Kjella Acosta-Page, a Dixon, Missouri native, never expected her home away from home would be so close to where she grew up.

“I considered a few art institutes before thinking about Missouri State as an option,” she said. “As soon as I stepped into Brick City, I knew I had found my home.”

As a graphic design and illustration major, the art district is where Acosta-Page spends most of her time. That is why it was so important for her to feel at home, and it’s why she became a Bear in the first place.

A simple method to the madness

For Acosta-Page, getting into a creative mindset for design work is simpler than you think.

“I normally go to my drawing desk in my bedroom, put my headphones on, and blast some music,” she said.

Once she is in the zone, she can spend a whole day working on her art.

Outside of school, Acosta-Page works as a professional graphic designer for the Southwest Missouri Council of Governments and the Center for Resource Planning and Management at MSU. She also is the editor of “Heebie-Jeebies,” a comix anthology celebrating indie cartoonists.

Bringing the 70s back

Artists have a way of pulling from the old to influence the new. That’s what Acosta-Page did with her design for this year’s Be A Bear T-Shirt contest.

The groovy ‘70s aesthetic is popular right now. It was natural for Acosta-Page to include it in her design.

“I wanted the shirt to mimic a band t-shirt or concert poster from the ‘70s, with a modern twist,” she said.

When designing the shirt, Acosta-Page’s focus was creating something that would stick out among the traditional BearWear in the bookstore.

If selected as the winner of the contest, she hopes her attempt to make a wearable, trendy shirt will help drive sales.

Vote for a T-shirt design

Proceeds support the SAA Completion Scholarship, which offers scholarships to students in need of extra help, allowing them to complete their degree while here at Missouri State.

“Being a Bear means you are looking out for the people who are coming from the same place as you,” Acosta-Page said.

The Be A Bear T-shirt gives alumni and current students the chance to do just that. Cast your vote on Feb. 10-14.