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#StoutProud Alum: Andrew Murphy ('18)

smithjen — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 15:15:42 +0000

#StoutProud Alum: Andrew Murphy ('18)smithjen October 1, 2025

Andrew Murphy shares about his time at ��, leadership influences and how he is giving back to others.

Name: Andrew Murphy
Program: M.F.A. Design
Graduation year: 2018
Employer: Apple Retail
Position: Head of Corporate Strategy

Career Path & Leadership:

What inspired you to pursue your career, and how did your time at �� shape that path?
My career path hasn’t been linear, but it’s always been guided by a fascination with how people connect to experiences. I started with a music degree because I was curious about how sound could move people emotionally. That curiosity evolved into studying video and film at UW-Stevens Point, where I focused on narrative design and the power of storytelling to transport an audience.
Eventually, I was drawn to the world of experiential design and how to combine multiple disciplines to create immersive environments that engage people on many levels. That exploration led me to pursue my MFA at ��, where I gained the tools to think more holistically about design. �� helped me bridge creativity with strategy, blending design and business to shape more intentional, impactful experiences.
Looking back, were there any courses, professors, or campus experiences at �� that had a lasting impact on your leadership style or professional philosophy?
Several courses at �� had a lasting influence on my professional philosophy, particularly Design Seminar and Research Strategies in Design. These classes deepened my understanding of the research process in design and how to translate insights into meaningful outcomes.
I was also fortunate to have had several influential faculty members during my time on campus. My program director and academic advisor, Julie Peterson, helped me clarify my goals for the program and emphasized the importance of building on existing knowledge while striving to create new knowledge. Working with Dave Beck on several independent studies taught me how to collaborate effectively, especially when developing and testing theories across different software platforms. From Erik Evensen, I gained valuable skills in digital design and visual prototyping, tools I still use daily in my work.

Stout Experience & Influence:

Are there any lessons from ��’s polytechnic approach to education that continue to influence your day-to-day decision-making or long-term strategy?
��’s polytechnic approach taught me how to bridge theory and practice, how to take design concepts and theoretical knowledge and apply them directly to real-world projects. That mindset continues to influence both my day-to-day decisions and long-term strategy. I’ve learned to start with a strong conceptual foundation, then translate those ideas into practical, tangible outcomes that achieve the end goal.
What advice would you give to current School of Art and Design students at �� who aspire to reach leadership roles?
I would encourage students to pay close attention to the leaders around them. Observe how their actions, communication, and decision-making make you feel, and understand the work that goes into their role. Identify the qualities that inspire you and look for ways to model those behaviors. Just as importantly, learn from the negative experiences, too; understanding what doesn’t work can be just as valuable as knowing what does. Leadership growth often comes from combining those lessons into your own authentic style.

Personal Reflections & Giving Back:

Do you maintain any connections to �� today, whether through mentoring, guest speaking (outside of your upcoming Cabot Executive), or alumni activities?
Yes, I do. I keep in touch with a number of alumni from my program. It’s always fun to look back on our time at Stout and see the different directions our careers have taken. I also try to connect with other Stout grads whenever I’m at the Game Design Conference in San Francisco. And I still email with a few of my professors, which is a great way to stay connected to what’s happening on campus.
What role does mentorship play in your leadership, and did anyone at �� serve as a mentor or role model for you?
While I didn’t have a formal mentor during my time at �� or early in my career, I was fortunate to have several influential leaders in my life. They helped shape the way I think about my work, approach opportunities, and navigate challenges. Their encouragement and example were incredibly motivating, and those experiences are a big reason why I now participate in a formal mentoring program at my current employer. I see mentorship as a powerful way to share knowledge, build confidence, and help others grow.
As someone who has achieved great success in your field, what legacy do you hope to leave, and how does �� fit into that story?
I hope my legacy is inspiring others to see their skills in a broader context—to stay curious, communicate their ideas clearly, and recognize that design and business can work hand in hand. I want to encourage people to remain open to wonder and possibility, because that mindset often leads to the most innovative solutions.
�� is part of that legacy because it gave me the foundation to think both creatively and strategically. I hope to continue connecting with �� students. I believe it is important to encourage them to think philosophically about their lives and to be intentional about how they enter the working world, not just with technical skills, but with a sense of purpose and vision for the kind of impact they want to make.

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Andrew Murphy shares about his time at ��, leadership influences and how he is giving back to others. andrew_murphy_cabot_executive-in-residence.jpg

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Cabot Executive-in-Residence Series

The Cabot Executive Residency Program allows �� to invite major corporate leaders to spend one or several days on campus to get involved.

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‘Making It’: Master ��. in design student ��. documentary is time capsule of London ��. underground music scene

goersab — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 12:30:00 +0000

‘Making It’: Master ��. in design student ��. documentary is time capsule of London ��. underground music scenegoersab September 11, 2025

Mohr creates artistic statement on what it means to be a musician in one of the world ��. most vibrant cities

Abbey Goers

Traveling across one of the world ��. most artistically vibrant cities this summer, �� Master of Fine Arts in design student Ben Mohr filmed a documentary to capture the climate and culture of the London underground music scene. “Making It” is an exposé that uncovers what it means to be a London musician and how they define success.

“London seemed like the perfect setting. Almost any type of music imaginable can be heard there. Being so diverse, we’d be able to gather a host of perspectives and hopefully create a universal artistic statement about the matter,” Mohr said.

Mohr developed the idea for “Making It” with his friend and fellow musician Sean Sevant. With a crew of friends, the team filmed everything from punk to rap, math folk, Afrobeat, rock and roll, and more.

Veronica, an R&B/Reggae singer, performs at The Engine Rooms / Ben Mohr

“To be a musician today takes a lot of hard work and passion. Nobody does it to get rich. In the end, it ��. all about making art, bringing people together as a community and doing what one loves.

“While the exact definition of success was different for every musician we interviewed, the trend tended to be that the musicians viewed true success as being able to continue making their art. This ultimately is what it is all about,” Mohr said.

The making of ‘Making It’

While earning his bachelor ��. in art education at ��, Mohr studied abroad at University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield, United Kingdom, 20 miles north of London. As a musician, he met many music-oriented people at Hertfordshire, including Sevant.

The band Boz plays at Ram Jam Records / Ben Mohr

With advanced planning for their film, they leveraged Sevant ��. network of musicians for interviews and permission to film at shows, partnered with organizers, and held their own gig for filming. The team interviewed 12 musicians and filmed more than 20 bands and solo musicians, attended performances and open jams, and captured B-roll around the city.

“None of this could have been achieved without the efforts of all parties involved,” said Mohr, who served as director and camera operator. His fiancée, Delilah Schuster, recorded audio, while Sevant helped produce and run interviews. Mohr ��. friend Declan Coker also helped organize gigs and contacts.

The team was based on the east side of London, with most of the gigs and nearly all of their interviews in the middle of the city or on the west side. Their locations included The Jago, a live music venue that hosts Tao Sol, an all-inclusive open jam where musicians gather to connect and play, and Ram Jam Records, which hosts open mics and artist performances.

“Not being from London, I had no appreciation for how truly massive the city is until after we started filming. Each day was a regular routine of getting up, riding a train for about 60-90 minutes to the general location of our shoot and then hiking to the location with a suitcase full of camera supplies,” Mohr said.

Lukas, a trumpeter in the Tao Sol house band, plays at The Jago / Ben Mohr

With air conditioning rare in many English buildings, especially the places where musicians hang out, they often worked in 90-degree heat. They usually held interviews during the day and filmed gigs at night, before returning home by train or bus and not arriving until after midnight. Before going to bed, Mohr offloaded footage from the day to have adequate storage for the next day ��. filming.

“Despite all of this, we had the pleasure of listening to the music of some of the best bands ever and watching artists do their thing. Truly, I would not trade this entire experience for anything,” Mohr said.

“Ben ��. thoughtfulness and natural curiosity exemplify the strengths of our M.F.A. in design program. His focus area in video production has allowed him to flex his broad, multidisciplinary skills in ways that continue to surprise me,” Professor Erik Evensen said.

With more than 20 hours of footage to edit, Mohr plans to complete the hour-long “Making It” in November and will disseminate it in several ways, starting with providing a copy to the University Library Archives. He also plans to create a 15-minute short film to submit to national and international film festivals and organize screenings both on campus and in the Twin Cities.

