While on a Design Streak class field trip to firms in downtown Chicago, Associate Professor Julie Johnson introduced a dozen or so Graphic Design majors to ISU School of Art alumnus, Luke Galambos, owner of Galambos + Associates. That introduction between an alumnus and student led to Ryan Tinsley’s current position.
Through regular field trips to studios in Chicago and New York, social media networks, and internship placements, Julie Johnson nurtures strong contacts with alumni who are professional designers in the field. These ongoing alumni relationships provide many exciting possibilities for bringing our students together with future employers.
Tinsley, like many other graduates from the Graphic Design program, is benefitting from his Illinois State University education. With the foundation he built while studying in the School of Art, he is now a designer for the multi-disciplinary strategic and visual communications firm, Galambos + Associates.
Ryan recognized the Design area’s heartfelt commitment to student excellence right away. “Early on, I really connected with Julie and took as many of her classes as I could. Julie is an amazing professor, who makes learning easy. Her design classes were fun, thought-provoking and challenging.”
Design Streak, an upper-level Graphic Design course, offers internship experience through an on-site mini-design studio. Students take on professional jobs for a variety of clients, building business identities and profiles with print materials, websites, and other marketing pieces. In preparation for professional practice, students interact directly with clients for each project. Ryan enjoyed this course so much that he took it a second time, “I got my foot in the door within the design industry thanks to Design Streak.”
As a designer at G+A, Ryan, a graduate of Rochester High School, collaborates on projects for small businesses as well as Fortune 500 companies. He wears many hats at G+A, and is involved in almost every aspect of many upcoming projects – from inception to final product. Many projects Ryan works on involve: brand strategy and identity; advertising; corporate communications; book design; entertainment and multimedia design; packaging; interactive communications; social media strategy; and retail & environmental design.
Advancing through the student-centered Graphic Design curriculum, developing design excellence through various internship platforms, and earning talent-based scholarships, Ryan built the skills and confidence necessary to thrive in the graphic design industry. Ryan represents the attributes that make his alma mater quite proud.
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