Penn College News

Graphic design alums discuss postgrad successes, trials

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Alumni panelists (from left) McLeland, Keyser, Williams and Gray offer truthful and humorous insight into their career paths. (Photo by Stephenson)A full house of graphic design and advertising art students gathers for the weekend presentations. McLeland describes some of her comical and complex rebranding adventures.The redesign for Yuengling’s Lord Chesterfield “Chetty” Ale (on screen) is among Gray’s accomplishments. Four graphic design alumni who are creatively fulfilling artistic aspirations returned to campus last weekend to share their experiences with students. Brody W. Gray, ’15, art director at D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc. in Pottsville; Morgan N. Keyser, ’17, associate designer at Andculture in Harrisburg; Laurea (Lapp) McLeland, ’13, senior designer at Seedhouse Design in Chicago; and Emmalee J. Williams, ’16, marketing manager at the Community Arts Center in Williamsport gave a straightforward look at the transition from student to professional in individual presentations and a culminating panel discussion. The informal conversations offered collegiate and career advice to graphic design and advertising art students, as well as the opportunity to pose questions to the panelists. “As a senior in the graphic design program, it was really interesting to hear about how our major’s alumni developed as designers after college,” Nina L. Walk said. “Each speaker took a different avenue to arrive where they are now. It was inspiring to hear about all of the successes, losses and changes that helped shape their careers.” This is the fourth time the graphic design alumni panel has been organized by Penn College’s student chapter of AIGA, a professional association for design, and Nicholas L. Stephenson, instructor of graphic design and chapter adviser.