STC student Judith Lopez hopes to use her graphic design skills to work at a magazine or newspaper in the future.
The next time you pick up your favorite magazine, look past the words and notice the visual messages. This is the work of graphic artists. Most companies depend on graphic designers to help them convey their messages and promote their brands. And in this Internet age, there is so much visual media around us in our daily lives that the opportunities for talented designers are endless. That is one of the reasons I chose to pursue a career in this field.
Graphic design is the process of combining text and graphics to create print or electronic forms of visual information to communicate an effective message. It’s a great vocation allowing individuals to combine their passion for art with computers. And as a student in STC’s Graphic Arts Program, I am developing my eye for design, and I hope to use this knowledge to secure a job where I can take an idea and make a project come to life.
My time at the college has been terrific so far. STC is a great college, and it didn’t take much to convince me that this was the perfect place for me to start my academic career.
Now, I’m a proud student and I love my classes because I have been able to refine my aesthetic abilities and sketching skills, taking my designs to the next level. The instructors have also been very helpful, guiding me and motivating me to succeed.
I really enjoy graphic design because I can use my artistic abilities and organizational skills to create pieces of art that convey a message to the public. I see it as putting pieces of a puzzle together to make something that is both pleasing to the eye and provides the viewer with the visual information needed to grasp the project’s overall concept. Every piece is a new venture; a new thing I have to figure out and arrange properly. It is this excitement for the art form I hope to translate into my future plans.
Being a part of a student organization has also been a good way for me to further immerse myself in graphic design and multimedia. I am a member of the Media Club, where I serve as a reporter and a photographer for the college’s online news portal. The experience has both inspired me and taught me all about the important role that writing and graphic design plays in today’s marketplace.
My goal is to earn my associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in graphic design. After that, I hope to work at a magazine or newspaper to show off my talents. Once I’ve gained enough experience, I hope to come back to STC and share my knowledge in graphic arts with others by becoming an instructor at the college. No matter what this leads to, though, I know that it will certainly be an adventure designing a future in graphics.
Who inspires you? My speech teacher, Elizabeth Hilpert, taught me about the importance of being a good public speaker, helping me realize the value of good communication skills in everything I do. My media animation teacher in high school, Mr. Sanchez, also inspired me to do my best and never give up on educational goals.
What’s a fun fact not too many people know about you? I studied Japanese online because I love the culture and I would love to visit Tokyo one day.
