Project Statement
During my freshman year as a student at West Virginia University, I worked as a graphic designer for sports publications, and some of my designs are reflected here. Following the brand guidelines for WVU athletics, I created a multitude of original projects that ranged from birthday greetings for each student-athlete to recruitment materials to the commemorative lanyard credential celebrating the 50th anniversary of the football team’s Peach Bowl victory. My work consisted of creatively incorporating team images with university branded typography, and creating graphics that represented the team and university branding and identity. These elements were also used for recruiting purposes across numerous Division I sports. These were often independent projects in which I was given a goal and I worked to develop and execute my own concept that fit the frame of the branding.
Reflection
The experience at WVU was the first time I had been able to apply design and creative skills I pursued on my own to a large-scale athletic program, and it provided the launch point to where I am today. The trust that was exhibited by the athletics creative team allowed me to take branding guidelines and begin to develop my own creative space and energy, and I was honored to have made a significant design contribution to a well-respected program. I also look back at these designs and see how much further I had to go. In designs I thought were well done and professional I now see so much space for improvement and recognize how much the Ohio State design program has taught me since my transfer. I look at these designs with gratitude but also as an inspiration to continue to expand my creative skills beyond what I once thought possible.