The Designers: Five Decades of Montana Made Designers

FIVE DECADES OF MONTANA MADE DESIGNERS

by Je rey Conger + Nelson Goldsworth + Katherine Nell MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY

THANKS TO ALL THOSE THAT SUPPORTED THIS PROJECT THROUGH THE MSU

GIVING DAY FUNDRAISER SPONSORED BY THE MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY

ALUMNI FOUNDATION. THROUGH THE KIND CONTRIBUTIONS DURING THIS 28-HOUR EVENT THE PRINTING OF THIS 192-PAGE BOOK IS POSSIBLE. BELOW IS A LIST OF OUR GENEROUS DONORS RANGING FROM ALUMNI, FACULTY AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. ALAN PETERS · ALLISON KAZMIERSKI · ANGIE

KERSTEN · BARBARA KUHR · BARRY AMENT · BENJAMIN BENNETT · BENJAMIN

SYMON · BLAINE HALVORSON · BRANDEN JAPPE · BRIDGET PRESTON · CAROL

SOGARD · CASEY FERGUSON · CHERYL PARZYCH · CHRISTIAN SCHULTZ

CLASSIC INK CREATIVE · COBY SCHULTZ · CULLEN FAMILY · DAN BILYEU · DANA

AABERG · DANA LYTLE · DREW SCHUG · DREW VAN FOSSEN · ELI CLARK · ERIC

DANZER · ERIK PALMQUIST · ERIN THORMODSGARD · FAITH MILLER · GINA

GAGNON · GREGG BERRYMAN · GWEN TIETZ · HEATHER DESCH · HENRY

FELLABAUM · JAMES + SAMANTHA PATTON · JASON JOHNSON · JASON STRAHN

JASON DURGIN · JEANNE MARIE CALLAHAN · JEFFREY CONGER · JEREMIAH

MARTIN · JOSH KISSEL · JUSTIN MOONEY · JUSTIN WUTZKE · KATE PARSONS

KAYE HAMBY · KELLY DEVRIES · KIM MCRAE · KOREY DOLL · KURT + DENISE

PALMQUIST · LADD ARUNDEL · LEILANI SCHWEITZER · LIZ HOLZ · MARY KYSAR

MEGGAN BOCKS · META NEWHOUSE · PATRICIA PREWITT · RAFE STEWART

RONI GRADY · RYAN WILSON · SAMMY FARMER · SABIA MAGURN · SARAH

SANSERI · SCOTT ABEL · SCS UNLIMITED · SHAWN FARNUM · STEPHANIE + ROD

PRESSLY · STEPHANIE NEWMAN · TAYLOR SEALES · TAYLOR WILMOTH · TAYLOR

SEALES · TIANNA FORD · TIM BRAUN · TRISHA MILLER · TYLER DAVIS · TYREL

THORNTON · WADED CRUZADO · WHITNEY HOUSER · WILLIAM CHAMBERLIN

WILLIAM WILSON · ALSO GREATLY APPRECIATED ARE THOSE THAT DONATED

ANONOMOUSLY TO THE MSU GIVING DAY FUNDRAISING EVENT. THANKS!

by Jeffrey Conger + Nelson Goldsworth + Katherine Nell

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Printed in the United States of America

First Printing © 2023

THE DESIGNERS

Five Decades of Montana Made Designers

ISBN 979-8-218-02592-2 by Jeffrey Conger + Nelson Goldsworth + Katherine Nell

Creative Director

Jeffrey Conger

Cover Design

Mary Christian + Katherine Nell

Book Design

Mary Christian Tavin Davis-Kapor

Teneill Gauthier Nelson Goldsworth

Serena Gossack Erik Goughnour

Christy Jacobson Siobhan Murphy

Katherine Nell Whitney Pomroy

Design Consultants

Jack Anderson

Bruce Barnhart

Ashley Fuchs

Minjee Jeon

Barbara Kuhr

Dana Lytle

Stephanie Newman

Meta Newhouse

Bonnie Siegler

Copy Editors

Michael Becker

Anne Cantrell

Kristen Drumheller

Tracy Ellig

Alison Gauthier

Julie Kipfer

Ron Lambert

Britney Patek

The printing of this book was made possible by support through MSU Giving Day and generous donations from the alumni and community.

Montana State University

Bozeman, MT 59717

COPYRIGHT © 2023 MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY

THE DESIGNERS

FIVE DECADES OF MONTANA MADE DESIGNERS

FOREWORD

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

AMES BROS

CAT APPAREL

HARDY BRANDS

HORNALL ANDERSON

MADEWORN

MAKELIKE STUDIO

MASSIVE

PLANET PROPAGANDA

PLUNKETT + KUHR

PRIME INC.

SCS UNLIMITED

SNOWGHOST DESIGN

STICKFORT

AMANDA REESE COLTER LEASE DRAKE SOCIE

CLAIRE BISCHOFF GAVIN DUECKER JACKY CHAN

DOMINIQUE FULTZ JACOB DESCH PAUL GORSUCH

CALI FRANKOVIC BRANDEN JAPPE TARA KETNER

CARY SILBERMAN HARRISON HOWARD TAYLOR GRADY

DAVID DRISCOLL TRISHA MILLER DAN BILYEU

KINSEY WHITE RAFE STEWART TATE CHAMBERLIN

MARY MECCAGE JOHN DALKE

ROBERT RATH

MEGGAN BOCKS SAM BUXTON

JUSTIN WUTZKE

JARED BYERLY

SAM YARBOROUGH

PAUL JOHNSON

JASON DURGIN

KENDRA ROBINSON BEN SYMON

ERIK PALMQUIST

RYAN BONE

TYLER DAVIS EMILY THOMPSON

BOBBY BISKUPIAK

KIETRA NELSON MICAH RAUCH

AMY SOWERS BEN LARDY NORTH BRYAN

LEILANI SCHWEITZER MICHELLE HUTCHINSON JOE ERFLE

ERIN THORMODSGARD

TODD HEATH

WHITNEY CONNOLLY

HILLER

DANA AABERG

SCOTT ABEL

LADD ARUNDEL

BILL BROWN

LAUREN BROWN

EMILY CELLAN

ELI CLARK

DIANA DAVIS

KOREY DOLL

SONJA DURR

LYNSEY DYER

KELSEY DZINTARS

AMY + TODD FARRELL

KYLEE FIRLIT

TIANNA FORD

RUSS FRY

HOLLY GANNETT

BOYD GOFF

ERIC HEIDLE

CARL HEIDLE

RYAN HOBBS

LIZ

JEREMIAH

FAITH

JUSTIN MOONEY

KURT PALMQUIST

KATE PARSONS

ALAN PETERS

DREW PIGOTT

MICHAEL RUSSO

KAREN SCHMIDT

JASON STRAHN

KYLE SWOYER

IXTLA VAUGHAN

MATT WELLMAN

SHAUNESCY WILLARD

JEFF WILLIAMS

RYAN WILSON

10

FOREWORD

BY JACK ANDERSON

When you say Montana, even to this day people raise an eyebrow or have a twinkle in their eye because it has a history of adventure. It has a history of wide-open space, and in my world, that translates to wide-open thinking. If you live in Montana, you either develop a sturdiness and grit, or you get blown out. I think the people here are no-nonsense as it’s still a frontier.

You have individuals that grew up getting up at five o’clock in the morning, going out and feeding the cattle or taking care of the chickens. They weren’t allowed to sleep in, so there’s a strong work ethic. You can teach anybody to design. You can teach anybody typography, but you can’t teach everybody to work hard. And that gritty work ethic is one of the greatest gifts that one gets coming from Montana.

