Hands on learning benefits graphics students and community

It was a win-win experience for local non-profits and students in Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) Graphic Design Marketing course. The class was able to gain real life design experience while working on a marketing project for their chosen community group.

“Non-profits tend to work so close to their mission that they don’t always have time to step back and see the big picture,” said the instructor, Nancy Pagé. “The students were able to provide a cost free service to the agencies and at the same time have the experience of researching and developing a design package for a real client.”

The class broke into seven teams, each structured like a working design studio complete with their own logos and mission statements. They then chose a local organisation to work with. Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Vancouver Island, Walker’s Animal Rescue, Yana Seniors Society and Literacy Nanaimo were among the groups chosen.

The students’ assignment was to research and define what they thought were the challenges to the organization and then develop solutions through design and marketing materials. They were required to gage public perception of their chosen non-profit through a survey and had to provide a written assessment as well as their design concepts.  

“The whole course was based on taking the students step-by-step through the whole process. The goal was to provide the client with a hard copy proposal of their student research,” Pagé explains. “As a student, you don’t always get that kind of opportunity. We had a lot of fun with it.”

Graphic Design students, Beth Joy Callus, Faye McCoole and Kevin Erickson, developed materials for Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre.

“Our objective was to help them promote awareness of their organization, so that they had a more positive stand in the community,” says McCoole. The Friendship Centre provides services and support for aboriginals and non-aboriginal people in Nanaimo and the surrounding area, including Nanaimo’s youth shelter.

The students streamlined the agency’s materials and media by coordinating brochures, stationary and website design to provide a clearer, more consistent presentation throughout its organization. They also updated the logo, developed an advertising campaign and suggested a new position line.

Geordie MacDonald, another student in the program, worked on a package for Arts Alive!, a group that provides affordable fine arts classes to the general public. “We did a branding re-design for them. They don’t have a lot of marketing materials,” explains MacDonald. “We updated their logo and instituted a brochure template for them.”

The students delivered their research to the clients at a formal presentation. Members of the public and professional designers were also invited to provide the students with feedback about their work.

“Overall the organizations were very appreciative and left with a package of information to think about,” said Pagé, adding that Big brothers & Big Sisters of Central Vancouver Island are using some of the students’ art work for their new brand identity.

“These students have the advantage of graduating with professional work in their portfolios.”

For more information on the Graphic Arts Program at VIU visit www.viu.ca/graphicdesign.