Stockard
Simon
- Area of Study: BFA, Graphic + Interactive Design. Minor, Art History.
- Current City: Boston, MA
- Graduation Date: Spring 2008
- Current Occupation: Senior Visual Experience Designer, Mad*Pow, (Boston office)
Why did you choose WCU and/or the Department of Art + Design?
Towards the end of high school and during my first year of college, I fell in love
with fine art and photography; this led me into the acknowledgement of design as a
career path. WCU had an amazing curriculum in the Department of Art + Design and provided
me with the well-rounded, diverse knowledge that I craved.
What training or education did the Department of Art + Design provide for you that
relates to your current occupation?
The Department of Art + Design of course the things that you would expect such as
classes on color theory, typography, layout design, web design, packaging design and
so much more. But what really stands out to me is the practical knowledge and experiences
that WCU provided for me. Presenting my ideas to colleagues and professors who made
sure that I was giving my best, questioning all of the decisions I made to provide
the most well thought out results possible, and providing the environments that allowed
for free-flowing and creative collaboration between classmates.
What is a typical day like for you?
Every day is different for me (which is one of the reasons I love design). Typically
I'm on 1-3 projects at any given time, which can be in varying stages of the project
from kickoff to delivery. Sometimes this can be a bit crazy but it always keeps things
interesting and ensures that you stay on your toes!
I am usually in the office around 9 AM after a morning run and a of couple cups of
coffee. I typically start my day answering emails that may have rolled in over night
and then I get straight to designing. I typically design in Illustrator, manage projects
in Basecamp and Trello and put screen designs into InVision for gaining collaborative
feedback.
I used to be in the print design industry but since working with Mad*Pow I do primarily
interactive work both on the visual design and UX spectrums. I've always been interested
the psychology behind design so this venture into User Experience has been an incredibly
exciting road!
Being involved in both the visual design and UX of a project often means that I am
a part of the design process from the beginning, which is my favorite way to work.
My best day is one where I start and end it in our whiteboard room called The Bat
Cave. A group of us on the project team will lock ourselves in and do immersive brain
storming sessions; this includes concept sketches, whiteboard drawings, and lots and
lots of Post-Its!
What advice would you give to someone who would like to enter your field?
Try every avenue of design that you can. In my career as a designer I have worked
at a publishing house, a packaging design firm, an advertising agency, a small design
firm, a sign shop, freelance, and at my current position. Working or interning at
so many different places allowed me to really understand the different paths that
I could take as a designer. Some things that I thought were what I had wanted ended
up being the wrong fit in the end and I would have never known that if I hadn't had
so many different experiences in the design field. Having those experiences also gave
me many different skills, which I have been able to use throughout my career.
What is your favorite memory of being a student at WCU and/or in the Department of
Art + Design?
The Senior Art Show. For me the Senior Art Show was more than just presenting my work
to colleagues, family and friends. Of course it was a stressful time, but it was also
a time where I was able to take everything that I had learned during my time at WCU
and put it to the test. I was able to rework projects and see how much I had grown
as a designer. Seeing everything that you have accomplished in one showcase is a truly
fabulous feeling and worth all of those sleepless nights!