Design Archives - BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications

The Paradigm Shifters

admin — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 18:26:24 +0000

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Stroll Through Paris at the MOA with “L’Affichomania: The Passion for French Posters”

Alyssa Anderson — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 22:21:07 +0000

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Arts & Comms: Behind the Cameras

Alyssa Anderson — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 22:29:38 +0000

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Dance of Recovery: Resilience and Healing Through Art

admin — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 16:22:49 +0000

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Graphic Design Major Amanda Lund on Her Design Work, Inclusivity and Being a Voice for Others

Elena Castro — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 17:17:24 +0000

Amanda Lund –– a native of McLean, Virg. –– will graduate with a BFA in design in April. Amanda Lund’s time at BYU has given her a jump start on her future career.

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McCall Keller: BYU graduate, graphic design award winner, basketball enthusiast

Emily Andersen — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 16:38:07 +0000

The Design Kids competition encourages young designers like McCall Keller to create new designs and show off their talents BYU graphic design graduate McCall Keller was recently announced as one of the top thirty winners of The Design Kids annual competition — a contest specifically designed to help up-and-coming designers gain recognition. Keller’s submission featured a portfolio of five pieces, which were mostly done in black and white. Annie Atkins, the competition judge who selected Keller’s work, said she was amazed by how each spread “felt fully realized and stylish, including typeface designs that had intriguingly playful exposition on facing pages.” “I love and always will love art that is void of color,” Keller said. “It strips an idea down to its core and provides a different perspective than what we’re used to in the colorful world that we live in.” Keller is currently working as a brand designer for R/GA, a creative agency in Los Angeles. Shortly after being hired, Keller and one of his coworkers bonded over their shared love of basketball, and the two of them decided to start a website, play3vs3.org, where they’ve been exploring the intersection of art and basketball. “We decided to start a 3 VS 3 tournament that invites teams to come and win a custom-designed jersey. Our first round of jerseys came back from production just days before Los Angeles went on lockdown,” Keller said. “That gave us the opportunity to reevaluate and figure out how this idea can evolve.” A lot of Keller’s design inspiration comes from his desire to represent his family well and to contribute to the world by creating things that are new and unique. “I have a bit of an obsession with family history, especially the stories of my ancestors who did things differently than the norm,” said Keller. “I want to live a life that makes future generations proud.”

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Design Student’s Museum Rebrand Named Finalist in Annual Competition

Emily Andersen — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 17:16:33 +0000

A prestigious design magazine chose senior Hunter Young’s design as a finalist in their annual competition. BYU student Hunter Young is a finalist in the Communication Arts annual Design Competition. Young is in the Graphic Design Program of the Design Department. His piece, “OMSI,” will be featured in the magazine’s annual design edition. “OMSI”, named after the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, is a rebranding project for the museum involving an interchangeable logo system. Young, who is from Portland, Oregon, said the OMSI had a big influence on him when he was growing up, and he wanted to rebrand it because it was due for a change. “I knew that I wanted to create a contemporary branding system that could remain flexible, since the museum has many departments and events,” Young said. “I think because I was working on something that was personal to me, it made the process a lot more fun because I cared about it and was focused on making it the best I could.” The project took about a semester to complete, with a lot of editing and adjusting. Even now, after it’s been submitted for and won a couple of different awards, Young said he is continually working to make the piece better. The Communication Arts Design Annual competition showcases winners from one of the most prestigious design competitions in the United States and throughout the world. Out of the 2,900 total entries, just 126 pieces were accepted as finalists. While Young had submitted his project for a different award, he didn’t know that his professors had submitted it for the Communication Arts competition, but he said he’s glad they did. “We really have such amazing design professors who are always looking out for you and wanting you to succeed, which I am so grateful for,” he said. “Without their help and encouragement, I probably would not have entered, thinking it was too far of a reach for me.” Young grew up reading Communication Arts magazine, which he said is a staple in the design world. When he learned that he was a finalist and that his design would be featured in the annual design magazine, he was beyond excited. “Being a finalist really means a lot. Above all it has motivated me to keep creating and pushing myself. To be a finalist alongside other designers and studios that I have looked up to for so long is an honor.” Young hopes to make a career out of design. He said he’s looked into other career paths, but in the end he always knew this is what he wanted to do. “I grew up in an environment that showed me not only the importance that art and design has, but that you can actually have a successful and fulfilling creative career, despite what many people might say,”

