For aspiring students across the world (I went in as much detail for you all as possible.) Here are some of my projects from SIUC. With thanks to our leadership and school, I am indebted. For what we were allotted in the Blue Barracks in space, hardware, software, professional projects, and leadership we all did the very best we could. We did not have the funding or resources of (the Art Center, CCS, RISD, Univ of Wisconsin Madison, or Cincinnati.) But, I honestly believed I could do great with what I had and where I was, and was not discouraged. Alias was popular. Rhino existed. We had Ashlar Vellum Cobalt and I tried to rock the house with it. We had an unbelievable class! My classmates and leadership helped me grow in every facet of my chosen calling in design. I do not understand why I did so well. I truly attribute it to God himself. The way that doors opened led me 1,000 miles away from my birth home to work in design ((Watch Designer - Fossil, Inc. (2004))) Then to a church home, a Full-Time Art Teacher for (4th to 12th graders in their school), to a history of work in Art and Design I've accomplished with many chosen leaders in life. If it were not for Senior Pastors Mike Hayes and Gordon Banks I would not be here today. Look at the environment (they worked together to build) that I had an opportunity to learn from/in (6 years.)

My mentors:
Charles Harrison (The late U.S. historic Industrial Designer)
I met him through the Organization of Black Designers and traveled by train home to attend their competition (4 hours by Metra from SIU.) He awarded me the 2002 Portfolio Excellence award from OBD after he thoroughly critiqued my portfolio. Winning the 2002 Apple eMac computer was significant for me as I had never owned a computer for design before (actually it was my first personal computer.) After graduation, he also graciously invited me to his home several times. I traveled from the South Side of Chicago by train to Evanston, IL, and listened to him speak passionately about every subject from diversity to integrity. Mr. Harrison had the original work from Sears, drawn on Vellum paper, still in a drawer in his living room. Even with his drawings, his incredible skill in sketching, rendering, and presenting without computer assistance humbled me. There was not a single scratch or fold in his vellum paper, and his entire presentation was immaculate, reflecting his character as a man, a family man, a designer, and a teacher. I am truly grateful to have had such a mentor.

• Energizer

• Lava Lamp
• Coffee Project

Awarded:
• 2002-2003 IDSA Chicago Chapter Secretary
• 2003 IDSA Student Merit Award
• 2003 SIUC Reach Award
• 2003 Finalist for Rickert-Ziebold Trust Award
• 2003 SIUC IDSA Student Chapter President
• 2002 SIUC IDSA Student Chapter Secretary
• 2002 OBD Portfolio Excellence Award
• Professional Work with Inventables, Inc before I graduated in 2003 one of their first illustrators and layout designers.
• 2001 Beyond Design, Inc - Winter Internship

My 2003 Senior Thesis Project: ME notebook

Before OLED became popular with Apple and Samsung products, I discovered its display capabilities on the internet while researching for my thesis. I chose it because it differed from LCD in battery life, foldability, and materials (made of plastic substrate). The project aimed to increase user workspace according to their work environment's range, leveraging Bluetooth hardware and a foldable screen to suit high production needs. Initial research revealed students carrying excessive artwork, books, and supplies to class, and reporters at the Daily Egyptian struggling with cluttered workspaces. The bottom left image is part of my research on our consumer products for work production. (Time capsule picture of 2003 newspaper office if you can see it. (Where I used to work.)) As designers, we could achieve more with display workspace. The project's success serves as visible proof that God gave me this idea before it became popular with foldable screens, cell phones, and Bluetooth systems. Credit goes to the inventors of the systems my family, including my children, uses today. At the 2003 Midwestern IDSA conference for all Merit Award Winners, my late mother enthusiastically supported my presentation, symbolizing the support that made design highs and lows accomplishable. Thanks to God, SIUC, my parents, OBD, Charles Harrison, Steve Belletire, Ted Shin, and the SIUC Art Department for this opportunity. I spent more than 2 weeks in the Blue Barracks overnight researching and working. I slept in the senior design spaces on the couch. They allowed me to work on the computers all night long. I was researching competitions, trends, leaders (Starck, Rashid, Graves, and More), products in the US, and styles of other designers.

In 2002 we had a joint project with the engineering program to develop a FIberglass mold that would be used for their Race Car that they manufactured from scratch. I had the opportunity to be the leader of the team. We manufactured the front of the body from a fiberglass mold and developed the decals that would go on the car as well. The goal was for it to look like a Saluki. It did look like a character with ears! We then had an opportunity to drive, me and another classmate, to Pontiac, MI to watch them race the design.

2001-2003 Daily Egyptian Graphic Artist (On-Campus Work)

Almost all of the Black History pencil sketches, including Freedom of Speech, were done for the Daily Egyptian. We were so popular for doing a pencil portrait of each Black History leader and displaying it on the front cover. The rape illustration (left) was a front cover illustration for the showcase article. I then would take commissioned projects of doing portraits of people as well to bring some money in. Gregory Hines (2003 - Post Grad.) I was initially hired in the summer of 2001 to do all of the advertisements with Adobe Illustrator. I then became one of the leading Graphic Artists for our team of three. (Right) Is the actual illustration graphics we used for an article in the DE in 2003. Students, it will be great to save all your work to show your expertise in the software and environments for your future positions. I started in the Morris Library as a Graphic Assistant, in the basement, learning Photoshop from 1998 to 1999. All was with SIUC student on-campus work opportunities.

It was hard trying to land my first full-time job, especially in one of the biggest cities in the US. However, Vernon Lockhart, of Art on the Loose, Inc., and the president of the Organization of Black Designers in Chicago opened doors for me. Led me to my first lead projects as a freelance Industrial Designer as well as graphic work professionally. My family had projects as well, so I did work for all my family members. Five of the designs below are for my family members. My first professional logo and product labels were performed as well. The early stages of OBD have blossomed into Project Osmosis. Where I currently serve on the Board with present 18+ years of fellowship/membership.