Shift + Mindsets

It is probably not unexpected that as a kid I was imaginative and artistic, as I’ve chosen to follow a path that allows me a creative outlet. I did take a detour in my rebellious teenage years, made some choices that took me off course. While it is not my whole story, it is an essential part that has brought me to where I am today. It took me to a place where I found myself a mother at the age of seventeen, while it was trying; it is what brought me back to my imaginative self. It pushed me to be creative again, having to make things stretch, be resourceful and make things on my own instead of having to buy. With this underlying talent, it made me realize that I had a lot to offer to my community as well as provide a better future for my family.

Being a curious person by nature, I’m interested in a lot of things, and it was this habit of finding out a little bit about everything that lead me to graphic design. It was a creative outlet where I could take my passion for solving problems and wanting to create unique visual experiences into a career. Within graphic design, I’ve found my purpose. It is the perfect creative outlet that keeps me excited. It allows me to meet great people, whether it’s collaborating on a project together or helping them solve their problems using my creative skills.

As I have experienced life, I have seen how I am continually growing and shifting in the way I see, feel and believe in things. Going through this program has been one of these significant shifts in my life. It gave me the chance to see how essential design and the design process is for improving or preserving and sharing mindsets, and how essential that is for the growth of our communities. It has given me the tools to be a catalyst for this growth, which I’ll forever be grateful for.

Shift + Yourself

I grew up in a small town, the kind of town that time forgot, which influenced many of my interests, such as my love for old Alfred Hitchcock or Humphrey Bogart movies. It also spurred my interest in graphic design. Most of the signage in the town had been there since the 1970’s, and over time it had become severely outdated. I wanted to be able to add a modern touch to the area. Thus began my interest in poster, and identity design which I practice primarily by creating work for local musicians and businesses. The BFA helped me grow into my confidence as a creator. I have recently began to work in web design and social media due to their increasing importance as the forefront in a modern marketing campaign. My favorite project since joining the BFA is the speculative Cannabis Conference project because it allowed me to explore what a modern campaign on such a loaded topic could look like.

Shift + Understanding

Before I was a graphic designer, I aspired to be an architect, designing modern living spaces or spaces meant for the public. My aspiration to become an architect stemmed from the need to leave a permanent impression on my community; creating a space that would be a part of someone’s everyday life. I gained an interest in graphic design when I realized that it wasn’t bound to space or material, yet could make such an impact on communities and elevate the experience of everyday life.

I’ve grown an affinity to experience design and exploring the speculative; applying research to meet the needs of users. I’m a multifaceted designer: my primary focus is on Identity, UX/UI, and print design, however, I am capable of almost every facet of design.

I’m currently a designer at DOXA and through my time there, I’ve continued to learn about design through seeing my colleagues and working on real projects and interacting with clients regularly. DOXA is playing a key part in supplementing my education by refining my hand and being open to compromise where it’s viable and effective.

Shift + Perspectives

I grew up loving art. My grandmother was a Native American painter, so I feel like I got those artistic genes from her. I came into college thinking I was going to pursue painting, as that had been all I had ever done. In the foundations program, we had a section that focused more on graphic design and I fell in love.

I have grown so much throughout my time in the program. The professors and my peers have shaped me into a designer who isn’t afraid to speak her mind. Though I’m still learning how to, I’ve taken more risks as I’ve progressed through the program and have learned to be okay if those risks fail. Not only that, but being given opportunities to design for a community and see first hand how the work we did affected them was so influential for me to see the ways in which design is more than just typography and layout.

Shift + Concepts

My name is Alejandra Rubio Villalobos and I am a Mexican American born in Oceanside, California to two Mexican parents. One of my main interests in life is to help people which is why I am very inspired to do community based work and use my graphic design skills in projects that allow me to involve the community or are based on community service. I became interested in design at a young age and became inspired to create designs with a bigger purpose after learning about artist Shepard Fairey who is well known for creating works that open dialogue about issues society often ignores. Through the years that I have been in the BFA in Graphic Design, I have come to learn the many ways in which I can use my skills as a designer to achieve these goals and due to that I aspire to become an active designer in pushing boundaries and creating gradual changes that will push not only my community, but society further as well.

Career Oriented Service Learning

Service learning is known to provide adolescents with opportunities that teach them social cognitive skills that help  them develop into adulthood. By being involved in community events and activities they make connections and enhance their social skills but how may these skills translate into their professional lives? Hustle provides a new concept of service learning in which students can develop these skill through career practice by putting their service hours into local businesses and working alongside professionals.

Shift + Knowledge

As a young kid and throughout my life I was always good at art, it was a way for me to express myself when I felt like I couldn’t any other, it was also a way for me to relieve stress and get into a happy set of mind. Growing up I assumed that I would end up studying fashion design or sculpture since I was very precise and detail oriented, constantly trying to make everything look better and sketching in every piece of paper available to me. However, as I got older I realized that I couldn’t make a decision and graphic design had many paths into all of the things that I like. Graphic Design felt like an organic choice that will only allow me to grow and develop more skill.

To me graphic design has the power to open many doors, create connections and education, it nevers gets old and is always changing, most of the time for the best. I take from this program the experience of a lifetime and a knowledge that will take me where I want to be in my career.

It has many paths and it goes beyond making something “look good” or “designing a logo” it really changes peoples lives.

Shift + Attitudes

I joined the Design program because I  wanted to learn at different ways to apply art and technology to the world. This program has made me a more resilient and patient person. I am able to better communicate my thoughts in a way that others can understand that makes me happy.  My favorite class project is my senior degree project because I get to look at a big problem that is not usually addressed and I feel like there is so many things that I can explore in that realm with technology and human interactions. In it I learned that there are so many smaller problems that make up the main big problem. It’s really interesting how one small thing can affect a whole community. In the future I hope to still be curious and adaptable. I want to always learn something new and to keep exploring different ways to connect design, technology, and people.

Shift + Gears

As a graphic designer, I focus on user experiences and solving problems with efficiency. Led by my passion for making and finding a better way, I have explored furniture and interior design, architecture, industrial design, and found that contemporary graphic design encompasses all of these things.

I have dovetailed an enthusiasm for hospitality into my design life, with over 9 years of restaurant and hotel work experience, and 90 hours towards a hospitality management degree. These experiences have deepened my sense of empathy and help me to understand how many points of view come into play at any given time. It has also taught me that there will always be a problem, and there will always be at least one way to solve it.

I passionately believe that good design is about experiences. Whether it is an interactive educational exhibit or an augmentation of daily life, design should create a lasting impact and arm its users with better information, healthier habits, and greater autonomy.

Shift + Possibilities  

Hello there, I’m Madeline! Making executive decisions about aesthetics and experiences has always come naturally to me. Entering the BFA, I had never touched an Adobe Creative Cloud program. Little did I know that by pursuing a degree in Graphic Design, I would embark on a journey that would challenge my mindsets, expand my worldview and widen my creative abilities. As a designer, I value authenticity, conceptual depth, and ultimately, hope to be an Art Director someday. When i’m not in the studio, you can find me painting, playing guitar, or driving with the windows down and the music all the way up.