Chinedu, a rapper, is interviewed by Delilah Schuster, Sean Sevant and Ben Mohr / Ben Mohr

“I’d like to thank Professor Jonny Wheeler and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at Stout for helping me with the grant that allowed me to create this film; Delilah, Sean, and Declan, who were instrumental in helping this project come to life; and all of the musicians who made ‘Making It’ possible,” Mohr said.

Mohr graduated with his degree in art education in 2021 and worked as a K-12 art teacher for a couple of years before returning to �� to pursue his M.F.A. in design. “I felt this would afford me better career opportunities. Having received my bachelor ��. degree from Stout, I was already familiar with the rigor of its School of Art and Design. I felt like there was more I could learn there,” he said.

While a lifelong lover of cinema, Mohr ��. move to filmmaking was a recent one. When researching graduate programs, he discovered that �� offers video production courses and decided to pursue a concentration in filmmaking for his master ��. degree.

“It attracted me because it combines many of my interests, including writing, visual media and music. It didn’t take long before I fell in love,” added Mohr, who is now a teaching specialist in the School of Art and Design.

The M.F.A. in design is part of �� . School of Art and Design, the largest public art school in Wisconsin. Accredited by the National Association for Schools of Art and Design, SOAD offers bachelor ��. degrees in animation and digital media; game design and development-art; graphic design and interactive media; illustration; industrial and product design; interior design; studio art; arts administration and entrepreneurship; fashion design and development; and video production.

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#StoutProud Alum: Andrew Murphy ('18)

Andrew Murphy shares about his time at ��, leadership influences and how he is giving back to others.

October 1, 2025

‘Making It’: Master ��. in design student ��. documentary is time capsule of London ��. underground music scene

Mohr creates artistic statement on what it means to be a musician in one of the world ��. most diverse cities

September 11, 2025

�� . game design programs ranked among international best by Princeton Review

Side gigs at Roblox, Respawn strengthen students’ skills; Stout Game Expo on May 8

April 14, 2025

Mohr creates artistic statement on what it means to be a musician in one of the world ��. most diverse cities Ben Mohr, London musicians documentary

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Hero Caption: The band French Toast plays at The Greyhound. Photo by Ben Mohr.

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�� . game design programs ranked among international best by Princeton Review

goersab — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 12:29:51 +0000

�� . game design programs ranked among international best by Princeton Reviewgoersab April 14, 2025

Side gigs at Roblox, Respawn strengthen students’ skills; Stout Game Expo on May 8

Abbey Goers

For more than a decade, �� . game design programs have consistently led state rankings and are among both national and international leaders.

Princeton Review, an education services company, recently ranked �� . undergraduate game design programs, which include the B.F.A. game design and development and B.S. computer science – game design concentration, No. 5 in the Midwest and No. 24 of the top 50 international schools, rising from No. 29 overall last year.

�� . M.F.A. in design was ranked No. 4 in the Midwest and No. 21 internationally, rising from No. 23 last year. Game design is one of eight focus areas within the master ��. program, which has a cross-disciplinary approach to help students customize the program to their interests and skillsets, including play experiences, interactivity, virtual environments, extended reality or narrative-driven storytelling.

A storyboard for character and scenery mockup by Lila Daily / Lila Daily

“This ranking shows the strength of our students’ interdisciplinary research into game design, but also interconnected areas in digital media,” said M.F.A. in design Program Director Erik Evensen. “Pursuing game design at the graduate level is interdisciplinary, interactive, and highly creative, and students continually find new ways to explore creative projects, solve problems and develop new ideas.”

Faculty stay in touch with current global game trends and technology while connecting students to opportunities such as leading student groups to attend M+Dev and the national Game Developers Conference, said School of Art and Design Director Aaron Durst.

“Students bring back those experiences and implement them in their projects, which is core to our polytechnic educational experience. We have a unique program in the state that prepares students to be a part of and lead the game industry in the upper Midwest at a world-class level,” he added.

Stout Game Expo (SGX)

Join us at the next Stout Game Expo (SGX) to explore and play student-created video games and tabletop advetures.

Rob Franek, editor-in-chief of Princeton Review, said, “The schools that made our lists have awesome programs in game design. Their faculties are superb. Their facilities are state-of-the-art, and their alumni include many of the video game industry ��. most successful designers, developers and entrepreneurs. We highly recommend them to any student considering a career in this exciting field."

He noted the exceptional experience that students at the listed schools receive:

66% of undergraduates and 80% of graduates worked on a shipped game as part of their studies
93% of undergraduates and 90% of graduates developed a plan to launch a game after graduation

In 2024, the national average starting salary of graduates with a bachelor's degree in game studies was nearly $63,000, while those with a master's degree was nearly $74,000.

The 15th annual Princeton Review rankings criteria included academics, faculty, technology and career prospects.

Shipped games and side gigs

All �� game design students publish games on itch.io, a free, online platform for digital creators to host their independent video games. Each student exhibits at the biannual Stout Game Expo.

“Our students – both the artists and the programmers – learn the importance of designing for a game ��. players at every stage in their education,” said game design Program Director Kimberly Loken. “Sophomores and juniors exhibit polished tabletop, 2D arcade-style, and exploratory and experimental games at our end-of-semester public Stout Game Expo. Seniors exhibit work-in-progress in December and continue to polish their work throughout spring, shipping a fully functional game alongside their graduation.”

Game design students also take the initiative to develop and strengthen their skills outside of the classroom. A couple of them have substantial side gigs in the games industry:

Alex Rowley, of Minneapolis, is a 3D modeler and asset developer with Roblox.
Lila Daily, of Appleton, is an independent contractor for marketing art with Respawn.

One of Rowley ��. creations can even be found on shelves at Walmart – a BONK! Hammer plushie – based on a product design he created for a friend ��. game, “Catalog Avatar Creator.”

Roblox assets and hammer plushie by Alex Rowley / Alex Rowley

Senior student-made games published on Steam and Epic Games store include Bugby, Dawn of the Falkonir, Grape Juice City, HyperPOP, Reaper ��. Isle, Ripple and Frawg: The Seasonal Song, Super Nova Stadium, The Witch ��. Garden and Wobble Warriors. Advanced students also exhibit their work annually at the Twin Cities chapter of the International Game Developers Association and at the regional M+DEV conference.

Stout Game Expo, western Wisconsin's largest game developer exhibition, will be at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 8.

Rowley at Roblox: Creating something people enjoy

In high school, Rowley never considered going to college. But now he can say, without a doubt, that his applied learning experiences at �� are worth it.

“I can’t stress enough how much better I am now at game design than I was before college, and I can thank all my art and design classes for that. I’ve learned so much about art and design – how to work harder and how to work within complicated game engines,” he said.

“I love game development because it feels really great to create something that tons of people enjoy. People could be playing your game to distract themselves from issues they're facing in real life, connect with friends or to just relax after a long day. Being able to contribute to a form of mental wellness for tons of people means a lot to me,” he added.

A character illustration by Alex Rowley / Alex Rowley

Rowley began making video games on Roblox during the pandemic. Roblox, created in 2004, is an online game platform and game creation system that allows users to program and play games created by themselves. It has nearly 80 million daily users.

Rowley had played on the platform before and was eager to be a part of the development community. He and a friend created a simple hide-and-seek-style game called “Mega Hide and Seek!”

“It took us about three months to build and began to gain traction online, which allows us to continue to update the game to this day,” he said.

Over the past four years, Rowley has continued to conceptualize ideas, develop projects and effective advertising strategies, practice his game development skills, and learned how to work with others to help lead a team to make something cohesive and fun.

“The great part about my current work is that I can choose my own hours and have more creative freedom. I much prefer it when I can make my own decisions, focus on my own time and work with those I feel close to,” he said.

Rowley is currently leading a team of six, including other �� students, on a 10-month-plus project to develop a horror game on Roblox that involves traversing through an abandoned factory with secrets to uncover and creatures to escape. They hope to release it this year.

A factory illustration by Alex Rowley / Alex Rowley

“The best part about my position is that it ��. super fun, and I learn something new every day. Having a wide variety of tasks allows me to see game development at a really broad angle, and I think it allows me to be versatile and prepared for future work experiences.

“It ��. also a great way to practice what I love while connecting with my friends at the same time, because we’ll sit down for hours just conceptualizing ideas, debating about how to implement something and coming together to find a good solution,” he said.

Rowley will graduate in summer 2026 and wants to pursue opportunities within small game development groups and hopes to continue practicing organic modeling in 3D design.

Daily at Respawn: You get what you put into your art

Daily explores and practices art outside of school using the skills she ��. learned in class.

