SALUTATIONS!
Another general update on items within the arena of my professional life. I promise this update will be much shorter than the last one.
My apologies I can be a bit verbose.
• Explaining the above image …
In my last update I mention an upcoming opportunity to speak at Seton Hall. Because of the hurricane that hit the East Coast this autumn, I was unable to give my talk to this museum studies class. Obviously there are much bigger concerns in times like these and I have an invitation to have another go at it with next year's class.
(My neighborhood was extremely lucky, but many others were not, so wishing everyone out there a quick recovery.)
This presentation was to be on the role of the graphic designer within the museum design process and on my personal journey and career. The title above represents how serendipity played a significant role in my professional life. Certainly spending over 15 years in the museum design industry was definitely "something I never intended to do."
• Couple new sections to the left …
Just want to alert you to two new additions we have at the jccsilva.com manor house:
and
KOPR is under the "Width x Height x Time"; it involves web design but really it's a whole branding piece, including logo, stationary system, website, etc.
New York magazine is under the "Width x Height"; the work I chose to highlight is mostly print-based but it also features some signage and other elements. In fact, most of my day to day work at NY mag was very much e-based materials, but these are two of the larger and more involved projects I worked on.
I also completed the graphics to a traveling exhibit on the history of the marathon for the National Hellenic Museum in Chicago, but as I stated last time, someone else did the concept graphics, so I don't feel it's really "mine" as such. But here's an external link …
Future … well, it looks like I will be developing a graphics program for the headquarters & practice facility to a certain professional football team (American, that is, not soccer). This will be starting up soon … so stay tuned …
Oh, and I have been working on drawings for another video-literature piece …
AND THAT'S IT! Promised to keep it short & sweet.
Other than that I've been out of the country the past two years so I am super excited for Thanksgiving this year!
cheers,
James C. Cameron Silva
13 November 2012
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I have decided to use this space to give a general update on things. For this 1st installment we will vaguely be talking about the 1st 1/2 of 2012. Also I realize there's a hell of a lot of content on this site, so this might help point you to more recent endeavors and things you may be more interested in than others.
Because, let's face it, you're a self-defined 'busy' person and you haven't got time for the pain.
Along those lines, if you have not figured it out here is a rough break down on the categories to the left:
Line Length = text based content: contact info, resume, various writings, etc.
Width x Height x Time = motion and/or interactive based work.
Width x Height x Depth = museum & exhibitry oriented work.
Width x Height = predominantly print work.
Of course some projects don't fit neatly into any one slot, but it's a starting point.
Back to the General Update …
Around the beginning of April, I made my return to the NYC area after a year & half in England where I resided in the East Midlands (ever hear of Lincoln? Didn't think so, but it's really quite lovely, you should really go sometime.)
I now make my residence in Brooklyn, which really seems a bit cliché to me: being a graphic designer in Brooklyn. (Am I now obligated to wear white belts, primary colored clothing, ride a bike with 1 gear, and learn to play a Casio? Here's hoping the answer is no.)
Recent notables to be noted, before getting into my professional endeavors … these are kind of 'hangover' items from my MA …
James C. Cameron Silva’s The Journey, The Makers, The Bookprovides a critical reflection on the status of the codex (printed book) after the e-book. By problematizing the role of nostalgia in relation to materiality over a number of popular media formats (vinyl records, newspapers, etc.) and taking into account the writer’s approach to various forms of publication, Silva proposes a non-conflictual relationship between the two formats.
Both of those elements are rather wonderful honors but I have yet to figure out to make a living off such things (I am open to suggestions), so in the meantime … onto commercial work –
Since returning to the NYC area I have been working on a 'freelance basis' for a variety of companies …
In America that means I generally get screwed on taxes and health insurance, but the 'bonus' is I have a vague feeling of independence (and a equally vague fear of serious injury). This being a presidential election year I could insert some snarky editorial about the US being behind other 1st world countries … but I won't … and it is true I am no longer in a country where this is cuisine so maybe health insurance is not such a huge necessity (that is sarcasm – I totally should have affordable health insurance!).
So, yes, freelance … started off doing work with New York magazine for their New York Culinary Experience. It's an event for people with (a lot) of disposable income who want to learn to cook with a roster of super-duper famous chefs. Imagine if you wanted to learn how to play basketball – it would be like having the US Olympic Basketball team giving you a hoops clinic – but instead of passing drills, you learn about 'Asian Influenced Fish.' Seriously check out the NYCE's roster – it's impressive. I worked with a team of super fun & lovely people and produced a wide assortment of graphic materials – everything from temporary wayfinding signage to menus to name tags.
Hopefully posting photos in the nearish future …
Around that time I started work on a project for a boutique PR firm: Kelly O'Shea Public Relations. Great job where the company was kind of a clean slate as far as branding. What started out as a website redesign soon became a whole bit of visual branding work. New logo, new business cards, letterhead, the website, and in general, the whole look & feel – all keyed into their 'luxury brands' clientele. I will be adding a new section on this site for this, but in the meantime: check out the website here at kellyopr.com.
Recently I have been back in the saddle again with museum & exhibition graphics working with the firm Evidence Design for the past couple months. I can not exactly show much on what I'd been working on because of non-disclosure issues & such, however I can mention the two main items I worked on. First off is the Smithsonian Institute's upcoming Human Genome exhibit. I worked on several conceptual directions for the graphics for this exhibition. With these types of projects it's hard to predict what it's going to look like in the end but you'll have to take my word for it – at the moment it's looking good.
Also I designed one of Evidence's end of phase book for the California Science Center's new air and space wing featuring the Space Shuttle Endeavor. Not a replica but the actual shuttle. As a kid that grew up in the 80s watcing the shuttle launches, I find this fairly kick-ass. Like I said, at the moment I can't be showing much in the way of visuals, but stay tuned …
Finally, currently, I am working with a small team of ex-cohorts on the design and development of an exhibition on the history of the marathon for the National Hellenic Museum in Chicago. Once again, it's a bit of no-no to post images – perhaps at some point you see might something here. On this one I'm more developing an existing concept design, so because of that I might not post the final pieces. One of those things – I don't like implying credit on things that I didn't fully design.
Future … this has gone on way too long so I'll be quick like a bunny …
Doing a bit more work with New York magazine – like I said super fun people to work with – so looking forward to that.
I have been invited to speak to a class at Seton Hall sometime in the autumn. It'll be great to be talk to students … more details to come …
(note: what I will be speaking on has nothing to do with men's hoops – but I couldn't resist)
Also I have just purchased a new video camera and microphone, so I hope to be doing another of my literature-based projects again soon – I already have a literary piece already in mind for this next one. By writing this I'm kinda holding myself to it. These kind of projects don't really make me money but I feel they make me a better human being, so must keep up with them.
OK that's it. Next time I'll try to update with less words … now go watch some Olympics!
sincerely,
James C. Cameron Silva
2 August 2012
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Methods of communication
Résumé/CV
Character sketch
"The Journey, The Makers, The Book"
MA Design Dissertation
Arcanum 17
Fountains
Walk in a Pine Wood
Orchestras Creeping in to Piano
Smell of Tahiti
Wood
Hell
New Year's Eve : 2012
Compilation
a b c
Kelly O'Shea Public Relations
jccsilva.com – v.1.0