This is going to sound funny, but I see a lot of people that move here who want the benefit of nature and want what the hard work ethic has provided. But they’re renters. And I mean that literally and virtually; they rent. They rent the idea instead of living the idea. And I think if you’re from Montana or if you’ve lived in Montana a while, you become real. You’re not renting the idea anymore. You develop an open-minded grit. You think… I can do this. We’re going to get this done. You walk in and figure it out.

I don’t know if I have this in the correct order. In fact, I’m pretty sure that I don’t. But seven out of the eight ingredients that lead to success are all curiosity. If you’re naturally curious, you’re going to be successful because curiosity leads to inquiry, which leads to questioning, which leads to invention. And so, curiosity equals invention. It also helps if you’re a people person. This world is complex, and the most successful individuals, whether they’re

designers, illustrators, writers, architects, or developers are often people-oriented.

Success is a blurry word. You can be a very successful businessperson and a crappy designer. Or you can be a phenomenal designer and not be a good businessperson. I don’t think it’s an either-or situation. In fact, for me personally, I approached our business as a design problem. I take a lot of pride in the fact that we created a successful business, that also happened to be a design firm. We didn’t set out with this goal. We set out to create an amazing, kickass design firm that just happened to become a successful business.

Truthfully, I have a lot of gratitude for Montana State University, as it gave me a platform. It permitted me to believe in myself and gave me an environment for experimentation. It tolerated my behaviors—thank god. A couple of professors, not literally but figuratively, adopted me and believed in me. And ultimately, I graduated from the school that was home for me. So, you know, I have huge heartfelt feelings about MSU.

Obviously, over the years the school has made amazing progress in terms of curriculum and the graduates it produces. The work, the projects, and the creativity that I see coming out of the school today—and this has been going on for several decades now—is absolutely jaw-dropping, relative to what was coming out of there when I graduated. To see the progress that has been made is amazing. The creative work that is produced by the designers in this book is inspiring. So yeah, looking at the magnitude of diverse career paths showcased in this book, I’m humbled and honored.

PREFACE

BY JEFFERY CONGER

It’s fitting that design is both a profession and a creative act. As you flip through the pages of this book, it is easy to see designers exploring mediums to communicate to an audience. Some designers use a touch-sensitive iPad to develop a logo for a brand identity, while others pick up a rattle-can to create a powerful street mural.

This book started as an undergraduate research project with ten students in a 300-level graphic design course at MSU to explore best practices in the real world of publication design. The project quickly grew into several semesters of upper-class students moving the project forward through countless independent study hours. When the core group of ten undergraduates had earned their professional BFA degrees, two key members of the original team stayed on as alumni to complete the publication.

These impressive MSU undergraduates took on the name of Studio 10, and without them, this book would not exist. They include Mary Christian, Tavin Davis-Kapor, Teneill Gauthier, Nelson Goldsworth, Serena Gossack, Erik Goughnour, Christy Jacobson, Siobhan Murphy, Katherine Nell, and Whitney Pomroy.

Working together, the Studio 10 design team decided on the book format, grid system, and font guidelines while continuing their research. They debated over white space, the perfect typographic solution, and developed the cover design. Ultimately, the team created a published scholarly work that is an original contribution to the graphic design discipline and a future teaching tool.

Paramount to the project completion are the two individuals who grabbed the opportunity to grow into co-authors with me as the

project exploded. These are Nelson Goldsworth and Katherine Nell, who endured countless hours of writing, editing, and proofing through hundreds of iterations of the book. Meeting every Wednesday on Zoom during their lunch hours, we kept pushing the project forward.

Through the complex and lengthy process, we enlisted the guidance and expertise of numerous professionals. This included candid feedback from design giants such as Jack Anderson, the co-founder of Hornall Anderson in Seattle; Bonnie Siegel from New York, who you might know from her two decades of creative work on Saturday Night Live; Barbara Kuhr from Park City, the original co-founding designer of WIRED magazine; and Dana Lytle, the co-founder of the iconic agency Planet Propaganda in Madison.

The classic color scheme for the book cover is inspired by a traditional black portfolio lined with gold and was conceived by Mary Christian, who initiated the bold typographic solution that filled the cover space. Once Mary graduated from MSU, the cover design continued to evolve through collaboration with Katherine Nell until completed. Looking closely at the spine, one might notice an inspirational gesture to WIRED magazine that makes a bold presence when proudly displayed on a bookshelf.

When the square 8-inch format of the book was decided upon, the undergraduate research team worked to fill it with engaging content. The students edited the submissions and selected the best examples to represent each designer. As you can see, the pages of this book have a pace. After the front matter, the layout moves into four-page spreads that profile design firms founded by alumni. About half of these firms are in Montana,

including Kalispell and Bozeman. The other half are in metropolitan areas like Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle.

In the middle, the book moves into what the Studio 10 team calls the “mosaic pages.” Think of these pages like Instagram in a print format. Each spread highlights three creatives with design projects and lifestyle images. These pages allow the reader to envision what a creative life might be. The book wraps up with individual pages that feature one designer and their work. Rather than showing an individual’s entire portfolio, one signature project from each designer is highlighted so readers can begin to understand the ubiquitous nature of the profession.

We are fortunate that over the past five decades, the graphic design program at Montana State University has stood upon the accomplishments of dedicated educators, and the design faculty have a tradition of integrating undergraduate research projects into their high-impact teaching practices. In the ‘70s and ‘80s, when the program was called “Professional Design,” Professor Jayne Van Alstyne brought in corporate executives from General Motors Company to work with the undergraduates on concepts for future vehicles.

Then, before interdisciplinary was an accepted academic term, Professor Stephanie Newman broke trail during the ‘90s. She pioneered an interracial research project with students from MSU and Howard University, a historically Black research institution. Through a successful grant from the American Institute of Graphic Artists; the students worked remotely—when internet connections were simple dial-up—to collaborate on an award-winning publication called “On the Color Line: Networking to End Racism,” using email and digital scanners to bridge the 1,600 miles between the two universities to create a 32-page tabloid-sized publication.

In that era, Professor Anne Garner engaged MSU undergraduates in research and design through several published Bozarts Press projects. One of these memorable student-centered publications is “The 1325 Greatest Moments in the History of Graphic Design.” This 24-page publication was featured in the acclaimed Print magazine and cited as a resource in the bibliography of Philip Meggs’ iconic book “A History of Graphic Design.”

During her 15-year tenure at MSU, Professor Meta Newhouse developed guerrilla advertising techniques with undergraduates

through collaborative sprint projects as a foundation for a new book she is writing. Once published, it is intended for use by students in the classroom and design professionals who want to get to use non-traditional spaces in a provocative way. At the same time, the current MSU graphic design faculty members continue to develop new projects that will forge the next generation of creatives.

We have immense gratitude for our land-grant institution, which continues to support the integration of scholarly research and teaching. As one might guess, this is an inclusive endeavor, and support came from across the campus, including the department, college, administrative, and foundation levels. This encompasses the School of Art, the College of Arts & Architecture, the Office of the President, and the Montana State University Alumni Foundation, with extensive guidance from University Communications for proofing and editing.

To raise the much-needed funds to complete the book project, we reached out to our alumni and community. Through a fantastic fundraising event called “Giving Day,” organized by the Montana State University Alumni Foundation, during an all-out effort, we successfully raised over $23,000 in 29 hours, including contributions from 92 outstanding individuals and families. This extensive support is showcased on the inside front cover, along with a sincere thank you.

