Every year the Society of Illustrators holds a student show, giving scholarships and kick-starting careers. “The Society of Illustrators is the oldest nonprofit organization dedicated to the art of illustration in America,” says the Society’s website. Over the years it has influenced aspiring illustrators and included famed members such as Rube Goldberg and Norman Rockwell.

Recently the recipient of Typography Annual’s Best in Show award, BYU professor Linda Reynolds has lead a successful career in design and over the years developed valuable and powerful talents. However, her work is just as motivated by personal expression and creativity as it is achievement and professional pursuits.

At the end of this past semester, incredible works of art illustration decorated the BF Larsen gallery. These projects entertained and inspired students, professors, and staff on their daily commutes through the HFAC. All this talent and artistry were the products of Department of Design students’ capstone projects— the culmination of their work and skills from their time at BYU.

Photography student Kiana Bates wanted to bring her Japanese heritage to life.

What online store sells a selection ranging from card games to oil paintings to futuristic lamps? Run by BYU students, the Curio Pop-Up Shop sells students’ personally designed handmade products. Each year it is a wonderful opportunity for students to gain real-world experience and for everyone (designers and non-designers alike) to buy items which are both memorable and functional. Even at the end of this year’s Curio, students can begin planning and designing products to sell in the next year.

Seth Christensen, a young professor of Design starting his first semester teaching at BYU is “driven by the hope of contributing to the creation of meaningful solutions that meet the needs of individuals and communities.” In both his profession as a designer of User Experience and as a professor of young designers, Christensen focuses on connecting individuals with quality designs and ways of thinking.

Kelsey Schwartz, a senior in the Photo- and Lens- Based Design program, has the goal “to be able to raise a family, while feeling fulfilled in a creative career.” In such a busy, noisy world, this goal might seem daunting. But in her internship working for a successful freelance photographer, Kelsey learned how this could be possible for her, as well as many valuable skills.

Defining the concept of photography might seem straightforward, but what about when it comes to cinematography, scriptwriting, or directing? In an adapting world and industry, the program formerly known as photography has adopted the name Photo- and Lens- Based Design to encompass other fields of art using lenses.

“People often refer to the results [of tintype photography] as somehow capturing the person’s ‘soul’ or something about the person that seems to come from within,” says BYU professor Paul Adams. “There are certain visual qualities that work well in a tintype portrait. Because the camera records light that we don’t actually see, the resulting image is an interpretation of the person we are unable see with our physical eyes.”