Design students show 'strength and innovation': Graduate Portfolio Show opens online April 24

Every spring, North Idaho College graphic and web design students plan the production of their annual Graduate Portfolio Show, and this year’s show was set to open April 24 at the Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center in Post Falls, Idaho.

But this quickly turned into a very different type of spring semester for college students and faculty everywhere, and called for a very different type of exhibition of NIC design students’ work.

Due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements, all NIC faculty and students were required in March to quickly transition to a distance learning model.

With large gatherings restricted, the graphic and web design students had to reassess their plan and find an alternative for their portfolio show, a networking event that showcases their work to local professionals, friends and family.

The students reacted very quickly to find a solution, said Philippe Valle, associate professor of graphic design. As avid users of technology the class of 2020 embarked to create a premier event for the department: a virtual portfolio.

The show will still take place this Friday, April 24, but it will now feature a Facebook live tour of each student’s virtual gallery. Students will also be available to discuss their work after the live tour via Zoom.

“The strength and innovation of our students have been demonstrated as they produced the show in less than three weeks,” Valle said.

Through this process, graduating students showcased the technical knowledge and teamwork acquired during their two years of instruction together. Faculty felt that students were prepared to take on this unique challenge.
“The students demonstrated a very high commitment toward testing multiple platforms,” said Brad Schwartz, assistant professor of web/graphic design.  

Attend the April 24 online portfolio show on Facebook from 4 to 6 p.m. and congratulate NIC’s soon-to-graduate graphic and web design students. The show will feature work from Kiersten Becker, Rhett Candela, Eric Ellis, Lily Funk, John Gaherty, Tyler Hardy, Tatum Hartley, Justine Juarez, Miracle Kaiser, Megan McPhee, Steven Miller, Aidan Oliverio, and Hosanna Schumacher.

View the show’s virtual gallery at http://diverse.welearndesign.com.

For more information: pfvalle@nic.edu 

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