“Assignments are helpful, but Stout has taught me that you really get what you put into your art. Just ‘drawing more’ isn’t a good way to improve your skills and gain experience. Challenging yourself with a variety of mediums and focusing on fundamentals is. That ��. what the game design program offers.

“I’m a pretty critical person when it comes to art, so a lot of enjoyment for me comes from improving my skills and striving to make artwork that I’m proud of,” she added. “Another big piece of the puzzle is community involvement, like interacting with my peers and the people that gather around games I’m interested in, sharing and talking about art and design and doing collaborative work.”

A character illustration by Lila Daily / Lila Daily

Daily does contract work with Respawn for a variety of 2D digital artwork, including layered digital paintings and static images. Respawn is the creator of critically acclaimed multi-platform games, such as Apex Legends, Titanfall, Star Wars™ Jedi: Fallen Order, and Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond. It has locations in Madison, Los Angeles and Vancouver.

“Respawn originally reached out to me to work on an in-game weapon skin for a set of community-created cosmetics given out for the anniversary launch of Apex Legends,” Daily said. “Every year, they’ll do a new set of items featuring new artists and creators, so not only is it a really fun opportunity for people in the community to make something for their favorite game, it ��. also a really cool opportunity as a game design student to get some experience.”

Daily will graduate in spring 2026. She plans to pursue a position in a support studio to build experience working on larger projects or on an indie project.

Professional development opportunities in game design

More than 50 students, alumni and faculty from the university ��. game design, computer science and master ��. in design programs attended the 2024 M+DEV, a national game design industry conference, held in Madison.

Professor Andrew Williams presented “Re-creating and Creating Colonial Boston: Environment Art & Historical Interpretation in the American Revolution Series,” in connection with his game Witness to the Revolution.

Students and alumni exhibited four original games: Atom ��. Embrace, Skyline Citygirl, HyperPOP and Ripple and Frawg: The Seasonal Song.

Ripple and Frawg game creators at M+Dev / Kim Loken

Animation Career Review rankings

For animation programs, Animation Career Review listed �� . animation and digital media program among public colleges:

No. 16 for top animation schools in the Midwest
No. 35 for top public animation schools in the U.S.

More than 200 schools were surveyed.

�� . game design and animation lab spaces include a state-of-the-art Vicon Motion Capture Studio, along with many other labs, studios and galleries.

The game design and development-art program is part of the School of Art and Design, one of the largest public art schools in the Midwest. It also offers bachelor ��. degrees in animation and digital media; graphic design and interactive media; illustration; industrial and product design; interior design; studio art; arts administration and entrepreneurship; fashion design and development; and video production, and an M.F.A. in design. �� also has a new program in game and media studies.

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Board game renaissance: �� professor puts the pieces in place for successful game design business

Dave Beck ��. Paverson Games creates elaborate, concept-driven games with the help of other talented faculty

February 16, 2026

�� students’ submarine survival game surfaces to victory at M+DEV, the Midwest ��. biggest game industry event

PC game ��. win at M+DEV expo highlights �� . globally ranked program

December 9, 2025

Game Expo, Senior Show, STEMM Student Expo cap fall semester with public demos, showcases

Students design custom controllers for unique racing games, puzzles, AR experiences

December 8, 2025

Side gigs at Roblox, Respawn strengthen students’ skills; Stout Game Expo on May 8 Lila Daily, character illustration

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Hero Caption: Game design students Lila Daily, whose illustration is above, and Alex Rowley are gaining professional industry experience with side gigs at Respawn and Roblox.

Kim Loken

Kim Loken's industry experience spans civic, commercial, and residential projects. Her approach to each is further informed by a storytelling mindset cultivated in work for film and theater. In her prior architecture practice, she helmed a variety of adaptive reuse, historic preservation and new construction projects. More recent work focuses on the use of games as systems for analyzing complex problems, particularly those related to environmental issues. Teaching invigorates her practice and provides the opportunity to mentor young designers in a variety of disciplines.

Teaching Interests: Design thinking, interdisciplinary design, large-scale collaborative projects

Research Interests: Phenomenology, narrative-driven design

Professional Interests: Place-making, critical regionalism, cultural history and adaptive re-use

Full Name: Kim Loken

Job Title: Associate Professor / Program Director / Minor Advisor

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Area of Expertise: Architecture Systems Design

College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

Department: School of Art & Design Design Department

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Curriculum Vitae: Kimberly Loken CV (88.67 KB)

Education:

Degree: M.Arch.

University: University of Texas at Austin

Degree: Licensed Architect

Degree: LEED-Accredited Professional

University: U.S. Green Building Council

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Erik A. Evensen

Erik Evensen is Professor of Design and program director of the B.F.A. in Illustration. He teaches studio courses in illustration, design drawing, concept art, graphic design, and typography, and graduate seminars in design research and design education. In 2022, he was recognized with the College of Arts and Human Sciences Outstanding Teaching Award.

He began his career as a graphic designer and illustrator in coastal New Hampshire and the greater Boston area. His comics industry credits include the “Ghostbusters” and “Back to the Future” licensed comic series from IDW Publishing, and the original graphic novels “The Beast of Wolfe ��. Bay” and the Xeric-winning “Gods of Asgard.” He is also the art director, game artist, and co-producer for the tabletop games “Marrying Mr. Darcy” and “Distilled.” His work has variously been featured in Graphic Design USA, The Washington Post, and The New York Times.

Erik has presented at and regularly reviews for academic conferences sponsored by AIGA, IDSA, MODE, M+DEV: Midwest Game Developers Conference, the Design and Emotion Society, IASDR, KEER, and the Global Polytechnic Summit. A student of Design Research pioneer Liz Sanders, his academic research on educational board game design is a featured case study in her textbook, “Convivial Toolbox: Generative Research for the Front End of Design.” His creative work with myth and folklore frequently yields citations, appearances, and speaking engagements about history, culture, and comparative literature.

Erik holds an M.F.A. in Design from Ohio State University, graduating Phi Kappa Phi. He received a B.A. in Studio Art from the University of New Hampshire, and a Post-baccalaureate Certificate from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University.

Full Name: Erik A. Evensen

Job Title: Professor / Program Director

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Area of Expertise: Design Drawing & Visualization Illustration Graphic Design Design Research Comics Graphic Novels

College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

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Curriculum Vitae: Erik A. Evensen CV (617.93 KB)

Website: Erik Evensen

Education:

Degree: M.F.A. Visual Communication Design

University: The Ohio State University

Degree: P.B.C. Studio Art

University: School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University

Degree: B.A. Studio Art

University: University of New Hampshire

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MicroWhat?: Student ��. social awareness campaign on microplastics wins Minnesota AdFed award

goersab — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 16:23:00 +0000

MicroWhat?: Student ��. social awareness campaign on microplastics wins Minnesota AdFed awardgoersab April 1, 2025

M.F.A. design, graphic design students receive several awards during annual regional competition

Abbey Goers

Plastic is the most prevalent type of marine debris found in the oceans and Great Lakes, with an estimated 33 billion pounds of plastic trash entering the oceans every year. And microplastics – those about the size of a pencil eraser and smaller – come in a variety of forms.

Microplastics are everywhere – in the air and water and even in the food we eat – posing risks to both the health of the environment and to people. To address this concern, University of Wisconsin-Stout Master of Fine Arts in design student Ashley Jandro created a social awareness campaign focusing on microplastics.

For her campaign “MicroWhat?,” she received a Student – Integrated Consumer Campaign Silver Pin Winner for her ad at the Minnesota AdFed awards, sponsored by the Advertising Federation of Minnesota on Feb. 28, at the Machine Shop in Minneapolis.

"MicroWhat?" won a Silver Pin award at the Minnesota AdFed awards / Ashley Jandro

“The amount of damage microplastics can do to our ecosystems and bodies is alarming. By notifying the public of their impacts, there is hope to cut down on plastics and find alternatives for material,” said Jandro, who is interested in sustainability.

Jandro entered the competition as part of an assignment in Professor Nagesh Shinde ��. Advertising Design class. She submitted “MicroWhat?” to the integrated campaign category, designing a campaign with multiple applications across different platforms.

She designed outdoor and indoor installations with animations of characters based on different types of microplastics, sharing statistics and details about how microplastics affect the environment and the human body. She also created magazine and Instagram ads and a corresponding app.

