ArtGR 4770:

Graphic Design Practicum

The Graphic Design Practicum is a professional studio course where students work directly with local, regional, and national organizations to create real-world design solutions. Each semester, students collaborate in small teams, taking on projects that range from branding and packaging to web, social media, and environmental design. These experiences allow students to apply their design skills to meaningful, impact-driven projects—balancing creativity with client needs, professional communication, and production deadlines.

Through the Practicum, students not only build award-winning portfolios but also contribute to the community by supporting nonprofits, startups, municipalities, and cultural organizations. Past projects have included rebranding initiatives, city identity systems, product packaging now appearing in regional markets, and campaigns for philanthropic organizations. The course emphasizes collaboration, design thinking, and community engagement—preparing students for careers where design is a tool for both innovation and positive change.

Design Awards Gold 2025 logo with colorful background
Design Awards Silver 2025 logo with colorful gradient background.
A display of various craft beer cans with designs referencing Iowa State University themes, including labels for beers like 'Pilots of Iowa State,' 'Lake Laverné Lager,' 'CyPA Double IPA,' and 'Tailgate Red Lager,' featuring red, white, and gold color schemes.
Set of four poster designs for keynote speaker event, each featuring a speaker's photo, bold red, yellow, and white graphic elements, and the word 'CREATIVITY' with different word breaks.
Event tickets for a celebrity softball game featuring Shilo Harris, Trinidad James, and Chris Gronkowski, with each ticket displaying their portrait, event details, date, and location at Riders Field in Frisco, TX. The tickets are shown both as physical prints and as a digital post on a smartphone.
Three posters for the Spectrum of Innovation symposium held on April 25 and 26, 2024. The first and second posters are red with abstract geometric patterns, while the third poster is white with text listing schedule details for the event.
Collage of four smartphone screens showing promotional images for a softball classic event, including photos of athletes, ticket sale information, and thank you message to supporters.
Blue flag with a white geometric floral design, waving in the wind against a partly cloudy sky.
Multiple cans of Iowa State University cider, with red and beige labels, featuring a tree and university logo, describing different flavors including raspberry apple cider, apple cider, and apple cider blended with rose wine.
Four promotional posters featuring black-and-white portraits of diverse individuals with bold text and geometric design elements, displayed around a smartphone showing an Instagram post with a similar poster.
Designs of a logo celebrating a 25th anniversary, featuring a shield-shaped graphic with the numbers '25' in bold black or gold, the words 'ANNIVERSARY' beneath, and the years '2001' and '2026' at the top and bottom, and a small circular emblem with '9/11' in the center, shown in different colors and styles.
Logo of Iowa State University CEDERY in Ames, Iowa, featuring a stylized red tree with a clock tower in the center.
The image features a white baseball jersey with red pinstripes, a Navy blue sleeve with white stars and an American flag patch, and red trim around the collar and sleeves. The front displays a logo for the 2025 Celebrity Softball Classic by VRVB.
A white baseball cap with a red brim and a badge reading "Celebrity Softball Classic" attached to the front, floating against a stylized animated background of clouds and sky.
Logo for Keaka Koa Veteran's Retreat with stylized text and a shield emblem.