The AIGA Cleveland Board of Directors is pleased to announce the 2019 AIGA Cleveland Fellow, Jennifer Visocky O’Grady. The Fellow program is a way to recognize local long-serving designers who have made a significant contribution to raising the standards of excellence in design. The last Cleveland AIGA Fellow was awarded in 2007, and we are excited to have the opportunity to resume this recognition. Past Cleveland recipients have included:
2007 Sheila Hart and Eric May
2003 J. Charles Walker
2001 Karen Skunta
1999 Bert Benkendorf
A call for nominations was sent out earlier this spring, and these nominations were thoughtfully considered by a committee that included local design educators and leaders Amy Hawk, Christopher Suster, and Eric Wheeler, led by board member, Jennifer Vokoun. The committee unanimously put forth Jennifer Visocky O’Grady’s name to the Board as the recommendation. Eligible AIGA Cleveland board members then voted on this nomination.*
In the nominations, several individuals highlighted Visocky O’Grady’s advocacy and extensive service with AIGA including holding numerous local board positions, as well as serving on the national board. In addition, her work as an educator, designer, writer, researcher, and community advocate has inspired countless students, designers, and colleagues, and has left an indelible impression on the design community.
We invite you to join AIGA Cleveland at the Design 730 Competition Awards Reception, on Friday, May 24, where Jennifer Visocky O’Grady will be honored as the 2019 AIGA Cleveland Fellow. This event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP to attend.
AIGA Cleveland Fellow Nominating Committee
Amy Hawk is a Professor of Graphic Design and Chair of the Graphic Design and Photography Departments at Lakeland Community College. She has a Master of Science in User Experience Design and a Master of Fine Arts in Visual Communication Design from Kent State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design from The University of Cincinnati. In the past, she was both Secretary and Education Chair for the Cleveland AIGA chapter as well as an Event Planning Committee member of the UXPA Cleveland chapter. Her 20+ years as a designer in the private sector includes experience in business-to-business, advertising, and publication design, where she was Art Director of HOW Magazine from 1998 to 2001.
Christopher Suster has been a graphic designer for over 30 years. He is Associate Creative Director at Falls Communications where he leads a team of five designers. He likes to travel with his wife, listen to jazz and ride his motorcycle on weekends. He earned his BFA in Graphic Design at Kent State University.
Eric Wheeler has nearly three decades of experience as a creative professional. He has served as director of marketing and guest programs for a historic home museum; as creative director for his own firm, specializing in advertising and design for the nonprofit, medical and educational sectors; as vice president of creative services and new media for a graphic communications firm; and currently as director of creative services for Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®), Ohio’s oldest and largest community college.
Jennifer Vokoun is an Associate Professor of Graphic Design at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio. She also serves as the Director of the Food Design Institute at Walsh, utilizing human centered design to facilitate engagement on food systems issues. She received her MFA in Visual Communication Design from Kent State University, Ohio; MA from Ursuline College, Ohio; and a BFA from Columbus College of Art and Design, Ohio. Since 2012, she has served on the board of directors of AIGA Cleveland as the Communications Director, and currently, as Director of Special Projects.
Above: 2019 AIGA Cleveland Fellow, Jennifer Visocky O’Grady (center), with Board members at the 2016 AIGA Get Out the Vote exhibition.
*Current board members with conflicts of interest abstained from voting
