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Designing for success
YOUNGSTOWN
Aspiring graphic and interactive designers at Youngstown State University once again volunteered their time to provide services for businesses and startups in need of design work.
Members of Youngstown Design Works started their second Pop-Up Shop on Monday after a great turnout with the first one four months ago, said R.J. Thompson, assistant professor in graphic and interactive design at YSU’s Department of Art.
The Pop-Up Shop will continue each day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Friday at the Oak Hill Collaborative, 507 Oak Hill Ave., a small-business incubator that started in 2012. The previous event took place in Warren.
“We always want to have an alternating venue,” Thompson said.
Aside from providing space, Youngstown Design Works collaborates with the location. Thompson said the group plans to re-brand the collaborative through its website and logo.
“They’re sprucing up what we have,” said Pat Kerrigan, the collaborative’s executive director. “We’re a case study to show what they [YDW] can do.”
Thompson said appointments were booked completely for Monday to consult with clients on their design needs such as brochures, websites and branding. There are a la carte services that are $50 an hour and packaged services from $150 to $400.
Julie Michael Smith, executive director of Advanced Methods in Innovation, was among the clients with an appointment. Smith’s business developed INVENTORcloud, a program that is used in 55 school districts in three states with the goal of getting students interested in fields such as science and 3-D printing. Smith said she heard good things about YDW and decided to take advantage of its services.
“It’s a great asset for businesses in the community,” she said.
Smith said her design needs included improving the consistency and branding of her business to her target audience such as parents, educators and school administrators, in order to attract more clients.
During her appointment, Thompson made inquiries about the design materials she already was using while students took notes. After the meeting, a selected group of students started working on a full assessment of Smith’s website, gathering data on the strengths and weaknesses of the design.
“It’s a great use of student talent,” Smith said.
On the other hand, it also benefits participating students.
Brandi Takas, a YSU senior in graphic and interactive design, said the experience was inspiring by providing real-world experiences.
“It’s refreshing,” she said. “I’m more than ever excited to graduate.”