Students shine in senior art show

When one thinks of art, the images of an inflatable kayak, bookmarks and airplane seats aren’t usually the first to come to mind. Some University of Southern Mississippi senior graphic design students have a different idea for their art.

The Senior Show in Graphic Design began on April 24 in the Museum of Art on campus.  The show includes work from seven students who are seniors in the graphic design program.

The students describe their work as more of an application of art. Each senior came up with a fictional company, ranging from music promotion to textiles for transportation vehicles, to create designs.

“We were told to think of a problem to solve visually,” senior graphic design major Melissa Dunne. “I saw the upholstery of vehicles as my problem.”

In her design, Dunne came up with eye-pleasing fabric designs for vehicles, such as airplane and train car seats.

The students also focused on things that interested them.

“My design will visually revamp classic literature and make it appealing and aesthetically current to the younger generation, including redesigned book jackets for five popular novels, bookmarks, type teaser posters, an ad campaign, and a website,” senior graphic design major Kat VanSkiver said.

Other exhibits include a promotional campaign for a benefit concert on the Gulf Coast, artwork for an extreme sports vacation and a modern etiquette book.

Senior graphic design major Paul Donnell created a campaign for a benefit concert on the Mississippi Gulf Coast to help those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

“By designing this campaign, I wanted viewers to realize how important design is for promoting an event, as well as the importance of branding,” Donnell said.

The designers began working on their projects at the beginning of the spring semester, with most dedicating two and a half to three months to brainstorming, designing and putting their projects all together in a presentation.

The designs are displayed as printouts ranging from posters to business cards, and each exhibit has its own unique environment. The students want to let the viewer see that graphic design is everywhere.

“Graphic design affects the non designers in everyday life, and everything has intent, from the color choice to the typeface,” said Dunne. “I think it’d be interesting for people to see the design behind all of the communication. The idea is that media is everywhere.”

“Most of our works address bigger issues, like natural disasters, modern day manners and recreation, through graphic design,” Donnell said.

“I can honestly say that everyone’s exhibits look amazing in this senior show, and there’s also a very nice variety of subject matter, so something will surely catch your interest,” VanSkiver said.

The Museum of Art will be showing the students’ work until May 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. A reception with refreshments for the show will be held today from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and is open to the public.