Kids can teach adults about sustainable practices

Geared toward a younger audience, “MicroWhat?” encourages learning through gamification. A QR code directs a user to a downloadable Monster app, which includes a game to “collect” monsters using augmented reality, similar to Pokémon-Go, and a mini-challenge to go “A Day Without,” bringing awareness to how much plastic the user actually uses in a day.

“MicroWhat?” encourages learning through gamification in the downloadable Monster app / Ashley Jandro

“I feel that educating the younger audience is where we lack a bit. Education is very focused on recycling, however, there are a lot of materials that are not able to be recycled,” she said.

“I think the information young people are given will help them make smarter decisions in the future. There is this ideology of kids teaching parents as they are having fun playing the game. They can inform the older generation of what they are learning and find better solutions or materials that they could be using rather than plastic.”

Jandro doesn’t normally create content for young adults. Her creative process relied heavily on research and visual storytelling.

“Honestly, it was a very fun journey. I played with a lot of color and tried to gamify the content to make it more interesting for that age group,” she said.

“I had fun creating the campaign, and the award was just the icing on the cake,” said Jandro, who earned her B.F.A. in graphic design and interactive media from �� in 2023. “In my undergrad, I loved the environment and thrived here. So, when I got the opportunity to continue my education at ��, there was no doubt in my mind of where I wanted to go for my master ��..”

The integrated consumer campaign included ads across multiple media platforms, including Instagram / Ashley Jandro

M.F.A. in design Program Director Erik Evensen is excited that Jandro received the accolade. “Ashley is an incredibly motivated student, with a diverse set of interests in the Graphic Design field. She has been diligently pursuing a research agenda focusing on packaging, sustainability and the user experience. She ��. a great designer,” he said.

Several �� graphic design students were awarded at this year ��. AdFed as well:

Regan Haack, of Minneapolis. Student – Integrated Consumer Campaign Silver Pin: “Posca: Everyone Can Paint”
Carly Kauffman, of Hanover, Minnesota. Student – Integrated Consumer Campaign Gold Pin: “Monkey Around with Sun Bum”
Hannah Kim, of Korea. Student – Outdoor and Transit Campaign Silver Pin: “Enough Deaths”
Alex Martin, of River Falls. Student – Integrated Consumer Campaign Bronze Pins: “Live’more” and “Live’more” television campaign
Clara Nicolai, of Bangor. Student – Integrated Consumer Campaign Gold Pin: “Experience the Purple”

"Experience the Purple" won a Gold Pin award / Clara Nicolai

Kauffman also received an American Advertising Federation District 8 silver ADDY® award. “Monkey Around with Sun Bum” will have the opportunity to move forward to the national AAF competition.

Nicolai ��. campaign “Experience the Purple” received an AAF District 8 Judge ��. Choice award. “Experience the Purple” shared the calming experience of lavender, while highlighting Pondview Lavender Farm, a small business, locally owned by operations and management Lecturer Bob Sworski.

“By inviting consumers to ‘Experience the Purple,’ the campaign highlights the farm ��. handcrafted products and experiences, connecting lavender to relaxation, wellness and everyday moments of tranquility,” Nicolai said.

“Enough Deaths” advocates for stricter gun safety measures and responsible firearm storage to protect children from gun violence. “Through education and awareness, we empower parents, caregivers and communities to create a safer future where kids can grow up without fear,” Kim said.

�� . School of Art and Design, one of the largest public art schools in the Midwest, offers bachelor ��. degrees in animation and digital media; game design and development-art; graphic design and interactive media; illustration; industrial and product design; interior design; studio art; arts administration and entrepreneurship; fashion design and development; and video production, as well as an M.F.A. in design.

�� . School of Engineering offers a B.S. in plastics engineering, ranked as a No. 1 Best Value Polymer and Plastics Engineering Schools in 2023. �� also offers minors in environmental health and sustainability.

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M.F.A. design, graphic design students receive several awards during annual regional competition MicroWhat grocery store interior ad. By Ashley Jandro

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Hero Caption: An interior grocery store ad for MicroWhat?, a social awareness campaign designed by M.F.A. in design student Ashley Jandro

Nagesh Shinde

Brief Biography: Born near Mumbai, India, Nagesh holds a BFA from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University and an MFA in graphic design from Fort Hays State University. He served as art director for J. Walter Thompson in Bombay and senior art director for both Leo Burnett and Virtual World Entertainment Group. During his tenure as Brand Design Manager at online education company Cardean Learning Group, Nagesh had the pleasure of working with cognitive and usability gurus Don Norman and Jakob Nielsen.

Teaching Interests: Courses Taught: Undergraduate- B.F.A  DES- 220 Computer Imagery;  DES- 360 Graphic Design I& II;  DES- 410 Product and Packaging Graphics;  DES- 386 Publication Design;  DES- 256-Interactive Design-Multimedia Design;  DES- 380 Advertising Design;  DES- 382 Information Design- Online;  DES- 480 Senior Project-Graphic Design;  DES- 456-Senior Project-Multimedia Design; Graduate Courses- M.F.A Des-725 Research Strategies in Design

Research Interests: - Brand Design management - Package Design - Experience Design - User Experience

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Creating an impression: Master's in design student ��. typography featured in international textbook

goersab — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 16:45:00 +0000

Creating an impression: Master's in design student ��. typography featured in international textbookgoersab February 18, 2025

Graves’ design ‘Create’ celebrates beauty and power of art

Abbey Goers

A class project to design a mural grew to something more for St. Paul-based graphic designer Melanie Graves, who can now see her typography set among international artists in a newly released textbook.

Graves’ design “Create” was selected for the second edition of “Mastering Type: The Essential Guide to Typography for Print and Digital Design,” a unique guide for designers of all skill levels.

“‘Create’ is a digital illustration that celebrates creativity in all forms. This piece celebrates the beauty and power of art and design in both traditional and digital mediums,” said Graves, a Master of Fine Arts in design student at �� and senior graphic designer at Explore Minnesota.

Melanie Graves with her design 'Create,' showcased in the Art on Hennepin Avenue exhibit / Melanie Graves

More than 2,000 designers submitted works as part of a free, international competition to collect typography samples for the textbook. Graves’ design was one of 272 selected for the final book, which represents artists from 36 countries.

“I am really excited to have my work selected for ‘Mastering Type.’ I came across it as a call for art and decided to apply, but I didn’t really expect to be selected for it. I also didn’t know how competitive it was,” Graves said.

The textbook, by design Professor Denise Bosler at Kutztown University, was published in January by Bloomsbury Publishing.

Bosler, who had a hand in selecting the imagery used in the book, said, “So many great typographic design works were submitted during the open call that it made the decision-making process challenging. In choosing works, I strove to show a stylistic variety in each chapter. Melanie ��. playful, colorful and expressive ‘Create’ type was the perfect complement to the Word chapter.”

Creating ‘Create’

Graves’ design was created as part of an exercise in illustrated typography in her Digital Illustration class, led by Program Director Erik Evensen.

The assignment was to create a proposal for a mural design for a dedicated space on the university ��. Applied Arts Building. The design was to contain representations from the 10 undergraduate programs and five minors within the School of Art and Design.

'Create' was selected as a typography sample featured in 'Mastering Type,' by Denise Bosler / Melanie Graves

“My background is in graphic design, so I love typography and how type can be very expressive depending on how it is used,” Graves said. “I wanted the typography to be the focus and represent art and design as a whole. From there, I focused on integrating the different majors and minors.”

Her design ��. bold, rounded, offset letters each have a personality of their own, textured with stitched laces, paint splatter, wood grain and polka dots. The letters’ palette of pink, red, golden yellow and turquoise stands out against a di-chrome blue background embedded with icons representing various fine arts degrees – a needle and thread, silhouettes of pottery, a pen, a wrench, a filmstrip, theater masks and more.

Graves’ design process always begins with research. She wanted to learn more about mural design and see what other artists have done to spark ideas.

“I wanted to create something that was different from the first mural but still captured the spirit of the Applied Arts Building. I started researching and brainstorming ideas and kept returning to the idea of ‘create,’ it being something universal and fundamental to the arts,” she said.

Graves, who is specializing in graphic design and interactive media, created a rough sketch to see if what she imagined in her head would translate to paper. She then refined the design in Adobe Illustrator.

“There were quite a few drafts of the design. I changed a few things with the lettering over time and added or removed icons from the background. I also explored changing the colors but ended up sticking with my original idea there,” Graves said.

