NEWSWORTHY
Graphic & Interactive Design
Assistant Professor (GAID) Karen Watkins presented a peer reviewed paper at the SEGD (Society of Experiential Graphic Design) 2020 annual Academic Summit. The Summit is a global forum for trends in design education research, projects and curriculum innovation. Participants included experiential designers, museum professionals, university deans, and professors from Tasmania, Istanbul, New Delhi, Vancouver, Mexico City, Winnipeg, WenZhou, Riga, Mumbai, Berlin, Sao Paulo, Brisbane, and states across the U.S.
Professor Jeremy Holmes illustrated the 2018 children's book "The Eye that Never Sleeps" by Marissa Moss to a variety of accolades including:
- ALSC's Notable Children's Books of 2019, Best Books of 2018 by Publishers Weekly
- Best Books of 2018 New York Public Library
- Best Informational Books of 2018 Chicago Public Library
- Art chosen for Society of Illustrators Original Art Exhibition, NYC
- Selected as a finalist for Pop Culture Classroom Graphic Literature Award
Professor David Jones recently received awards from both Communication Arts and Graphic Design USA for his original type design. His identity work was featured on the Cover of Logo Lounge 11, which featured more than 2,500 logo designs from around the world.
Professor Scotty Reifsnyder's illustrations will be featured on Mountain Dew's DEWnited States Collection featuring original illustrations for each of the fifty states. Scotty was chosen to represent the great state of PA.
In 2019, six Graphic and Interactive Design students received international recognition in the 2019 Graphis New Talent Annual including the top "Gold" award category for a short animation, three Silver awards in the packaging and poster categories, and two honorable mentions. Additional awards were won in Communication Arts, Applied ARTS, Graphis, GDUSA, the AIGA and others over the last five years.
In 2017, Brindy Gibbs was awarded "Best of Show" in the AIGA Flux National Student Competition. Graduates from West Chester University have accepted positions with design agencies across the country, and are making meaningful contributions to the field as working professionals.
Graphic and Interactive Design Majors enrolled in ART400: Design for the Social Good recently completed proposals for a new mural to be installed in the Ram Shop, a West Chester University convenience store staffed by students with autism. Under the direction of Professor Scotty Riefnsyder, the students worked in teams of two to developed a variety of proposals. The winning design was designed by collaborators Taylor Goad and Kayla Degenshein, and was selected by the creative committee representing the store. It was unveiled during the ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 6th, 2019. The Philadelphia Inquirer published the story on their front page the following day.
Studio Art
Professor Kate Stewart’s (Associate Professor of Painting and Drawing) mural design was chosen as one of 14 new commissioned murals throughout the city of Harrisburg for the 2019 Mural Fest in Harrisburg PA. She was also an Artist-in-Residence at the Golden Paint Foundation Exploratory Artist Residency, 2019, and an Artist-in-Residence at Vermont Studio Center Artist Residency, 2018.
Professor Andrew Snyder, Associate Professor of Ceramics, will be exhibiting his work and lecturing on his innovative Low Fire Porcelain research at this year’s National Council on Education for the Ceramics Arts Conference in Richmond VA.
Brandon Spector, ‘12
Artist and Craftsperson at George Nakashima Woodworkers, New Hope PA
Kathy Drake ‘14
Auction Manager at Sotheby’s NYC
Sara Yourist ’14
Arts education coordinator, instructor: York, PA
Production assistant: Antiques Roadshow, Harrisburg, PA
Practicing Artist with exhibition and commission history
Leila Sabouni ‘14
Masters in Art Conservation ’19, Winterthur / University of Delaware
Advanced Level Intern, Smithsonian Museum
Conservator – Winterthur / National Park Service / Augustus Saint Gaudens historic
home and studio
Jennifer Hartz ‘14
MFA Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts ‘17
Program Director CCarts
Artist Residency: Poconos, PA
Exhibition: Confluence, Forge and Finish Gallery, Philadelphia, PA (participating
artist and curator)
Upcoming solo exhibition: Lancaster, PA
Samantha Diamond ‘14
2017 MFA from Moore College of Art
Exhibiting Artist
Ceramics Instructor, Chester County Art Association
Studio Technician, Department of Art + Design, WCU
2016 International Sculpture Center Outstanding Award for Contemporary Sculpture
Instructor of Ceramics, WCU
Sarah Hanson ’14
Personal Practice Art Therapist
Masters in Art Therapy, Lesley University
Ceramics Instructor, Chester County Art Association
Olivia Everett ’15
Exhibiting Artist
Ceramics Instructor, Chester County Art Association
National Work Exchange Recipient, Clay Studio of Philadelphia
Rosemary Campellone ‘15
Exhibiting Artist
National Work Exchange Recipient, Clay Studio of Philadelphia
Studio Manager, Wayne Art Center
Alexis Ledner ‘16
Masters in Art Therapy, Marywood University ’19
Counselor, Jill K Harle Counseling, Quakertown PA
Samantha Dejneka ‘15
Visual Manager, Anthropologie, Rockefeller Center NYC
Rachel Barron ‘15
MFA Boston University ’18
Administrative Assistant, Cadogan Tate Fine Art, Los Angeles, CA
Artist-in-Residence, Eastside International ESXLA