BFA in Design students showcase the culmination of their skills as they present final practicum projects for the BFA in Design Senior Exhibition. These client-based projects show the importance of design across industries, as students design materials ranging from teaching tools for elementary classrooms to local restaurant menus and more. The BFA in Design Senior Exhibition is on view May 6–May 20 and open from 6–9 PM for First Friday Art Walk on May 6.
BFA seniors specializing in graphic design and illustration work closely with their clients for the better part of an entire semester before displaying their final projects. The practicum assignment allows students to exercise the skills they already have while also learning additional lessons, such as calculating pricing and managing a timeline.
The following students are featured in this semester’s exhibition:
Jadie Arnett, Hannah Cox, Patricia Cunningham, Daniella Gonzalez, Carlyn Henson, Alicia Herman, Patricia Hilton, Kat Huckins, Alayna Johannsen, Lauren Johns, Kailey Johnson, Zjane Johnson, Anna Keiser, Yijia Lei, Curtis Lenssen, Bryon Lovelady, Cailey Lochert, Cameron Luther, Nicholas Miller, Renee Newkirk, Claudia O’Steen, Zachary Pierce, Sarah Powell, Julie Rakhuba, Savannah Randall, Amanda Schilling, Kortney Smart, Gabriella Southworth, Leigh Stracener, and Isabella Strang.
As these Design students are about to embark on their professional careers, they reflect on the things they have learned at Missouri State that will carry on beyond the classroom. For Graphic Design and Illustration senior Carlyn Henson, working through the initial phases of the Covid-19 pandemic had a silver lining, “I have learned how to be flexible. When the pandemic started . . . I had to learn how to do all my design classes without the hands-on help from my professors (in person). It was a learning experience for us all, but it was also something that taught me how to be more independent with my work.”
Kortney Smart, a BFA senior with an emphasis in Illustration, explains that it took some time to fully appreciate one of the most important lessons from time as an undergraduate:
Something the professors really drive home is that in this field you have to have a passion for it. Being in a field that requires constant creative solutions is extremely draining and is only worth it if you really love it. This is something that I brushed off in my first few years, but then once the pressure kicks in it really does help to have that frame of mind in place and be able to ask yourself, ‘Does this work matter to me?’ My best pieces have come after being forced to find why I was passionate about this field.
Carolla Arts Exhibition Center is located at 326 N. Boonville Ave, Springfield, Missouri. Gallery hours are Monday–Friday 11 AM–6 PM and Saturday 12 PM–4 PM. Call 417-837-2330 for additional details.
Taylor Ladd is a graduate assistant for the Department of Art + Design. She is working towards her master’s degree in writing at Missouri State University with professional interests in writing about art, culture, and food.