David Hillman Curtis is a filmmaker, designer and author. His film work includes “Ride, Rise, Roar”, a feature length documentary on David Byrne which premiered at SXSW 2009, as well as several national commercials for Ogilvy/IBM, online commercial work for Rolling Stone, Adobe, Sprint, Blackberry and BMW and the popular documentary series “Artist Series”. He has also produced nine short narrative films; “Bridge”, was selected as one of only seven shorts for the GenArts 2009 festival in New York, “Embrace”, and “Spinal Tap” each won “Best Dramatic Short” Webby Awards.

As a web designer David has designed sites for Yahoo, Adobe, Aquent, the American Institute of Graphic Design, Paramount and Fox Searchlight Pictures among others.

His three books on design and film have sold close to 150 thousand copies and have been translated into 14 languages.

David Hillman Curtis’ work has been featured in numerous design publications worldwide. He has also lectured extensively on design and film related subjects throughout Europe, Asia and the USA. He was nominated for the Cooper Hewitt National Design award in 2009.

He generally goes by his middle name, Hillman.

Accolades came early on for Von Glitschka. At the age of 5, he won a contest and was awarded a Speed Racer coloring book. That’s when he realized a career could be made from drawing. Nothing has really changed…except Von no longer wears footed pajamas.

Von has now worked in the communication arts industry for over 23 years as a Senior Designer and Art Director. His fresh, exuberant graphics—for both in-house art departments and medium to large creative agencies—have won numerous design and illustration awards along the way.

In 2002, Von started Glitschka Studios, a multi-disciplinary creative agency. Their clients are nationwide, and include General Motors, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Major League Baseball, Merck, Microsoft, Pepsi, Virgin Atlantic, Hasbro, Bandai Toys, Target, Wendy’s, Allstate Insurance and Upper Deck.

In addition to wowing their own clients, the studio shines as a “hired gun” for outside firms looking for innovative design concepts and illustration. Larger ad agencies and design firms enjoy injecting a new level of creative buzz and adding to their talent base, without adding staff.

Von is a new breed of designer, one who crosses creative boundaries. He’s coined the phrase “illustrative designer,” because it captures the twin talents that bring life to NBA caricatures, corporate logos, toy design and business icons. And whether it’s Barbie or Babe Ruth, snowboards or a Samurai Guppy, Von’s style, humor and uncompromising excellence are sure to cause a second look.

Along with illustrative design work, Von pursues an insane number of other design interests. Von teaches digital illustration at a local college—by popular demand, he’s created www.illustrationclass.com, a resource site for students and professional alike. Von is married to Rebecca, and they have two creative daughters, Savannah and Alyssa, who have already shown an early talent for art and enjoy drawing with their goofy dad.

James Victore as told by himself. Shot, Edited, and Produced by Hillman Curtis as apart of his Artist Series.

Graphic designer, illustrator, lecturer, educator and author Paul Sahre established his New York studio in 1997. While consciously maintaining a small office, Sahre has nevertheless built a large presence in American graphic design. The balance he strikes between commercial and personal projects is evident in the physical layout of his workspace: part design studio, part silkscreen lab, part classroom. In one room he designs and prints posters (some of which are in the permanent collection at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum) for various off-off Broadway theaters, while in the other room he is busy designing book covers for authors such as Rick Moody, Chuck Klosterman, Ben Marcus and Ernest Hemingway. Sahre is also a frequent visual contributor to The New York Times. He is the author of Leisurama Now: The Beach House for Everyone, 1964, a loving look at a short-lived product of early ‘60s consumer optimism: affordable middle-class summer homes. Sahre received his BFA and MFA from Kent State and teaches graphic design at the School of Visual Arts. He lectures extensively all over the world. He is a member of Alliance Graphique Internationale.

Mike Joosse is the director of chapter development for AIGA, the professional association for design. Working with chapter leaders directly, Mike provides resources, information, design work, strategic planning and support to all 65 chapters, the hundreds of chapter board members nationwide and designers around the world seeking ways to become involved with AIGA.

Prior to joining AIGA, Mike spent a decade working as an award-winning designer, art director and creative manager, and as a lauded volunteer with AIGA, culminating in a one-year appointment to AIGA’s national board of directors. He has lectured on design and AIGA to chapters and universities across the country. Mike divides his time between his home in Apex, NC, AIGA's national office in New York, and the record stores in between.