Art Director’s Portfolio Review Day:
Art Directors Day offers a unique two-hour opportunity where art directors from various industries connect with our junior, senior, and graduate students for portfolio reviews via Zoom. Each student will be allotted a 15-minute session with a designated art director to receive personalized feedback and insightful guidance. With only 8 slots available per art director, space is limited.
💼 Guest Reviewers
🎨 Claire Merchlinsky
A Brooklyn-based illustrator and Art Director for the New York times whose work blends expressive linework with bold color palettes. Claire’s illustrations have appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and TIME Magazine, often exploring themes of emotion, identity, and human connection through dynamic composition and gesture.
🎮 Kiuyan Ran
Kiuyan currently serves as Senior Concept Art Outsource Supervisor at Blizzard Entertainment, where she contributes to the acclaimed Diablo IV. Kiuyan’s extensive client list includes NetEase Games, Tencent Games, HyperGryph, Perfect World, Seasun Entertainment, Kuro Games, Hero Entertainment, Bluepoch, SecretLab, HarperCollins Publishers, Entertainment Weekly, Macmillan Children’s Books, Saga Press, People’s Literature Publishing House, Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre, China Literature Limited, New Star Press, Kadokawa Corporation, and Bilibili.
🎨 Katie Klimowicz
An Associate Art Director at Tor Books, Katie has worked within print design for nearly 20 years—spanning newspapers, magazines, and book publishing. Based in Milwaukee (where, as she says, “a large part of my heart still resides”), she has devoted her career to creating thoughtful, beautifully designed books. A lifelong lover of storytelling and print, Katie brings both warmth and expertise to every project she art directs.
When she’s not designing, she’s likely sharing stories about The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, her Milwaukee Brewers, or the incredible antique deal she just scored.
📝 How to Apply
Submission Deadline: Friday, October 24th by 5:00 PM
Each reviewer will select 8 students for 15-minute, one-on-one feedback sessions. To be considered, please submit your portfolio as a single PDF document following the format below:
📄 Portfolio Format:
- Page 1: Cover Page Include your name, logo, contact information, and a header/title (if applicable).
- Pages 2–12: Artwork Display up to 10 curated illustration pieces that best represent your current work and artistic direction.
- Page 13: Thank You Page Contact details.
Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to receive constructive, personalized feedback from top-tier professionals. This is your chance to ask questions, refine your presentation, and make connections that could shape your next steps.