Join MAD Museum and AIGA NY board members for an in-person discussion on managing professional relationships and long-term career growth in the visual design field.
Design careers are shaped as much by relationships as they are by craft. From navigating feedback and difficult conversations to maintaining networks across jobs, studios, and clients, designers must constantly balance creativity with communication. AIGA NY “boardies” Anthony Harrison, Danielle Torres, Mike Perry, and Kiser Barnes will share insights on building strong working relationships, protecting your reputation, and showing up with clarity and professionalism at every stage of your career.
This candid conversation invites questions, reflection, and connection with peers navigating the realities of design work in NYC.
About the panelists
Born in London, raised in New York, with stints in Germany and Netherlands Anthony Harrison is one of the foremost graphic designers and art directors of his generation.
Bones, as he is known, was one of a handful of Black designers who defined the 90s design aesthetic through his work at seminal record labels, including Arista Records and its subsidiaries Bad Boy, LaFace, and Rowdy. During that era, Bones worked on campaigns for Whitney Houston, the Notorious B.I.G., Annie Lennox, Goodie Mob, Patti Smith, and others. After leaving music, he jumped head first into what later became known as global street wear, working as an art director and designer for brands such as Mecca USA and Akademiks / PRPS before spending the best part of the last decade working for both of the biggest sports brands on the planet, Nike and Adidas, in coveted design leadership roles. He is now focusing his attention on purpose-led design work and teaching. Passing his knowledge on to a new generation of designers whilst working with the next generation of brands who will come to define the future of design.
Mike Perry is the founder and Chief Creative Officer of TAVERN, a Brooklyn-based creative agency focusing on food, beverage and hospitality brands. With 15+ years of success in building industry-leading brands, Perry made a name for himself, both brand and agency side, with stints at NBC Sports Network, Quaker City Mercantile, Stranger & Stranger, Jones Knowles Ritchie (JKR), Design Bridge and TikTok Creative Labs. He has been behind some of the biggest rebrands in the industry, with clients including Budweiser, Beam Suntory, Burger King, and Diageo.
Perry creates timeless brands by taking inspiration from the brand’s past while simultaneously reimagining their equities for contemporary tastes and standards. Through this signature “modern heritage” branding philosophy, Perry and Tavern pair strategic storytelling with archival stewardship. They build brands that resonate with today’s audiences, as is evident in recent work with brands such as Sizzler, Old Grand-Dad, Burt’s Bees, Overholt Whiskey, and Old Crow, to name a few.
Kiser Barnes is a creative leader and industry pioneer who works at the intersection of design, technology, and innovation. As Chief Creative Officer and partner at rcharges brands through multi-disciplinary creativity. He is known for crafting fantastic futures by fusing transformative design with unique experiences.
From disruptive startups to Fortune 100 giants, Kiser has been instrumental in shaping some of the world’s most iconic companies across a wide range of industries. He brings a holistic, forward-thinking approach to creativity, with experience that spans brand design, advertising, product design/apps, e-commerce, retail, experiential design, AI, augmented reality, gaming design, innovation solutions and more.
Kiser has led groundbreaking work, including Walmart’s entry into the metaverse with WalmartLand on Roblox and Delta’s CES Wonder Window experience, which redefined immersive brand storytelling. A Cannes Lions Grand Prix winner and AdAge Web3 Marketing Trailblazer, Kiser is recognized as a leader in the integration of media disruption with next up technologies and AI.
Danielle Torres is a Brooklyn-based design leader and Latina with an affinity for beauty and mindful living. Currently, she’s the Director of Product Design at Lonely Planet. During her time in New York, she led experiences at Tripadvisor and worked agency-side at Huge. Over the past 12 years, she’s focused on e-commerce, visual systems, and shopper marketing across brands such as Google, Spotify, Walmart, Inc., and Publix Super Markets. When working independently, she leans into her joy of creative direction, branding, and interior design. She finds fulfillment in mentorship, advocating for mental health awareness, and building inclusive communities by empowering diverse thought, curiosity, and creative play.
