Rick Valicenti is founder and design director of Thirst, a firm devoted to art with function. His passion for design and embrace of new technologies makes for a dynamic marriage of imagery and inspiration. Thirst’s strategic and creative versatility continues to lead the discourse and pursue the elusive ideals of intelligence and real human presence within today’s world of commerce. In October 2006, Rick was awarded the prestigious AIGA medal for his sustained contribution to design excellence and the development of the profession. Rick has served as president of the STA (Society of Typographic Art), board member of AIGA’s Chicago chapter, and juror for the President’s Design Awards National Endowment for the Arts (Bush and Clinton). He has been nominated twice for the prestigious Chrysler Design Awards and selected for the first I.D. magazine 40 and 50 top designers. Rick’s work has been published in practically every major graphic design publication.