Additionally, a shout out goes to those who contributed content to the book and that supported the printing of the book so it can be disseminated nationally and internationally. And a special thanks to the members of Studio 10, the co-authors Nelson Goldsworth and Katherine Nell, along with Bruce Barnhart who prepared the files for the printer. However, the hardiest shout out goes to my family for their support, with special thanks to Sammy Farmer and our two children, Coby and Audrey, who are constant inspirations.

So please take time to read this beautiful book. It is a snapshot of our design profession and a testament to the students and faculty who have made the graphic design program at Montana State University a meaningful place to be educated. It is a glimpse into diversity and inclusion and how we use design to inform, persuade, and entertain. But most importantly, it is the essence of grit and determination that defines five decades of Montana-made designers.

INTRODUCTION

BY WADED CRUZADO

This book is a celebration. It’s a celebration of Montana State University’s distinguished graphic design program, which is the only Bachelor of Fine Arts program in graphic design in Montana. It’s a celebration of the immense talent of Montana State University students, alumni, faculty, and staff and their collaborative and innovative efforts to bring this ambitious book project to life. It’s a celebration of numerous supporters who have generously given funds for this project.

And, perhaps most importantly, this book is a celebration of Montana State University’s extraordinary graphic design alumni. Over the past 50 years, graduates of the program have landed design positions at such giants as Adidas, Starbucks, Nike, and K2 Skis. Other graduates have struck out on their own and built their own firms. Throughout this book, you’ll notice not only the excellence of their work but also the diversity of their career paths. We applaud our graduates for their hard work, and we join them in celebrating their successes. In these pages, you’ll be introduced to many remarkable alumni, such as Liz Holtz, Adam Haynes, Kate Parsons, Barry Ament, and Coby Schultz.

Holtz – who attended MSU on a basketball scholarship and still holds the Bobcat Athletics record for career steals – went

on to enjoy a successful design career in the high-tech sector, working at IBM and Microsoft. Haynes, who grew up in Camp Sherman, Oregon, landed his first full-time job after graduation at Adidas. He then continued his career as an illustrator and design director at Hydro Flask. Parsons, who grew up in the rural Montana town of Cascade, attended graduate school at UCLA and is now an assistant professor at Pepperdine University. And Ament and Schultz, who met in a freshman art class at MSU, are now business partners well-known for their legendary company, Ames Bros in Seattle, which has completed creative work for such musical icons as Pearl Jam, Metallica, and The Pixies.

To all of the 135 Montana State University graphic design alumni showcased in these pages, from those who graduated decades ago to those for whom the majority of their careers are yet to come: Congratulations on a job well-done. We are so proud of you!

And to all those who read this book: Thank you for your interest in Montana State University and for your support of our students, alumni, faculty, and staff.

We hope you enjoy these stories and designs.

AMES BROS

SEATTLE WASHINGTON

Barry Ament | Coby Schultz

Opening their doors in 1994, the notorious Ames Bros founded by Barry Ament and Coby Schultz worked in the early years of grunge with rock legends, designing album artwork and packaging. They have shared numerous successes with Pearl Jam, including Grammy nominations for their artful packaging for Vitalogy and Yield, and were present when the band was inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Designing over the past 25 years for the entertainment industry’s biggest names, the Ames Bros client list includes MTV, Metallica, Foo Fighters, Blondie, Nirvana, Blink 182, Eddie Vedder, Chris Cornell, Billboard magazine, and Virgin Records. Strongly influenced by their rural upbringing in Montana and their active imaginations, Ames Bros’ creative work demonstrates painstaking attention to detail that is evident in their intricate silk-screened tour posters and design projects. Forging authenticity through traditional methods, Ames Bros remain true to the creative process by generating the majority of the designs by hand.

CAT APPAREL

BOZEMAN MONTANA

Doug Zwang | Gabrielle Althoff

Christian Schultz | Mariah Surratt

Caterpillar is known the world over for durability, integrity, performance, and excellence. Cat workwear incorporates these attributes and redefines them for the modern worker’s wardrobe. Lasting performance, unparalleled quality, and technical innovation drive the apparel we design. Our workwear is functional, durable, and comfortable. It is designed to perform in the toughest conditions on or off the job site. Summit Resource International located in Bozeman, Montana is a leading private label supplier of apparel and accessories to retail and distributor markets. We provide design, merchandising, sourcing, import, and distribution services for our customer base.

HARDY BRANDS

BOZEMAN MONTANA

Tyrel Thornton

Brooke Benson | Erin Corsi | Jennifer Cox Erhardt

First, “hardy” is a great word that so accurately describes what we do. It means bold, brazen and able to endure challenging conditions. One of our brand pillars is “Grit.” We define this as having the drive to work through challenges and really just giving a shit. So, “Hardy” was a nice fit. including “Brands” in the name was a no-brainer. A great name is simple, easy to say and spell and often reduces confusion about what a company does.

HORNALL ANDERSON

SEATTLE WASHINGTON

Jack Anderson

Hornall Anderson designs how brands and people come together. Thinkers and makers of today’s solutions and tomorrow’s opportunities, we harness the power of creativity to solve complex business challenges. Each day, inspired by nearly four decades of curiosity, collaboration, and courage, we come to the table open. We approach our work through a blend of instinct and expertise. We roll up our sleeves. Trust the process. And keep moving forward. Imagining. Crafting. Partnering. Transforming. Drawing from and contributing to the human experience, we propel society and economy forward.

MADEWORN

LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA

Blaine Halvorson

Blaine Halvorson is a hands-on creator that dreams up experiences, spaces, and tactile collections that are mood, memory, and idea, distilled down to their essence and transferred into materials —thread and leather, flannel, and canvas, cotton and metal, brick and steel. Born and raised on a farm in Montana, he learned to build with his hands—a skill that converges with his artistic talent across multiple media. Little stands in his way on the path to a project’s execution, whether it is a painting, a pair of custom-made shoes, a hand-painted scarf, or an art installation.

MAKELIKE STUDIO

PORTLAND OREGON

Mary Kysar

This may be a bit cliché—manners and a good attitude go a long way! Get to work on time. Learn everyone’s names and use them. Keep your cell phone on silent and put it away. Be thoughtful and go the extra mile: does the dishwasher need emptying? Do it. Learn from every interaction. Listening and observation are important tools for understanding and integrating into your new work culture. Once you understand the office hierarchy and politics you’ll be able to ask better questions and be more effective with your work.

MASSIVE

BOZEMAN MONTANA

Benjamin Bennett

Brett Sander | Chantel Naylor | Erik Dale

At Massive, we redefine how brands connect with their customers. We believe intelligent, artful, and inspired design can improve people’s lives by introducing them to new possibilities. Our diverse clients are innovators in the realms of hospitality, aviation, dining, fitness, residential development, medicine, outdoor recreation, and technology. We strategically share their products and services, reaching consumers wherever they live in the marketplace. We’re also proud to serve the momand-pop enterprises that keep Bozeman, Montana eclectic. We create everything from national advertising campaigns, trade show booth environments, signage, and product packaging to catalogs, identity enhancement, social media strategies, and websites. And because the quality of life matters everywhere, for everyone, we’re teamed with several organizations including Kiva, the Gallatin Valley Land Trust, Eagle Mount, and the Bozeman Schools Foundation to help promote a better existence for those who live both near and far.