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Design Student Reflects on Winning Entry in National Competition

admin — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 21:08:30 +0000

Hansen’s winning piece “Scale the Globe with Help from the Gilman Scholarship” was chosen as one of 300 winners from 8,700 submissions Maria Hansen — an illustration senior in the BYU Department of Design — recently had her work included in the Society of Illustrators Student Scholarship Competition. Her winning piece “Scale the Globe with Help from the Gilman Scholarship” is a poster illustration that promotes international education. “I was inspired by the disordered mental state in which I found myself after my four months studying abroad in South Korea,” said Hansen. “I knew this experience had changed me, but whenever anyone asked me about it, I couldn’t articulate how. It was like trying to make sense of all the pieces on a detective board. This image informed my initial ideas for the piece that made it into the competition, a young woman traversing a map of the world with her pushpins and red string.” Hansen completed her illustration submission during a senior studio class, under the direction of BYU illustration professor David Habben who helped Hansen formulate her project in a way that would be conducive for her portfolio while still challenging her. Every year students in the Department of Design are encouraged by administrators and faculty members to enter competitions. Students in the illustration emphasis are especially encouraged to enter the Society of Illustrators, which is one of the most prestigious professional and student illustration competitions in the nation. Over 300 works were chosen from the 8,700 entries submitted by college-level students nationwide. From the 2,278 students who participated, Maria was one of the 300 selected for her illustration. This is the second time in two years that pieces made by BYU illustration students placed in the competition. “Making it into the competition and subsequently being featured in the online gallery with the other 300 students from across the nation was a duly humbling and confidence-boosting experience,” noted Hansen. “While I won’t make competitions like this the foundation of my self-assurance as an artist, it was a sign to me from God that I can create work I love that resonates with and inspires other people.” The Society of Illustrators is well known for kick-starting careers. Students who enter bring their most sophisticated, well-crafted and original work to be tested. A jury of professional peers, including illustrators and art directors, selects the most outstanding works created throughout the year. Pieces are accepted based on the quality of technique, concept and skill of medium used. “My experience in South Korea as an illustration student was a journey and an adventure, and it continues to inform my life in ways I am still discovering,” Hansen said. “I hope others can find opportunities to learn abroad and discover those unexpected connections for themselves. I am looking forward to creating future inspiring work about international education, diversity, adventure, and many wonderful stories from around the world.” Maria Hansen will be graduating from BYU with a BFA in illustration and minor in Korean December 2020. She is currently working on her capstone project and will be pursuing a career as an illustrator for book covers and magazines. You can see more from her portfolio at https://www.behance.net/mariahansen.

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BYU Photography Student Silvia Borja Announced as Winner of 2020 Photography Competition

admin — Tue, 19 May 2020 22:35:04 +0000

Borja’s winning piece “Fish Out of Water” was inspired by her experience adjusting to a new culture Silvia Borja — a photography student in the BYU Department of Design — was recently announced as a winner of the Communication Arts Annual International Photography Competition. Her winning piece “Fish Out of Water” represents different emotions related to social and cultural isolation we all experience in different stages of our lives. “I was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia. Originally, I got the idea [for Fish Out of Water] when I first moved to the U.S.,” said Borja. “I wanted to portray how I was feeling trying to adjust to a new culture being away from home.” Borja was encouraged by classmates and BYU film and photography professor Robert Machoian to apply to the competition. She had never applied to a competition up until this point and was completely stunned when she learned that her image was preselected and went on to win best in category for student work. Communication Arts is a professional journal for designers, art directors, design firms, corporate design departments, agencies, illustrators, photographers and anyone else involved in visual communications. It works to promote the highest professional standards for each field. The Communication Arts 61st Annual International Photography Competition received 2,511 global entries and only 121 winners were chosen by a jury of creative professionals, making it one of the most exclusive and prestigious major photography competitions. Specifically, the criteria focused on creative excellence and quality of execution in winning photographs. Borja was one of only eight students selected as a winner. “I honestly wanted to create a picture that would force the viewer to look beyond the picture, but also have it be a little ridiculous,” said Borja. “The original idea was having the model wear a fish mask because I thought it would be funny. However, when we started shooting, the mask I bought didn’t work out, so we tried it without it. It ended up looking better than expected.” The winning projects will be reproduced and displayed in the July 2020 issue of Communication Arts, both in print and digital editions. More than 25,000 copies of the issue will be distributed worldwide ensuring important exposure to the creators and publishers of these award-winning images. “I think everyone has felt like a fish out of water at some point in their lives,” remarked Borja. “I think it’s okay to feel that way — most of us do anyway.”

