Educational Innovations. The students work together with design faculty on a variety of design projects. This student-faculty interaction allows students to get “hands-on design experience” from both faculty (academic) and community (client) project opportunities. Successful projects are entered in local, regional and national juried design competitions. Projects that receive award recognition benefit not only the students in the job market, but the faculty with academic scholarship, research, and notoriety for UNK. These design projects also build strong student-faculty relationships for placing future designers in the industry and recruiting future UNK art and design students. New screen-printing equipment and materials have been purchased for the students and faculty. This allows the Design Program to offer and execute design projects without needing to use outside venders. Most design projects consist of small quantity reproductions of t-shirt designs, posters and flyers.
Students benefit directly from the computer technology as each student works with a client project as a second semester junior and/or first semester senior. These client projects allow students to get invaluable hands-on design experience in order to build their design knowledge and portfolio upon graduating.
a. Design Practicum: External clients and projects
| Client list (2006) |
Projects |
Location of business |
| Goodwill Store |
brochure |
Kearney, NE |
| Pace (community organization) |
brochure & apparel |
Aurora, NE |
| Platte Habitat Partnership |
demographic signs |
Wood River, NE |
| Nature Conservancy |
brochures |
Lincoln,NE |
| Refine (clothing store) |
poster & tickets |
Kearney, NE |
b. Student design internships with local businesses:
Buckle
Kearney Chamber of Commerce
Morris Press
Museum of Nebraska Art
c. Other Student Design Projects
Enhanced Services to the State. Kearney Area Arts Council – (spring 2006) a team of students is creating a multimedia project for this entity. Past projects have included websites, brochures, signage, interactive CDs, letterhead and business cards.
Crane Meadows Nature Center – (spring 2006) a Communication class developed a new logo and positioning statement along with an integrated marketing campaign that promotes an image that there is something to see and do at Crane Meadows every season of the year. Tasks include creation of signage, stickers, PSAs, brochure, website, surveys, special event suggestions, business cards, letterhead and envelopes.
Kearney Trolley Association - (spring 2006) worked with the board members to develop a website for the organization.
Kearney Concert Association – (spring 2006) a student contest was held, working with the group, to develop a logo and an “identity” package.
First Annual Multimedia Camp – (fall 2005) area high school students were invited to participate in the multimedia camp. Nine campers learned the basics of web design, non-linear editing and desktop publishing and developed a website and printed materials for the UNK Human Performance Laboratory.
Nebraska Roads Department - (fall 2005) Students in Communication worked with representatives from this office to develop a logo.
Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty – (fall 2005) a student created a brochure and newsletter being used by this group.
Nebraska Collegiate Forensics Program – (spring 2006) a Communication student created a brochure for the group which included photos and information on all of the forensics programs at all of the colleges and universities in the state.
Lexington Area Solid Waste Authority video and CD – (summer 2005) a student produced informational materials for LASWA to promote its processes and standards.
Hasslehill “Proud to be an American” Concert videos – (summer 2005) a student produced three different patriotic videos for a concert promoter. Loup City.