Ashley Watson

I get bored extremely quick. When I first vocalized this, it sounded negative, but I believe this statement is what turned me into the competitive, hard-working person that I am today. I remember growing up and running around the house saying, “Mom, I’m bored!” She would rattle off activities for me to do. Unfortunately, most times, I finished them already! So, I would go back to finding something else to entertain myself. On the occasion, I would discover a topic I took a deep curiosity in and become obsessed. I proceeded to research that topic, for no other reason than, truly wanting to know more!

When I uncover something new, I have to share this new-found knowledge with someone and can’t seem to keep my mouth shut about it! To this day, I still watch weird factual videos just to obtain fresh, new knowledge. Having a zeal for learning, I knew I needed to pursue a career where the rules weren’t set in stone.

I discovered my creative side and knew I wanted a job where I could make content entirely my own. I take pride in being able to create visually attractive content made by my own two hands, even though I make mistakes. Coming across graphic design, I learned how ever-evolving it is, and I was sold. Pursuing something where I can learn new tech-niques, software, and trends every day and being a part of creating brand new content, sounds amazing. At this point in my long journey, I can say it has been as great as it sounded on paper. Graphic design has become my new obsession, and I perceive it will keep me occupied for an exceptionally long time.

Brianna Rokusek

When you walk downtown in Sioux Falls, you may see bustling streets and potential customers browsing boutique windows. But what I see a whole different world of shapes, form, and typography. I notice how a store projects its brand and its advertising. Why are more people entering this boutique compared to another store across the street? Why is this branding strategy successful? How can they improve? Are they presenting themselves as strongly on social media? This is what drives me to be a graphic designer, the excited feeling of success when a client is excited to use a design that will promote their business.

As a student at Southeast Technical Institute, I will graduate in May of 2020 with an associates degree in Media Design. I am currently interning with Sioux Falls Skyforce as a graphic designer and a photographer for their sponsors. I have one rule in mind when working on projects, simplicity has many enemies. When I am coming up with sketches for a concept, I do not want to have any additives or fillers in my design. Simplicity is king in the world of design and that is what I strive for when putting my thoughts onto paper.

When designing a poster, logo or product spread I am trying to achieve a unified piece that attaches potential and future clients to a cause. This cause can be anything from advertising a sale to trying to get the word out about an upcoming event that a company is trying to promote. It is my joy in life to use my creativity to promote companies to the best of my ability with the tools that I have learned at Southeast Technical Institute and sense of simplicity.

Jeremy Stoakes

Throughout my time here at Southeast I have been exposed to a variety of different avenues that I could go down as a designer. It has broadened my idea of what a designer can be and has made me excited to go out into the world and explore those avenues. In my time in school, I have learned how to be proficient in the Adobe Suite software. Learning the software has enabled me to apply my creativity into tangible designs. While in school my t-shirt design got selected for the Sioux Falls Cinco de Mayo festival in 2019.

I’m a natural leader in a learning setting and workplace setting. I enjoy taking charge of a team and accomplishing or creating something together. I thrive in a workplace setting that encourages ingenuity and collaboration. I have a lot of pride in my work and doing my best on every job. I am an independent worker and enjoy challenges. I enjoy variety in my projects at work and want to be a flexible asset to the projects I’m working on.

I currently work as a PC tech and am very involved in the technical aspects of design. I am very interested in UI design and working in web design once I’m out of school. I also did a year of Computer Programming at Southeast Tech before switching to Media Design. I am excited to find a career for me that will allow me to blend my designing with my technical background.

Amanda Gasiecki

Yes, I like art. Yes, I grew up drawing and painting and indulging in every creative whim that I had. And yes, I would consider myself a left-brain thinker. This being said, I’m not your every-day graphic designer. Originally, I had chosen marketing with an emphasis in graphic design, however, it was clear that my beginner InDesign and Illustrator classes weren’t fulfilling my need for a creative outlet. It wasn’t until my mom and I met with my design teacher that I was finally convinced to do what I should’ve done from the start: pursue a degree in media design.

