Missouri State University’s Department of Art and Design announces this semester’s BFA in Design: Professional Design Practicum Exhibition is on view at the Carolla Arts Exhibition Center.

The exhibition is open April 28-May 9 and includes the First Friday Art Walk May 2 from 6-9 p.m.

The exhibition is free and open to the public.

Capstone course features client-based projects

This capstone exhibition features the individual projects, portfolios and client-based projects of graduating seniors in the BFA in Design program.

Projects range from branding and marketing materials to digital media and product design and graphic novels, reflecting the diverse interests and skills of the Spring 2025 cohort.

Most of the clients who worked with the students are small business owners, but some are institutional, coming from local museums, non-profits, churches and artistic or musical initiatives.

As part of the practicum, students present self-promotional materials, including business cards, portfolios and branded merchandise, alongside real-world design solutions developed in collaboration with clients.

Associate professors Jacek Fraczak and Cole Closser teach the practicum course. They emphasize student engagement and interaction with clients, including communication, project management and creative problem-solving.

“The first long-term assignment is a real-life professional experience, when a student needs to find for themselves an existing client expressing the needs in the domain of graphic design or illustration,” Fraczak explained. “The clients may be local, regional or even international. Students have worked for clients from Saudi Arabia, Canada, Mexico, Slovakia and Germany.”

Senior graphic design major Mckenna Johnson said working with real-life clients was both exciting and motivating.

“It pushed me creatively as I worked to create a full brand identity from scratch,” she noted. “With strict deadlines, I had to communicate clearly, manage my time effectively and stay focused to deliver a final product that both my client and I were proud of.”

RCASH poster design project

One of this semester’s design projects involved creating posters for each academic unit within the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH). Chloe Gramelspacher and Olivia Michaelson, two of Fraczak’s students, designed the posters.

RCASH Director of Marketing, Communications and External Relations Bryce Bewley praised the quality of the final results, such as color schemes, stylistic elements and thematic connection.

“Chloe and Olivia did an incredible job bringing each department’s unique identity to life while maintaining a unified visual language,” he said. “They worked closely with me and received valuable input from each department throughout the process.”

Spring 2025 Exhibitors

Emily J. Baadsgaard
Gabby Bonasera
Noah S. Braun
Libby Channel
Georgia Crawford
Madeline Curtis
Desiree-Esther Daos
Hayley Dennis
Tara Doepke
Chloe Gramelspacher
Abigail Grossner
Timothy Halcomb
Redeemer Heath
Noah Huettenmeyer
Brock Huse
Makenna Johnson
Olivia Michaelson
Caroline Mouton
Rachael Mueller
Lena Nguyen
Vaeya Nichols
Cadance Ruth
Taylor Sandridge
Morgan Shearhart
Maddie Sherman
Sue Stark
Ian Street
Maggie Svoboda
Emma Unger
Aubrey Whitehead

For more information, contact the Department of Art and Design at 417-837-2330 or visit the Carolla Arts Exhibition Center at 326 N Boonville Ave., Springfield, MO.

Explore the BFA in Design program

Photos courtesy of Department of Art and Design.

News edited by the Reynolds College Communications Team.

Sam Barnette is a writer for the Department of Art and Design. She holds an MFA in Dramatic Writing from Missouri State’s Department of Communication, Media, Journalism and Film and is working toward an MS in Data Science and Analytic Storytelling at Truman State University.