Artitudes Design Inc.
Company: Artitudes Design Inc., Issaquah, WA
Company Description: Artitudes Design Inc. is a full service graphic design firm that specializes in executive communications within the high tech, retail and non-profit verticals through customized presentations, marketing, motion graphics and branding solutions. Founded in 1995 by CEO and Creative Principal, Andrea Heuston, Artitudes employs 15 people.
Nomination Category: Company / Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year - Up to 100 Employees
Nomination Title: Artitudes Design Inc., Artitudes In Action: Art Docent Campaign
Tell the story about what this nominated company achieved since January 1 2010 (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:
As the CEO & Creative Principal of Artitudes Design Inc., Andrea Heuston
strongly believes in creating and cultivating a culture of giving back to the
community. In 2007, Heuston filled a growing need by providing arts education
to local elementary schools through the company’s Artitudes in Action: Art
Docent Campaign. Because art programs have been consistently cut from
curriculum, the teachers and schools look to the community to fill this growing
gap. Heuston saw an opportunity for Artitudes to step up and implement an
essential art program.
Artitudes, a graphic design firm in the Seattle area, partners with schools and
works with them to select classes with the greatest need for art instruction.
Employees then volunteer their time as art docents which gives them the
opportunity to give back to the community with something they are passionate
about – art.
These aren’t your typical art docents. Team members create sample art projects,
write lesson plans, purchase supplies or use recycled materials, coordinate
with an elementary school, and then teach the lesson to the class. If classes
are focusing on a specific topic, such as the Lewis & Clark expedition, the
docents will tailor their lesson plans to that subject. Recently, the docents
did a project based on Monet’s landscapes, as a 5th grade class was learning
about impressionism. The lesson included tearing magazines into pieces and
creating an impressionistic landscape on paper.
Artitudes focuses on using recycled materials in its instruction. This helps
keep out-of-pocket costs low, is environmentally conscious, and allows students
to recreate the projects on their own time for very little cost. Every child
has a unique learning style and creative strength, therefore the company works
with different types of tools and mediums, including painting, drawing, and
sculpture.
In 2010, the company stepped up its efforts to serve more children and leverage
the media to highlight this growing issue. As of last year, the art campaign
had reached over 500 students in various elementary schools throughout the
region. Several area newspapers showcased the campaign, resulting in donations
of recycled art supplies and inquiries from potential volunteers. The next
phase of the campaign will be to become a fully functioning non-profit
organization focused on K-6 arts education in the Seattle area.
The biggest challenge that Artitudes foresees is keeping up with the growing
demand for arts education in schools. Washington State has over a 2 billion
dollar budget shortfall and school funding is already being impacted before the
2011 legislative session has commenced. Artitudes believes this is why it is so
critical to grow the art docent program to reach more students. This will occur
through continued media outreach, donations of time and money, and creation of
a non-profit organization dedicated to championing basic arts education.
Art instruction is an essential tool in the development of a child. It is a
critical building block in developing cognitive and creative skills. Artitudes
in Action: Art Docent Campaign is just one program that ensures that children
keep art inspiration alive for the artists and graphic designers of tomorrow.
List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:
1. Stevie Award for Women in Business Win in the category “Community
Involvement Program of the Year” for its Artitudes in Action: Art Docent
Campaign:
– Bothell Reporter, WA USA
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/search?curSection=%2Fnorth_king%2Fbkn&sort=d&searchWSS=%2Fnorth_king%2Fbkn&keywords=Artitudes
– iNewswire.com
http://www.i-newswire.com/pacific-northwest-firms-shine-at/73417
– Issaquah Press, WA
http://www.issaquahpress.com/2010/11/19/issaquah-companies-earn-international-business-honor/
2. Artitudes in Action: Art Docent Campaign Highlighted by Area Media:
– Issaquah Press, WA USA
http://www.issaquahpress.com/2010/07/20/creating-art-with-an-attitude-for-learning/
– Bothell Reporter, WA USA
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/north_king/bkn/community/95285364.html
– Woodinville Weekly, WA USA
http://www.nwnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1438:art-docents-help-fill-budget-gap&catid=34:news&Itemid=72
Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the leader of this nominated company:
Andrea Heuston, CEO & Creative Principal of Artitudes Design, is a leader in
the graphic design industry with over 20 years of experience. A full service
graphic design firm established in 1995, Artitudes specializes in executive
communications through customized presentations, marketing, and branding
solutions. Heuston strongly believes in giving back to the community and
focuses on advocating for the prevention of child abuse and promoting arts
education. She serves as a Board of Director with Olive Crest non-profit, is a
member of Entrepreneurs’ Organization, and serves on NW Next Leaders Council’s
Executive Committee.