OnRamp News

Your Invitation to a Celebration

Here is your invitation to the OnRamp 2010 Celebration.  The card was designed by OnRamp Board member Temo Xopin.  This year's OnRamp is a collaboration between MIAD, MATC, MPS, Hanson-Dodge and many other creative agencies and individuals

Please join us for the unveiling of a line of M:KE brand t-shirts that students created through OnRamp, a new graphic design education program for high school students. The goal of OnRamp is to introduce minorities and disadvantaged youth to the creative industries of design, advertising and web development.

We will showcase the work on Wednesday, May 26 from 6:00–8:00 pm at the Eisner American Museum of Advertising Design. See address and map on this linked card.

Come out and help us celebrate!

OnRamp X Moda3

Last weeks module wednesday was at MODA3 in downtown Milwaukee. An awesome experience for everyone involved, learning what's behind the scenes in a shop such as MODA3. We went through the history of the shop from the dudes that get together and formed to the brick and mortar that we were standing in. And we talked about the brands that were on the shelves and the process involved in choosing and carrying a brand. This was especially helpful for the kids of On Ramp, for 2 reasons. One, knowing that all brands start out just like they are. Two, that everything in the store has a designer/artist that conceptualized it or created it (this, i think, is the most vital bit of info for them to hear, as an artist/designer myself i didn't really realize until i was in college that someone had a creative hand in all we see). Moda3 does carry local designers and are all about participating and sponsoring,cool events locally.

I was also able to do some shameless promoting for the On Ramp tee's we have available, bringing them as samples for the kids to see as well as for Moda3 to view as well. The samples were printed and supplied by Kindred Clothiers, the founders of the Kindred Market.

This turned out to be a keynote module Wednesday for the On Ramp kids and we can't thank Moda3 and it's employees enough for their help. If you're a retail/lifestyle shop or just an individual that is interested in participating in modules or volunteering for On Ramp, please contact us here or at - info@onrampmke.info .

thanks, everyone!

minga

T-Shirts Available Soon!

Soon you will be able to buy any of the OnRamp t-shirts that were designed by the CHS students. Check back on the site on July 16th to view and buy your shirt.

All sales go to funding future OnRamp programs, so buy lots and tell all your friends and family!

The radio interview

The radio interview with Temo and Jonathan can be heard here:http://wuwm.com/programs/lake_effect/view_le.php?articleid=741

OnRamp on the Radio

OnRamp board member Jonathan Gundlach and volunteer mentor Temo Xopin were interviewed for the Milwaukee Public Radio program Lake Effect on WUWM (89.7 FM) to discuss the OnRamp program & the state of race relations on the city. The program airs Thursday, June 18th @ 10 am & 11pm. A podcast can also be downloaded from the WUWM web site here:

http://wuwm.com/programs/detail.php?name=lake_effect

T-shirts go on sale July 16, 2009

Make sure you check out www.onrampmke.org on July 16 for an exciting update. Starting that day: Online sales of the 13 shirts created by the students involved in the Spring 2009 pilot program. You're going to love the M:KE shirt designs, and proceeds go towards funding future programs. 

Celebration!

Last night we had an incredible turn out for our On Ramp Line Review Presentation. The students designs were very inspiring! Each of the designs was unique from architecture to the meaning of the city of Milwaukee. Some of the On Ramp students did not have any prior design exposure before this program. Others were great at Dreamweaver, but had never used Photoshop before. All of the students have a great future in advertising and design if they choose to go down that path.

When we created On Ramp, our intention was to change the lack of diversity in the Milwaukee advertising community. What we learned last night was that the students also developed an appreciation for the city of Milwaukee as they went through the design process. Our hope is to give other students the opportunity to participate in this program, because it opens so many doors for our youth.

Congrats to the students for opening their minds and embracing creativity. Thank you to the fantastic board. I feel this group of people demonstrates how even a small nonprofit can make a difference in it's community. Thank you to the volunteers-without you this program would have never happened. Jason O'Brien and staff at CHS, your school is amazing. Thank you for having such a great vision for our city's youth.

We look forward to a final wrap up with students next week to get their feedback on how we can continue to improve the On Ramp program.

Power Wednesday 7.5 - Brew City Tour

BrewCity

This was an awesome experience for everyone.  Frank Kepler of Brew City Designs talked about the company business model and design process, using the Oshkosh EAA Fly-in T-shirts as an example.  Then he showed us how he took Iesha's t-shirt design and seperated it into an 8-color silk screen job.  Then, they started up the presses and we got to see the t-shirt as it rolled off the line.  Both Iesha's design and Frank's seperation and set-up were perfect.  It was amazing and all the student participants got to take home a t-shirt.

Module 7 at Community High School

Guided by our professional group of volunteer mentors, our teams of CHS students continued working on their T-shirt designs.  Several announcements were made about the OnRamp Schedule.

• On April 22nd, we will meet at Brew City Designs, 240 North Milwaukee Street #201.
• On April 29th, final touches will be made to T-Shirt Designs in a session at Community High School
• On May 6th, T-Shirts will be in Production at Kindred, and teams will meet with their mentors to plan their presentations to an audience at the final line presentation.
• Our friends at Kindred will be designing a Hang tag and neck label for the shirts.  Each student will be given an opportunity to personalize their tag and label by adding a sentence or two about their design.
  
• May 13th - Celebration, presentations and unveiling of T-shirts to the professional community at the Eisner Museum

Finally, at Today's module, Students voted on their favorite design, to be printed on April 22nd at Brew City.  The design was created by Iesha Govani.

Student Design

Power Wednesday, # 6.5

The Power Wednesday was rather quiet with everyone working away at their designs.  Thanks to Kevin Stohlmeyer and Xavier Ruffin who were there to assist.  The designs are looking nice.  I had a review with 3 of the groups.  I looked at the designs and asked about common themes and connection to the M:KE Brand message.  The responses were very interesting and some very well thought out.  I suggested that they keep thinking along these lines to prepare for their presentations at the final night.  Almost every student is working on individual designs.  Some groups are working on common concepts, some not so much.  Xavier was pretty engaged with his group so I stayed out of their way. 
 - David Thomas