A Ferris State University junior graphic design class is wrap­ping up its semes­ter brand­ing project for var­i­ous local non-profit organizations.

This project con­sisted of 21 stu­dents focus­ing on three dif­fer­ent clients: Artworks, Stage M, and a hypo­thet­i­cal recy­cling pro­gram for Ferris. The pur­pose of this assign­ment was to re-brand a local non-profit organization.

Their work involved research­ing the orga­ni­za­tion, deter­min­ing a goal for the orga­ni­za­tion, select­ing a name and design­ing a logo. Following this, stu­dents devel­oped a new brand, cre­at­ing items such as web­sites, posters and brochures. Once each team com­pleted its project, they pre­pared a seven-minute pre­sen­ta­tion for each client.

William Culpepper, assis­tant graphic design pro­fes­sor at Ferris, said,

“This project has allowed inter­ac­tion between the stu­dents and the orga­ni­za­tion. This isn’t just a project focused on cre­at­ing a brand, but the prac­tice of the con­ver­sa­tion between the stu­dent and the organization.”

This project began last semes­ter when the class devel­oped a pro­posal for the brand­ing of a recy­cling pro­gram. Later, it evolved into a project where stu­dents had the inde­pen­dence to work with their indi­vid­ual client and brand.

Justin Gauthier, FSU junior in graphic design, helped with the re-branding of Artworks.

“We chose Artworks because they are cur­rently rebrand­ing them­selves,” Gauthier said. “This client is real­is­tic and already in the process of brand­ing themselves.”

This hasn’t been an easy project for the graphic design stu­dents. Gauthier said it has involved many end­less days and sleep­less nights.

“Working with a brand is abstract, vague and involves emo­tions,” Gauthier said. “You must ask, ‘how is this going to make some­one feel?’”

Zach Kelly, FSU junior in graphic design, has been work­ing with Stage M for the dura­tion of the semester.

“We chose Stage M because we didn’t know any­thing about them and it was inter­est­ing,” Kelly said.

“It was fun because I didn’t know any­thing about theater.”

Jillian Bourgois, FSU junior in graphic design, has also been work­ing with Stage M. She expressed the same inter­est with the client.

“We wanted to cre­ate some­thing that shows the pas­sion of the­ater,” Bourgois said.

“The best thing about work­ing with this client was their deep pas­sion for the­atre. It was refreshing.”

Client pre­sen­ta­tions took place April 23. All stu­dents pre­sented from each group and then will had a ques­tion and answer ses­sion with the clients.

“About two to three months ago we met with the client, and two months later you have this brand in front of you, which is really cool,” said Gauthier.

Bourgois added, “The best thing about this was cre­at­ing a cohe­sive brand and try­ing to make it all work together.”

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