Melanie Graves and a friend paint her 'Dream Big' mural for the Eau Claire Color Block / Melanie Graves

While her proposal was not selected as the final design of the Applied Arts Building ��. mural, where three student-designed murals are currently installed, “Create” was showcased in the 2023 Art on Hennepin Avenue, a Minneapolis public art festival sponsored by Hennepin Arts. Graves was one of 27 artists whose work was printed on a large scale and installed in windows at local businesses in an exhibit aimed at creating a more vibrant downtown.

“Melanie came to this program as a senior designer with a breadth of experience and high levels of craft, which make her a wonderful addition to any classroom,” Evensen said. “Melanie's piece was excellent, and I’m thrilled to see it represented in Professor Bosler ��. book, alongside other grad students and faculty from some of the top programs in the country.”

Building new skills in master's in design program

Graves earned her bachelor ��. in graphic design from UW-Eau Claire in 2013, focusing on branding, typography and print media. However, after working in the industry for close to 10 years, she realized she lacked some essential design skills, mainly in user experience and user interface.

“Stout stood out to me as a great program because of its reputation for being a strong art and design school. The master ��. in design offers a hybrid model, which meant I could keep working my full-time job while I attended class,” she said.

“The program has helped me focus more on my career as an artist and designer outside of my day job by helping me learn new skills and connect more with my community.”

Melanie Graves and 'Winter in Grand Marais,' upper right, currently on exhibit at the Minnesota Zoo / Melanie Graves

While earning her Improving the User Experience Certificate at ��, Graves conducted an email survey to help improve Explore Minnesota ��. website. She is currently working on a redesign of the website, with an anticipated launch later this year.

She designs national ads for Explore Minnesota, creates content for its social media accounts, helps to produce the annual Minnesota Travel Guide, which is available for free at exploreminnesota.com and helped to create the viral Bring Ya A** campaign.

Graves often applies for local calls for art, including her “Dream Big” mural, which can be viewed along the Chippewa River State Trail as part of Eau Claire ��. Color Block program. Her photo “Winter in Grand Marais” won first place in the lake and landscape category in Lake Superior Magazine and is currently on exhibit at the Hanifl Nature Center at the Minnesota Zoo through March 2.

Designers wishing to use “Create” may contact Graves through her portfolio site.

The M.F.A. in design is part of �� . School of Art and Design, the largest public art school in Wisconsin. It offers bachelor ��. degrees in animation and digital media; game design and development-art; graphic design and interactive media; illustration; industrial and product design; interior design; studio art; arts administration and entrepreneurship; fashion design and development; and video production.

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Outside in: �� M.F.A. student hits Omaha Fashion Week runway with nature-inspired collection

polingj — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 15:36:10 +0000

Outside in: �� M.F.A. student hits Omaha Fashion Week runway with nature-inspired collectionpolingj August 19, 2024

Cermin, also a university fashion design instructor, is a featured presenter Aug. 23

The excitement of being a featured designer at Omaha Fashion Week isn’t lost on Bex Cermin: Going backstage, seeing her creations modeled on the runway, networking with other designers, investors and buyers.

The event, from Thursday to Sunday, Aug. 22-25, in Omaha, Neb., has become the fourth largest fashion week in the U.S., expected to draw more than 10,000 people viewing work from 36 designers.

Cermin ��. goal with her nature-inspired collection, ironically, will be to momentarily transport the crowd away from the bright lights and glamor. “Each look represents a moment in nature. I want the audience to feel like they can relate to that environment,” she said.

Clothing designs by �� graduate student Bex Cermin are inspired by nature, including Leafed in Lilacs. They will be featured Aug. 23 at Omaha Fashion Week in Omaha, Neb. / ��

Cermin, who will present Friday, is a student in the Master of Fine Arts in design program at ��. She also teaches in the fashion design and development undergraduate program.

She will present seven looks and a total of 15 pieces of clothing she designed and created this summer in the Fryklund Hall Apparel Production Lab. The designs will feature patterns found in nature that she has gleaned from licensed photos. The designs, five for women and two for men, are named:

Morning Light
Prairie Desert
Leafed in Lilacs
Falling Water
Mossy Overgrowth
Grandma ��. Garden
Winter Cloud.

The fashion show is a high-profile opportunity to reveal her expanded vision of how apparel design, principles of design and nature intersect.

Mossy Overgrowth, right, is one of seven looks that Cermin will present as a featured designer at Omaha Fashion Week. / ��

The vision was born largely from a project on the biophilic effect she developed during a graduate research course with Professor Julie Peterson. The biophilic effect highlights humans’ affinity for nature and how representation of nature in work and living spaces can lower blood pressure, speed healing and more.

“It helps our well-being in the built environment,” Cermin said.

She conducted a research project, “Un.Real,” during the course. She surveyed 70 people on their reactions to three plants: one real, one that she knitted from textiles to look like a plant and another knitted plant that included bird sounds and scents.

Survey participants’ reactions to the third one were as strong, if not stronger, than the real plant, proving to Cermin that the biophilic effect can occur with direct and indirect forms of nature. Designs that bring the outside world in can be impactful.

Cermin has been working, including sewing, in the Apparel Production Lab at �� this summer to create her collection for the show. / ��

“To me, it was not about the real plant but the experience of nature. It inspired me to create this new collection and bring this research experience into apparel,” she said.

Cermin ��. collection will be modeled during the second half of Friday ��. event, for the featured or professional designers. The show also is a competition; if Cermin wins she could return to Omaha Fashion Week in the future as a headliner. The first half of the show will be for emerging designers.

Although Cermin is showcasing her apparel and hopes to continue to design high-end fashions, her creative work also could branch into a line of home décor. “I’m fascinated by the biophilic effect and how textiles can convey the story of a (geographic) area,” Cermin said.

While she pursues her M.F.A. in design, Cermin is teaching courses in �� . fashion design and development program. / ��

She grew up in western Wisconsin, in St. Croix Falls, where her parents owned St. Croix Floral. She was married in one of their gardens. Being around nature “has always inspired me,” she said.

The M.F.A. program and her future

Cermin has received several grants to support her participation in Omaha Fashion Week, including two from the M.F.A. program and one from the event itself, to help pay for materials and travel.

The M.F.A., part of ��'s School of Art and Design, requires students to develop a focus area based on their creative interests. The cross-disciplinary approach helps students customize the program to their skillsets. “I love the program,” Cermin said, citing how the professors have supported her special interest area of fashion.

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Erik Evensen, M.F.A. program director, said Cermin ��. “interdisciplinary creativity has impressed me since she first stepped foot into this program. Her work blends graphic design, illustration and textile sculpture with fashion and apparel.

“Our program allows students to connect a lot of dots with their graduate research, and she is constantly doing just that. She's a broad thinker and always has the full experience in mind: the initial concept, the execution, the context and the user experience,” Evensen said.

Cermin expects to finish her M.F.A. in May while continuing to teach. After graduating, she would like to teach full time in an apparel or fashion design program and continue to create.

“It ��. important for students to see their professors doing inspiring things,” said Cermin, who has studied at the London College of Fashion and New York Institute of Art & Design, interned at Centric Brands in New York and hopes to someday soon present her creations at New York Fashion Week. She has a bachelor ��. degree in apparel, merchandising and design from Iowa State University.

###

The excitement of being a featured designer at Omaha Fashion Week isn’t lost on Bex Cermin: Going backstage, seeing her creations modeled on the runway, network Bex Cermin 2

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Inspiring Graduate: Brianna Capra, M.F.A. Design

goersab — Tue, 07 May 2024 14:14:00 +0000

Inspiring Graduate: Brianna Capra, M.F.A. Designgoersab May 7, 2024

‘It is wonderful to share what I know with the next generation of artists.’

Inspiring Graduate: Brianna Capra (’24)

Hometown: Menomonie
Degree: M.F.A. Design
Focus areas: Illustration and Bookmaking
Design for Sustainability Certificate

When Brianna Capra began her master ��. degree, she had been out of academia for more than 20 years, having earned her B.F.A. in sculpture from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 1999.

Her passion for making books and love of illustrating for children led her to ��'s master ��. in fine arts in design program, where she earned her graduate degree on May 4, along with 1,037 graduates.

Brianna Capra receives her master's hood commencement / ��

Capra will continue making books and has many ideas she ��. been waiting to bring to life. She plans to start a center for book arts in the Chippewa Valley, modeled after the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, and hopes to continue teaching drawing.

“It is wonderful to share what I know with the next generation of artists, plus I learn just as much from them as they learn from me,” Capra said.

