Research) in communication design for the RCA Graduate Diploma Art & Design, a programme helping students to transition between bachelor and master’s study. Richard is also Course Leader for the RCA’s in-house Art & Design Portfolio Development Short Course, a 3-week programme ideal for any student intending to progress in higher education or in a career within an art or design discipline. Outside of the RCA, Richard holds the role of Communications Director at Global Arts Education, a global creative education consultancy, and maintains his practice as a bookwork artist, designer and publisher, exhibiting his work nationally and internationally.

illumin.art Event Closing Remarks

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  Chris Jessick

  illumin.art

  Founder/Director

  Chris Jessick is a creative director, filmmaker and international branding and marketing specialist currently living in Shanghai where he conducts business throughout China, and also across the global marketplace of art, design, fashion, new media and other related industries. With an extensive background in higher arts education, primarily with experience in New York City for 15 years, and 5 years of experience across China developing intensive programs with visiting artists and designers, one of his main areas of expertise is building relationships with international institutions and identifying brand partners for professional development and other opportunities. Through his own brand, Holograph, he works to bridge together companies and creators from all industries and disciplines to provide innovative creative solutions for brand marketing, events and other design campaigns. In his positions as Chief Creative Officer, Creative Director and Event Host, these allow him to provide his expertise to organizations with regard to creative content strategy, both internationally and within the unique Chinese marketplace, and to host workshops and events to provide peer to peer education across all industries.

Guest Networking