Interfaces 2011 Sponsored By IADT Detroit May 21, 2011

Interfaces 2011 features speakers, portfolio reviews, and roundtable discussions. The talks begin at 11 a.m. and end at 3 p.m.

Current IADT students can get a complimentary ticket here. Outside guests are welcome and can buy a ticket at the site!

Check out bios of some of the distinguished featured speakers below:

Ajmal Zaheer Ahmad began his career as a concept designer and storyboard artist for Hollywood music videos, television, and feature films. His musical credits include designs for videos from Dr. Dre, Brandy, and Fatboy Slim. His feature film and television credits include “The Pretender” television series and the movie “Dungeons and Dragons”; his other high-profile campaigns include Lipton, Pontiac, and the Star Wars Special Edition Super Bowl spots. In Michigan, AJ has established Exxodus Pictures, which shot and produced the motion picture JINN and partnered with Classic Design Concepts to create a vehicle called the Firebreather that will be featured in the film (and will be on display at Interfaces!).

Antoine Debeauclard started programming at age 7. By the late 1980s he was leading an international team of game developers, developing some of the earliest Internet games. Today, his role includes oversight of the creative department and studio. As an expert on Internet and application development strategy, Antoine sits on many advisory committees for Fortune 500 and academic institutions. He frequently speaks and writes on technology-related issues.

Corvus Elrod is the co-founder of Zakelro! Story Studio and designer of The HoneyComb Engine, an open and extensible RPG framework. He has been designing participatory experiences for the better part of two decades, beginning with his exploration of improvisational theater. As he incorporated more and more game mechanics into his performances, he turned his attention to how video game mechanics communicate meaning and began formalizing a semiotic theory of game design. He has contracted for a broad spectrum of clients, from major game studios and publishers to installation artists, and has worked on several small game projects in collaboration with independent developers and artists.

Ben Mathis has worked for 5 years in the game industry and most recently on a 3D motion picture. His focus is on characters, but he has contributed to level design and pipeline optimization as well as lighting. Notable shipped titles include Tony Hawk Project 8, GUN, Dark Age of Camelot: Catacombs, Bloodrayne 2, and most recently, The Settlers 7. He has created a large resource of online tutorials that are used all over the globe both in schools and game companies.

Jaime Pescia is an art director, designer and educator who currently holds a creative position at Goodby Silverstein and Partners in Detroit. Prior to her current position, she was Graphic Design Program Chair at the International Academy of Design and Technology in Detroit. Experienced in the ideation and creation of traditional and emerging media, Jaime has held creative positions at Young & Rubicam, Campbell-Ewald, and BBDO Detroit.

Tip Quilter is a coach, communicator, collaborator and educator whose mission is to support people in transforming their relationships and purpose so they become a source of clarity, power and velocity. He typically serves creative leaders and organizations that are busy but not getting the desired results. He works directly with individuals, groups and organizations in a variety of formats, including one-on-one coaching, team coaching, seminars and workshops.

Michael Ross is Lead Senior Developer for MRM Worldwide. Michael does what he loves, building web sites, and comes up with creative ways to solve problems. Michael is responsible for leading and managing a team of Flash developers through technical projects for General Motors. Interfacing between each group within the agency environment, Michael strives on tight deadlines and cutting edge technology. His experience ranges from creative strategy and development to server side programming and implementation.

Susan Sanderson is a retail-centric design thinker, brand builder and marketer who provides vision to invent, expand, revitalize and activate brands, products and retail experiences. She has held various creative strategy executive leadership positions in a number of brand/design agencies in both the U.S. and Canada and has over a decade of experience in luxury goods brand marketing/advertising and more than a decade of combined experience in consumer packaged goods, private label and retail format design working for clients such as Target, Frito-Lay, Safeway, A&P, Wal-Mart and others. In her role as Kroger’s Director, Corporate Brand Strategy, Innovation & Design, she is leading the charge to reinvent Kroger’s extensive Corporate Brand portfolio.

Valeta Wensloff is a gamer and writer who is fascinated with integrating story into games. She received her master's from Michigan State University in Telecommunication, Information Studies & Media, with her thesis detailing how to create better interactive storytelling techniques in video games.

Official Website: http://www.iadt.edu/Detroit/Campus-Events/2011-05-21-Interfaces-Networking-Event