Creativity Invading the Inland Empire

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) Creative professionals and industry leaders will bring their talents to The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire July 7-11 when it hosts The Invasion of Infinite Creativity.

“We want everyone to see the amazing faculty, talented students, and the kinds of opportunities we are creating in the Inland Empire,” said Micheal Swank, Academic Department Director for Graphic Design and for Web Design & Interactive Media, just two of the disciplines hosting the Invasion of Infinite Creativity.

“The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire is building community through creativity,” Swank said. “Creativity is more relevant then ever before in the working world, and the workshops held during The Invasion of Infinite Creativity will highlight our resources to the public and help revitalize the innovative spirit of the Inland Empire.”

While The Invasion of Infinite Creativity includes keynote speakers well known in their industries, it is also an opportunity for the public to learn the latest design techniques in hands-on workshops led by the award-winning faculty of Ai with specialized industry experiences. They will present workshops in Interior Design, Graphic Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, Culinary Arts, Media Arts & Animation, and Game Art & Design.

All keynote speakers are open to the public, and a majority of the workshops are free. However, pre-registration is necessary with limited space, so you have the true hands-on learning experiences of the Art Institute. Call (909) 915-2100 to register or check out the RSVP page on www.invasionofcreativity.com.

Interior Design workshops cover making computerized 3-D renderings with the SketchUP program, balancing mind, body and spirit with color, and marker rendering (a $30 materials fee for the marker rendering workshops will include 12 AD® markers, marker paper samples and a DVD showing how to render wood, glass and metal)

Graphic Design/Web Design & Interactive Media workshops cover print graphics using InDesign, web design basics and how to publish a design portfolio online, web design with CSS Frameworks, Flash Object-Oriented Programming, AfterEffects for motion graphics, and search engine optimization. Special guests include award winning April Greiman, John McCarthy of Web Metro, Jack Cardinal of Intomotion.com, and xTine Burroughs on culture jamming.

Media Arts & Animation/Game Art & Design workshops cover figure sculpting (participants will sculpt a female form using a live model,) life drawing, character design for film and television, storyboarding and comic books, digital character painting, history and future of animation, how Heavy Iron Studios (developer of various computer games) has approached level design, using ZBrush to develop and create characters, and digital character animation.

Culinary workshops cover healthy cuisine, international cuisine, and baking and pastry techniques and artistry. Spaces are limited by the kitchen size and there is a material fee of $25 due for confirmed reservation.

Guest speakers are April Greiman, who may be the most well known female graphic artist in the world, Ron Husband, who was the first African-American to work as an animator at Walt Disney Studios, and Alexander Manu, who is an international leader in industrial design, strategic innovation and design research.

Manu is the Senior Partner and Innovator for InnoSpa, International Partners, an international consulting in Toronto, Canada specializing in reshaping business thinking. He is also the author of “The Imagination Challenge: Strategic Foresight and Innovation in the Global Economy and a professor at the Ontario College of Art and Design, and the Rotman School of Management, both in Toronto.

His “Imagination Challenge” encourages people to seek creative solutions for developing new business opportunities and innovations.

“The most innovative products and services arise out of the imaginative and the creative behaviors of play—the ability to imagine, without limits, the question "What if…?" reads an introduction to his book on the Beal Institute’s website.

As one of the keynote speakers for The Invasion of Infinite Creativity, Manu will give three presentations about his “Imagination Challenge” at The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire. These take place Monday, July 7 at 12:00 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Greiman, who will give a lecture from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Thursday, July 10, was a pioneer in the field of digital graphic arts. She is most known for unique design creations on Macintosh computers. Companies such as PacTel, Esprit and the US Postal Service have commissioned her work.

Husband’s animation works can be seen in many Disney films produced between 1978 and 2005. Since then, he has worked as an illustrator in Disney’s publishing group.

Some of Husband’s recent movie credits include Pooh’s Heffalump Movie, Fat Albert and Mickey, Donald Goofy: The Three Musketeers. Earlier, well-known works are a segment of the movie Fantasia 2000, in which he was the supervising animator for the Elk, and his animation of Dr. Sweet in Atlantis: The Lost Empire.

