Above photo: The senior graphic design exhibition will showcase theses from the 17 seniors that take an activist approach to different social issues. Courtesy of USF St. Petersburg Graphic Artist & Design Program
By Whitney Elfstrom
USF St. Petersburg senior graphic design students will be taking over The Studio@620 Friday night for their senior exhibition.
The event will showcase the students’ senior theses covering the topic of social issues. Students were tasked with selecting a social issue they’re passionate about and taking an activist approach to the idea, according to Jordan Prince, a senior graphic design major. Topics for the theses range from sex education to how to make raw food and veganism more appealing.
The 17 seniors were given the topic over summer break to ensure they would be prepared at the beginning of the 2017-2018 academic year. In the fall semester, they presented their ideas and explained what they wanted to tackle, while they solidified their designs throughout the semester and created everything from phone apps to condoms to represent their theses.
“The responses aren’t to meant to fix whatever the issue is, it’s just a possible response. It’s not meant to solve (the social issue,)” Prince said.
Together the seniors crafted the title “Respond” and created the branding to go along with the exhibition, which includes posters, specialized invitations and a website.
Each year, 20 students are chosen for the Graphic Artists and Design program out of a pool of applicants. To enter the graphic design program, students must apply online with 10 examples from their portfolio and explain what they are looking to accomplish through the program.
“Respond” gives the seniors a chance to prove what they’ve learned during their two years in the program.
Unlike senior exhibitions from prior years, when the event took place in both Harbor Hall and The Studio@620, the event will solely take place at the gallery.
“We’re trying to set up [the exhibition] in an art gallery setting and make sure that our spaces are designed in a more artistic way,” Prince said.
The students paid for the gallery space by selling their work at Localtopia, an annual event that celebrates local St. Petersburg artists and businesses. They raised $1,800, which was more than double what they were expecting.
Prince encouraged students and faculty to come out and support the free exhibition at 620 First Ave S.
“It’s always good to support the arts — especially locally. We’re apart of the school so they would be supporting the school as well, just through a more artistic experience,” she said.
The event begins at 5:30 to 9 p.m. and will feature a free alcoholic beverage from a partnership between Kozuba and Sons Distillery and Made Coffee. TeBella Tea Company also donated its blueberry pomegranate tea for a nonalcoholic option.
For a sneak peak of the theses follow @re.spond on Instagram or go to respondexhibition.com.
