Virag, Katherine
Melancon, William
My name is William Melancon, I am a Washington DC based graphic designer currently working as a Lead visual technologist at Booz Allen. As the visual design lead, I create infographics, charts, and other data visualizations as a part of Booz Allen’s growth team and support BAHs outreach and strategic efforts. Most of my current work involves data heavy designs, but occasionally I get to do illustration, video work, and animation. I also do freelance work through the T-Box Design LLC.
I was born in Decatur Georgia, and subsequently raised in Southern Louisiana. My first design work came when I was deployed to Afghanistan as an Marine rifleman assigned to First Battalion, Third Marines. In addition to my regular duties, I created diagrams, maps, and other graphics. After I completed my time as an active-duty Marine I enrolled as a student at Louisiana State University, where I received my degree in graphic design. During and immediately after College I worked as a freelance grip and post motion designer in the TV commercial industry in Louisiana and was eventually hired full time at Vidox Motion Imagery, where I did motion design, animation, and set work.
In 2018 I was hired as the visual designer by the Peterson Institute, a Washington DC based economics think tank currently ranked by prospect as the best financial think tank in the world. Since then, I have been especially active creating graphics about the US / China trade war, the USMCA, and the COVID-19 pandemic. My graphics have been featured everywhere from the New York Times to Brazilian textbooks to the World Economic Forum in Davos. While in DC, I have been honored with awards from Prospect Magazine and the American Advertising Federation; and look forward to creating award winning, functional, and ground-breaking design for years to come.
Sperier, Lori
Lori Sperier a New Orleans-based artist, holds a BFA from Louisiana State University (1994) Graphic Design and Painting.
Sperier is represented by residential and corporate designers in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Florida, her work is in public and private collections throughout the United States and Europe.
She currently resides and works out of her studio in Covington, Louisiana. View more of her work at lorisperierart.com.
Noelle, Felicia
FeliciaNoelle is an award winning Louisiana native that has been professionally showcasing and selling her artwork in galleries/ museums for over two decades. Her work is
exhibited nation/worldwide and is sought after by art enthusiasts and private collectors. Noelle is skilled in all mediums and is versatile between techniques. Her vibrant paintings include mixed- media, acrylics, oils, and bright textiles.
Noelle actively participates in events to help raise awareness to find cures
or to help promote the education of the Arts in local communities. Noelle also donates her time/art to several non-profit organizations. Noelle is also a member of the Arts Council Baton Rouge and Mid-City Merchants.
Hossain, Humaira
Humaira Hossain joined the PhD program in art history at the University of Illinois Chicago. For her doctoral study she will study the works of the modern and contemporary South Asian painters. She wants to track the cultural, social, and political consciousness of an aspiring nation in the works of modern Bangladeshi painters; before and after the turbulent time of war for independence in 1971. Her research work aims to contribute to our collective understanding of artistic interventions in manifesting geopolitical identity.
Humaira graduated with BA in art history from the University of Dhaka in 2017 and MA in art history from Louisiana State University in 2020. At LSU, Humaira wrote her MA thesis about art patronage by Indian Maharajas between the two world wars. Upon graduating from LSU, she worked at George Washington University Textile Museum as a Curatorial and Social Media Intern.
Contact: hhossa3@uic.edu
Raborn, Lauren Wagner
Evans, Phill
Born in St Louis, MO 1946 to a family of eight children who loved to explore through excursions to parks, museums, historical monuments and extended trips across the country. The curiosity and exploration continues today inspiring sculptural interpretations: people and personalities in whimsy and song, places and transports in stone and metal, objects and spirits in motion and rest.
Soon after graduating from Louisiana State University in 1973 with a BFA in sculpture he opened his sculptural design business near Sacramento, California. In the ensuing forty plus years the studio has operated on a two prong approach: 1) designing and building signs, restaurant interior elements, mechanical display and ornamental/architectural metals. 2) Investing the technology and finances into the fine arts side of the studio developing wind kinetics, sculptural furnishings and a diversified studio. Phill Evans Sculptural Design has won national awards in ornamental metals and animated displays accompany national and international awards for kinetic public art and sculptural environments.
Bellina, Scott
For over 20 years, Scott Bellina has amassed an extensive portfolio of brilliant art direction and graphic design. Before founding BCBD, Scott honed his craft as lead creative in top agencies located in New Orleans, Dallas, London, and New York City.
Scott has provided award-winning creative for clients such as Nike, adidas, Cosmopolitan, Showtime, BBC Worldwide, Madison Square Garden Entertainment, the National Hockey League, IFC, eMusic.com, Fuse, Samsung, Temple Turmeric, Qello Concerts, the New York Rangers, and the New York Yankees.
A native of New Orleans, LA, he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Louisiana State University with a concentration in graphic design. He was president of LSU’s Graphic Design Student Association in 1997-98 and a lead designer for LSU’s award-winning publication Legacy Magazine. Upon relocating to New York City in April 2001, Scott has worked with boutique design firms, publicly-traded interactive corporations, branding agencies, advertising agencies, global magazine publications, and in-house creative teams. In 2009, he founded Bellina Creative Design as Executive Creative Director. In March of 2016, Bellina Creative Design rebranded as BCBD.
Scott’s passion for visual design has generated a mastery of multiple core-competencies within his industry including, but not limited to: creative direction, brand strategy, graphic design, user-experience design, information architecture, interaction design, and copywriting. Scott excels in building client relationships and working in team-based environments.
Aside from his design-career, Scott is an ASCAP-published musician and a handcraft hot sauce entrepreneur. He also volunteers as a life coach for Landmark Education. Scott returned to LSU to speak to the graduating graphic design students in 2015, and continues to enjoy connecting with talented graduates in the field.
In March 2019, Bellina partnered with fellow LSU Design classmate, Scott Hodgin of Tilt Design, to develop branding for Bellina’s new handcrafted product line, Bayou Gotham® Hot Sauces.
Young, Jessica
Louisiana Heart Felts, LLC was created by Jessica Tranchina Young in 2018.
The company sells fine art originals, commissioned paintings, and products with reproduction prints of original artwork created by Jessica Tranchina Young, an artist in Slidell, Louisiana and various other local artists. The company strives to provide exceptional customer service while providing original, quality products for your home, office and gifting needs that reflect the culture, nature, and love for Louisiana.
Jessica’s paintings are created in her studio on the Northshore, not far from New Orleans, Louisiana in a her hometown of Slidell.
Examples of her work can be found in the portfolio section of the Louisiana Heart Felts, LLC website, Facebook, and Instagram, on HGTV’s new show, “Going For Sold” airing August 1, 2019 as well as on display in both businesses and homes in Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas.
The paintings are inspired by Jessica’s love for the nature, people, and culture of South Louisiana. Since the young age of four years old; art, animals (all of them), the muddy water of the bayou, the smell of baked desserts in the oven, crawfish boils, the first football game on a fall evening, books, and bright colors have brought joy and inspiration to her art. Almost one year after Hurricane Katrina and graduating from LSU in 2007 Jessica moved to the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina, yet still missed the way of life on the bayou. Therefore, in 2012 she came home. And in her mind, whomever said, “Home is where the heart is,” just had to be talking about Louisiana.