In a seminar from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m Friday, July 11, Husband will discuss the animation process, especially how he approaches a scene, and will share examples of his work.

The Art Institute of California–Inland Empire offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Game Art & Design, Culinary Management, Graphic Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, Interior Design, Fashion Design, Fashion & Retail Management and Media Arts & Animation. There are also Associate of Science degrees in Graphic Design and Culinary Arts. Each program is offered on a year-round basis, allowing students to work uninterrupted toward their degrees.

It’s not too late to start classes. Courses begin July 14, offering day, evening and weekend classes for new and reentry students. For details or a tour of the campus call (909) 915-2100, or go on line to artinstitutes.edu/inlandempire.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire is one of the Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu/InlandEmpire), a system of more than 40 locations throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals. For more information, call (909) 915-2100 or go on line to www.artinstitutes.edu/InlandEmpire.

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American Heritage University sets Grand Opening

American Heritage University has expanded to this office at 255 N. D Street.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) After merely five years American Heritage University of San Bernardino is adding to its facilities, expanding into its new space at 255 North D Street, Suite 403.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 24 at the new location’s entrance. There will be refreshments, facility tours and guest speakers highlighted by corporate trainer and motivational speaker Robin De-Ivy Allen.

Allen, an author, consultant and business woman, has dedicated herself to “helping others to successfully balance work, family, interests and obligations,” she says. She has appeared before such national organizations as the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association and Riverside County’s Center for Governmental Excellence. “My brief remarks will focus on achieving one’s goals and accepting success,” she explains.

As lawyer and AHU President Tony Ogiamien says “The objective of the American Heritage University is to help mid-career adults who are personally motivated and self-directed complete their education and achieve their university undergraduate and graduate degrees. Using both traditional and online classrooms, and a combination of both, AHU offers degrees in Law, Public Policy, Business Administration, Computer Information Systems, Media Studies, Criminal Justice and General Education.”

“Some adults have full-time jobs, but still need their degrees,” notes Ogiamien. “For others, an active family life may have prevented them from continuing their university studies, or a single parent may had had to postpone their work toward a degree. Regardless of the reason, American Heritage University can help them reach this important milestone.”

Undergraduate degree programs at AHU are designed to allow students to proceed at their own pace. They are required to complete a minimum of two courses per session, and must complete their program within five years. The postgraduate work must be finished within four.

In the case of the popular Doctor of Jurisprudence program offered online by the School of Law and Public Policy, the California Bar requires four years of continuous study.

The School of Law and Public Policy also offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and a Master of Arts. in Public Policy, with courses covering such subjects as contracts, criminal law, criminal procedure, legal writing, torts, Constitutional law, civil procedure and real property law.

At the doctoral level, there are also required classes in wills and trusts, corporations, agency and partnership, evidence and professional responsibility. Electives include bioethics and the law, religious freedom, income taxation and medical law and ethics.

For the convenience of fully employed students, American Heritage University provides a full online curriculum. Faculty-student communication is available via computer, and there are 90-minute weekly chat room sessions with main topics covered in question and answer formats, accessible at any time during the course.

Additionally, via the Discussion Boards students can post questions of their own and answers to previous questions at any time of the day or night.

E-mail communication is important, too, and those addressed to instructors are to be answered within 24 hours. A weekly Grade Book is posted as well, and students can access not only their test grades, but can also review any errors while studying the correct answers. Online, students are graded based on test results, quality of work and their demonstration of knowledge through the assignments.

“We pride ourselves in providing adult students with the in-depth courses they need to complete their university education,” notes Ogiamien. “Our online program even permits them to do their work at any time from anywhere there’s a computer with Internet access. And in the classroom we have instructors who have reached the highest academic levels of their professions.”

American Heritage University has been granted full approval to operate by the California State Bureau for Postsecondary and Vocational Education.

