George Baka
George Baka has been a graphics designer all his adult life. He served as National Director of Art for the United States Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC, for 30 years. During that time he taught Graphic Design in the USDA's graduate school. After is retirement in 1991, he taught Commercial Art and Graphic Art at Pitt County Community College in Greenville for 10 years.
Baka, a graduate of the Pratt School of Art, Brooklyn, NY,
joined the Department in 1964 after serving as an Art Director
in the private sector. He was an active member of the Washington,
DC, design community for many years.
In 1984 he was promoted to Chief of the Design Division. As senior visual information officer, he served as the Department's advisor and consultant regarding the planning and production of all design work for effectively communicating to the public the research, educational, and mandatory programs of the Department. The Department's Design Division has been recognized for their accomplishments in all phases of graphic and exhibit design.
Mr. Baka developed a staff with the expertise and capability of producing top quality graphics and exhibits for the Department, both in this country and abroad. He received many awards from the Washington Art Directors Club and the New York Art Directors Club, along with foreign government recognition in the form of gold medals from Russia and Spain. Because of his many recognized achievements, Baka's advice and acceptance has been sought out by the White House and other departments, agencies, and offices through the Federal Government.
"Very few people have made a substantial impact during their Government career. Your dedication and commitment to professional excellence stands as a legacy for future generations to follow. You were truly a pioneer in making the visual image of the Department and Federal Government both efficient and award-winning. You created an awareness for design excellence that has endured for over 25 years. Through your efforts, the Department became the state-of-the-art from table-top exhibits to international displays and from simple graphics to electronic publishing. The impact of your Government career has sent shockwaves that continue to be felt.---Clayton Youtter, Secretary of Agriculture, November 1990.
Baka is also an award winning photographer. He learned the craft while serving in the USAF during the Korean War. Since moving to the North Carolina coast he has continued to sharpen his photography skills. He is also an accomplished wood carver. His favorite subjects are the waterfowl found around the office on Mason Creek, near Oriental, NC.
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Photos by George Baka, Copyright 2005