For 13 years, West Liberty University graphic design students have made their mark on the Ohio Valley with professional-quality projects for non-profit organizations.
Under the direction of Associate Professor James Haizlett, senior graphic design majors at WLU have worked all semester creating logos, posters, brochures, billboards, book covers, presentations, museum displays, signage and websites.
The students formed small design “companies” on the first day of class and worked on real world projects throughout the semester. Clients included organizations such as the Wheeling YMCA and YWCA, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, The Children’s Museum of the Ohio Valley, WLU theatre and music departments, Ohio River Heritage Trail Project, WV AIDS Task Force, Wetzel County Museum, Laughlin Chapel, WLU College of Sciences, Center for Arts and Education and Key Beginnings.
Haizlett explained, “This is an outreach to the community, helping organizations with limited budgets receive the services of our highly motivated, energetic and creative students.”
Brian Fencl, chairman of the WLU Department of Journalism, Communication Studies and Visual Arts, added, “We are very proud of these students and of the work they produced this semester.”
The four design companies were Moxie Design, run by Samantha Wilson and Lauren Herman; Right State of Mind, comprised of Jessica Gordon, Kevin Kidwell and Kelsey Wetzel; Faction Design, which included Brandon Fehr and Kylie Emfinger; and V and A Design, run by Victoria Lavorini and Alexander Allen.
After a grueling first three weeks in which the teams designed a logo, identity system and made a public presentation, the design companies then selected a variety of community projects to complete during the semester. Haizlett explained that Graphic Design III class “helps the designers begin to transition between classroom assignments and professional work.”
The students worked with real clients with real design needs. They met with their clients, wrote design briefs, established timelines and produced final projects that oftentimes exceeded client expectations. The students were coached on how to conduct themselves professionally and to earn the respect of their clients through hard work and enthusiastic attitudes.
V and A Design produced graphics and a website for the Children’s Museum of the Ohio Valley as well as a logo for a Cuban studies program directed by Joseph L. Scarpaci, WLU Associate Professor of Marketing. In his final evaluation, Scarpaci noted, “They are consummate professionals and I would rank them as the most mature students I have worked with at West Liberty University.”
Projects to which Faction Design team applied their skills and talents included a printed information packet and the redesign of a website for the Wheeling YMCA.
Moxie Design’s projects included logos for the Ohio River Heritage Trail and the Wetzel County Museum.
Right State of Mind Design created a website for West Virginia’s AIDS Task Force. The team also designed the poster and program for WLU’s production of the W.A. Mozart opera “The Magic Flute.” The company’s other music-related project was to create the graphics and layout for a music textbook for young students. The client was a new company, “Key Beginnings.”
To see examples of the students’ work, visit http://go.westliberty.edu/art/recent-posts/events/wlu-students-design-community-projects/.