By Naomi Yee
Green Rocket Design is a new design firm in the Art Department at Eastern New Mexico University.
This project is designed to create real-world experience for the graphic design students, and acts as an internship, according to Brad Hamann, assistant professor of Art.
The name of the project itself describes its aspired goals, Hamann said. The “green” in the name is because green is the main color of ENMU, and the “rocket” is because the firm is where he hopes his students’ graphic design careers will be launched.
To get this project started, forms were passed out to the Music, Communication, Theatre, and Digital Filmmaking departments in the College of Fine Arts. Faculty members were asked to specify what they wanted in terms of design and when they needed it ready by.
Graphic Design students Cathy Tapia and Alessandra Hoskins, both working on their undergraduate degrees, would then meet with faculty members to produce sketches.
Each department is responsible for covering the cost of printing their posters or banners.
Tapia and Hoskins design posters and banners for the departments in College of Fine Arts.
“This is a great experience,” Tapia said. “You are put into real-life situations.”
The students are not paid for this internship, but they do earn credit hours.
Hamann said that this is great experience for Tapia and Hoskins to figure out how to handle the volume of responsibility, but they also have permission to request help from other students in the Art Department.
The graphic students not only serve the different departments, they have an arrangement with The Chase. The students design the ads in exchange for their own weekly ad space.
Hamann said he is excited about starting this project, serving the university, and giving students real-world experiences that they will be able to use in their future careers. He also hopes that Green Rocket Design eventually will be able to branch out past just the College of Fine Arts.