How well has �� prepared you to work in your field and why?

I found the polytechnic emphasis at Stout to be equal parts challenging and inspiring. I learned so many skills that I had not expected to, digging into research, learning to use digital platforms and design tools, and writing scholarly content as well as creating a cohesive portfolio of artwork.

As an illustrator, learning to use digital media is extremely valuable. Though I continue to work primarily in traditional media, knowing how to use digital tools can help me stay current in my very competitive field.

Brianna Capra, center, celebrates at commencement / ��

Stout has also given me some teaching opportunities. These experiences were incredibly valuable as I intend to pursue future teaching positions.

What stands out about your �� experience?

The instructors I was fortunate to work with at Stout are excellent. Professors in the MFAiD program, as well as those whose classes I took as electives, are helpful, knowledgeable and professional.

The Digital Process Lab, Printmaking Lab and Student Gallery 201 are also outstanding resources for students in the School of Art and Design. They provided me with an opportunity to create and display a prolific amount of artwork.

Brianna Capra in the Printmaking Lab / ��

I am grateful to the faculty and staff in the School of Art and Design. They are incredibly knowledgeable and supportive. They have treated me with dignity and patience, even though I ask a million questions and still don’t really know how to get on a Teams meeting.

How did your involvement on campus impact your experience?

I was the recipient of a Foundation Scholarship in 2022, a Certificate of Sustainable Design and a Student Research Grant in 2024. The research grant was a great benefit, as it helped pay for materials and printing costs associated with my creative thesis project, a 136-page graphic guide to plastic pollution, recycling and living plastic-free.

I was also chosen as the Outstanding Graduate Student Researcher for 2024. This is quite an honor and a surprise considering how far behind I thought I was when I started the program after 20 years out of school.

Brianna Capra presents her publications at Research Day / ��

What challenges did you face in earning your degree and how did you overcome them?

I had been out of academia for more than 20 years. The MFAiD program is quite rigorous, and initially it felt daunting to read scholarly articles and relearn how to write in a scholarly way.

Also, the world has changed dramatically since the 1990s. Doing everything on digital platforms presented me with a steep learning curve. There were many times I thought I was too out of touch to figure out how to work programs like Canvas and Teams, not to mention Photoshop and InDesign. My professors were understanding and helpful, and though I am not proficient with digital platforms, I have a degree of confidence I did not have before.

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What are you most proud of as you finish your degree?

I am quite pleased with the quality of work I was able to create while in the MFAiD program. Some of my pieces received awards in juried gallery shows. I got honorable mention for a print titled “Sweetgrass Woman” shown at Wisconsin Arts West in 2022, and best of show for a drawing titled “A Gift Freely Given” at the Otherworldly Arts Safe Word show in February of 2024. I have also self-published and sold several of the comic books I made in classes at Stout.

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Commencement scheduled May 4 for 1,037 graduates

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University and partners continue to illuminate opportunities through graphic communications, design programs

goersab — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 15:00:00 +0000

University and partners continue to illuminate opportunities through graphic communications, design programsgoersab December 21, 2023

�� M.F.A. design student Jake Cater creates winning design for chancellor's seasonal greeting card

Abbey Goers

With skilled graphic communications and design professionals in high demand across the world, the reputation of �� . Bachelor of Science in graphic communications and design programs makes them well-positioned to fill industry demands.

“That demand is especially strong in the Midwest because of strong print centers in the Fox Valley, Chicago and Minneapolis,” said Program Director Andrew Delong of the graphic communications industry. “Because of the strong demand for qualified grads, industry and organizations are offering scholarships to those pursuing a degree in graphic communications, including from the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation.”

Given its emphasis on industry partnerships and collaboration, �� students in these disciplines have access to unique applied learning experiences that strengthen their workforce readiness even before graduation, and it shows.

Graphic communications graduates have a 100% employment rate, as do graduates of M.F.A. in design, according to Career Services’ First Destination Report.

Seasonal card designer M.F.A. design student Jake Cater and Chancellor Katherine Frank admire the card design at Spectra Print / ��

As an undergraduate student at ��, Jake Cater found that he loved graphic communications. Having been a creator his whole life, he wanted to have a hands-on-part in every step of the creative process, something which he knew �� offered through its polytechnic model.

Cater turned his interests into a degree and graduated from �� in 2021 with a bachelor ��. in technology education and a minor in graphic media and print management, which helped him stay current with the industry.

He ��. now a graphic communications instructor, teaching graphic design and photography at Sheboygan North High School and is continuing his creative passions as an online M.F.A. design student, with an emphasis in graphic and product design.

So, when �� . Marketing Communications department announced a competition for students to design a seasonal greeting card for Chancellor Katherine Frank, Cater jumped at the opportunity to showcase his graphic and design talents.

“I love the polytechnic educational model and ��'s branding, so a chance to design something for them was a huge opportunity,” Cater said. “�� grows more esteemed in my mind as time goes by. It is an institution of higher education of interdisciplinary and hands-on learning at an affordable cost. It is ahead of its time.”

Spectra sales representative Scott Hoffmann, Chancellor Katherine Frank and Jake Cater with a printed sheet of seasonal cards / ��

“With the largest public School of Art and Design in the Upper Midwest, �� offers a huge student talent pool of more than 1,300 students. Add the talent of students in graphic communications, digital marketing and other degrees, and a student competition was the natural option to showcase their talent,” Frank said.

Cater, who was awarded $250 for his design, wanted his design to involve an individual interacting with something unique, “as if a project was just completed,” he said. “I wanted to show what a student is capable of bringing to the table.”

His artist's statement captures his sentiment and visual design:

“As an artist, I’m fascinated by how we physically engage with design, so hands play a role in a lot of my work. For this project, I wanted to explore how an individual might interact with Stout ��. “S” logo as a manifestation of innovation through education. I started thinking about traditional technology symbols, like light bulbs, and that transformed into ideas around neon light – something more unique, something the subject had ‘turned on.’ Stout ��. polytechnic model is a purposeful one. It trains us to take our ingenuity, fascination and talent and to create something innovative and real. I wanted the individual ��. interaction with the logo to recognize both the path toward that end while illuminating the future yet to come.”

Designs were submitted by graphic designers, photographers and illustrators.

“What really stood out about Jake's design was his ability to visually articulate Stout's spirit of applied learning, innovation and discovery, and when we read his accompanying statement, it was clear his submission reflected his relationship with Stout,” Frank said.

Hands-on from start to finish

The design of the chancellor ��. seasonal card was only one piece of the puzzle. The next step was to print, cut, fold and mail the card. Cater ��. final design was sent to the graphic communications experts at Spectra Print in Stevens Point, a one-stop print shop, offering a full range of services.

Cater and Frank were invited by Spectra owners, siblings Eric and Hans Hofmeister and Heidi Okray, to see the print production process in action.

They were joined by university staff and alumni Production Manager Cheryl Keyes, 1992 industrial technology, graphic arts management; and Printing Manager and graphic communications Lecturer Ryan Dolan, 2016 graphic communications management; as well as members of the Marketing Communications team.

Cheryl Keyes, Eric Hofmeister, Jake Cater and Chancellor Katherine Frank view the printing of the seasonal cards / ��

“Part of what made this project unique was our ability to join Jake at Spectra Print as his design came off the press. You will find Stout alumni working in design and print production throughout the country, and you will find both at Spectra. It was wonderful to join Jake and see that working relationship in action,” Frank said.

Among Spectra ��. employees are five �� alumni:

Kristy Boutain, 1999 graphic communications. She works in customer service and has been at Spectra for eight years.
Jayne Fuehrer, 1990 graphic design. She is a designer with more than 31 years at the company.
Scott Hoffmann, 1989 industrial technology, graphic arts. He is a sales representative with more than 33 years in the print industry.
Kay Rasmussen, 2003 graphic design. She has been a designer with Spectra for 16 years.
Michael Wendt, 1983 graphic communications management. He is a sales representative with nearly 40 years in the print industry.

Eric, Hans, Heidi and Hoffmann gave Cater and �� staff a full tour of their facilities during their visit.

“This was an exciting project for us,” Eric said. “We were glad to be a part of it.”

Chancellor Katherine Frank and Spectra owner Eric Hofmeister / ��

The cards were printed on a Komori Lithrone eight-color perfector printing press, capable of printing 15,000 sheets of paper per hour. The sheets are 25 inches by 38 inches, and 10 cards were printed per sheet, totaling 40 sheets. The job was printed in less than one minute.

