Marlington Alum and Son Give MAA a KISS!
Last May when local artist and graphic designer Brian Bradway (’84) learned of a contest to design a marketable tee-shirt for the classic rock band, KISS, he knew it would be a great opportunity for he and his artistically inclined son to work together.
Three equal winning designs were to be selected based on votes from the Facebook community, the contest promoter and even votes from KISS band members. The winning designs would be made available to KISS fans for purchase and the winning
artists would each receive a $1,000 cash prize, 2 concert tickets, an opportunity to meet KISS and an autograph session and photo with the band backstage before the concert.
Bradway knew the design process would be a wonderful way to help Nicholas learn more about cartooning, traditional illustration, 3D modeling as well as design. Together they worked in a variety of mediums including computer graphics, traditional pencil and paper, and even stained glass.
With input from his wife Missy (Stocker) Bradway (’89) the family agreed that if they won, they would gladly enjoy the concert and opportunity to meet KISS, but the prize money would be donated to the MAA Kimi Korleski Memorial Scholarship. The Bradway father/son team submitted four designs, including an illustration of KISS as cartoon characters entitled Saturday Morning 70’s Flashback, then got to work promoting. From social media to grassroots marketing with fliers, the Bradways rallied votes from friends, family and Marlington community members.
Their efforts were a success! And though they received 202 popular votes- a second place finish, votes from Band Job, the contest promoter, and from KISS tipped the scale. “I thought from our early stages of creating we had a pretty strong design, but within 41 seconds of posting our shirt we received our first vote along with a great message: "Love it! I'd buy it right now!"”
The MAA is truly grateful for this gift to the Cultivating Great Minds campaign and for the Bradway’s generosity in supporting the Kimi Korleski Memorial Scholarship, awarded to students pursuing further education in any Fine Arts program. Perhaps the next scholarship recipient will someday be a tee-shirt
designer- or a KISS fan!
Last May when local artist and graphic designer Brian Bradway (’84) learned of a contest to design a marketable tee-shirt for the classic rock band, KISS, he knew it would be a great opportunity for he and his artistically inclined son to work together.
Three equal winning designs were to be selected based on votes from the Facebook community, the contest promoter and even votes from KISS band members. The winning designs would be made available to KISS fans for purchase and the winning
artists would each receive a $1,000 cash prize, 2 concert tickets, an opportunity to meet KISS and an autograph session and photo with the band backstage before the concert.
Bradway knew the design process would be a wonderful way to help Nicholas learn more about cartooning, traditional illustration, 3D modeling as well as design. Together they worked in a variety of mediums including computer graphics, traditional pencil and paper, and even stained glass.
With input from his wife Missy (Stocker) Bradway (’89) the family agreed that if they won, they would gladly enjoy the concert and opportunity to meet KISS, but the prize money would be donated to the MAA Kimi Korleski Memorial Scholarship. The Bradway father/son team submitted four designs, including an illustration of KISS as cartoon characters entitled Saturday Morning 70’s Flashback, then got to work promoting. From social media to grassroots marketing with fliers, the Bradways rallied votes from friends, family and Marlington community members.
Their efforts were a success! And though they received 202 popular votes- a second place finish, votes from Band Job, the contest promoter, and from KISS tipped the scale. “I thought from our early stages of creating we had a pretty strong design, but within 41 seconds of posting our shirt we received our first vote along with a great message: "Love it! I'd buy it right now!"”
The MAA is truly grateful for this gift to the Cultivating Great Minds campaign and for the Bradway’s generosity in supporting the Kimi Korleski Memorial Scholarship, awarded to students pursuing further education in any Fine Arts program. Perhaps the next scholarship recipient will someday be a tee-shirt
designer- or a KISS fan!
