Every year, I participate (or at least attempt to!) in the Inktober Challenge for my own personal benefit. In 2018, I wanted to somehow use these little illustrations Iād crank out every day to do some good in the world.
In light of ongoing events, I've become increasingly involved with activist groups and efforts. Recently, I've founded a local action group dedicated to protecting our health, future, and environment. We organize local action events around the Bay area to ensure that our government representatives hear our concerns and fight for our wellbeing.
The design industry tends to be pretty homogenous and exclusive. During AIGA's annual SF Design Week, we hosted a panel at Odopod to talk about the challenges of diversity and inclusivity in the field of design, featuring speakers from local organizations addressing that challenge. I also helped to organize a simultaneous silent art auction that helped to raise funds for these local programs.
Working with Citizen Schools, I developed a 1.5-hour workshop for a class of middle schoolers in hopes of introducing them to the idea of designing logos and understanding visual identities. We hoped to make this career that they ordinarily might never have known about, more understandable, accessible, and achievable.
Art can certainly be powerful on its own, but as an illustrator, I also always seek to apply my creative skills towards some other social good. During the holidays and prime card-buying season, I ran a campaign of card sales designed by myself, Scott Alberstein, and Jessie Schnall as a way to raise money for the American Refugee Committee.