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Kristen Brister Howell – Founder and Owner
Kristen Brister Howell founded buypolar industries in 1997 realizing the need for a business that worked proficiently in both print and electronic media. In 1997 she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Family Relations and Child Development from Oklahoma State University. During that time she served as an Activities Coordinator at Reflections, a center for study of gerontological issues. Focusing on gerontology, she supplemented her education with studies in programming, planning and development of activities and businesses that service senior adults. Recently, she has worked as an educator, as well as a volunteer for several local non-profit organizations.

Kristen’s design business philosophy reflects her generous nature. “Design should be available to everyone, rich or poor, big or small. Communicating a message in the most effective and efficient manner possible is the key to success for any business.”

 

Jason W. Howell – Senior Creative/Art Director
Jason W. Howell received his Bachelor of Fine Arts diploma, Graphic Design emphasis, from Oklahoma State University in 1997. Jason has done design work for clients such as Kerr-McGee and HealthCare Oklahoma, Ditch Witch, Oklahoma State University Alumni Association and Foundation, BoundlessGallery.com and The Southern Illinoisan. Jason has taught design and typography as Visiting Assistant Professor of Art at Oklahoma State University, and as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Oklahoma. In 2001, Jason received his Master of Fine Art degree, Visual Communications emphasis, from the University of Oklahoma, and then began his current position as Assistant Professor of Communication Design at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

At SIUC, Jason is continuing his research into the roles that design and digital technology can have on culture, education, and typography, as well as business through the multidisciplinary design firm, buypolar industries, which explores the conjunction of traditional print design solutions with emerging digital technologies. Jason’s digital tutorial, Type*, is a part of a larger research project, 629ZERO1, which seeks to explore the connections between digital machines and typography. In 2003, Jason led a discussion group on this subject at the Design-Refining Our Knowledge International Graphic Design Education Conference at the University of Minnesota. In 2005, Jason was awarded an “American Graphic Design Award” by Graphic Design USA magazine for work he produced.

Jason is a current, and former member of College Art Association, as well as the American Center for Design (now UCDA), and the American Institute for Graphic Arts.

Creative Research Site