Portfolio Show Follow-Up

The Graphic and Interior Design Portfolio Show was held April 13 at the Steel Building in Pittsburgh. Both of these majors are required to make a portfolio of their work before graduation. These portfolios are then taken to interviews and shown as a demonstration of skills. Many professionals from both disciplines are invited to the portfolio show. The professors hope that this show will be a good opportunity for networking and potential jobs.


I think we all worked very hard to get to the milestone of the portfolio show. It was a long road of choosing our best works and revising them to make them even better. It meant countless dollars spent, countless nights staying up late, and countless cups of coffee. In the end though, I can say it definitely paid off. The portfolio show was a great success and there were several potential employers there to look at our books. All the students were set up with half of a long table covered with a white tablecloth. I put out my portfolio book, a logo book, my letterhead and business cards, a booklet with some samples of work in for potential employers to take, and a few hard copies of projects I had done. Friends and family as well as prospective students are invited to this capstone event for the seniors. I had two prospective students stop by my table and admire my book and ask questions about the project. It was really nice to see the students that eager to learn about the program that they would come to this event. I think that's one of the great things about the Graphic Design major specifically, is that there are several events and presentations that really summarize what the program is all about. These are fantastic things for prospective students to see: graphic design graduates succeeding, even before graduation. At the portfolio show there are also leadership awards presented to the most successful of the graduating classes for both graphic and interior design, which is a big honor. This year, Andrew Graham and Mark Cancilla got the leadership award for graphic design. All in all, the event was very nice, the food was good, and it even led to a few job possibilities!


Now for graduation, only a mere 11 days away...

Oh! The Places You'll Go!

Four years ago, I had no idea how the title of this Dr. Seuss book was going to describe my time at La Roche as a graphic design major! In a figurative sense, I’ve grown immensely as a person and as a designer. In a literal sense, graphic design at La Roche has introduced me to many new places.


First, I learned about places to get supplies. I wrote about many of these a few weeks ago. In addition to the physical stores, I learned how smart it was to sign up for mailing lists. Borders, JoAnn Fabrics, and Michaels routinely send you useful coupons, often as much as 40% off an item. Also, if you’re going to buy food, it’s smart to have a Giant Eagle advantage card or have a duplicate of your parents’ card. It not only gives you sale prices, but you also earn fuel perks, a discount on gasoline at Get Go stations. If you have a car, this saves you money on your gas. If you don’t have a car, your parents will appreciate that you save them a bit of money. Buying gas at Get Go also gives you more discounts on food at Giant Eagle. 


Second, certain graphic design projects led me to do research at various places. A redesign of Primanti Brother’s website led to dinner at the Cranberry location so that I could absorb the atmosphere and take some photographs. This one was great, as I’d always wanted to eat at Primanti’s! Another project on produce signage took me to Trader Joe’s, Right by Nature, and Whole Foods in Pittsburgh. As I’m a foodie by nature, this was a great excursion. Along those lines, a cupcake website design led me to CoCo’s Cupcakes in Shadyside (now closed) and Dozen Cupcakes in Lawrenceville and Oakland. A catalog of fly fishing reels took me across Pittsburgh to International Angler in the Robinson area, and later to the Allegheny Sport, Travel and Outdoor Show at the Monroeville Convention Center. For a photography assignment, I went to Mount Washington for an evening. Different assignments took me to Pittsburgh’s South Side, which was also where I completed an internship. 




These adventures have had other benefits as well. I’ve learned my way around Pittsburgh quite well. I’ve navigated major highways, tunnels, narrow one-way streets and parking garage ramps. Though maps and GPS aren’t a bad idea, I find my way around pretty well without them after four years. I’ve even proven my ability to change a tire in the rain!




Graphic design research may take place in the library or on the internet, but the best research is done out in the real world!









Groovy Pop Culture Emporium, Carson Street



stairs that have a street sign, South Side



South Side Local Development Company mural



cupcakes from CoCo's