Coming from a big Italian family, I’ve grown up surrounded by strong, opinionated individuals who weren’t afraid to give me constructive, but supporting, feedback on my drawings and paintings. Because of this, I now thrive from feedback from teachers and my fellow students. It helps in growing and improving as an artist, and I’m always asking my friends around me for their opinions on my work. Bouncing ideas off of others around me is a fantastic way to grow as a designer, however I find myself leaning towards leadership roles when given the opportunity. Helping others and keeping things organized feels like second-nature for me, so being the leader of group projects and collaborations simply comes naturally.

Although I take pride in my designs and always strive to produce quality work, I am self-aware that there is still so much for me to learn in the world of graphic design. This line of work is a never-ending journey, and I’m very excited to get into the field and continue growing both as an artist and as an individual!

Angie Lucid

Learning from life experiences is what has led me to the design field. My major is in Media Design Technology. I also have AAS degrees in Business, Entrepreneurship and will be completing my Marketing degree in Spring of 2021. I gained time management and leadership skills by serving in the South Dakota Army National Guard from 2011 to 2020 as a welder and machinist.

I’ve always been interested in having a career in the art field, but I wasn’t sure where to begin. I decided that majoring in more than one degree was my best option. My other degrees help me understand how businesses work and how they tie in with my Media Design degree. I know how marketing and design go hand in hand and how important it is that these two departments work together to create an effective and budget-friendly design.

Going into Media Design has been the best decision I have made. I love being able to be creative. I can incorporate art and creativity with real-life scenarios. I have come to love layout and editorial design the most. My favorite part about layout is being able to create an organized structure. I like writing my own stories and enjoy taking my own photographs to put into the layout.

I currently have an internship at Southeast Tech in the Marketing Department for the Spring Semester as a media designer. I look forward to learning more and taking my experiences and applying them to my career.

Carsen Ray

Design allows us to convey messages in a very powerful way. Freedom to explore different ways of combining the elements of typography, color, and imagery bring so much fun to the job of communication. Today, when multiple mediums exist, it’s important to find a medium that will reach a target market most effectively. I love to explore options that will create a perfect fit for the client and their needs. Being able to push the limits with the ever-changing technology keeps this career field exciting and innovative.

I have learned so much during my time at Southeast Tech. My love for building connections with people and discovering their needs make me a unique asset to any team. Additionally, I value attention to detail, commitment to continuous learning, and having strong communication with the people I work with. Utilizing the Adobe suite allows me to create many different types of work. These traits, along with my marketing degree help shape me into a strong graphic designer.

The opportunities I have been introduced to have helped me grow. I feel confident in my skills because of the lessons I’ve been taught from class assignments, lectures, and my real-world internship work. Each experience allows me to create pieces with a simple, clean, and modern style. I look forward to each new project and the possibilities it creates. Shaping each project into something that truly represents a company is what I live for. I would love to get to know you and help share your unique story!

Julia Eng

In the last few years, I’ve been very goal-oriented and seeing progress in all of my objectives. I focus on one week at a time to focus on what is most important. Then, if I’m able to I move on to the next week’s goals. To achieve them, I’ve been striving towards my media degree, while working throughout college. This keeps me grounded, allowing me to accomplish more. I’ve always been good at keeping my priorities in check and aim to be a better version of myself.

My passions are photography, layout, and logo design, but it doesn’t stop there. One of my favorite categories is social media due to all the different aspects of it. I want to be able to help a business with its branding in every way possible. I also enjoy working with on-screen projects and printed items. I love how expansive this field is. To see a design start to develop from just a simple sketch and turn out to a beautiful finished project. That is the reason I love this media design.

Saying I’m ecstatic about the future is an understatement. I’ve been working toward these goals for years and I can finally see it all come together. This year I realized media design is my passion! I can work on homework assignments for hours on end and never run out of ideas while creating. I continually get re-inspired by every project and want to create even more. Soon, I see myself settling in the Sioux Falls area working at my dream career.

Erin DeKam

Growing up, I always had an active imagination. From playing to coloring to coming up with different stories, there was never a dull moment. While deciding what to do with my life, I was struggling to decide what I wanted to do. I went back-and-forth between some different options. Then, thinking back to when I was younger, I was drawn to the idea of art and decided on the media design field. Before going to Southeast Tech, I would only draw with a pen and paper. I didn’t know that there was a whole world at my fingertips that would allow me to design with so much more.

