Cottage Home has a long history of creatives and makers living in the neighborhood.
While not everyone is an artist, per se, the neighborhood boasts more than its fair share
of talented makers. Over the years, residents of this eastside enclave have shared their
honed skills in stone and metal work, painting and sculpting, music, literature, home
decor, clothing design, culinary arts, and several other arts and crafts.
Julia Taugner
Graphic Design Associate Professor
Julia Taugner has an undergraduate degree in Painting from Auburn University and a graduate degree in Graphic Design from Indiana University in Bloomington. She was an Associate Professor at the University of Indianapolis where she taught Visual Communication Design for 21 years before retiring from full-time teaching in 2020.
Designer in St. Louis
Before pursuing her academic career, she worked for twelve years as a designer for graphic design studios and publishing companies in St. Louis, and as an art director and manager at Resort Condominiums International in Indianapolis.
Graphic designers use type and images to
Julia Taugner
convey a message, so it’s important to be good at typography
Tempest in a Tea Cup – Julia Taugner
Love of Typography
When she was studying to be a graphic designer, she discovered her love of type (typography). “I love that people can look at letters, which are beautiful abstract shapes, and understand them as words,” says Julia. “Graphic designers use type and images to
convey a message, so it’s important to be good at typography. I love photography, and since I was trained as a painter, I love creating images”.
“Honestly, I have been spending more time trying to learn to cook a little and to learn more about plants… things I never had enough time for while working full time. “
— Julia Taugner, Graphic Designer
Special Interest in Typography and Graphic Design History
She has worked in editorial and book design, corporate communications, and branding. She has a special interest in typography and graphic design history. In addition to her
design work, Julia works with drawing and painting, collage and photomontage on subjects of personal interest. She is a member of the AIGA (which now stands for “the professional organization for design”, formerly “the American Institute for Graphic Arts”)
and the League of Moveable Type.
New Interests in Retirement
Now that Julia’s retired, she has more time to work on her own images and artwork, although she says “Honestly, I have been spending more time trying to learn to cook a little and to learn more about plants… things I never had enough time for while working full time. And I’ve been able to volunteer to work on the Board for Cottage Home, which has been a great opportunity to meet neighbors”.
Susan Vogt
Ceramics and Glass
Susan Vogt is another must-meet neighbor who has been active in the community for many years. When not working her day job as Director of Economic Development at Near East Area Renewal, Cottage Home neighbor Susan can be found creating her own ceramics at nearby Alley Cat Ceramics, a pottery studio on Michigan Avenue just south of Woodruff Place. The studio offers pottery classes for every level, but also offers artists low-cost time on a potter’s wheels or firing time in the kiln.
Hand Blown Glass Artist
Although pottery is a new adventure for her, Susan is a seasoned glass artist. She created hand blown glass art for 20 years before switching to ceramics, indicating that glass blowing is hot and more expensive to work in as a medium.
