The faculty of Art + Design are challenging their students to start the fall semester with their very own custom-designed face masks. By uploading a simple image or design to any one of many print-on-demand web services, students can set up their own shop, sell their work, develop their professional portfolios, and help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
Over the last few years, print-on-demand, on-line shops that sell niche products using designs by independent artists have sprung up to capitalize on the public interest in unique products. The umbrella company handles the production, ordering, and mailing of the products, and artists reap a portion of the proceeds for use of their designs.
Some examples of companies who will produce artist-designed face masks and links to their artist agreements:
REDBUBBLE – https://www.redbubble.com/about/selling
THREADLESS – https://www.threadless.com/artist-shops/signup/art
PIXELS.COM – https://pixels.com/sell-art-online.html
SOCIETY6 – https://society6.com/sell-art
Since face masks will be required in all classes, faculty hope students will be excited to see their work in the public sphere and also encourage public safety.
Department Head, Vonda Yarberry says, “art and design students would be surprised at just how easy and how much money they can make using this type of platform.” She continues, “it’s not just seniors but any level of student.”
As encouragement, the department is holding a contest for the most popular designs created by students and will promote the winners who will be the direct recipients of all the social media attention which will translate directly in sales and money in their pockets.
To submit a design to the contest, all students need to do is send their name and URL link to their face mask product to the Department Head, Vonda Yarberry at vondayarberry@missouristate.edu . The voting timeline will start August 1 and continue through the first week of classes via social media. Yarberry says, “The sooner students send in their links, the sooner the promotions start, and the more profits students can make.”
People ask during calamities and crises ‘what can I do to help?’ Everyone can save lives simply by wearing a mask. Art + Design faculty think students can influence the masses and make wearing masks fun and help classes stay seated during the fall semester and beyond.