Adé Hogue created a significant record of achievement despite his young age. Upon graduation, he moved immediately to Chicago and began an ambitious career in design and advertising. While working with an impressive roster of national clients, Adé established himself as a dynamic talent in lettering design and hand-created type. He exhibited his work in gallery shows dedicated to lettering and typography and was committed to developing his craft in a wide range of media. He became a sought after speaker and presented at invited AIGA lectures, design conferences and the national AdobeMAX conference in 2018. He wielded his virtuosity and growing influence as a voice for social justice, which included his most recent efforts to diversify the cycling community in his home city.
In 2015, Adé was selected by PRINT magazine, a leading publication in the profession of graphic design, as one of “15 creatives under 30 who are shaping tomorrow’s design landscape.” In 2018, he received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the College of Arts + Architecture.
While he continued to reach new career heights, Adé always made time to connect with communities, share his knowledge, and impact young designers and artists. He taught part-time in the design program at DePaul University and hosted workshops and community gatherings for interested designers and creatives. He was a frequent guest of the Graphic Design program at UNC Charlotte, giving generously of his time to teach and inspire the next generation of students.
His warmth and enthusiasm were infectious; his visits are remembered for their wonderful good humor and laughter. Through all of the impressive accolades and recognition he received, Adé stayed the same humble, funny guy whether he was giving a speech to a national conference or sitting in a classroom with first-year design students.
He had so much more to accomplish, but he will always remain an inspiration. He will be dearly missed.
In Memoriam, the Department of Art & Art History and many of Ade's friends and family have established a scholarship for UNC Charlotte students. If you wish to contribute, please contact Leslie Antionel, Major Gifts Officer, for assistance. Phone: 704.687.7223 | Cell: 214.783.6906
Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art with a concentration in Graphic Design, UNC Charlotte (2012)
An experienced designer and specialist in hand-created type and lettering, Adé Hogue enjoyed a successful career since graduation with creative firms in Chicago, rising to the position of art director while working with national and global brands such as PayPal, eBay Inc., Nike, ALDI, Ocean Spray, MilkPEP, and more. Recently, he was selected by the national publication, Print magazine, as one of "15 creatives under 30 who are shaping tomorrow's design landscape." His work as a freelancer offers a wide range of creative opportunities.
"At any given time I am typically working on various branding projects for startups/small businesses, lettering pieces for advertisements or headlines, and art directing video/photo shoots for social content," he said. He has also presented his personally-initiated work in exhibitions, such as the TYPEFORCE 8 annual juried showcase of emerging typographic artists.
The Department of Art & Art History trained him well, he said, for that varied career. "My time at UNC Charlotte prepared me by teaching me to explore different avenues for creativity when confronted with a project. When I was an undergrad I found ways to mix art and design to create final pieces. Knowing how to sculpt, to print, or to paint made it easier for me in the future to think of an all-encompassing big picture."
Adé began at UNC Charlotte as an engineering major. "I had never taken an art class at a high level in high school or college until my first drawing class. So for me, the accomplishment of getting into the BFA program meant that maybe I had finally found what it was that I should be doing in life. I’ll never forget that feeling."
He said that the faculty at UNC Charlotte encouraged him to dig deep. "The most important thing that I learned as an undergrad was how to teach myself to seek help and inspiration outside of the classroom. Whether it was from visiting the library to look at historical documents, or the exploring new methods for creation in the Storrs Fabrication Lab, I realized that designing took more research to truly get to the heart of what it is that you are creating."