During that minute, standing on the press platform and watching the cards turn from a digital to a physical reality, Cater ��. and Frank ��. excitement matched the industrial roar of the near-semi-trailer-long printer.

The Komori eight-color press uses UV ink. A chemical reaction caused by a strikethrough spot varnish over the UV coating allowed for a shine to make the “S” logo pop on the card.

“It makes the lighting effect on the card pop even more,” Cater said. “When talking about the possibility of the embellishment with the MarCom designers, I could see it in my mind. Seeing it on the actual printed cards, it elevates the design 100%.”

Although Cater has experience in the printing process, including working with �� . two-plate lithography press, the visit to Spectra was his first time seeing the process on such a large scale.

“You don’t understand what it means to have this opportunity. It ��. very cool,” Cater said.

Cater wants his students to have hands-on experiences in the printing process, as well, and is building connections with print companies in the Sheboygan area in hopes of enhancing their learning experiences.

�� and Spectra staff and alumni with Chancellor Katherine Frank and Spectra owners Eric Hofmeister, Hans Hofmeister and Heidi Okray / ��

An ambitious maker, involved in every step of the process

Cater ��. first printing experiences were in 2014 in his high school technology education classes at Sevastopol High School, in Door County. He ran offset lithography printers and produced two-color business cards and athletics programs.

“I would apply the ink, prep the machine, check color and quality as it ran, and clean the machine once the run was over,” he said.

He also learned different software and designed woodworking projects. He loved the versatility of the work, being a part of every step of the process and that it offered a continuation of learning.

“I also knew of the demand for the position in the workforce,” he said. “�� was one of the only schools offering a technology education program, and I heard it was the best. Both my high school principal and one of my technology education teachers had attended �� for tech ed. My grandfather even went for the same degree in the early 1970s. He even stayed in the same dorm as me. It felt right.”

When he began teaching at Sheboygan North, he gained confidence in his craft.

“I needed more though,” he said. “I wanted to learn more about design, and being a top designer and professor is my ultimate goal. I knew �� . arts programs were fantastic, as were the companies that I saw classmates getting jobs at, such as MasterCraft and Milwaukee Tool. I later found out that graduates have gone onto top global companies, such as Apple and DreamWorks.”

Jake Cater witnessing his seasonal card design being printed on the Komori eight-color press / ��

After talking with M.F.A. design program director and Professor Erik Evensen to learn more about the degree and opportunities it offered, Cater decided to apply.

“I’m excited to see where the future takes me,” he said.

Cater has proven himself to be a “highly ambitious maker with a lot of drive and passion,” Evensen said. “Jake brings this can-do spirit and curiosity to everything he does, which undoubtedly makes him an excellent teacher and a promising creative director.”

�� . M.F.A. in design, as well as the bachelor program in graphic design and interactive media, focus on the creative end of the print process, while the production end is covered by the graphic communications program.

On top of teaching, Cater is also co-owner with �� alum Rex Meikle of Door Born, a lifestyle and clothing brand inspired by the natural beauty of Door County. Meikle received his technology education degree in spring 2023 and is a technology education teacher at Kohler High School.

They co-founded Door Born in 2020 and are learning the ins and outs of sales, design, printing, online ecommerce development, and general business, among other things. From design to print, they are involved in every step of the process.

Jake Cater is co-owner of Door Born, with �� alum Rex Meikle / Jake Cater

“We work tirelessly to ensure that our colors meet our high expectations whether it is managing color on the screen, at the printer, or on the heat press as our design blends into our garments,” Cater said.

“We take pride in our ability to fully understand the printing process before we even begin our design work. We want to know our limitations and then we work to maximize our reach, while creating something beautiful and representative of our vision,” he added.

Graphic communications at ��

�� . graphic communications students participate in international industry conventions, such as Print United and Technical Association Graphic Arts Conference; are invited to industry sponsored international print competitions; and can join Stout Typographical Society student organization.

“Our industry partners help strengthen our students’ experiences by providing guest lecturers, serving on our Program Advisory Committee, inviting our students and student groups in for print facility tours and providing co-op placements,” Delong said.

The program curriculum was modified recently to bring the focus back to print and print management, while removing some of the cross-media components. In the graphic communications campus labs, students gain an understanding of industry-used printing processes, with exposure to:

Lithography
Flexography
Screen printing
Digital output
Color management
Large format print production
Digital printing on 3D objects
Finishing techniques, including perfect binding

Our graduates pursue challenging and rewarding careers in business, digital imagery, marketing, digital technologies, media and graphics. / ��

“We have also added a three-part Career Immersion Experience Seminar to our curriculum. The first of these three, one credit courses is taken prior to a student ��. first co-op, the second during their first co-op and the third during their final co-op. Each seminar has separate and timely objectives aimed to prepare the student for their professional career,” Delong said.

Graphic communications is part of the Art, Design and Graphics career cluster at ��, which includes six Bachelor of Fine Arts and three Bachelor of Science degrees focused on preparing students for careers in printing, web, animation, fashion, textiles, graphics, design, sculpture, painting and other artistic pursuits. The M.F.A. design program rests within the School of Art and Design.

Spectra Print: a one-stop shop and family business

Originally named Valley Sales Company, Spectra Print is a family business. It was founded in 1930 by Oscar Hofmeister – Eric ��., Hans’ and Heidi ��. grandfather – who started it in the basement of his house, selling and distributing trading stamps.

Spectra has vastly expanded its services and clientele since then, with customers across the country. Along with printing Chancellor Frank ��. seasonal cards, it also recently printed �� . 2023 Outlook alumni magazine.

Its services include printing, designing, marketing, binding and finishing, mailing and fulfillment, prepress for proofing and color checking, and publishing.

The Komori eight-color press runs projects around the clock. Spectra has a larger web press and three smaller web presses for two-color print jobs, and five Ricoh presses for digital prints.

Spectra was the first company in North America to install the new Muller Martini Primera PRO saddle stitcher. Saddle stitching is a popular book-binding method. The Primero PRO offers an automated method to collate, fold and staple printed sheets into a booklet or magazine, for example.

“From large jobs to small jobs, everything adds up,” Eric said. “Everything is important. We’re here to make our customers happy.”

“They’ve got a lot here,” Cater added. “From start to finish, they can do it all.”

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Hero Caption: M.F.A. design student Jake Cater's design for Chancellor Katherine Frank's seasonal card, printed at Spectra Print in Stevens Point.

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MFA design graduate rediscovers his Hmong culture through traditional art of story cloths and Paj Ntaub

goersab — Mon, 01 May 2023 19:02:38 +0000

MFA design graduate rediscovers his Hmong culture through traditional art of story cloths and Paj Ntaubgoersab May 1, 2023

Jackson Yang ��. ‘spiritual journey’ of transforming textiles into modern-day storytelling exhibited at new Library Art Lab

Abbey Goers

Jackson Yang ��. education at �� has given him confidence in himself and his artwork, but his journey was deeper than his degrees.

While earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design and interactive media, he struggled with the concepts and there were times when he wanted to break down and drop out.

MFA design graduate Jackson Yang / ��

“My family, friends and girlfriend, Amy, helped me through some rough times,” said Yang, of Wausau. “They had my back. And Amy is constantly here for me. Her love and compassion keep me going. She reminds me, ‘Don’t compare yourself to other people. Just be better than yourself.’”

Yang earned his undergraduate degree from �� in 2019, but he felt he hadn’t reached his full potential. He will graduate with his Master of Fine Arts in design from �� on Saturday, May 6.

“I’m proud of how my art and design improved and seeing where I am now,” he said.

“For a long time, I was selling myself short. My family and Amy helped me to keep going. You need that support system. I want to make them proud and keep pushing myself. I want to help other students know that tomorrow you’ll be better than you are today.”

Yang ��. education also led him on a spiritual journey of rediscovering his Hmong culture through the arts.

MFA design inspiring graduate Jackson Yang receiving his master's hood from Program Director Erik Evensen / ��

Finding a gateway back into his culture

Yang struggled to embrace his culture for much of his life, until the second year of his undergrad.

“I grew up rejecting that part of my identity, and Stout helped me find love for my community again and to dive into and re-embrace my culture,” he said.

Yang's book art concepts, inspired by traditional Hmong artwork / Jackson Yang

During his undergrad, Yang joined Hmong Stout Student Organization, and his cousin Kalvin, a student team member in the Multicultural Student Services office, helped him learn about traditional Hmong arts.