I enjoy photography, logo design, and web. Web design is not my strongest point, but I feel it is very interesting and I hope to learn more about it. I also really like writing and social media. Social media is always changing and constantly viewed. Writing is so fun and helps me to get some ideas out.

One of my favorite parts of designing is idea generation. I like to come up with a bunch of ideas no matter if they are good or bad. Also, some of my ideas can be pretty crazy and out there. I feel it is good to have these ideas and just put them down on paper so you can scratch them out later. I am organized and hardworking. I do not feel that I have reached my potential as a designer and I hope to work every day to make myself better.

I am proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud and Corel Draw. My strengths lie in Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, and Dreamweaver. There are a lot of other software that I would be interested in learning more about, but I haven’t gotten to yet.

erindekam.com

Joseph Kocher

As a videographer, the content I create is mostly story-driven, meaningful content with humorous elements blended in. Depending on the type of project I am working on, will determine whether it is more meaningful and serious, or if it will be more light-hearted and comical. I prefer to add comedic elements in my work because I find comedy in everything, and I feel that most people don’t laugh enough. This approach works very well when leading the film club that I started to not only make fun videos but also to improve the skills in all areas of film production.

The process I use when creating a video begins with me brainstorming on how to meet the requirements of the project I’m working on. That could be meeting the needs of my client or focusing on what I want to say with a specific piece. Then, I proceed to discover several different ways that I can present the film uniquely but also entertainingly. This step is significant because it allows me to avoid going with my first idea and forces me to come up with other ideas that I would not have originally thought of.

I then decide on the most appropriate idea and reach out to get feedback from peers. After working with the feedback that best supports the original concept and purpose of the project, I can create something that not only I am proud of, but offers a unique finished project to the client.

Kaleb Klock

Ever since I was younger I’ve loved watching movies that incorporated 3D or CGI. The idea of creating a world that is separate from reality and making it come to life excited me. The film I was inspired most by was Enders Game which came out in 2013. That movie lit the fire within me to want to create things that I never thought I could. When high school came, I bought my first laptop. Downloading Blender, I learned the fundamentals of construction in 3D.

Coming to Southeast Tech, I wanted to enhance my skill and love for 3D and video editing. My first year here, I was able to work in Cinema 4D, which furthered my love for 3D even more. I learned how to use the software enough to master the basics. One of the first assignments we had to make was a mountainscape with a gift falling in and opening to reveal a product.

Learning After Effects and Premiere at Southeast Tech was a huge stepping stone for me. Animating both 3D and 2D was important for me, as it has expanded my abilities—not confining myself to only one type of animation. Both video and 3D animation are important skills to have, giving a scene not only depth but a distinctive appeal as well. Through all I have learned at Southeast Tech, I’m still aware that my education is never ending. I will always be learning and striving to better myself and my work.

Mahogonie McCray

I’ll start by saying yes, my real name is Mahogonie, inspired by the movie Mahogany with Diana Ross. I’m a videographer and animator who loves to bring magic to everyday life. My passion for video and animation came from my love for movies like Simon Birch and Space Jam. Growing up I would analyze movies and stories, trying to create my own stories through my artwork and sketches.

This journey has led me to Southeast Technical Institute where I studied Digital Media Production and was introduced to the world of animation and motion graphics. Retaining the 12 principles of animation, my work ranges from medical animations to procedural animations. Motivated to be inspired and inspire others though all forms of art. I tend to think with the right side of my brain resulting in creative ideas and solutions to any concept or problem. I’m energetic and outgoing, easy to work with and love working with others. I had the pleasure of making a public service announcement for the South Dakota Music Education Association.

Time management has been my biggest challenge, but by tracking my process and time on my blog page Mahogonie.com. I am able to see where my time is going and how to allocate it better for the next project.

My objective is to make new innovate videos and animations, connecting businesses to their audiences. Thank you for your time and interest, I look forward to seeing you in the future.

