What kind of work are you doing now? I work for Sony Music in Manhattan. Mainly, I market recording artists and albums in retail stores, but I also do work for concerts and tours (never hurts to make a few extra VIP passes!), and occasionally I work on CDs.
What is the best thing about being a designer? There is nothing cooler than going into the largest music stores in New York City and seeing your work on the walls. I really love creating marketing pieces for events, because then I get to attend and meet the artists, who always thank me for supporting them.
How did the graphic design program at SU prepare you for the real world? The SU graphic design program developed every single skill that I needed to get this job. Without what I learned at SU, I wouldn’t be where I am today. One example is time mamagement, which is very important in my job. In the music business, if you can’t multi-task, then you don’t work period. Without learning to effectively handle several projects at once, I don’t think I could be doing the job I am doing right now.
What are your best memories about being in the graphic design program at SU? Hopefully my parents won’t read this, but you skip classes in college, just not the design ones-it’s actually fun to go to class. Everyone grows from stangers to a tight knit group of friends that spend time together every day. I developed a sort of bond with my fellow classmates, based on the way we could talk to each other, help each other out, and even bust on each other once and a while, not to mention all the design field trips we took in those sick vans.
What advice do you have for a student trying to select a college design program? My advice would be that a student really needs to feel comfortable where they go to college. Being a design student isn’t always easy, it takes a lot of hard work a really thick skin. Going to a school like SU, where everyone knows you and cares about how you are doing makes a huge difference.
