The BFA in Design: Professional Design Practicum exhibition is now on view at the Carolla Arts Exhibition Center April 29-May 10 and for First Friday Art Walk May 3, 6-9 p.m.
The exhibit features the works portfolios and client-based projects of seniors in the Department of Art and Design’s BFA in Design program.
Many students will display supplemental materials in their exhibits, including business card takeaways, portfolio materials and tangible products such as branded t-shirts and mugs.
Students in the BFA design program are required to work with clients to demonstrate their mastery of design concepts and skills developed throughout their years of coursework.
The students work with a variety of businesses and organizations, from local internal projects for Missouri State to industries around the globe.
Artists drawn to projects that made a difference
Twenty-five BFA design seniors have work included in the spring 2024 exhibit. Four of those individuals, Lauren Rose, Katelyn Thornton, Lora Spinabella and Amber Dudenhoeffer, all worked on projects that improved their clients’ circumstances in some capacity.
Lauren Rose
Lauren Rose’s exhibition work includes design projects for two of MSU’s galleries: Cabot and Taylor.
She created visual branding and signage for both spaces. Her work will be implemented early this summer.
Rose commented about her experience as a student within the design program.
“I’ve grown immensely as a designer, way more than I expected, and learned so much through studio classes,” she said. “The department has professors from all over the world and all different walks of life, so it’s allowed me to have a full-spectrum education.”
Brick City, which houses the art and design department, factors into some of Rose’s fondest memories of her time as a student.
“Brick City is a special place,” she said. “I’ve had classes in several other buildings, and something about always coming back to Brick City kind of feels like home. The community at Brick City and the majors are smaller and close-knit. It’s its own little community.
Katelyn Thornton
For her client-based project, Katelyn Thornton designed promotional products for the Glo Center, a non-profit resource center for the LGBTQIA+ community located in Springfield.
In addition to her client-based work, Thornton is including in her exhibit several illustrations from a children’s book she hopes to one day publish.
When Thornton learned about the GLO center project from one of the department’s instructors, she saw it as a “perfect opportunity.”
“With the recent anti-LGBTQ legislation and book bans happening in Missouri and across the U.S., I feel it’s important now more than ever to show allyship,” Thornton said.
“I’ve always considered myself an ally, [so] with the client project I really wanted to reach out to a local organization that I could really help and support,” she added.
Thornton shared advice for upcoming art and design students. “Find your group of people within the program,” she urged. “Being able to cultivate artistic friends is so important for feeling a sense of community and seeking advice and critiques.”
Lora Spinabella and Amber Dudenhoeffer
For their client-based project, Lora Spinabella and Amber Dudenhoeffer worked with Paws to the Polls (PTTP), a Missouri State public affairs non-partisan campus initiative focused on encouraging younger generations to vote.
The pair redesigned the organization’s logo, created a voter issue informational brochure and developed other promotional materials for the group.
Spinabella was happy that her work on the project helped the organization’s goals.
“I feel as though Paws to the Polls is making an actual difference in everyone’s lives [by] helping people to get more involved in voting,” Spinabella said.
Spring 2024 BFA in Design student exhibitors
Parker Bensyl, Maria Biondo, Andrea Collazos, Amber Dudenhoeffer, Dorottya Faa, Savannah Hayton, Melissa Hendrickson, Ethan Holman, Abigail McClure, Caroline Mouton, Emmagyn Parton, Madison Raushel, Siera Richardson, Trinity Riecker, Lauren Rose, Natalie Ross, Alissa Roth, Lora Spinabella, Taylor Stafford, Samantha Stoltz, Olivia Stone, Katelyn Thornton, Allison Waddle, Katie Wemhoener and Paris Wilken.
The Carolla Arts Exhibition Center is located at 326 N. Boonville Ave. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Call 417-837-2330 for more information.
Photos provided by Vonda Yarberry.
News submitted by Mariah Hunter and edited by the Reynolds College Communications team.
Hunter is a graduate assistant for the Department of Art and Design. She is working towards her master’s degree in writing at Missouri State University.