DC Design Week: Day 2 – Coffee Community Kickoff (AIGA DC Design Week 2nd Lineup)
by: Mardline Prevot
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| Poster Design by AIGA DC |
Saturday, September 27th, 2025 is a date I won't soon forget. It’s the day my perspective on Advertising Design shifted entirely, all thanks to a recommendation from my professor, Rodney Williams, to get out and network in the "real world." As Mardi the Graphic Designer—not a "horseshoe" stuck hearing the same old things back at Bowie—I needed a fresh start, and that's exactly what I got. Leveraging my last remaining points from my Adobe Ambassador position with Adobe and my company, Mazopal Design, I earned a $50 Uber gift card, which became my ticket to this new beginning. My ride, an almost cinematic experience driven by Ranjit in a Toyota Camry, took me from campus right to The Village @ Union Market—a spot that holds a special place, as it’s in the district where I was born and raised.
The moment I stepped into The Village, the real networking began. I connected with a fellow creative named Ocean Eiler, an interactive designer and audio producer who spent a whopping 17 years at PBS. Talk about a full-circle moment! Meeting the designer who actually worked on the PBS games I played as a kid on the internet was surreal. Even if it made me feel like that little kid again, that's okay. It was inspiring! I seized the opportunity to share my post-graduation plans: focusing on film and scaling Mazopal Design to innovate the visual arts in the Haitian Diaspora through a Caribbean lens. Ocean not only listened but complimented me on how engaging and clear my vision was.
The energy of the event was incredible, especially the strong HBCU influence, with students from Bowie State University, Howard University, and Tennessee State University all present. I got to connect with Howard students and engage with other designers from around Washington, D.C., all while attending DC Design Week for the very first time. I can't believe AIGA has been doing this for 20 years!
From this kickoff, which included checking out events like The Conversation Pit by Art/co, I've got a fresh mindset and a whole new set of connections that are already driving my next steps in the field. This one Saturday truly opened my eyes to the vast, connected, and vibrant creative community right in my backyard.
It was an incredible experience networking with Eden Angelina and Robbie Stanfield on their marketing material for their event. Working on the check-in process specifically really drove home a powerful lesson: design as a truly cohesive tool. Seeing all the elements—from the initial promotion to the on-site execution—work together seamlessly gave me a fresh appreciation for how a well-integrated design strategy can make or break an event's flow. It's a reminder that good design isn't just about aesthetics; it's about functionality and creating a unified user experience.
This project made me think about my own journey. I'm a Haitian-nonbinary designer, and sometimes navigating the advertising field feels like I’m operating on a different plane than my peers—a family trait I jokingly call "zoe." It’s challenging when you see the potential of a design opportunity but the people around you don't quite grasp its full scope. That drive to push the envelope is why I've been focusing on connecting with organizations like AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts). I'm actively learning how to get more involved in their programming, seeking out spaces where high-level design thinking is not just understood, but celebrated.
Speaking of AIGA, I recently had the pleasure of meeting Sydnea Lewis, a Master Instructor in the College of Fine Arts at Howard University and a dedicated AIGA member. Connecting with established designers and educators like her is invaluable. It’s exactly the kind of mentorship and community building I need as I continue to grow my career. It's inspiring to see the level of design education being taught, and I can't help but feel a surge of creative energy (and yes, maybe a little blush of excitement, which I own!) when I think about the opportunities ahead. Connecting with like-minded, talented people is the true engine of growth in this industry.
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| Via: Mardi.Zoe.Commercial |
Artcor—the expression of human creativity and imagination formed into clevery stylish ideas that can become tangible and/or an experience. This unique concept encompasses everything from the masterful painting in a gallery to the simple, yet perfectly designed, flavor profile of a new drink. It’s the spirit that drives the pursuit of something beyond the purely functional, something with flair and personality. Speaking of experiences, I typically order about three iced vanilla lattes, I know simple but I was advised to try a different flavor of Berry Chai from this spot called The Village. It was a gamble on a new flavor, but the very act of trying something new—and potentially loving it—is an "Artcor" moment in itself.
This weekend was a perfect blend of these everyday creative moments. I'm currently riding on a Honda CR-V on the way back to campus from a fun trip here in the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia area), yeah this weekend was fun. The only real hiccup? I don't know what other than my RA taking away my wine, I'm good. It was all in the spirit of a bigger goal though, 'cause of learning to cook with wine—when I graduate, I'm cooking my own meals! That journey from student life to independent adult, perfecting a dish with a splash of flavor, is the ultimate creative expression of a well-lived life.
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 I thought I had to be ashame working having to have formerly work for Target as a Product Designer. Ocean mention you shouldn't have to be ashame Im staying away from politics but VCDM 495: Advanced Digital Imaging: Topics in Design & Digital Imaging, Im not ashame of AI. |
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