Cassie Dunn ’20
POE: Digital Design
Before coming to college, I wanted to be a designer. Based on concerns from my family, I wasn’t sure if it was a reliable career path, so instead I chose to study chemistry. After a year of studying in that field, I realized that I wasn’t excited about doing it every day. I switched my Program of Emphasis to be involved with the Integrated Media Arts program to pursue what I actually love doing: design.
Not knowing exactly where to start, I jumped right into the program and took as many IMA courses as possible including IMA Labs 1. This class exposed me to client-based work that made me realize what I prefer doing within a career which is to work in a team on design projects. I was a part of the print design team during our Fall 2017 Huntingdon Community Center partnership and was responsible for developing a consistent color palette and style guide for the branding materials our class was creating.
My sophomore year the Juniata Marketing Department hired me as a graphic design assistant, and it excited my interest in design. This was a great experience because it gave me insight of what it is like working with a company in the professional world. All of the projects I worked on were assigned so through this process I learned how to meet deadlines, align creative visions, and delivering high-quality work. On top of that I was tasked with attending meetings and dealing with correspondence. I really enjoyed the environment in the Marketing Department; I had a certain level of creative freedom, but not too much that it became overwhelming.
Being involved with the IMA program opened up other on-campus opportunities for me in the design field. I am now a Teacher’s Assistant for the Principles of Digital Media course, helping students understand the design software and presentation techniques. In addition, I am also a student assistant to the IMA Program assisting Professor Ryan Gibboney with producing design materials for the different aspects of IMA.
These experiences on campus have deepened my understanding of the design field and have solidified my ideal career path. I enjoy working in a team environment on various design projects and know that I want to become a graphic designer within a company immediately after I graduate from Juniata.
Influential Courses
- AR 104: Design & Color
- AR 110: Survey of Western Art
- CM 290: The Metaverse
- EB 131: Financial Accounting
- EB 205: The Management Process
- IM 375: IMA Lab I