Draft:Alex Center
| Submission declined on 19 May 2024 by TipsyElephant (talk). This submission does not appear to be written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. Entries should be written from a neutral point of view, and should refer to a range of independent, reliable, published sources. Please rewrite your submission in a more encyclopedic format. Please make sure to avoid peacock terms that promote the subject.
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| Submission declined on 24 April 2024 by Shadow311 (talk). This submission does not appear to be written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. Entries should be written from a neutral point of view, and should refer to a range of independent, reliable, published sources. Please rewrite your submission in a more encyclopedic format. Please make sure to avoid peacock terms that promote the subject. Declined by Shadow311 29 days ago. | |
| Submission declined on 9 February 2024 by DoubleGrazing (talk). This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of people). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia. The content of this submission includes material that does not meet Wikipedia's minimum standard for inline citations. Please cite your sources using footnotes. For instructions on how to do this, please see Referencing for beginners. Thank you. Declined by DoubleGrazing 3 months ago. | |
Comment: Thank you for properly indicating that you have a COI, however, the draft is clearly not neutral, contains puffery, and looks like a resume. I would recommend reading through WP:WTW and trimming unnecessary content. TipsyElephant (talk) 13:10, 19 May 2024 (UTC)
- Comment: Please remove all inline external links from body text; convert to inline citations where relevant. DoubleGrazing (talk) 16:04, 9 February 2024 (UTC)
Introduction[edit]
Alex Center is an American designer, creative director, podcaster and founder of the Brooklyn based branding studio CENTER. He grew up in Oceanside, NY. Prior to opening his own studio, he spent over a decade working for The Coca-Cola Company.[1] Much of his early career as Design Director was spent building the beverage brands vitaminwater, smartwater, and Powerade.[2] In 2018 he founded CENTER, and has since gone on to build and partner with global brands such as United Sodas of America, Kin Euphorics, Simulate, Conbody, and New Balance.[3] He has shared his story at numerous conferences, including Brand New and RGD Design Thinkers.
Early Life and education[edit]
Center was born in 1984 in Oceanside, New York, where he grew up. He graduated from the University at Buffalo in 2006, where he received a BFA in Communication Design.[4]
Career[edit]
Center started his career as an intern for the New York Knicks and New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.[4] In 2006, he was hired to be the first full time graphic designer at the beverage company Glaceau Energy Brands, where he designed for the brands vitaminwater and smartwater.[5]
In 2007, The Coca-Cola Company purchased Glaceau Energy Brands for 4.1 Billion dollars in the biggest beverage acquisition of all time.[6] After this acquisition, Center was the Design Director at The Coca-Cola Company from 2007 to 2017.[7]
Center was named one of the 200 Best Packaging Designers in 2011 by Luerzers Archive.[8] In 2013, he started participating in speaking engagements, covering topics on design, branding, and his career. He has presented with The Dieline, Brand New, American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), HOW Design Live, RGD DesignThinkers, The Advertising & Design Club of Canada (ADCC), and more.[9][10] He appeared as a guest on Debbie Millman's podcast, Design Matters in 2013.[11]In 2014, Center was named a Person To Watch by GDUSA Magazine.[12] In 2015, he became a columnist for HOW Magazine, writing about the expanding landscape of In-House design.[13] Center was chosen to be a 2024 program partner for HOW Design Live, where he has also been a keynote speaker.[14]
In 2017, Center left Coke to open his own branding and design studio CENTER. Today, Alex and his team are building and partnering with new to world brands such as Kin Euphorics, Conbody, Liquid Death, Magic Spoon, Simulate, and United Sodas of America, as well as legacy brands such as Apple Inc., New Balance, and Coinbase.[3][15]
Front & Center, a podcast co-hosted by Center and CENTER team member Kevin Batory, was launched in 2021. The show has featured guests such as educator, designer, and writer Debbie Millman, visual artist and graphic designer Cey Adams, and owner and designer at Peters Design Company Allan Peters.[16]
Reception and awards[edit]
Since its opening, the CENTER team, led by Alex Center, has had their work featured in publications such as Fast Company, It's Nice That, and The Dieline.[3][17][18][19] In 2022, CENTER was named one of ten studios and agencies to watch by The Dieline.[20]
The studio has won numerous awards for their design and branding work, including:
- KatKin (2023)
- The Dieline Awards: 3rd Place, Baby, Kids, & Pets[21]
- Butter (2023)
- United Sodas of America (2021)
- Cannes Lions Awards: Silver Lion, Creation of a New Brand Identity[22]
- Cannes Lions Awards: Silver Lion, Packaging / Drinks[22]
- Art Directors Club (ADC) Awards: Gold Cube, Brand/Communication Design[23]
- Art Directors Club (ADC) Awards: Gold Cube, Packaging Design : Food / Beverage / Beverage - Series[24]