“It was the art and wanting to make my mom proud that was my gateway back into the Hmong culture. I want to pay respect to my culture,” Yang said.

And for students who want to re-embrace their culture, he thinks, “You have to find something that you can connect with. It could be something simple or big. It all comes down to who you are as a person.”

Transforming tradition into modern-day storytelling

As a graphic designer and illustrator, Yang ��. dream is to work with the Hmong community, teaching the next generation about the traditional arts through design, children ��. book illustrations or comics.

Kalvin, who had pointed Yang in the creative direction for his undergrad senior show, was also instrumental in helping Yang establish the theme for his master ��. thesis: “A Thread Through History: How Interlinking Contemporary Art with Paj Ntaub Can Connect Generations.”

His graduate research is dedicated to Hmong culture, bringing elements of traditional story cloths and flower cloths – Paj Ntaub – and their embroidered motifs and aesthetics into contemporary digital storytelling.

Yang's characters Ben and a leaf frond spirit meet in 'To Broken Souls,' a story illustrated in Yang's thesis, 'A Thread through History.' / Jackson Yang

“Jackson explored these themes through the lens of a children's book for kids who find themselves navigating between two cultural identities,” said Erik Evensen, MFA in design program director and Yang ��. thesis adviser. “Working with Jackson has been nothing short of delightful. He is incredibly thoughtful and motivated, and his work is well-crafted and quite beautiful.”

While sharing the history of Paj Ntaub, Yang also illustrates the story of “To Broken Souls,” using the story cloth style, telling the story of Ben, a young Hmong man, and a leaf frond spirit and the connections they make.

Yang ��. mother played a role in his educational journey as well. “A large portion of why I wanted to reconnect with my culture was for my mother. I wanted to make her proud and show her just how much she means to me, which was one of the reasons why I pursued the MFA and focused on the Hmong arts.

“She loved making flower cloths, so her eyes would always light up when I showed any kind of interest in it, especially for my education,” Yang said.

Yang learned the story cloths and Paj Ntaub were art forms pioneered by women. He studied their selection of colors used in the textiles, the spacing of images and texture. “The embroidery creates a natural texture, even in the placement of the direction of the stitches,” he said. “I admire the intricate designs of the folding and sewing techniques they use. It ��. very difficult.”

Yang always thought story cloths were an older art form, but in learning more about them, he found that they are relatively new in terms of Hmong history, dating back only to the 1970s. As a way to remember their lives in Laos and share their memories with future generations, women began to sew their family stories while refugees after the Vietnam War.

Paj Ntaub are a more ancient art form, with several legends of their own. One legend, Yang said, tells of the books of knowledge said to contain the entire Hmong written language. Under the oppression of Chinese rule, it was made illegal to speak or write in the Hmong language and the books were destroyed. Hmong women used their skills in needlework to sew their language into their clothing, secretly preserving it, developing Paj Ntaub.

Ben and a leaf frond spirit dance in 'To Broken Souls,' part of Yang's master's thesis / Jackson Yang

“Whether the legend is true or not is debated – but it speaks to the importance of the art form,” Yang said. “Paj Ntaub became a way for women to communicate and preserve their language and culture.”

Yang is thankful for the support he received during his time at ��, naming mentors Tanya Gunkel, Educational Materials Center librarian; Aubrey Huff, former librarian; as well as his thesis committee members – Evensen; Associate Professor Mitchell Ogden, English, philosophy and communication; and Assistant Professor Mary Climes, of comics.

Yang ��. mother died a little over a year ago from COVID.

“I had originally wanted to include my mother in some capacity for my thesis. She unfortunately will never be able to see what I had planned for the future after graduation,” he said. “My brother, sister-in-law and sister have supported me in my mother's place.”

New Library Art Lab

Yang ��. thesis show was recently displayed in the new Library Art Lab, on the first floor of the University Library.

The exhibit space was created in collaboration with faculty and staff of the library and the School of Art and Design, led by Sue Lindahl, assistant director of Cataloging and Access Services; Professor Charlie Lume; and Renee Carrell, Furlong Gallery assistant director.

“There was a need on campus for more art exhibit space for students, and since the library has such a solid history of supporting art and design, the partnership was a logical fit,” Gunkel said. “Art is a universal language. The library is a place that breaks down barriers and is accessible no matter someone ��. background.”

Yang is a graduate assistant at the library and also serves on the Library Public Relations Committee, chaired by Gunkel. He creates book displays and posters, some of which have been accepted into the University Archives, an exciting accomplishment for any student, Gunkel said.

Samples of posters Yang designed for the University Library / Jackson Yang

“Tanya and Aubrey played a huge role in allowing me to push the boundaries of what I was able to design for my graduate assistant position,” Yang said.

A large portion of Yang ��. portfolio that he shows to potential employers comes directly from projects he created in his role as a library graduate assistant.

“Jackson has been an important part of our team and has built a sense of belonging through his artwork,” she added. “He ��. helping other students see themselves in the displays and posters he creates. This can make a difference in a person ��. day. He probably never stops to think about it, but he ��. helping build student retention.

“He ��. original, innovative, has a strong work ethic, is talented and creative. I don’t know who would be better in a new design role than Jackson,” Gunkel said.

Along with design and graphic design, the School of Art and Design has five other BFA programs, including animation and digital media and studio art. It offers two Bachelor of Science degrees in arts administration and entrepreneurship and video production.

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Hero Caption: Jackson Yang with his favorite artwork from his master's thesis, 'A Thread through History,' displayed at the University Library Art Lab.

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Inspiring Graduate: Terri Stan, M.F.A. Design

goersab — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 18:59:32 +0000

Inspiring Graduate: Terri Stan, M.F.A. Designgoersab December 22, 2022

'My experience at Stout, both as an undergraduate and graduate, has changed me to become a better designer.'

Inspiring Graduate: Terri Stan (‘22)

Hometown: Appleton
Degree: M.F.A. Design
Main interest: graphic design

Terri Stan was a graphic designer at Shopko in Appleton when she decided to switch careers from corporate design work to teaching in higher education. She met her goals even before earning her M.F.A. in design from �� on Dec. 17.

Stan is the program director of the Associate of Arts in graphic design at Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire. But her road to her new career was long, literally – she put in countless hours and miles driving to and from Menomonie and Appleton to earn her degree.

“I never thought I would graduate with an M.F.A. in design, but I did, even though it will be exactly 30 years ago that I graduated from �� with B.F.A. in studio art. That accomplishment must say something about ��,” she said.

Terri Stan receiving her master's hood / ��

Stan's master ��. thesis on “Graphic Design Education and Neurodiversity” is based on her life experience and allows her to reach her students at CVTC, filling a void in the discourse of design pedagogy, said Program Director of design Erik Evensen.

What stands out about your Stout experience?

What stood out to me was my student colleagues in the School of Art and Design. It was a great group to go through the program with; they were supportive.

I could lean on them, ask questions and get advice. They gave me different ways to think about design and helped make me a better person.

Erik Evensen was one of those people who seamlessly could provide the correct advice and was willing to talk. We talked about our experiences in the design industry, and he helped guide me in my position at CVTC.

Kim Loken is a demanding professor, but she makes you a better designer. She asked me to join her Introduction to 2D Digital Imaging class as a graduate assistant, which was an excellent experience to gain.

Julie Peterson accepted me into the graduate program. As my thesis adviser, she helped me become a better writer, organize my time, and was very supportive and encouraged me to finish.

Terri Stan and Chancellor Katherine Frank / ��

What was it like to enroll in a hybrid program?

The challenge of earning my M.F.A. was living across the state and traveling to Stout once or twice a week to attend class. I’d leave work at 1 p.m. and arrive home around 1 a.m. But every time I walked on campus, it felt right; this is where I was supposed to be.

I committed myself to earning this degree. I would have liked to have been on campus more to be involved but living so far away at that time was hard. Then, unfortunately, my employer went out of business, and I was so excited to spend more time on campus. But then COVID hit.

How has your Stout education and experience changed you?

My experience at Stout, both as an undergraduate and graduate, has changed me to become a better designer, given me the ability to voice my thoughts and guided me into a job that for the first time I am proud of.

The courses provided gave me confidence and the opportunity to become a graduate assistant in a virtual classroom. I am proud of my thesis, design project, research and the friendships that will last beyond graduation.

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'My experience at Stout, both as an undergraduate and graduate, has changed me to become a better designer.' Terri Stan, inspiring grad, fall 2022, 1

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