Department of Art and Design Archives - Page 2 of 15

BFA in Design Senior Exhibition now on view at Carolla Arts Exhibition Center

April 30, 2025 by Reynolds College

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.”

Vonda Yarberry, professor and head of Department of Art and Design, to retire Aug. 1

April 27, 2025 by Lynn M. Lansdown

After 36 years, Vonda Yarberry says it’s a good time to retire.

Yarberry has served as head of Missouri State University’s Department of Art and Design since 2016. She started teaching digital art and animation for the department in 1989.

During her nine-year tenure as department head, Yarberry oversaw several momentous changes. She assisted with helping the department move from the main campus to its current downtown location, Brick City. Under her guidance, the department increased its campus and community presence with new exhibition galleries and collaborative programs. And, Yarberry navigated the department through its darkest days during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yarberry admitted that she had never imagined herself in this role. But as it turns out, it has been the most rewarding time of her life.

“Being a department head has been the most fun of any of my roles over the last 36 years.”

A creative and inspirational “legacy leader”

Dean Shawn Wahl of the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH), described Yarberry as a “legacy leader.”

“Under her leadership, the Department of Art and Design has expanded in numerous ways, including new graduate programs, gallery expansion, robust community arts partnerships and fundraising,” Wahl noted.

Man and woman at an awards ceremony — Yarberry accepting the Judy Award for “University Citizenship” from Dean Wahl. Photo credit: Jesse Scheve/Missouri State University.

Yet even before she became department head, Yarberry displayed innovative leadership, according to Angela Barker, Director of Information Technology and Operations for RCASH.

Barker, who started working for Missouri State in 1999, recalled how Yarberry developed a long-range technology equipment plan. The plan created a workflow that maintained and redistributed state-of-the-art computer technology to standard computer labs.

“It laid the groundwork for the technology standards we continue today,” Barker said.

In addition to being innovative, Yarberry’s leadership is inspirational, according to Dr. Steve Willis, professor of art.

“In my 49 years in the profession, I have never known a more conscientious educator with such an incredibly high work ethic than Professor Yarberry,” Willis said. “She has the ability to motivate people to achieve at their highest level.”

Professor Sarah Williams also described Yarberry’s leadership as inspirational.

“I’ve found it truly is rare to work with someone whose first instinct — when faced with a problem or difficult situation — isn’t to bristle or go into panic mode but rather to view it as an opportunity to learn something, investigate in a new context and problem solve in a calm yet professional manner,” Williams said. “She’s been an amazing role model.”

BFA in Art Senior Exhibition now on view at Brick City Gallery

April 17, 2025 by Reynolds College

Missouri State University’s Department of Art and Design announces the BFA in Art Senior Exhibition is on view at the Brick City Gallery.

The exhibition is open April 22-May 2 and ends with the First Friday Art Walk May 2 from 6-9 p.m. Visitors can enjoy a range of artworks, including drawing, sculpture, metal work and new media.

The event is free and open to the public.

Artwork on display in exhibition — Some of Paige Lenahan’s drawings on view at the exhibition.

Annual Juried Student Exhibition on view March 7-April 4

March 13, 2025 by Reynolds College

The Department of Art and Design’s Annual Juried Student Exhibition (AJSE) has returned this spring to celebrate the creativity and achievements of students across the department.

The exhibition is on view March 7-April 4 at the Carolla Arts Exhibition Center.

A special First Friday Art Walk event will be held April 4 from 6-9 p.m.

Professional exhibition experience

The AJSE gives students an opportunity to present their work in a professional gallery setting, gaining valuable experience in the exhibition process. This showcase highlights a range of artistic practices, fostering engagement with the broader art community.

“The annual juried exhibition is an excellent chance for the public to see some great work by our students, but it’s also an excellent learning opportunity for our students to practice their skills in applying for exhibition opportunities, preparing professional-level documentation of their work and ideas,” explained Vonda Yarberry, art and design department head.

Potential exhibitors must submit an application. They also undergo formal, expert jurying.

“Not all students who apply will have their work accepted,” Yarberry said. “But all students will have the opportunity to understand how the process works and will be able to practice skills they are learning in the classroom.”

Mark J. Hall Best in Show Award

The Mark J. Hall Best in Show Award will once again be presented in honor of its namesake, a former student whose passion for the arts continues to inspire. This prestigious award recognizes the most outstanding work in the exhibition and celebrates students’ artistic excellence and innovation.

It pays to be an art and design major, says U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

March 5, 2025 by Reynolds College

Missouri State University’s Department of Art and Design has good news for students.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a career in art and design is worth pursuing.

In 2023, the average median wage for art and design careers was $51,660, which was 7.49% higher than the median annual wage for all occupations ($48,060).

Regarding salaries, Missouri holds its own in art and design-related occupations compared to national averages (see table).

	Missouri	National
Art Director	$95.320	$106,500
Special Effects Artists or Animators	$79,740	$99,060
Graphic Designers	$52,130	$58,910
Craft and Fine Artists	$53,000	$52,910
Museum Curators	$62,600	$57,120
Photographers	$46, 750	$40,760
Elementary School Teachers	$55,530	$63,670
Middle School Teachers	$60,510	$64,290
High School Teachers	$63,500	$65,220

The median annual salary for craft and fine artists in Missouri increased from $43,000 in 2018 to $53,000 in 2023. This trend reflects an increase of approximately 24% in five years. Other professions have boasted similar numbers.

Demand for art and design professions is expected to grow through 2033, despite currently experiencing a slight decrease. The BLS projects an average of nearly 88,000 openings each year.

The growth potential for professions in museum studies like curators, conservators and other museum workers is 11%. Additionally, the mean wage for curators, craft and fine artists and art professors in Missouri is higher than the national average.

Explore career opportunities in 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.

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