When local entrepreneurs dream up bold new ventures, design can make or break their success. Unfortunately, early-stage companies don’t always have the resources for the polished branding and marketing materials they need.

That’s where the new partnership between Missouri State University’s Department of Art and Design and efactory comes in. Together, they’ve launched the Brick City Design Studio (BCDS), an initiative housed in Brick City 3 that bridges talented student designers with local businesses that need their skills.

Thanks to funding from the Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC), efactory members will gain access to high-quality design services at no cost. Meanwhile, student designers are compensated for their work. The initiative supports startups, enhances student portfolios and strengthens Springfield’s creative community.

Practical experience working for real clients

The studio exposes students to working under real budgets and timelines, learning firsthand how to meet professional challenges head-on. As James Mulvenon, instructor with the BCDS, explained, “No matter how well we prepare students for the workforce, there will always be a gap to overcome when working with actual clients.”

“Three out of four of last semester’s graduating seniors had careers lined up before graduation, thanks to their experience with the BCDS,” he added.

This collaboration builds on existing practicum experiences by giving students early exposure to real-life work scenarios. “The studio class is set up to include all the steps of a real-world collaboration,” said Maria Gerasimchuk-Djordjevic, instructor with BCDS. These skills include meetings, dividing responsibilities and creating schedules to meet with clients at various stages of the project.

Students see immediate benefits

Students are already seeing the benefits of this experience. Tina Claussen, a BCDS student, shared that working on live projects has made her more decisive in her creative process. “I have been able to develop different types of portfolio pieces than the ones that we completed in classes,” she said.

Claussen appreciates how these opportunities go beyond the walls of Brick City. “The more exciting part for me is actually to see the work that I produce out in the ‘real world’ rather than just on the walls of Brick City,” she noted.

At its core, this partnership demonstrates what can happen when education, innovation and community all work together. Local entrepreneurs will see their brands elevated. Students will gain powerful résumé-building experiences. And, Springfield’s broader creative community will continue to thrive.

Learn about the Brick City Design Studio

Brick City 3 is located at 215 W Mill St. in Springfield, MO 65897.

Photos courtesy of the 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. She is working toward an MS in Data Science and Analytic Storytelling at Truman State University.