Identity: graphic design projects throughout the university

During 2013-14, students in professors Ken Smith’s and John O’Connor’s graphic design classes created logos, identity booklets and other corporate materials for several programs within Radford University.

This past spring 2014, graduating senior Keith Amidon chose as his ARTG 484 Senior Project to design and produce a new Visual Identity for the Governmental and Nonprofit Assistance Center (GNAC) in the College of Business and Economics (COBE). Keith produced a new logo, and a branding guidelines book, as well as branded graphics for their website, trade show banner and brochure.

Dr. Bruce Chase, representing the GNAC, had this to say about Amidon’s designs, “I am very pleased with the new logo and plan to use it on the website and in future publications. We had 100 copies of each professional [brochure] printed, and will use them to promote the GNAC and the joint program.”

Smith also had the students from his ARTG382 Branding Design class create a logo, a guidelines booklet, and an identity presentation for RU’s Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology program. Each student produced three different logo designs and one identity presentation for their favorite logo. These designs were presented to the I/O Psychology grad students and members of the faculty. Michael Goodson’s designs were chosen, and he then worked with the department to create a final version of their logo and a logo guidelines booklet.

O’Connor had his students design a logo for the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship (OURS). Students collaborated with Dr. Joseph Wirgau, interim director of OURS, who eventually chose Ian Anderson’s logo design. Anderson, then, refined his design, following Dr. Wirgau’s requests, and submitted it.

Selu Observatory is another RU client. Emily Martin created logos for the observatory for O’Connor’s ARTG281 class this past spring.

O’Connor discussed the advantages of giving their student’s an opportunity to design for real clients: “Ken and I work diligently to give our students real world projects, however nothing we do can match the valuable experience gained from working with a real client on a real job. If a student’s logo design is chosen that student gains the added reward of seeing their work published.”