For more information, call (909) 884-9000.
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Learn How To Stimulate Your Creativity

Interior Design student Alysha Cintas and Graphic Design students Michelle Cossota and Tachunna LaCour prepare a Power Point presentation they will give in a course at The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire. Learn about the courses offered to students interested in design, media arts and culinary arts during an Open House the campus will hold June 21.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) – Is a creative career for you?

Learn about careers in fields such as fashion, design or culinary arts at an open house at The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday, June 21 at The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire campus located at 630 E. Brier Dr., San Bernardino.

“Prospective students will learn why we are America’s leader in creative education,” said Monica Jeffs, senior director of admissions.

“We are presenting information about all of the majors we offer such as our new fashion design program, as well as fashion & retail management, game arts and design, culinary arts, interior design, graphic design, web design and interactive media, and media arts and animation. We hope many will want to apply for our next term, which begins July 14 with day, evening and weekend courses.”

At the open house, participants will learn about “The Invasion of Creativity,” a week-long series of workshops The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire is sponsoring July 7-11 to help the public learn more about artistic techniques, and the types of courses offered through the campus.

“The community will have many ways to explore the majors The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire offers, through our Invasion of Creativity seminars,” Jeffs said. “These will mostly be directed by our dynamic, award-winning faculty, but we are also bringing in some renown industry leaders to facilitate some of the seminars.”

At the open house, there will also be hands-on workshops to acquaint visitors with all The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire programs, and a more extensive introduction to the new Fashion Design program.


The open house is also an opportunity to meet The Art Institute’s faculty, many of whom are also working in the industry, Jeffs said. These include Robert Delgadillo, who instructs both graphic design and fashion courses at The Art Institute, and also designs ads that have appeared in magazines like In Style and Vogue.

Jeffs said members of the public can tour the facility and meet with representatives from the university’s academic, student life and financial aid departments.

“Get the facts on how financial aid works, how you qualify and what you could be eligible for,” she said. “You may be surprised at how much is available for students with the desire to succeed.”

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), with 40 educational institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals. For more information, call The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire at (909) 915-2100 or visit www.artinstitutes.edu/inlandempire.

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Summer Studio '08 begins

San Bernardino City Councilman Rikke Van Johnson inspects a mural created by participants in The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire’s Summer Studio ‘07, for the Boys and Girls Club of San Bernardino. Summer Studio ‘08 has begun. This year participants will create a poster and other projects for the Habitat for Humanity of Riverside.

(SAN BERNARDINO Calif.) For more than six years the Art Institutes throughout North America have conducted their Summer Studio program for high school juniors and seniors, giving them a sample of both advanced academic life and work in the “real world.”

Starting Monday June 16, the Inland Empire campus in San Bernardino at 630 East Brier Drive launches its third Summer Studio program, creating a 20th Anniversary poster and other projects for the Habitat for Humanity of Riverside.

The week begins with students being taught about the nonprofit Habitat for Humanity to learn the project’s objectives and challenges. Then they get to work under the guidance of the Academic Director of Foundations Stephen Bautista.

The Summer Studio plan is a multi-faceted one: Aiding the community’s nonprofits while introducing high school juniors and seniors to hands-on experiences instead of the traditional academic classroom work. Admissions Director Monica Jeffs adds, “The Summer Studio program is just four days, but it’s a brief yet intense way to show students what their interests are really like in a professional working environment.”

Jeffs adds, “The Summer Studio ‘08 program provides them the opportunity to discover if they have a passion for the arts, and prepares them for their future careers.”

Enrollment opportunities are still available, and at least 35 students are expected to take part. The fee for the four-day workshop is $150.00, and $350.00 with housing accommodations chaperoned by Art Institute staff.

High school juniors and seniors interested in more information or to enroll may simply call the school at (909) 915-2100.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Game Art & Design, Culinary Management, Graphic Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, Interior Design, Fashion Design, Fashion and Retail Management and Media Arts & Animation. There are also Associate of Science degrees in Graphic Design and Culinary Arts. Each program is offered on a year-round basis, allowing students to work uninterrupted toward their degrees.