PLANET PROPAGANDA

MADISON WISCONSIN

Dana Lytle

If the city of Boston had served hash browns in 1987, Planet Propaganda wouldn’t exist today. But like any good story involving breakfast potatoes, it’s long. Too long for here. Instead, there’s this: by 1989 Dana Lytle, a Montana native and MSU grad, bailed on Boston, worked a bit, and co-founded Planet Design Company in Madison, Wisconsin. The fledgling graphic design shop quickly sprouted wings, along with other useful appendages, and evolved into Planet Propaganda, an all-media idea machine. Now 35 people strong, the company infuses bleeding-edge ad/ design/digital work with the no-BS wisdom of your favorite grandpa after a few Hamm’s. Their mantra gets right to it: first, simplify. Then amplify. For 30 years, Dana has been a driving force behind passion-based brands such as Duluth Trading Company, Intelligentsia Coffee, and Gary Fisher Bikes. Dana is a husband, dad, dog dad, a letterpress printer, and out-of-control globe collector and makes a mean brandy old-fashioned sour. Hash browns on the side.

PLUNKETT + KUHR

PARK CITY UTAH

Barbara Kuhr

Barbara Kuhr and John Plunkett are best known for the design of WIRED, a company they helped found in 1993. They view themselves as ‘content-based problem solvers’ whose work includes projects for TED, the Louvre Museum, Sundance Film Festival and Carnegie Hall. In Utah, Barbara and John have worked to preserve Park City’s Historic District by rebuilding historic homes—designing modern interiors inside 100 year-old, Victorian structures. Today, with the goal of exploring better ways to design and build small, energy efficient homes, Plunkett + Kuhr has designed and is building a mountain home in conjunction with Summit Powder Mountain and Tesla Energy. The ski-house will be a high-altitude beta-test of Tesla’s solar roof and powerwalls.

PRIME INC.

BOZEMAN MONTANA

Jason Johnson | Ben Fjare Alexa Audet | Shane Niederklein | Katie Pierce

Here at Prime Incorporated, we believe that if we aren’t learning, growing, and taking some risks, we’re not doing what we came here to do: provide you with the best marketing, design, and digital development services out there—and make all of us better in the process. Our office is a thrilling gang of work hard, play hard, love-where-you live individuals, right here in the great state of Montana. We make the most of any opportunity to get outside and run, hike, bike, fish, camp, ski, golf, paddleboard, or whatever other play the day brings. We’re a half-day Friday, dog-friendly, stop and say “hey,” local beer in the office kegerator kind of place! We believe great people and a great place to live make for our best work.

SCS UNLIMITED

BOZEMAN MONTANA

Devin Karr | Josh Watkins

Aric Tarr | Lindsay Stutzman | Ian Morgan | Jenna Wilkins

There is a reason we chose to live and work in Bozeman, Montana. Sitting at an elevation of 4,793 feet in the Rocky Mountains, Bozeman presents many opportunities for outdoor recreation. The geographical location contributes to a lifestyle that exists in the community and echoes in our design studio. Getting to step outside is an opportunity to disconnect from the bustle, center ourselves, and draw from the creativity that spawns from each outdoor experience. These experiences contribute to healthy lifestyles, positive personalities, personal growth, and creative inspiration. All of these qualities, either resonate with who we are, or are integral in our day to day at SCS Unlimited.

SNOWGHOST DESIGN

KALISPELL MONTANA

Gina Gagnon

Danyelle Ware | Bill Leighton

SnowGhost Design is a full-service creative design studio located in Kalispell, Montana. We create, explore, and grow brands through graphic design, web development, print production, advertising, and promotional services. Our passion involves creating meaningful design that allows clients to succeed and prosper. We do this by generating creative solutions and delivering them across a multitude of media: print, web, advertising, and multi-media. In a sense we create a distinctive visual voice, speaking to the client’s target audience. We believe a solid brand can be a company’s strongest asset.

STICKFORT

Adam Haynes

Stickfort studio is my little sanctuary in the back of my house. It is where I spend most of my time drawing and illustrating. I’m an artist who grew up in a small town called Camp Sherman. My inspiration generally comes from travel, adventure, and excursions. There is always something new to find that I haven’t seen before. I love drawing things that have been used and worn…the dents and the rust, the dilapidation of something that has a story behind it. The Nike 6.0 work was a real breakthrough for my career as I was asked to draw the way I wanted to draw. It allowed me to hone my style because it was such an extensive project, from there all the other jobs started to come!

1 | 2 | 5 | 11 AMANDA REESE

Helena, Montana

Designer, illustrator and adventurer

3 | 6 | 10 COLTER LEASE

Bozeman, Montana

Illustrator and lead creative

4 | 7 | 8 | 9 DRAKE SOCIE

Oakland, California

Senior designer and punk rocker

2 | 8 | 9 | 13 GAVIN

4 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 15

1 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 16 JACKY CHAN Hong Kong, China

World traveler and designer

DUECKER Minneapolis, Minnesota

Outdoorsman, hunter and art director

CLAIRE BISCHOFF San Antonio, Texas

UI/UX designer, illustrator and mother of three

1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 9 PAUL GORSUCH Jackson, Wyoming Digital designer and musician

2 | 4 | 6 | 10 DOMINIQUE FULTZ Driggs, Idaho Printmaker, designer and mom

5 | 11 | 12 JACOB DESCH Portland, Oregon Hacker, coder and dad

1 | 5 | 6 | 10 BRANDEN JAPPE Portland, Oregon Graphic designer and car guy

2 | 4 | 9 | 12 | 13 TARA KETNER Portland, Oregon

Art director, designer and cyclist

3 | 7 | 8 | 11 CALI FRANKOVIC Steamboat Springs, Colorado Photographer, art director and designer

| 4 | 5 | 7 | 14 CARY SILBERMAN

Bozeman, Montana

Creative director and awesome dad

3 | 8 | 9 | 12 TAYLOR GRADY

Mill Creek, Washington

Design

6 | 10 | 11 | 13 HARRISON HOWARD

Santa Cruz, California

strategist and tenacious cowgirl

Designer, illustrator and surfer

1 | 3 | 5 | 8 DAVID DRISCOLL

Munich, Germany

Designer, illustrator and art director

2 | 4 | 10 TRISHA MILLER

Boulder, Colorado

Designer, illustrator and adventurer

6 | 7 | 9 DAN BILYEU

Bozeman, Montana

Video game animator and hot rodder

1 | 4 | 6 | 10 KINSEY WHITE Bozeman, Montana Creative manager and adventurer

2 | 5 | 8 | 11 RAFE STEWART Portland, Oregon Creative director and musician

3 | 7 | 9 TATE CHAMBERLIN Bozeman, Montana Changemaker and advocate

1 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 12 MARY MECCAGE

Bozeman, Montana

Freelance designer and illustrator

2 | 9 | 13 ROBERT RATH

Bozeman, Montana

Illustrator extraordinaire and dad

3 | 4 | 8 | 11 JOHN DALKE

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Product director and dad

1 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 12 MEGGAN BOCKS & SAM BUXTON

Bozeman, Montana

2 | 5 | 7 | 8 JUSTIN

4 | 9 | 11 | 13 JARED

Sign makers and dynamic duo

WUTZKE

Great Falls, Montana

Owner/creative director and JCI USA National President

BYERLY

Bozeman, Montana

Marketing strategist and father

1 | 3 | 6 SAMANTHA YARBOROUGH

Bozeman, Montana

Director of brand strategy and awesome mom

2 | 7 | 8 | 9 JASON DURGIN

San Francisco, California

Visual designer and creative director

4 | 5 | 10 PAUL JOHNSON

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Photographer, designer and traveler

