Margo Chase Gallery Opening

Margo Chase famed typographer and founder of Chase Design Company will be giving a special lecture for industry professionals and students at her Gallery Opening on April 16, 2010 at The Art Institute of California- Orange County. The lecture will discuss the design process from research and inspiration through strategy, art direction, and design.

Margo has designed logos for many in the entertainment industry in Hollywood including Madonna, Cher, Prince, Bonnie Raitt and others. Her company has been involved in the "branding" of prestigious clients including The WB Television Network, Cartoon Network, Belkin, Chinese Laundry, CVS/pharmacy, Target, Mattel, Nike, Reebok, Procter&Gamble, Starbucks, Nestle, Virgin Records, and Warner Bros. Records. In a recent Graphic Design USA reader’s poll, Margo was one of only two designers to make the top ten in both “Most Influential Graphic Designers of the Era” and “Most Influential Graphic Designers Today”. Chase Design Group also was voted in the top ten “Most Influential Design Firms of the Era”. She was recently featured in the celebrated show “Women Designers in the USA, 1900-2000: Diversity and Difference” on exhibition in New York City and in 2009 was awarded the AIGA Fellow award.

Scholarship Competition Offers Over $550,000 in Tuition Scholarships

For the eighth consecutive year, The Art Institute of California – Orange County offers high school seniors the chance to compete for one of nine half-tuition scholarships valued at up to $47,000 for bachelor’s degree programs.

All students are required to submit a 250-word essay, résumé, letter of recommendation and a high school transcript. Detailed entry requirements can be found online at www.ocscholarship.com.

Entries must be postmarked by Friday, April 2, 2010 and winners will be announced, Saturday, May 8 at The Art Institute of California – Orange County’s third annual fashion, music and art festival – Rock the Runway.

Misty Gross named The Art Institute of California – Orange County first place winner in The Art Institutes Passion for Fashion Competition

On January 7, 2010 Misty Gross of Garden Grove was recently named The Art Institute of California – Orange County first place winner in The Art Institutes Passion for Fashion Competition in the Fashion Design category. In addition to her $3,000 tuition scholarship, Gross now progresses to the national Art Institutes Passion for Fashion Competition. Her entry will be judged against other local winners from throughout North America for the competition's grand prize, a full tuition scholarship to an Art Institutes school, a VIP trip to New York City to attend runway shows during Fashion Week and meet staff at Seventeen Magazine.

The Art Institutes Passion for Fashion Competition was created to encourage and reward young fashion talent. For more information on this year's Art Institutes Passion for Fashion Competition, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/passionforfashion.

Alex's Lemonade Charity Fundraiser

On February 5 & 6, 2010 The Art Institute of California – Orange County hosted a special fundraiser for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. The benefit took place at the school’s renowned 50 Forks Restaurant where notable Orange County chefs teamed up with student servers that hosted two evenings of incredible six-course feasts. Tickets where $50 per person with all proceeds benefitting the cause. A silent auction followed and we are proud to announce that we helped raise a over $4,500!!!

Debbie Millman pulls in huge crowds at The Art Institute of California-Orange County

On January 29, 2010 Debbie Millman, President of the Design division at Sterling Brands, New York, President of the National AIGA, author of four books, host of the radio show "Design Matters" on DesignObserver.com, the Chair of the new Masters in Branding Program at the School of Visual Arts, a contributing Editor at Print Magazine, a design blogger for Fast Company and an author on the design blog Brand New, spoke at The Art Institute of California – Orange County. The lecture was Why We Brand, Why We Buy and was an entertaining sociological, scientific and anthropological overview of why we buy and brand things. She spoke to a packed house of over 120 students and industry professionals. The AIGA AiOC Student Chapter and the AIGA OC Chapter, the professional association for design, also sponsored the event with the school.

What to Wear Fashion Workshop Featured in OC Register Style Blog

Candice Shih from the Orange County Register came to The Art Institute of California - Orange County for the What to Wear fashion workshop on Wednesday, September 30. She wrote a great post on some of the tips the designers and stylist shared. Check out her blog, Style Binge, for more photos from the event and other great fashion news.

Fashion Academic Director Featured on Fox 11 News

Fashion Design And Fashion Marketing & Management Academic Director Mary Ann Gale was featured on the Fox 11 10 o'clock news on Wednesday, October 7. The interview was filmed at The Art Institute of California - Orange County sewing lab. She shared tips on how to shop for clothes that will last.

Graphic Design Students Featured on KTLA

Allie MacKay from the KTLA morning show stopped by The Art Institute of California - Orange County to talk about an event for CreateASkate that our Graphic Design students were volunteering at. Special thanks to our students from AiGA who were with us by 4:30 a.m. that morning and still had the energy to be creative and decorate skateboards.

Graphic Design Students
Katie Williams
Mark Edwards
Jessie Arvizu
Anthony Vallejos
Larry Gonzalez
Joey Lopez

Three different segments aired. Click on the times below to watch all of them.
7 a.m.
6 a.m.
5 a.m.

50 Forks Participates in First Orange County Restaurant Week

This morning, Michelle Gile from the Channel 9 News stopped by 50 Forks as part of her coverage for Orange County’s first Restaurant Week. Restaurants all over Orange County are participating but 50 Forks was one of only two featured in this piece.

Click here to view interviews with Chef Peter Striffolino and some of the patrons. Keep an eye out for the culinary students hard at work.
To take advantage of the special menu at 50 Forks this week or to see the other restaurants participating, go to http://www.orangecountyrestaurantweek.com/.