On Thursday, May 4, graduating Visual Communications (VIS) and Interior Design (IND) students
will have the opportunity to show their work at the annual Design Portfolio Show.
Taking place from 2:45 to 8:15 p.m. in Building 12’s Great Hall, the event will feature
presentations from both current students and alumni.
The Clarion spoke to Jacob Peake, one of the students helping to organize the Portfolio Show,
about the ins and outs of this event.
Peake stated that the planning for this year’s show started in the fall semester, with several
students pitching their ideas for a theme. This year took on what Peake calls a “retro” and
“spacey” theme and has been given the title “Defy Gravity.”
The Portfolio Show is an option for the “service learning” that design students are required to
complete, explained Peake.
Members of Peake’s team include students Madelyn Sawyer, Sunny Rismiller, EmanuelaSarfino, Daniel Kennedy, and Hunter Sanders.
He described this opportunity as a way for students to start getting real-world experience, with
Sinclair being the “client” and design faculty being the “bosses.” Throughout this process, the
students have been expected to assign roles, delegate tasks, maintain consistent
communication with faculty and keep up with deadlines.
One of the most important parts of the event for students is the evaluation portion. According
to Peake, Sinclair invites alumni and professionals in the area to the “Industry Professionals’
Dinner,” matching them with a student to whom they will give feedback and critiques to. Peake
reported that past students have gotten jobs from the Portfolio Show, something that many
others hope to replicate as they “show off their skills.”
Each portfolio being shown is unique to the student, with items being shown including screen-
printed shirts, posters and flyers, and packaging.
“The limits are endless,” said Peake.
Additionally, portfolios do not necessarily need to fit the theme. However, evaluators are
looking to see that students “have versatility” and do not stick to one particular style. The
broader range of skills they have, the more opportunities they may get.
As of right now, the student organizers have been working on postcards and other materials to
promote the event. Peake said that while the planning was going rather slowly at the start,
things are now “ramping up” with the event just a month away.
The Portfolio Show will open with a presentation to first year students by April Ramey of the
Work-Based Learning department.
Following that, graduates will be given time to set up any items they would like to be seen by
the evaluators. First year students will also get the chance to look at the portfolios.
An hour and a half of the event will be spent on presentations from alumni, a panel discussion,
and a Q&A session.
The alumni being featured are Lizzie Rahn from Catapult Creative, Chrstine Leach from
Elements IV Interiors, Sophie Hayden from West Chester Protective Gear, and Allison Obach
from RH Columbus.
Closing the event will be an Open House that the public can attend from 7 to 8:15 p.m.
Further information can be found on the Design department page or by calling 937-512-4505.
The Clarion congratulates the graduates on their hard work and wishes them the best in their
future endeavors.
Carly Webster
Staff reporter