The City of Austin Brand Identity Town Hall

Presented by AIGA - Austin

Advance online registration is now closed. A limited number of walk-up tickets will be made available on the day of the event as capacity permits.
 
On October 22 (Wed), 7–8:30P, join members of the Austin chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA - Austin) on The Moody Rooftop at the Jones Center for a conversation with employees of the design studio Pentagram and TKO Advertising, two entities engaged by The City of Austin to create its new brand identity.

Following presentations by DJ Stout, a partner at Pentagram, and Raul Garza, co-founder and director of TKO Advertising, Russell Toynes, president of AIGA - Austin, will lead a short conversation and audience Q&A about the process and choices behind the recent creation of The City of Austin’s new brand identity -- the first comprehensive identity system developed for the city since its founding in 1839.

This public forum will allow those involved in the creation of the new brand identity to explain the design process and provide context, while answering some of the public’s questions about the project.

The public is encouraged to pre-submit questions to the panelists at this link.

This event is free to attend and hosted by The Contemporary Austin. Capacity is limited, so advanced registration is strongly encouraged.

The museum and rooftop are wheelchair accessible, and there will be a designated mobility assisted seating area in the front row.

If you have additional accommodation requests,
please email: [email protected]

About the panelists

 
Presenter | DJ Stout | Pentagram
DJ Stout is one of 24 partners of Pentagram, an international design firm with offices in London, New York, San Francisco, Berlin and Austin. He studied graphic design at Texas Tech University and began his career in 1981 working for Robert A. Wilson Associates in Dallas. In 1986, he moved to Austin, where he served as Art Director of Texas Monthly magazine for 13 years.

DJ joined Pentagram as a Partner in 2000 and is the Principal of the Austin office. At Pentagram, DJ and team specialize in the creation of brand identity and strategy, publication design, packaging and interactive solutions.

In 2010, DJ was the recipient of the Richard Gangel Award, a lifetime achievement award from the Society of Illustrators. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) and the author of 3 books. DJ's design retrospective Variations on a Rectangle was published in 2015. @djpentagram
 
 
Presenter | Raul Garza | TKO Advertising
Raul Garza is the Co-Founder and Director of TKO Advertising, an award-winning agency based in Austin, Texas. He earned his degree in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master’s in Creative Writing from St. Edward’s University. Raul began his career at global agencies Leo Burnett and FCB, developing campaigns for major national brands.

In 1998, he co-founded TKO with the vision of merging strategic thinking and cultural insight to create work that resonates deeply with audiences. Under his leadership, TKO has grown into a multidisciplinary team specializing in brand identity, integrated campaigns, and cultural marketing across diverse industries.

Raul’s work has been recognized by the American Advertising Federation, Communication Arts, and the Telly Awards. An accomplished playwright and creative leader, he continues to champion authentic storytelling that drives meaningful human connection. @tkoadvertising 
 
 
Moderator | Russell Toynes, President of AIGA Austin
AIGA President, Adjunct Design ACC, and Founder of Studio Dzo.

AIGA - Austin is Austin’s professional association for design. AIGA - Austin connects the design community through programming that inspires, educates, and advocates for design. AIGA advances design as a professional craft, strategic advantage, and vital cultural force. As the largest community of design advocates, we bring together practitioners, enthusiasts, and patrons to amplify the voice of design and create the vision for a collective future. We define global standards and ethical practices, guide design education, enhance professional development, and make powerful tools and resources accessible to all. @aigaaustin