Graphic design students' work to be showcased in STATE magazine

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Illustration of Pistol Pete rounding up cigarettes: Katy McDonald, Graphic Design & Illustration senior from Claremore, OK and Illustration of the cigarette package taking the bus out of town: Julius R. Lewis, Illustration senior from Okmulgee, Ok.

By Celeste Cash

OSU  alumni will definitely notice that something new has been added when they receive their latest edition of STATE magazine in December—illustrations!

The artwork was produced by three OSU graphic design students who are taking a senior level course taught by Carey Hissey. She offered everyone in the class the chance to choose one of three upcoming stories in the magazine to illustrate, and gave them complete creative freedom to develop their ideas and turn in the assignment in three weeks.

The students whose illustrations were chosen for this edition of the magazine are  Julius R. Lewis from Okmulgee, Ok. and Katy McDonald from Claremore, Ok.

The artwork selected for publication will speak for itself, according to the magazine’s editor Janet Varnum. “I can’t wait for alumni to get a look at the illustrations. We are really impressed with the level of professionalism, and I’m hopeful we can include two to three in each publication from now on,” she said.

The illustrations represent a partnership between Hissey, associate professor of graphic design, and STATE magazine, which is a combined effort of the OSU Foundation, Alumni Association and University Marketing.

“It’s an area of the magazine we’ve always wanted to improve on,” said Mark Pennie, assistant director of University Marketing.  “We have fabulous photographers here, but we need some illustrations to have a well-rounded magazine. There are some concepts that only an illustration does justice.”

More and more students should get a chance to see their work published now that Hissey plans to add the assignment to the curriculum for future semesters as well. 

While the magazine isn’t available for subscription, past issues can be found online at http://magazine.okstate.edu. The illustrations of those students whose work wasn’t showcased in the magazine will also be featured on the Web site.