PHOTO BY LUKE WOLAGIEWICZ

Citizen Scholar. Supercorp. The Amazing Project. In each of these endeavors, designer/entrepreneur Randy J. Hunt cer­tainly cannot be faulted for aiming low. If there is a “new breed” of graphic designer, Hunt might well qualify as its poster child. “Randy is a thoroughly modern designer,” says Alice Twemlow, chair of the School of Visual Arts MFA in Design Criticism. “In addition to running a design firm and setting up a networking site for social entrepreneurs, he blogs for DESIGNY—among others. He’s mature beyond his years and reassures his clients—includ­ing me—by wearing sharp outfits, using organizational software to help projects stay on track and by producing beautiful work that’s sophisticated, thoughtful … and on time.”

“My work is designed artifacts and design recommendations for people who actively pursue life-improving ends beyond their own commercial interests,” Hunts states. “About 10 percent of the time, our end result is not visible as an artifact; it is written rec­ommendations, advice and strategic plans. I truly believe this is as much a part of design as the making of artifacts, and the two work best when they have a poetic dance with one another.”

Hunts practices what is often referred to as “social entrepre­neurism,” about which he says, “It isn’t the charity model, though that still has a very important role; it’s about interfacing with problems in the way a bootstrapping business would—pooling resources, looking at problems in new ways and figuring out how to make sense of the economies of creating solutions.” Hunt sees an important role for graphic design, but is cautious about over­statements. “I don’t think ‘design’ alone is able to solve huge issues like human-rights offenses, corrupt governments, disease epidem­ics or environmental degradation. But I do believe that behind a lot of the rhetoric, the core argument for the value of ‘design thinking’ is absolutely true.”

To utilize his many skills as designer, writer and inventor, Hunt founded Citizen Scholar Inc. in 2005. In 2007 he added a part­ner, Cera J. Klomp. Their studio, based in Brooklyn, focuses on working with nonprofits, artists and other social entrepreneurs. In addition, Hunt—along with Todd Persen and Ryan Deussing—cre­ated Supercorp LLC, which develops software tools for creative commerce. Their first product is Supermarket, an online retail destination for designer-made items. As if all of this isn’t enough to keep Hunt busy, he’s also started a nonprofit organization, The Amazing Project, which provides a forum for “amazing people doing amazing things to change the world.”

In all of his ventures, Hunt strives to make relevant, beautiful and memorable work. “Randy is a passionate—and compas­sionate—advocate for design that makes a difference—even in face of the odds,” says Steven Heller of his former SVA student. “The combination of confidence and curiosity has produced what I believe is a force to be reckoned with in the design field.”

www.citizenscholar.com | www.wearesupercorp.com | www.amazingproject.org | DESIGNY: www.aigany.org/index.php/blog/