Every
year the ID seniors organize their Senior Show exhibit and reception. The
faculty set guidelines on grading criteria, budgets, required due dates, exhibit
protocols, etc., but it is truly their show. In the context of their
Professional Practice seminar class, they form committees that address
coordination, exhibit and invitation design, refreshment menus, budget
proposals, etc.
This
year during our Spring Break, it became clear that the 2020 Senior Show would
be virtual. The students adapted. Co-Chairs Stephanie Dunn and Taylor Garonzik
were now in charge of “populating” our website. With a lot of support from our
Communication Design colleagues, they coordinated with the ID faculty and their
classmates to collect and format content for the website. Students provided
their own headshot and bio statement. As Stephanie and Taylor posted the work,
the students checked for accuracy, sequencing, broken links, etc. By the end of
a very intense two days, they had 31 “proofers.” Stephanie and Taylor were also
posting frequently on the class Facebook page, making sure everyone knew what
was going on. Thinking back on the experience, Stephanie said, “This is how it would have been if we were
on campus, too, making sure each poster was installed and level, etc. I think
that teamwork was important to us even though we were not together. It still
made us feel connected.”
Mariam
Chapa designed the invitation and a class seal to commemorate the event. Taylor
prepared a montage of images of class experiences, and Stephanie composed the
slide with a “special thanks” note to the ID faculty. Liesl Ziegenhals promoted
the Show, contacting alums, advisory board members, practitioners, and UNT
administrators, and all students invited their friends, family members and
mentors.
The
class has received many congratulatory messages. CVAD Interior Design now has a
platform the students can build on for years to come.
