BRANDED shows began in 2011 as the final exhibition of a senior-level course called “Branding” in the acquisition of a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design degree through Arkansas State University's Department of Art + Design. This show was solely to show work in branding and job acquisition abilities, as the portfolio class was not yet required as a co-requisite. Though the annual event was always popular, it seemed confusing when it couldn't be called a senior show and not every student had a developed portfolio of work.
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IN 2019, EVERYTHING CHANGED when Portfolio Capstone and Professional Practice for Design became co-requisites.
Branding class donned this new name Professional Practice for Design, though the curriculum stayed much the same. The new Portfolio Capstone course replaced its independent study predecessor. The old way works perfectly for traditional fine arts disciplines, but stands lacking for designers. A design portfolio needs a different kind of development with an end audience that is often made up of non-designers who hire. This is (usually) different from an audience of art professors and those fluent in the gallery space. Students were also now witness to and participant in fellow students' portfolio development instead of being in an online dialogue between only her/himself and the professor. See link below, understanding that some domains are no longer active.
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In 2020, we hoped to have a repeat performance, complete with award-wining materials in a new theme to publicize both the annual regional portfolio review we host for AIGA-Memphis and the best Branded show yet!
Then the coronavirus struck. All classes had to be moved online at midterms, but these students didn't miss a beat. Aside from no longer requiring any materials other than business cards to be printed, students still completed every single thing that would've been required of them before the online shift. See link below, understanding that some domains are no longer active.
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Though 2021 once again does not allow the show to be in person, it provides unexpected opportunities for the students!
They are skilled in the hybrid online environment and can now work just as well remotely as in person. We even added individual Zoom interviews to test these skills. Zoom also brought in designers from around the country to speak to students in required events like the regional AIGA-Memphis Student Day and monthly Conversations with Designers.
Students in this senior-level course once again completed a MASSIVE amount of work in these demanding co-requisite classes. So please see all of their hard work here. This group is – once again – absolutely amazing and should be congratulated on how much they have achieved. They are also ready to work for you, so give them a try if you need high quality design work completed!
They are skilled in the hybrid online environment and can now work just as well remotely as in person. We even added individual Zoom interviews to test these skills. Zoom also brought in designers from around the country to speak to students in required events like the regional AIGA-Memphis Student Day and monthly Conversations with Designers.
Students in this senior-level course once again completed a MASSIVE amount of work in these demanding co-requisite classes. So please see all of their hard work here. This group is – once again – absolutely amazing and should be congratulated on how much they have achieved. They are also ready to work for you, so give them a try if you need high quality design work completed!