1 | 4 | 11 KENDRA ROBINSON

Bozeman, Montana

Designer and power-mom

2 | 3 | 5 | 8 BEN SYMON

Cincinnati, Ohio

Creative director, adventurer and dad

6 | 7 | 9 | 10 ERIK PALMQUIST

Portland, Oregon

Graphic designer, colorist and sneakerhead

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7 | 9 RYAN BONE

San Fransisco, California

Interactive designer and creative

2 | 6 | 10 TYLER DAVIS

Portland, Oregon

Digital product designer and strategist

4 | 5 | 8 | 11 EMILY THOMPSON

Bellingham, Washington

Design director and avid mountain biker

1 | 6 | 9 | 11 KIETRA NELSON

Bozeman, Montana

Principle creative and dynamic mom

2 | 4 | 8 | 10 BOBBY BISKUPIAK

Seattle, Washington

Independent creative and PNW surfer

3 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 13 MICAH RAUCH

Great Falls, Montana

Illustrator, graphic designer and awesome dad

1 | 3 | 8 AMY SOWERS Bozeman, Montana Independent designer and boxing champion

2 | 7 | 9 NORTH BRYAN Portland, Oregon Brand and digital designer

4 | 5 | 6 BEN LARDY Seattle, Washington Designer, illustrator and skateboarder

1 | 2 | 3 | 5 JOE ERFLE

Seattle, Washington

Creative director and outdoor adventurer

4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 MICHELLE HUTCHINSON

Capistrano Beach, California

Founder and creative director

7 | 11 | 12 | 13 LEILANI SCHWEITZER

Reno, Nevada

Installation artist and dynamic mom

1 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 14 ERIN THORMODSGARD

Miles City, Montana

Entrepreneur, business owner and metalsmith

2 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 15 TODD HEATH

Bozeman, Montana

Publisher, art director and snowboarding dad

4 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 12 WHITNEY CONNOLLY

Portland, Oregon

Account director and globetrotter

1 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 8 HILLER HIGMAN

Bozeman, Montana

Creative director, skier and power-dad

2 | 4 | 5 DELACY JAPPE

Beaverton, Oregon

Graphic designer, realtor and mom

9 | 10 | 11 TIM BRAUN

Kalispell, Montana

Marketing director, designer and dad

1 | 6 | 7 | 10 DREW SCHUG

Bozeman, Montana Entrepreneur, business owner and family man

2 | 4 | 5 | 11 MIKE LOZAR Polson, Montana

Illustrator, designer, musician and hockey player

3 | 8 | 9 | 12 KELLY MCDOWELL-DEVRIES Wellington, Colorado Entrepreneur, business owner and dynamic mom

DANA AABERG

BOZEMAN MONTANA

As a designer and creative, I’m looking for the best people have to offer and I want to help them express and manifest their vision and make it even better. What’s inspiring is the creative life you get to lead and the amazing people you meet along the way. What’s a new idea? A different way of looking at things? How do you expand your vision? As Jayne Van Alstyne always said, “How can you give something a quarter or half turn and look at something in a new way?” Your job is to pursue imagination.

DANA AABERG

SCOTT ABEL

BOZEMAN MONTANA

People often say don’t take no for an answer. In our profession, if you’re presenting something to a client, an instructor, a boss, or anybody along those lines, I say do take no for an answer. Then you can move on, try a different approach, and shoot for something greater. Inevitably, they are the people you need to please. It’s always ok to defend your work, but if you disagree with no, be ready in advance to give credible reasoning. My best work was born from no.

LADD ARUNDEL

PORTLAND OREGON

A good design problem is like getting lost in the woods or like being on a hike with the promise of perfect composition and witty message tempting me along. No matter how prepared I feel going into that forest, I continuously run into dead-end trails. I start to panic. But then, I just keep trying. The only thing to do is to persist. Suddenly I’m back at the trailhead and everything is fine. I’ve found a solution. Sometimes the best advice is to just press on. Whether frustrated with career growth or confronting a single layout, just keep trying.

BILL BROWN

SEATTLE WASHINGTON

While I only briefly worked as a graphic designer in the traditional sense at a children’s software company, I was soon offered a full-time position as an in-house animator and illustrator. After I met another illustrator who worked freelance, for a wide variety of clients, I was convinced I could do the same. After a shaky start, I found extraordinary representation with Art Department in New York. I’ve worked on a variety of assignments, but some of my favorites have been editorial series, connected by common themes or recurring characters.

LAUREN BROWN

BOZEMAN MONTANA

I’ve always gravitated toward and championed beauty. But it wasn’t until I married the man of my dreams and had children that I fully understood the intensity and importance of photographing weddings. The relationships I develop with people I photograph, the love I so, fortunately, get to witness and the pure joy I get to document continually inspires and motivates me. Having grown up in Big Sky Country, it was hard not to take note of our awe-inspiring views and never-ending sky. Creating meaningful artful images and capturing the emotions of people’s lives never gets old.

EMILY CELLAN

PORTLAND OREGON

Design inspiration can come from anywhere, but not all sources are equal. Instagram and other social media outlets offer a way to follow niche designers who have honed an aesthetic or have a fresh design style. With my focus on apparel graphics, I find market research a way to see what is happening for myself. When I travel around the US and internationally I can see similarities and differences in graphic application treatments or placements. Lastly, I love books. There is still so much out there in print. From gallery show catalogs to an obscure historical Japanese type, books provide inspiration that won’t show up in a Google search. Stay curious. Graphic design is a process in solving a visual equation with many possible answers.

ELI CLARK

KALISPELL MONTANA

I feel lucky to have ended up in the design profession. I like to think of it as more of a lifestyle instead of a career. I realized fairly early in this journey I wanted to live a life that was surrounded by design but not tied to it in a traditional way. After years of working in more corporate environments, putting in the time, and learning the nuances, I decided to take the leap and venture out on my own. I did so in a 19-foot-long Airstream. Traveling for a year, designing on the go from beaches to state parks around our beautiful and diverse country. This was before hashtags and mobile hot spots were mainstream so it felt a little Lewis & Clark to me. I think the most important thing along the way, in this adventure of design lifestyle, has been relationships and friendships with fellow creatives and clients alike.

DIANA DAVIS

I moved to NYC from Montana four years ago. Since then I’ve not only designed in-house for two major publishing companies but also launched into full-blown entrepreneurship. It started with me just taking a leap. There was no NYC job lined up, no plan. I just followed my passion and made it happen. So my advice? Just start. Somewhere. Anywhere. Don’t settle. You only live once, make your dreams happen. Also, put your awesome self out there! People can’t know how great you are if they don’t know you exist. Ask questions. Don’t give up. Pursue what makes your heart beat.

KOREY DOLL

LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA

Don’t overlook the simple things! That first step into the job world can be daunting, but there are simple things that you can control. Whether it’s an interview or a trial work period, be on time, organized, and prepared to work with a team. Have a can-do attitude about whatever task you may be given. I landed my first job as a junior art director in the movie poster business by tackling a week-long, simple but tedious organization task. I’ve had the role of hiring—the simple things often outweigh the quality of a portfolio.

SONJA DURR

SPOKANE WASHINGTON

Always write a contract! Always. Even if it is simple. Some learn this the hard way. Not you. Be sure to specify deliverables, a general timetable, what you will be paid, and when. Please include the number of revisions you are willing to do for an agreed-upon price (suggestion: no more than three) and state that after which you will be paid an hourly rate. Articulating that you will collect a deposit before beginning the design process is also highly recommended. And don’t neglect to write terms for when you will receive the remainder of that dough.

