> Giving Back

At Studio V Design, we feel strongly committed to “give back” to our community and our world. And since 1989, we’ve been doing so in areas we’re very passionate about, such as the arts and culture. Whether donating our design services pro bono or serving on the board of a cultural institution or opening the doors of our historic office building to public tours, we try to weave a spirit of generosity and caring into the way we live and do business.

PUEBLOS PUREPECHAS
On a recent trip to central Mexico, we were captivated by the craftsmanship of the art created in the poor villages around Lake Patzcuaro. We also became aware of an effort to bring the artisan communities together in order to preserve and promote their traditional arts and crafts. After being introduced to the collaborative organization called “Pueblos Purepechas,” we decided to donate Studio V Design’s services and develop a logo for the group. The logo – which features a figure dancing the traditional “dance of the old men” – is now being used in their marketing efforts and on their website.

Art InstituteART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
With one of the world’s great art museums located in our city, we often leverage our creativity to help build their audiences. Our Creative Director (Pooja) serves on the Board of the museum’s Asian Art Council. Opened on December 12, 2008, the new Alsdorf Galleries of Indian, Southeast Asian, Himalayan, and Islamic Art is the largest space in North America devoted to this type of art. Studio V Design pitched in by co-chairing the gala celebration, publicizing the gallery’s grand re-opening and designing invitations.

NAMASTE, MR. PRIME MINISTER
Namaste means “hello,” and that’s what you say when you get a chance to meet the leader of the world’s largest democracy. Last November, Studio V partners Pooja and Peter were invited by India’s Ambassador to the U.S. to meet the Prime Minister of India – Dr. Manmohan Singh – at a reception in Washington DC. The invitation came in recognition of our efforts in promoting South Asian arts and culture in Chicago.

OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC
Located down the street from our office, the Old Town School of Folk Music is the largest community-based arts school in the country. We often run over to catch an evening concert, and our Creative Director (Pooja) serves on the Board of Directors. Studio V Design supports the school not only financially but also with marketing ideas, fundraising events in our office and garden, and our current pro bono project of developing a marketing video.

Museum of Contemporary ArtMUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
Chicago’s best-kept secret might be the MCA Stage, the 300-seat theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art. We’ve seen the best in cutting-edge multi-media dance, music and theater performances there. Studio V’s Creative Director (Pooja) serves on the Performance Committee, charged with fundraising and selecting performances from around the world to present on the MCA Stage. Studio V Partners Peter and Pooja also co-chaired a recent fundraising gala which brought famed choreographer Bill T. Jones to the stage with a riveting performance. We continue to support the MCA financially and with marketing efforts to bring new audiences to the museum, including our current work of videotaping performance previews and artist interviews.

Cambodian Association of IllinoisCAMBODIAN ASSOCIATION OF ILLINOIS
We were moved by the story of Cambodian refugees who fled the brutality of the Kmer Rouge regime and resettled in Illinois, and their efforts to build the Killing Fields Memorial and the Cambodian American Heritage Museum. Pulling together a pro bono team to write, photograph and design a “Book of Remembrance,” we created a piece which commemorated those who died in the Cambodian genocide, and which helped launch the opening of the new museum. Today, the museum provides education, vocational training and student scholarships for the Cambodian-American community, and celebrates the renewal of Cambodian culture in the United States