Marking the completion of a semester-long client project, BFA in Design seniors present final practicum designs in the BFA in Design Senior Exhibition. The exhibition is on view May 5-19 and will be open for First Friday Art Walk May 5 from 6-9 p.m.
One of the final steps for students in the design and illustration program is applying the design skills they have honed throughout their years of coursework to the design needs of real clients. Students often work with businesses and organizations, ranging from local to international, across a variety of industries.
The following students have work featured in the exhibition:
Sydney Arlt, Cole Baker, Kurtis Bertel, Paige Cawein, Morgan Collins, Alexandra Curry, Stephanie Dejeu, Chloe Frazier, Sloane Galindo, Katelyn Homer, Timothy Keeling, Steeler Lawrence, Julia Mason, Colby Morrone, Tabitha Mumford, Angelina Navarro, Lena Nguyen, Hannah Noles, Bennett Outman, Tyler Porras, Emily Reed, Everett Schoenke, Samuel Stillie, and Amanda Winters.
Paige Cawein, a dual major in graphic design and illustration, worked with Tropical Liqueurs for her project. Paige’s final project includes a logo redesign along with a new menu, coasters, punch cards, and table tents for the local bar. She shares that one of the most surprising, and rewarding, parts of working with her client was the excitement the client had for the collaborative process and final products, “I think they were even more excited about it than I was, and their enthusiasm for everything I made was so rewarding. It was super tedious and time consuming, but I absolutely loved the process, and I had so much fun working on it. In any project, the best part is being able to help someone bring their visions to life, and I can’t wait to have a career doing just that.”
The advice Paige would offer to current or future Art and Design students in not to worry about falling into a set style, brand, or a niche. “That will come to you as you experiment throughout classes and figure out what you really love to do. It took me until senior year to really find what made my designs me, and just being a well-rounded designer with many talents is very important,” Paige adds.
Graphic design major Stephanie Dejeu worked with R&D Honey Co. to re-brand the company through designs for new honey jar labels, staff T-shirts, business cards, shopping bags, and tote bags. The project also included virtual re-branding with work on R&D Honey Co.’s social media appearance on Instagram.
To current or future students, Stephanie stresses the importance of truly soaking in the college experience and being intentional with class work, “You get out of school what you put into it, and I believe if you work your hardest and put in 100%, you will feel rewarded and a sense of relief at the end of your college career! Go out of your way, make connections, and meet people because you never know where you will end up!
Stephanie considers her own connections made during her time at Missouri State to be some of the most important takeaways from her time in the design program, “I have been blessed to meet and work with so many creatives in the Springfield, Missouri community. By having those connections with people, I was able to excel, and to be a part of opportunities that I otherwise wasn’t expecting.”
Carolla Arts Exhibition Center is located at 326 N. Boonville Ave, Springfield, Missouri. Gallery hours are Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–6 p.m. 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.