LYNSEY DYER

JACKSON WYOMING

Do you sell everything to buy a van and just go skiing? Or do you get into politics and try to change all of this? Who am I to declare anything? The truth is we don’t know. With so many in the world suffering around us, how is it possible to find so much joy in a silly thing called skiing? At the same time, who am I to not fully live in this one precious life. With ultimate appreciation…taking in everything. Look, I know that I lead a profoundly privileged life. I’m not an expert on anything and don’t have all the answers. All I know is that every time we go outside all the questions and all the struggles become more manageable. Everything is okay then…and that might be enough!

KELSEY DZINTARS

BOZEMAN MONTANA

There’s a reason Bozeman is considered a “dream town” and lauded by many for offering a high quality of life. When you fly in over the Bridger Range or drive into the Gallatin Valley and find yourself surrounded by mountains, it’s easy to understand why people want to live, work and play here. Add the cultural amenities of a local symphony and museums, the vibrancy of a college community, and energetic downtown, Bozeman is the complete package.

AMY + TODD FARRELL

MISSOULA MONTANA

Graphic design is more than an art form. In reality, it most often needs to solve a business problem. If you want to be a stand-out, valuable member of a team then you must have business and marketing knowledge. This helps you to truly relate to those you work with and understand their business goals. If you didn’t take business or marketing classes, then start by reading books and learning from those who are a few steps ahead of you. Some suggestions include: Creative Strategy and the Business of Design by Douglas Davis, This is Marketing by Seth Godin, The Futur on YouTube.

KYLEE FIRLIT

SALT LAKE CITY UTAH

As the senior graphic designer for Black Diamond, I am constantly combining my passion for the outdoors with my professional work and using my time in the mountains to inspire my creativity. Black Diamond is a company committed to making the best mountain gear, so the time I spend in the mountains makes me successful at understanding the product and audience I market to. More importantly, being in the mountains allows me to expand my perspective, look past my computer screen or sketchbook, and empty my mind. I find that the best way to re-energize my creativity is by having a clear mind, detached from the chaos surrounding us in life. As John Muir said, “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” By exploring and being in nature, I can declutter my thoughts and observe the world around me with a distinct awareness. I strive to infuse my work with the energy nature instills in me.

TIANNA FORD

GREAT FALLS MONTANA

There’s nothing like picking up a thick piece of cotton paper, feeling the impression, and smelling the ink. I am a traditional graphic designer by day, so when I have the time to take a break from the computer life. I enjoy spending time printing in my studio and working with my hands. The merging of digital and handmade art is fascinating. I take a digitally designed piece and transform it into a plate and hand print it, sometimes hundreds of times to make a finished product. It’s such a simple product in the end, but it was anything but simple to make.

RUSS FRY

BOZEMAN MONTANA

As a furniture maker and designer, I frequently have the opportunity to be inspired by pieces and styles created by other people everywhere I go. When I find something that someone else has made that I love, I try to decipher why it is that I am so drawn to the piece. Not to copy it, but to perhaps adopt that particular aspect into something I make that is cohesive with my particular style and medium. I also believe that traveling to new places that use different styles, products and techniques is paramount for exposure and inspiration.

HOLLY GANNETT

MISSOULA MONTANA

We have photographed weddings across the United States as well as in Mexico, but mainly shoot wherever we call home. Meeting new couples is one of my favorite parts of my job. I love capturing the special moments between a couple that often go unseen. I take great pride in making photo shoots fun and carefree. Even people who dread having their photo taken lighten up and enjoy themselves when we work together. I’m always ready to think on my feet, change plans as we need to, and go with the flow. Which always comes in handy during a wedding!

BOYD GOFF

BUDAPEST HUNGARY

Following your passion is the only way to avoid being mediocre and bored at your profession. Travel as much as you can! It’s the most interesting way to learn about the crazy and wonderful world we live in. Technology is sprinting, I would try to find a career that artificial intelligence can’t take from you.

ERIC HEIDLE

GREAT FALLS MONTANA

Don’t limit your design career to design. I’ve somehow become a photographer, videographer, and writer while working in graphic design. As the industry evolves, it’s valuable to find new passions and skills to add to your toolkit. I’ve worked with designers who are also amazing musicians, craftsmen, authors, illustrators, and programmers, and whose interests make the work they do more powerful and authentic. Design is a key that opens a lot of other doors.

CARL HEIDLE

SPOKANE WASHINGTON

A career in graphic design can be incredibly rewarding, but finding a place to start can be daunting. It’s important to remember that trends and technology will be constantly in flux, so try to focus on doing one thing that’s new each time you start a project. Whether it’s a new technique, color, typeface, or style, choose just one thing that will challenge you. Don’t let a fear of making mistakes hold you back. Trying to play it safe is the surest way to slow your progress.

RYAN HOBBS

DALLAS TEXAS

If I was to offer one piece of advice, I couldn’t. I could offer many. One is to learn as much as you can from every interaction. Learn to write effectively and speak even better, both to other people and to yourself. Ask questions and never stop learning! Have a passionate curiosity for all facets of the design field. Think of your skill set as a toolbox on wheels. Learn to adapt full stop!

LIZ HOLZ

AUSTIN TEXAS

Operating across any major industry sector in the world requires a depth of understanding and mastery to be a relevant contributor. There is a lot of opportunity for design in these complex areas. The combination of domain knowledge and user insights can be a one-two punch. Learn how to wield this power. Designers with deep domain knowledge are changing the world and advancing the profession.

WALKER HOWARD

SANTA FE NEW MEXICO

Born and raised in Bozeman, Montana, I have always had the heart of a traveler. My creativity is fueled by the places I explore, the people I meet, and the environments that I seek out. Life is short and goes by fast. Every day I wake up grateful that I get to do what I genuinely love the most. I appreciate the technology that enables me to do this, I appreciate the planet and I try to get outside every day. Connect with nature whether it be in the surf, the forest, or the mountains. For me, it always comes back to nature.

MIKE KIRKPATRICK

ANCHORAGE ALASKA

Creativity can be a strange, fickle thing. It doesn’t always strike when you need it most, and often will be in surplus while working on the most basic, uninspiring projects. We live in a society that is awash with design and inspiration. You just need to learn to consciously look for it. I like to pull ideas from a myriad of sources. It always amazes me what you’ll notice during well-traveled routes when you’re not navigating them from a car. Pay attention to your surroundings, look at signage, murals, architecture, landscapes, anything that garners a second glance, or makes you stop to soak it in. Always utilize the camera on your smartphone and take pictures of things you like including type samples, color palettes, logos, textures, and refer to them often.

DANE KUHN

MINNEAPOLIS MINNESOTA

Never miss an opportunity to learn something new. If I’ve learned anything from my short career, it’s that we shouldn’t put ourselves into boxes as creatives. Just because you are a graphic designer doesn’t mean you can’t learn how to do things in adjacent creative areas. Volunteer to hold a boom-mic, watch After Effects tutorials or read a book about creative writing. Don’t do this to solely make yourself more marketable or a better designer; do this to genuinely grow as a creative.

SABIA MAGURN

LONGMONT COLORADO

I had no clue that I would end up owning a floral studio after graduating from Montana State University. It just kind of happened! Being a small business owner has been both the most rewarding and terrifying thing that I’ve ever taken on. On any typical day, I roll into the studio bright and early, get a jump on emails and a handle on the day’s activities—whether it’s client meetings, employee training, production work, or installations and deliveries. As the business continues to grow, my role has evolved from designer and jack-of-all-trades to art director, business relations manager, and business development. I have grown so much as a person and artist in the past three years. I am so excited to see what the future holds for me and the Painted Primrose.

