By Janelle Lau

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On March 29 and 30, in Todd Yoshizawa’s class, the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) hosted a workshop where students from around the island met with professional designers and created art. Although this workshop was open to anyone, it was geared more towards people interested in graphic design.

“You get inside access to all the different types of companies that produce the graphics software, and rather than just being on your own, you get to actually meet the people that actually do it, collaborate with them, get feedback from them, as well as give them feedback,” said Industrial Arts teacher Robin Gomes.

During the workshop, students were split into three different groups. “On the first day they gave us lessons about graphics, and they gave us a job as if it was for a client and then they helped us do the design process, on the second day we worked to actually make it,” said Sophomore Kelly Kondo.

This year’s goal was to create a t-shirt design based on the theme, “environmental.” “I did mine on solar energy and my mentor helped me create it on Illustrator and I did an aloha design in wires,” said Junior Christine Svrcina.

The AIGA workshop provided a great learning experience for high school students, who were able to meet a wide variety of graphic designers, work on their designing skills and get insight into the profession. “You can ask (professionals) questions that you have about the career and there are people who know about what you want to do so they’re good resources and connections for in the future when you’re looking for a job,” said Kondo. Svrcina added, “If I chose to pursue graphic design as a calling for me, then I get to figure out how it is, how intense it is and the process you have to think of if you were a professional designer.”

AIGA has a chapter that’s affiliated with a nationwide organization, and students are welcome to attend yearly conventions and monthly meetings.