Graphic design students showcased their BFA projects at the Festival of Excellence on the morning of April 1.
The room was packed throughout the presentations and many attendees had no choice but to lean up against the back wall or put two people to a chair.
From gender non-conforming period products to tarot card decks, students created all kinds of designs to present to the public. Each student had 12 minutes to present their designs and then short Q&A sessions that followed.
Aimee Barton designed various quilting patterns as a tribute to her mother and grandmothers. Her quilting patterns were inspired by various memories in Barton’s life that involved her grandmother such as wallpaper in her home and the orchard Barton played in as a child.
“This project was so much more than a capstone project for me, it was a chance for me to honor the women in my life who have made me who I am today,” said Barton.
Jens Peterson created a coloring book titled, “Western Wonders.” He fell in love with the outdoors and nonrepresentational art which inspired him to create coloring pages.
“This book is meant to be interactive and you’re meant to go out into nature and to color at these places and journal in your thoughts and feelings,” said Peterson.
Peterson drew landscapes of the West in his own nonrepresentational style on location and strived to include optical illusion, maximalism and little doodles contributed by his family.
“When you’re creating and just feeling your feelings, you’ll find you have a lot to feel and I want to share this experience with people to let them draw their feelings and create in nature,” said Peterson.
These projects are now on display as part of “Sublime: 2025 Senior BFA Exhibition” at the Southern Utah Museum of Art along with products that the designers have made for purchase.
Author: Brooklyn Beard
Photographer: Brooklyn Beard
Editor: Tessa Cheshire
arts@suunews.net