CHINON MARIA

NEW YORK NEW YORK

Dream. Push. Jump. Fall. Pick yourself up. Work harder now. Repeat. Believe in yourself, you got this, this is a journey that you were born to do! Wake up with fire and give the world your best. You have something beautiful to share. A gift that is unique to you. That gift is your tool to create the change you want to see in the world. Be grateful, be kind, be patient. Changing the world can take time. Be confident. Champion your work, but please don’t forget to pause, because you are not the only star in the room. Grace others with being humble, gracious, listen, and learn. We all have our path, focus on yours, and nourish it. Now go! Get your hands dirty, make a mess, and break a few rules. You are an artist after all. The world is waiting for you to change it.

JEREMIAH MARTIN

WHITEFISH MONTANA

As the Interface Director for the ZaneRay Group, a web development agency in Whitefish, I work with a team that designs and builds websites for brands such as Nixon Watches, Skullcandy, Orvis, Osprey Packs, Jackson Hole, and more. My position requires an interesting combination of creative and analytical skills. I work with a team of interface designers and developers and often find myself designing, programming, or building conceptual prototypes. I often work directly with clients to come up with creative solutions. The end result is always a team effort to turn a concept into a dynamic functioning product.

FAITH MILLER

WEST HOLLYWOOD CALIFORNIA

Currently, I reside in West Hollywood and work as the Creative Director for Write Brain Books, a company that produces richly illustrated, textless books with lines on the pages, encouraging the “reader” to also be the “writer.” I try to encourage creativity and self-expression through my work whenever possible.

JUSTIN MOONEY

HOOD RIVER OREGON

As a professional snowboarder during my time at MSU, the obvious career path after graduation was a design job in action sports, ideally snowboarding. However, the desk part of that scenario was something I’d hoped to put off for as long as possible. Cue an injury, declining industry, and a real opportunity for my first in-house desk job with Dakine, one of my sponsors. Landing the role of senior graphic designer with DK allowed me to transition my aspirations in snowboarding into a behind-the-scenes creative career within the industry I knew and loved. All told, opportunities will present themselves. The timing might not be exactly as you had planned, but sometimes you just have to jump in!

KURT PALMQUIST

BOZEMAN MONTANA

At the center of my personal and professional life is creativity. It encompasses everything I do and how I relate to the world around me. Creativity lives and breathes in all of us and I enjoy seeing that in people that I work with and spend time with. Creativity puts me in a special place where I can be selecting the perfect typeface, teaching a first-time skier, watching my kids play soccer, or concepting my next sculpture. Creativity allows me to problem solve, learn, and teach.

KATE PARSONS

LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA

Find what speaks to you, what you truly enjoy doing, and never be afraid to try new things—and don’t allow yourself to stay in situations just because they feel “safe.” Challenge yourself and be okay with discomfort. I started out in print advertising, working at a few small agencies in Montana and California, but always felt an attraction to screen-based media. After graduate school, I worked in video and eventually expanded my practice to include virtual and augmented reality. My graphic design background heavily influences all the work I do, and informs every composition, whether it’s spatial or 2D. I rely on it every day.

ALAN PETERS

LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY

Jupiter Visual’s concepts are inspired by mid-century culture, objects, and typography. Finding beauty in the defunct and presenting old ideas in repurposed ways is central to the aesthetic. Drawing from past colors, forms and type allows the work to take on a nostalgic quality and a timeless nature. Creating work in classic methods such as line art drawing and screen printing adds to the retro quality that defines the style.

DREW PIGOTT

SEATTLE WASHINGTON

Practice more than you think. The best way to advance speed and creativity is through trial and error. Don’t limit your style or platform, have fun. Stay humble and introduce yourself to new people. It seems simple but confidence and attitude are just as important as having a solid portfolio. Working non-stop on layouts or logos can burn you out so have a creative outlet to stay inspired.

MICHAEL RUSSO

SEATTLE WASHINGTON

The best piece of professional advice I can give is to make networking a priority. You never know when one of those connections will lead to your dream job, and it’s amazing how much people will be willing to help you out. You may be a great designer, but so are a lot of other people. When competition is strong, knowing someone that can get you a foot in the door can make all the difference.

KAREN SCHMIDT

BOZEMAN MONTANA

You’ll never know it all—so you will always be challenged. What a wonderful thing, to be able to do something you love that allows you to grow in many directions. Every job is a treasure hunt. You will search to discover ways to communicate and educate yourself on the client and project. My passions are color, typography, and photography. Armed with knowledge, you develop a strategy, and then the creative part begins! I’ve often felt like a music conductor directing creatives. The results, if good, are similar to a lovely concerto.

JASON STRAHN

KIHEI HAWAII

One of the greatest things about our industry is its constant innovation! New technology, materials, and techniques mean it’s possible to create incredible design and art that wasn’t feasible a few years ago. The best advice I can give is to never stop learning and exploring. Immerse yourself in areas you find interesting; it is often possible to find good work in these fields, and great design is born from personal passion. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, you’ll learn more from a mistake than you ever will from success. Fail forward, just don’t use Instagram filters!

KYLE SWOYER

NEW YORK NEW YORK

My advice for when you graduate is to figure out what exactly you want to do with your career. This came for me in my post-graduate internship at R/GA in New York. Then, as soon as you know, make sure you do everything you can to get that kind of work and a position with that title. For example, I love being an art director and more specifically an art director for campaigns. I love ideas, selling them through to the client, and then managing people, designers, animators, and photographers to see the idea through.

IXTLA VAUGHAN

BOZEMAN MONTANA

After years in the outdoor industry, my path has led me to the world of natural beauty. These days I find myself designing packaging; little tiny tubes and bottles as well as the cartons to contain these colorful, dimensional jewels. You can find my creative work in every Target, Ulta Beauty, Whole Foods, and Riley Rose.

MATT WELLMAN

BEAVERTON OREGON

Design with the end in mind! It’s so important to understand the “why” about what it is you are creating or the problem you’re trying to solve. Always spend the time understanding the end use for your creative request. Will it live in a store window, on a mobile device, on a billboard, or be attached to a consumer product? Typically, a creative brief for any one job will have the end use stated. If it doesn’t, always ask questions. Questions are never a bad thing, and they help you understand the need at hand. When you present your work back to the client, they will appreciate the fact that you fully understand their needs. This is what separates fine art from design. | Photos by Tim Kemple

SHAUNESCY WILLARD

BOZEMAN MONTANA

As an owner and creative director of Montana Parent, a parenting magazine for southwest Montana families, I am involved in an ever-changing industry. Most in the print publication industry are struggling to hold on, but we have chosen a niche market and continue to thrive. To keep pace with the trend, we publish digitally and offer strong social media content. Even still, our readers would rather pick up a paper copy of the magazine than read it online. I am fortunate to have a job with flexibility and creative freedom. Ninety-four issues into this venture, it’s still fun to coordinate monthly themes with my partners and photographers to create an original layout for each issue.

JEFF WILLIAMS

RALEIGH NORTH CAROLINA

I’ve jumped around a bit, but the majority of my career has focused on web content design. This involves studying how people consume content online and analyzing their behavior. We use that information, along with the team’s creativity, to design something that tells an engaging story. My team and I work in mediums ranging from static graphics to interactive web pages and video. In my spare time, I love designing custom typefaces and researching old print magazines for layout and type inspiration.

RYAN WILSON

SEATTLE WASHINGTON

School will be one of the most creative times of your life, don’t let it stop there. When entering the professional field you will get opportunities based on your creative work. But that won’t necessarily translate to what you are hired to do, especially when starting your career. Continue to learn new programs, push your creativity, and push your employers. Work hard to enjoy what you do. Be proactive.