It’s not too late to start classes. Courses begin July 14, with offerings in the days, evenings and on weekends for new and reentry students. For details or a tour of the campus call (909) 915-2100, or go on line to artinstitutes.edu/inlandempire.


The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu ), a system of over 40 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.



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San Bernardino City Councilman Rikke Van Johnson inspects a mural created by participants in The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire’s Summer Studio ‘07, for the Boys and Girls Club of San Bernardino. Summer Studio ‘08 has begun. This year participants will create a poster and other projects for the Habitat for Humanity of Riverside.

First Art Institute grad climbing to new heights as graphic designer

Alyssa Mees, the first graduate of The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire, is now climbing to new heights as a graphic designer for FiveTen, a Redlands sports apparel manufacturer.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) Alyssa Mees, the first graduate of The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire, is now putting her degree to good use as a graphic designer.

The 19-year-old Mees is working for FiveTen, a Redlands manufacturer of rock-climbing apparel and sports shoes. As part of the company’s art department, she is designing packaging, t-shirt illustrations, advertising layouts and logos.

“I’m having a blast there,” she said of her new job, which she started April 21. “They have given me lots of projects to work on, and I have applied everything I learned at The Art Institute to them.”

Some of her training from The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire helps her to be more efficient in her work, she said. For instance, she learned there to date all work she does, a practice that now helps her to be more organized at work.

She also learned about many software programs for graphic design, and is now using these on the job. These are Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign.

And, this job has one cool perk most companies don’t.

“They have a rock climbing wall in the back of their office,” she said. “On my lunch break, I can climb it.”

Mees graduated from The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire on March 28, with an Associate of Science degree in Graphic Design. With the Institute’s year-round program, Mees was able to obtain her Associate degree less than two years after she graduated from high school.

“Alyssa Mees is a remarkable young woman, and we are proud to have our first graduate using her skills in the graphic design industry,” said Emam El-Hout, interim president of The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire. “We expect more students to graduate with associate degrees and begin working in the graphic design industry by the end of this year. We also will have students completing our other programs in 2009, and we are confident they too will be contributing to their industry shortly thereafter.”

The Art Institute of California–Inland Empire offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Game Art & Design, Culinary Management, Graphic Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, Interior Design, Fashion and Retail Management and Media Arts & Animation. There are also Associate of Science degrees in Graphic Design and Culinary Arts. Each program is offered on a year-round basis, allowing students to work uninterrupted toward their degrees.

It’s not too late to start classes. Courses begin July 14, offering day, evening and weekend classes for new and reentry students. For details or a tour of the campus call (909) 915-2100, or go on line to artinstitutes.edu/inlandempire.

The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire is only one of more than 40 educational institutions within The Art Institutes system, located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.

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Art Institute offers life drawing class

Find out what drawing from a live model is like when The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire holds a life drawing class Saturday, June 21.

(SAN BERNADINO, Calif.) Ever wondered what drawing from a live human model is like? The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire will show attendees of its Life Drawing workshop this process on Saturday, June 21 from 1 - 5 p.m. The workshop will be open at no charge.

Santosh Oommen, academic director of animation at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire, says, “We created these classes to give budding young artists the instruction they need to draw better. We are committed to helping artists in the Inland Empire improve their talents.”

The Life Drawing workshops are usually offered on the third Saturday of every month. There are 21 seats available in each class. Students must bring their own pencils and drawing papers. The workshop is open to the public, those 15 years old or above, and the classes are offered at no charge.

“Many people have great creative talents,” Oommen says. “The workshop offers people a chance to focus that raw creative talent into directed creativity. Our goal is to help make them better artists.”

Oommen says the workshop involves drawing from a live figure and covers topics such as anatomy and gestures. To sign up for the Life Drawing workshop, or for more information, call The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire at (909) 915-2100.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), with more than 40 educational institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.