Degree/Year: Graphic Design and Hospitality Business with a Design specialization, Honors College, 2016
Company: Hudson Rouge
Position: Jr. Art Director
City/State: Dearborn, Michigan

I am a Digital Art Director working exclusively on the Lincoln Motor Company account. I design a variety of print/web/digital-based content including desktop and mobile websites, print advertisements, desktop and mobile ads, banners, and digital billboards in addition to photo retouching, motion graphics and UX/UI. 

Find your passion and completely immerse yourself in that world.

Earning a B.F.A. in Graphic Design prepared me perfectly for this position because I not only gained the technical skills, but I was professionally ready the first day on the job. I owe everything to the amazing professors in the Department of Art, Art History, and Design. They genuinely care about their students and go above and beyond to provide advice, opportunity and knowledge. 

I would advise any student to first look inside themselves and listen to their own voice. Find your passion and completely immerse yourself in that world. Get your act together early, get your website up and running, have business cards in your wallet at all times, and use your Instagram as your channel for showing your art. Get involved in clubs, go to industry events, seek out artists you love, become (reasonably) obsessed.