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BYU Illustration Grad Shares Details About a Collaborative Project Focused on Jane Austen

admin — Mon, 11 May 2020 21:36:43 +0000

Lexi Nilson and two others created the book “Jane Was Here” using funds received from a Laycock Grant while students at BYU What’s more ideal than traveling abroad, electively studying one of your favorite subjects, all while being funded by your university? Brigham Young University illustration graduate Lexi Nilson, English graduate Nicole Jacobsen and advertising graduate Devynn MacLennan Dayton did just that for a student-led collaborative project focused on the author Jane Austen. Their book and project, “Jane Was Here,” started as an Instagram profile maintained by the all female team. The premise of their venture was to travel to places significant to Jane Austen’s literature and document the scenery through illustration and writing so their followers, or those interested in the book, would feel a connection to them. The student team documented their findings via Instagram, on their profile @JaneAustenWasHere. In addition to the Austen focused illustrations and quotes, the team explored past and present English fashion and food and engaged with their followers and fellow Austen enthusiasts through giveaways or polls. Their page now has an audience of over 3,000 followers and they continue to post despite returning from Austen’s English homeland. A popular Instagram page was not the initial aspiration for this venture. The student team has since compiled their work into a small travel guide that will be published in the United Kingdom in May and in the United States during June 2020 by the Hardie Grant Publishing House. This travel book has been their ultimate goal since initially getting approved for a grant. “We wanted to introduce places to people who might not be able to visit in person but, because of the personal travel notes and illustrations, they can now connect with it as if they are on an adventure,” said Nilson, group lead on this project. “This book was a wonderful way of combining my love for travel and my love for illustration in one place, combining them in a way where they have a deeper voice in communicating and connecting worlds.” Getting to England to explore people and locations as college students was a huge learning experience. Nilson was initially encouraged by Bethanne Anderson, an illustration professor in the Department of Design, to apply and propose a project to receive funding through the Laycock Center for Creative Collaboration. Students applying for this grant have the opportunity to develop a project proposal that could earn anywhere from $1,000 to $30,000 for specified project funding. This allows students to foster collaborative opportunities and to grow as creative leaders, problem solvers and innovators of art and communicative contexts. This can be a wonderful experience for students to have before graduating, especially when your project could have the possibility of getting published. “[Anderson] reached out to me and she said, ‘you should apply for this grant…you come up with a project and there’s a significant amount of money that the board can give you if they want to invest in your project,’ and that got my wheels spinning, like where would I want to go, what would I want to do, and if I’m going big what would I do?” said Nilson. Lexi had a huge love for Jane Austen, England and Pride & Prejudice. This sentiment was shared with others including her team and a large fan base. This ultimately led them to assemble an organized trip to England to help them create illustrations and to become inspired by the many Jane Austen locations using the funding they received. “The experience [of seeing the locations] is such a surreal feeling because you’re standing in the place that Mr. Darcy proposed and so much emotion is attached to the location,” said Nilson. “So, while you are there you feel her books coming to life. It was really cool to think, “Oh my goodness this is the place where they filmed it and Jane Austen lived here,” and traveling through the streets thinking she was inspired by all of this around her.” Nilson dove right into using school funding efficiently, successfully implementing a project that is to be published summer 2020 and now offers tips for others who hope to do similar projects. If you are looking into applying for funds to expound on a project idea, ensure that you do your research effectively and show why your experience or ideas would make a contribution to the public. The Laycock Center for Creative Collaboration looks specifically for proposals that endorse innovative learning environments, works of collaboration, mentorships and projects that ultimately make a meaningful impact on students. This grant opportunity is sponsored through the College of Fine Arts and Communications. Additionally, the Department of Design also offers Experiential Learning funds; a similar grant for individual student projects, but particularly for students who have been accepted into the illustration, graphic design, animation, photography or design BA program. MacLennen, team marketer, remarked “Take opportunities and don’t pass them up. This book was just a cool opportunity and it would have been silly not to do it. At first [our biggest hope for the book] was to have it in Anthropologie or Urban Outfitters. I am hoping for greater opportunities and we’ve talked about maybe doing a Marie Antoinette or King Louie Travel Guide in the future. There is just so much more we could do, and I don’t think it has to stop here but it just goes to show you get really ambitious and we can do whatever we put our minds to if we dream big enough.”

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