中国P站 (NPC) student Clayton White took top honors in the third annual Earth Day T-shirt design contest. His winning design was featured on shirts that were available for attendees to tie-dye during last month鈥檚 Earth Day celebration.
White, who is pursuing a digital media arts degree, drew inspiration from the earth itself for his design. 鈥淚 wanted people to see the design and think about nature as a whole鈥攚hat Earth Day really represents,鈥� he explained.
Beyond just a design, White hoped his work would spark reflection on everyday choices. 鈥淚 wanted people to think about small things they do every day that could affect the earth. Think about habits we get into that we don't think about and how we could change them to impact our environment more positively,鈥� he said.
Despite facing challenges during the project, White found support from Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, Arts & Humanities, Jennifer Seward. 鈥淲henever I found myself in a tough spot on this project, I always asked Mrs. Seward. She had some suggestions for the design that made it look a lot better,鈥� he noted.
Seward praised White鈥檚 progress in the program. 鈥淐layton is relatively new to graphic design, so it has been wonderful to see how much he has learned and how far he has come in the past year.鈥�
White says the supportive atmosphere at NPC has played a big role in his development as a designer. 鈥淭he faculty always encourage us to ask questions and seek help when we need it. I feel they really want everyone to succeed. They've made me more comfortable and confident and also critiqued my work in a positive, constructive way that only helps me get better,鈥� he said.
Reflecting on what he's learned, White emphasized the importance of visual storytelling. 鈥淎s designers, it鈥檚 our job to spread messages and communicate through art,鈥� he said.
Winning the contest has fueled his passion even more. 鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely exciting鈥攊t makes me want to continue trying hard so I can do more things like this in the future,鈥� he said.
For fellow design students, White offered this advice: 鈥淭rust yourself. Trust your ideas. Ask for help when you need it, and get feedback from your peers. Don鈥檛 be afraid to put your heart into your designs鈥攁nd be confident in what you create.鈥