Students in the Digital Arts program have been selected to participate in the 2017 AIGA Houston Design Loop Mentorship Program. Samiria Percival, a junior Digital Media Arts major from Killeen, TX and Jalon Jackson – Bowman, a junior Digital Media Arts major from Houston, were two, of only 10 students, selected to participate in the program.

 

During the four-month program, 10 established designers will be matched with 10 emerging designers.  Established and emerging designers are required to meet on a monthly basis and attend four exclusive events hosted by AIGA Houston. The Design Loop program is where young designers seeking mentorship and seasoned vets looking for a way to give back to the design community can lend each other a helping hand.

 

Tracey Moore, digital media arts coordinator, says she is exited for what this experience will do for the students and the program. “I think it will help validate what we do in the studio,” said Moore. “Students have a hard time seeing beyond the design studio and with this mentorship, they can see how what they do in the classroom relates to the practical environment.” Moore said sometimes art classes can be impractical or can feel separate from the real industry. This experience, will create and insightful partnership; helping bridge the gap between what they learn in the studio and what they do in the real world.

 

Percival said the AIGA program extends her awareness to design. “Now we have this bigger network of designers who are already in the business,” said Percival, “I felt like my work was in a spiral; I’m looking for a new outlet and source of inspiration.” Both students are looking forward to growing professionally and expanding their network  through this program. “Well what excites me the most is watching my skills develop,” said Jackson, “I’m hoping to learn how to be more efficient and better with time management.” Percival said she was excited to find out who her program mentor will be. “I’m still on the floating high right now of being excited,” said Percival, “My mentor, Colton Cavaya of the Carson Group, is similar to me: A creative and has an engineering background.”

 

Percival and Moore said the students’ participation in the AIGA will benefit both the students and the Digital Media Arts the program. “It’ll help establish a good reputation for our students in our digital media arts program,” said Moore. “Because the program is new, there may be employers who aren’t willing to hire students, but this will be an opportunity for future employers to see what great work our students are doing.” She hopes their participation will help them gain confidence in their abilities as designers and to see that they are just as confident, creative and skillful as students at other universities.