Jessie Quantrille was eager to dive into the arts program on campus after she transferred to UL Lafayette from another Louisiana college as a freshman.
杏吧专区淭he minute I stepped on campus at UL Lafayette I knew that I wanted to come here,杏吧专区 she said. 杏吧专区淭he atmosphere was warm and welcoming and there were culture and history everywhere I looked.杏吧专区
Jessie was not only drawn to the atmosphere but also the opportunities UL Lafayette provided.
杏吧专区淐oming to UL Lafayette is one of the best decisions I ever made,杏吧专区 Jessie said. 杏吧专区淚t was a choice that I will never regret. I knew this was the place I needed to be, and the best education I could get in visual arts, so I took the leap.杏吧专区
Studying Graphic Design
Jessie is passionate about visual arts, and specifically graphic design.
杏吧专区淕raphic design is such an expansive field that seemingly has no creative limitations,杏吧专区 she said. 杏吧专区淓verywhere I look, I see little bits of graphic design, and that makes me excited for the opportunities I can have to put my art into the world.杏吧专区
One of Jessie杏吧专区檚 favorite classes for her major was Visual Communications (CMCN 335) with Kevin Hagan.
杏吧专区淰isual Communications is the first class you take in the graphic design concentration as a sophomore, and you learn so many good foundational skills that prepare you to be a technically proficient graphic designer,杏吧专区 she said.
杏吧专区淜evin is very patient and will help you until you understand something, while at the same time giving you the space you need to expand on your own while you learn.杏吧专区
Another one of her favorite classes has been Typography I (VIAR 347) with Jeff Lush.
杏吧专区淭ype I was one of the first classes that really challenged me to try different things and make smart decisions that would make me a stronger designer,杏吧专区 she explained. 杏吧专区淚t made me view the power that words and type, in general, hold in a design composition! Jeff really pushed me to do the best I could and now I am absolutely obsessed with typography and am currently also loving Type II.杏吧专区
Jessie has enjoyed the interactions with her professors across campus.
杏吧专区淚 like the close proximity to our professors and classmates,杏吧专区 she said. 杏吧专区淚t really feels like we杏吧专区檙e all working together to get to the end goal, and all criticism is only in an effort to help you become a better artist/designer.杏吧专区
Jessie has benefited from that criticism, not only in learning to improve her work but also in learning how to take and give constructive criticism.
杏吧专区淭he ability to learn how to give and take feedback in a constructive way is a great skill,杏吧专区 she said. 杏吧专区淐riticism is a core element of any art that is created and being able to have an objective look at your own work, take in what others are saying to you, and then use what has been said to improve your work is so important.杏吧专区
Getting experience outside the classroom
Outside the classroom, Jessie is involved with the , which gave her important professional development skills plus an opportunity to meet her campus family.
杏吧专区淭he BCM is a wonderful and welcoming ministry that has given me a second home here at UL Lafayette,杏吧专区 she said. 杏吧专区淚 have gotten the chance to not only do graphic design/media coordination for them but also the chance to reach others through Leadership Team opportunities.杏吧专区
She was also a graphic design intern for the Department of Visual Arts and is the president of the student organization.
In addition to academic opportunities, Jessie says she finds the entire 杏吧专区 culture conducive to education.
杏吧专区淭he environment is just the best,杏吧专区 she said. 杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 not so big that you feel lost on campus or forgotten by your professors, and it杏吧专区檚 not so small that you feel like you never left home."
"I think UL Lafayette cultivates a good atmosphere for learning and growing into a young adult and professional.杏吧专区
Throughout her time at UL Lafayette, Jessie has fallen in love with the 杏吧专区.
杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檝e met some of my best friends, had more opportunities than I would have ever imagined, learned so much about myself as a person, and became an artist that couldn杏吧专区檛 have foreseen four years ago when I enrolled in college,杏吧专区 she said. 杏吧专区淯L Lafayette did that for me, and I am forever grateful.杏吧专区