Justice Dunn

I am a videographer and editor. I’m inspired by everything I watch, almost every time I see some new camera angle or editing technique that expands upon a creators story in a movie or show, I think to myself that I want to try that. It doesn’t always work out, but when it does, I start to modify it to the point where it’s my concept. One example is a segment where people are running in a video of mine called the monster that I edited with multiple camera angle segments so it looks like the run is continuous even though it was made with different shots, because of a video called Food Run my friend made. After making videos for a couple of years, it has become obvious to me that my style in my work often has humor and lots of creativity.

I’ve been making videos since I was in high school, which is why I chose to major in Digital Media Production. The reason I create videos is to make people laugh, cry, scream, cheer, etc. at the content I make for them to enjoy. I create all types of videos such as comedy, horror, action, thriller, dramatic, etc. When making videos I like to include a story that is enjoyable to watch, because of the characters I created or just the way I decided to film it, therefore making the content that I create more fun for an audience to see. I make fast-paced stories that can be seen in smaller amounts of time so people don’t get bored. To some people what I do might be difficult or boring, but to me working with video is one of my favorite things in the world.

Lance Wilson

I thrive on 3D Modeling, motion graphics, and promotional work. My skills in this field sprout from my childhood years to present day. When I was 8 to 10 years old, I used to love watching scary movies like Child’s Play, Puppet Master, Nightmare on Elm Street, and Halloween. I always wondered how all those different effects worked like how they got the puppets to move. My interest fully peaked, though, when I got a laptop and camera at the age of 16. I used to make a bunch of different videos on Windows Movie Maker and was always hungry to make one after another. My 3D Modeling didn’t fully flourish until I started taking classes at Southeast Tech.

Throughout the day, I spend my time thinking about different ways of being creatively expressive. I like to challenge myself with all levels of work, and I do everything in my power to educate myself and do the proper research before starting a project. After doing that research, I then organize all my ideas on paper or other forms of media. From here, I build out my process as to what I think will be the final result and follow through with it. The whole process I go through is not only educational but is a great way to accomplish the best possible result proficiently.

Zach VanEck

I’m from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I would categorize myself as a digital media generalist. The influence of my current work comes from a lot of the things I did when I was young. In my earlier days, I played a lot of video games, mostly Call of Duty and Halo. I made graphics, edited videos, and made various designs 2D and 3D for gaming content creators’ social media and Youtube. Overall, my workflow and creative process has grown and evolved from there. I have learned new skills and software, and expanded my skills immensely. Most of my work is modern and keeps up with trends, but at the same time have their own style.

I make a lot of decisions in my design process according to how I feel about how it looks. When I pre-plan I like to generate a lot of ideas and try some out to see what they look like in the software. Trial and error is one of the ways I like to figure things out and make decisions. Three dimensional art-work, animation, and modeling is where I like to show my creative and stylistic eye and thought process.

One of my projects blends 2D and 3D animation that I made for the audio engineer at KaiZen. It is a 3D logo animation with a 2D waveform in it to react to audio. It is a visual for artists and musicians to use for uploading their music to Youtube or social media. As cliché as it sounds, I love being able to express myself through my animations and designs. Digital media production has been something I’ve been interested in since I was able to run a computer. I want to make this my professional career because to me it’s not work, it’s fun.

Jeremy Stoakes

Throughout my time here at Southeast I have been exposed to a variety of different avenues that I could go down as a designer. It has broadened my idea of what a designer can be and has made me excited to go out into the world and explore those avenues. In my time in school, I have learned how to be proficient in the Adobe Suite software. Learning the software has enabled me to apply my creativity into tangible designs. While in school my t-shirt design got selected for the Sioux Falls Cinco de Mayo festival in 2019.

I’m a natural leader in a learning setting and workplace setting. I enjoy taking charge of a team and accomplishing or creating something together. I thrive in a workplace setting that encourages ingenuity and collaboration. I have a lot of pride in my work and doing my best on every job. I am an independent worker and enjoy challenges. I enjoy variety in my projects at work and want to be a flexible asset to the projects I’m working on.

I currently work as a PC tech and am very involved in the technical aspects of design. I am very interested in UI design and working in web design once I’m out of school. I also did a year of Computer Programming at Southeast Tech before switching to Media Design. I am excited to find a career for me that will allow me to blend my designing with my technical background.