Bryce Bewley Archives - Reynolds College Blog

This spring, seniors Chloe Gramelspacher and Olivia Michaelson were selected by the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH) to create a marketing and branding project for its Center for Student Success.

Both are BFA graphic design students within the Department of Art and Design.

RCASH’s Director of Marketing, Communications and External Relations, Bryce Bewley, commissioned the project. It involved creating 12 posters to represent each department and school within the college. These poster images will be used by the student success center.

“The project was an opportunity for design students to engage in hands-on pedagogy to showcase university and college specific brand-work,” said RCASH Associate Dean Dr. Jake Simmons.

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.

Exhibit wall displaying design projects — More projects from the 2025 BFA in Design exhibition now on view.

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.”