STUDIO 10

Undergraduate Research Team

Studio 10 started as a class of nine talented undergraduate graphic designers and their professor Jeffrey Conger. These students were few in number but mighty, thus the name Studio 10 was born. The goal was to create a book—simple enough, or so everyone thought. Even the most basic items took time and research such as type treatment, book size, and items as granular as the underlying grid. This was a project that was going to take more than a single semester.

The group continued, picking up new members of their team to continue to see the book flourish, though there was no longer the set structure of class time. Instead, there were short weekly meetups and the occasional working session fueled by pizza. After a year, much of the original team had graduated and moved on. The remaining few and their fearless leader were determined to see the book through to publication. What you hold in your hands is the final result of that combined effort by all.

This book is a collaboration between current students, alumni of the Graphic Design program going back over fifty years, the School of Art faculty, the College of Arts and Architecture, and Montana State University. This book is bigger than any one person and has been growing and evolving ever since it was conceived as a project.

The book has expanded in page count, had many cover iterations, and ideas have morphed and changed along the way as the book grew and took shape.

The team had to adapt to the look and feel of what the book was meant to be as it revealed itself every step of the way. They had to learn to let go of their initial vision which the book had quickly outgrown.

Ultimately, it was a learning experience that the members of Studio 10 will take with them into their careers and lives inspiring them for many years to come. It was an exercise in teamwork and collaboration, and learning experience in adaptability and willingness to change on the fly. It constituted a real-world project with a tangible product that will live on at Montana State for many years to come. This connection to the alumni, current students, and future members of the MSU Graphic Design program makes this book both a snapshot of an era and celebrates ushering in a new one.

The team made decisions on all the design elements including but not limited to the base grid structure, type treatment, section layouts, cover design, final selected imagery, individual page layouts, contents pages, all the way down to the title, and subtitle of the book.

As a research team, we want you to see in the pages of this book the hard work and dedication we put into the final product, but more importantly, all the long hours these incredibly talented people put into these projects. The alumni highlighted in this book all have attended Montana State University and taken a diverse range of career paths that we hope inspires future generations of MSU alumni just as much as it has inspired us.

The undergraduate research design team Studio 10 is directed by MSU professor Jeffrey Conger and includes Christy Jacobson, Siobhan Murphy, Erik Goughnour, Teneill Gauthier, Whitney Pomroy, Serena Gossack, Nelson Goldsworth, Mary Christian, Katherine Nell. (Not Pictured: Tavin Davis-Kapor.) These talented upper-level students produced this 192-page full color book while participating in the BFA Graphic Design option at Montana State University.

MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY

COLOPHON

The text of this book is set in MR EAVES MODERN , a typeface designed by Zuzana Licko of Emigre Fonts in 1996. The MR EAVES type family is based on and designed to complement MRS EAVES: a transitional serif typeface family also designed by Licko.

The name Mr Eaves is a play on a piece of typographical history. As a typeface, Mrs Eaves pulls inspiration from a series of serif typefaces designed and cut by John Baskerville in 1757 and was named after the woman he married: Sarah Eaves, who often worked alongside her husband in his typesetting and printing. Mr Eaves is John Baskerville.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

JEFFREY CONGER is a professor of Graphic Design at the School of Art at Montana State University. He received an MFA from the University of Utah, a BFA in Graphic Design and a BS in Art Education from the University of Idaho.

NELSON GOLDSWORTH is a computer engineer at Bridger Photonics, a state-of-the-art optics company in Bozeman. He received a BFA in Graphic Design and a BS in Physics from Montana State University.

KATHERINE NELL is a graphic designer at Big Storm, a data-driven marketing company in Bozeman. She received a BFA in Graphic Design and a minor in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management from Montana State University.

STUDIO TEN is the undergraduate research design team that are now all proud MSU alumni with BFA degrees in Graphic Design and more. They include Mary Christian, Tavin Davis-Kapor, Teneill Gauthier, Nelson Goldsworth, Serena Gossack, Erik Goughnour, Christy Jacobson, Siobhan Murphy, Katherine Nell and Whitney Pomroy. This book is available through www.msubookstore.org

BARRY AMENT · COBY SCHULTZ · JACK ANDERSON · BEN BENNETT · BARBARA

KUHR · BLAINE HALVORSON · ADAM HAYNES · DANA LYTLE · TYREL THORNTON

JASON JOHNSON · BEN FJARE · DOUG ZWANG · CHRISTIAN SCHULTZ · DEVIN

KARR · ALAN PETERS · AMY AND TODD FARRELL · BILL BROWN · BOYD GOFF

CARL HEIDLE · CHINON MARIA · DANA AABERG · DANE KUHN · DIANA DAVIS

DREW PIGOTT · ELI CLARK · EMILY CELLAN · ERIC HEIDLE · FAITH MILLER

HOLLY GANNETT · IXTLA VAUGHAN · JASON STRAHN · JEFF WILLIAMS ·

JEREMIAH MARTIN · JUSTIN MOONEY · KAREN SCHMIDT · KATE PARSONS ·

KELSEY DZINTARS · KOREY DOLL · KURT PALMQUIST · KYLE SWOYER · KYLEE

FIRLITT LADD ARUNDEL · LAUREN BROWN · LIZ HOLZ · LYNSEY DYER · MATT

WELLMAN · MICHAEL RUSSO · MIKE KIRKPATRICK · RUSSELL FRY · RYAN HOBBS

RYAN WILSON · SABIA MAGURN · SCOTT ABEL · SHAUNESCY WILLARD ·

SONJA GATES-DURR · TIANNA FORD · WALKER HOWARD · AMANDA REESE

AMY SOWERS · BEN LARDY · BEN SYMON · BOBBY BISKUPIAK · BRANDEN

JAPPE · CALI FRANKOVIC · CARY SILBERMAN · CLAIRE BISCHOFF · COLTER

LEASE · DAN BILYEU · DAVID DRISCOLL · DELACY JAPPE · DOMINIQUE FULTZ

DRAKE SOCIE · DREW SCHUG · EMILY THOMPSON · ERIK PALMQUIST · ERIN

THORMODSGARD · GAVIN DUECKER · HARRISON HOWARD · HILLER HIGMAN

JACKY CHAN · JACOB DESCH · JARED BYERLY · JASON DURGIN · JOE ERFLE

JOHN DALKE · JUSTIN WUTZKE · KELLY MCDOWELL-DEVRIES · KENDRA

ROBINSON · KIETRA NELSON · KINSEY WHITE · LEILANI SCHWEITZER · MARY

MECCAGE · MEGGAN BOCKS · MICAH RAUCH · MICHELLE HUTCHINSON

MIKE LOZAR · NORTH BRYAN · PAUL GORSUCH · PAUL JOHNSON ·

RAFE STEWART · ROB RATH · RYAN BONE · SAM BUXTON · SAMANTHA

YARBOROUGH · TARA KETNER · TATE CHAMBERLIN · TAYLOR GRADY · TIM

BRAUN · TODD HEATH · TRISHA MILLER · TYLER DAVIS · WHITNEY CONNOLLY

Inside this book, you will find the creative work of 135 talented graphic designers who have attended Montana State University over the past five decades. Some carved out careers in the Treasure State, while the rest are spread across the globe from New York to Hong Kong, each forging a livelihood in the design profession. Creating logos, apps, websites, illustrating books, developing apparel lines, and much more. This is the story of their design work and the advice they have for you.

Montana State University

Bozeman, MT 59717

Available online at www.msubookstore.org

Printed in the U.S.A