Testimonials

Winter ’05 Classmates Neill Pollock and Matt Alvarez landed jobs together through the good relationship The Art Institute enjoys with their boss, Jay Hare, graphics director for SMI Properties, a full-service design, manufacturing, apparel, licensing and merchandising company. Hare comes to every Portfolio Review to assess the latest talent, and Matt and Neill say it was their “exceptional presentation skill at Portfolio review” as well as their persistence while here that got them hired. They said that all the basics were covered in the studies, but it was the hands-on training that provided them with the skills to get the job done.

As graphic artists, Matt and Neill are routinely asked “to create multi-color, high-end simulated process prints for a wide variety of corporate sponsors, primarily the SMI speedways. Our focus is trackside merchandise providing race team, driver and corporate sponsor clients with their own custom Tee-shirt design and paraphernalia at every NASCAR race. This entails digitally illustrating the cars, clever use of type, and creating a cohesive background to generate sales in the retail rigs you find at every race.”

Their advice to AiCH students: Envelope yourself in the programs and the tools. Don’t get caught up in what you think your area of expertise is because all of the disciplines can come into play such as illustration, marketing and, especially, type.

» Return to Previous Page