- The Dieline Awards: Best Brand Identity System[25]
- The Dieline Awards: Best of Beverage[25]
In addition, Center has shared his opinions on branding and design in numerous articles with The New York Times, Fast Company, The Dieline, and PRINT.[26][27][28][29] In addition, he's been interviewed by various outlets such as PRINT, The Breakfast App, Nicework, and Pentawards.[30][31][32][33]
Personal life[edit]
Center is married to Jacquelyn DeJesu Center, the founder and CEO of DEEJAYZOO, a femme-focused design and innovation company, and SHHHOWERCAP, a reinvention of the showercap.[34][35]
References[edit]
- ^ "How Alex Center, Former Design Director at Coca-Cola, Gets Amazing Work from His New Creative Team". Working Not Working. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Fireside Chat With Alex Center". AIGA. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ a b c Clark, Yaya Azariah. "Inside Center and its bold and striking approach to branding". It's Nice That. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ a b Flatt, Michael. "Sporting a Brand". University at Buffalo. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ Drumm, Perrin. "6 Things Designer Alex Center Learned From Working at Coca-Cola". AIGA Eye on Design. AIGA. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "The Coca-Cola Company to Acquire Glaceau, Maker of Vitaminwater, for $4.1 Billion". The Coca-Cola Company. 25 May 2007. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Q&A: Coca-Cola's Alex Center". Adobe Creative Cloud. Adobe. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ Millman, Debbie (15 December 2013). "Alex Center". PRINT. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Alex Center". 2022 Brand New Conference. UnderConsideration LLC. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ "In & Around Design: Alex Center". ADCC. The Advertising & Design Club of Canada. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ "Alex Center". Design Matters with Debbie Millman. Design Matters Media. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "50-Plus Years of GDUSA People To Watch". Graphic Design USA. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Alex Center". Skillshare. Skillshare, Inc. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Program Partners". HOW Design Live. Emerald X, LLC. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ Gosling, Emily (23 March 2021). "Center Design looks to 'completely reinvent' soft drinks with minimalist United Soda branding". Creative Boom. Creative Boom Ltd. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Front and Center". Apple Podcasts. Apple Inc. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ Segran, Elizabeth. "Revolutionary culinary collective Ghetto Gastro is bringing its goods to Target". FastCompany. FastCompany & Inc. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ Sanchez, Rudy (2 February 2023). "Center-Designed KatKin Is For Hardcore Cat Parents". The Dieline. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ Sanchez, Rudy (30 June 2023). "CENTER and Suncare Brand Pavise Make Science Sexy". The Dieline. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ "10 Studios & Agencies To Watch". The Dieline. 23 December 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ a b c "The Best in Packaging From 2023: Dieline Awards Winners Revealed". The Dieline. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ a b "2021 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity Award Winners". adforum. MAYDREAM, INC. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ "United Sodas of America". The One Club For Creativity. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ "United Sodas of America". The One Club For Creativity. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ a b "The Absolute Best in Packaging: Dieline Awards 2021 Winners Revealed". The Dieline. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ Peyser, Eve (27 January 2023). "The M&M's Aren't Done With Us Yet". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ Petit, Zachary. "5 design leaders on what they *really* wish they could redesign in 2024". Fast Company. Fast Company & Inc. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ McCool, Bill (2 January 2024). "Designers on Their Favorite Packaging From 2023". The Dieline. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ Gordon, Chloe (24 August 2023). "Are We Losing Color? All Logos Are Starting To Look The Same". PRINT. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ Millman, Debbie (12 October 2021). "What Matters: Alex Center on Swimming Pools and Hating On Design Crits". PRINT. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ "Alex Center". Breakfast. The Breakfast Application. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ Drakes, Ross. "Alex Center: Vitamin Water - The $4.1 billion brand that changed the beverage game". Nicework. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ "Interview with Alex Center, designer and founder of branding studio CENTER". Pentawards. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ "How Alex Center, Former Design Director at Coca-Cola, Gets Amazing Work from His New Creative Team". Working Not Working. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ Decker, Vivienne. "How The Millennial Behind Shhhowercap Launched A Multi-Million Dollar Shower Cap Company". Forbes. Retrieved 30 April 2024.