It’s a solution to the chicken-and-egg problem for part of Hawaii’s workforce: How can I get hired without experience, and how can I get experience if nobody will hire me?
Enter Abstract, the new magazine from the Iwilei Creative Experience incubator, or ICE.
It is a first-of-its-kind in Hawaii that will give graphic artists, photographers, writers and marketers some tangible, practical experience to add to their résumés.
The local arts and culture magazine targets 18- to 32-year-olds, is distributed free and is supported by printing firm Honblue Inc., creative design firm Charisma Industries Inc. and graphic design firm Clutch Design LLC.
Its first edition hit the street over the weekend.
"There are a lot more places to hit," and the magazine’s boxes will be easiest to find in Honolulu, primarily in cafes, bars, restaurants, hotels, clubs, theaters and galleries, said James Charisma of the design firm bearing his name.
"The magazine will have a shifting topic," he said. For instance, First Friday is the first issue’s focus.
So what about offices and the printing facilities?
Covered.
Honblue and sister company Electric Pencil, along with related company Sumner LLC, are providing more than $50,000 worth of in-kind support such as newly reconfigured space including a conference room, work spaces, a creative bullpen and printing services. Those accepted into the incubator will work on their own but will unite at the ICE studio weekly to collaborate, examine progress and see every stage of the magazine’s production.
What about mentors? Covered.
Charisma Industries is contributing more than $14,000 toward stipends and production services including recruitment and management of freelance writers and photographers, while Clutch Design is contributing professional expertise, curriculum development and other help and technical support for layout and preparation.
The nonprofit AIGA Honolulu Chapter (formerly the Honolulu Chapter of the American Institute for Graphic Arts) is the fiscal sponsor and is providing other types of help as well.
Clearly, the 52-page magazine’s founders will seek sponsor support in the traditional way, as well as nontraditional in-kind support, such as industry speakers and hardware.
Professional writers and photographers are presently contributing to the magazine, but "we are looking for additional (college) students to be part of the graphic design team, to be part of the incubator and attend workshops," Charisma said. Abstract’s leadership can be reached via its Facebook page, its Twitter feed, the websites of the founding companies or, later, its own website.
TIDE RISES, LIFTS BOATS
Social media is often seen as a "look at me" medium which is all about the individual posting beautiful pictures of delicious meals you didn’t get to share with them, or other and varied aspects of their so-much-better-than-yours life.
It can be much more than that, though.
The Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa has joined sister properties around the world in Hyatt Thrive’s Global Month of Community Service and is using social media to encourage not just Hyatt employees, but everyone to make a pledge to help their community.
The program "includes volunteer projects throughout the globe, as well as the giving away of up to 35,000 books to children," said Laura Van Sciver, director of marketing communications.
Anyone wanting to participate can make the pledge online and receive a "badge" that can be shared online to encourage others to participate and generate a book donation. Imagine sharing, along with your badge, a picture of a feast you helped a nonprofit prepare, to be fed to people who don’t even have a social media presence.
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Reach Erika Engle at 529-4303, erika@staradvertiser.com or on Twitter as @erikaengle Opens in a new tab.
