Hello

My path into design didn't start in a classroom; it started on a basketball court. I chose Michigan Tech (MTU) primarily because of the basketball program, without fully considering where the degree would take me. At the time, I was focused on the present, which included countless hours of practice, weightlifting, and conditioning, among the demands of being a full-time student. Managing those competing demands taught me discipline and time management before I ever had a job title to put them toward.

 

As I got deeper into my degree, I realized MTU didn't offer a graphic design program, and I started wondering how a background in Scientific & Technical Communication could help me find a role where I'd be able to apply both my design and communication skills. Knowing there'd always be the absence of a graphic design degree title, I sought out hands-on experience wherever I could find it. I picked up freelance projects that taught me how to build relationships with clients, learned how to communicate with multiple audiences as a marketing/communications intern at Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services, and produced visual content and managed brand consistency across platforms as an athletic communications assistant at Michigan Tech. Each role helped me add another skill and sharpen those I had already acquired.

 

That momentum carried me into my most recent role as a junior graphic designer at Gipper, where I worked cross-functionally with art directors, creative directors, and developers to deliver hundreds of polished, on-brand templates. Along the way, I've learned that what I love most is the intersection of design and communication. I feel the most fulfilled when taking a concept, a brand, or a story and shaping it into something people find truly relatable. Basketball taught me resilience and how to perform under pressure, and my career since has taught me how to channel that into work that makes me proud. I'm excited for what's next, wherever that path leads!