Koleton Anderson

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Jessica Chau

“If you’re happy doing what you’re doing, then nobody can tell you you’re not successful.”  – Harry Styles. As a child of an immigrant family, it was difficult for me to figure out what it was that I wanted to do for a career because my parents always pressured me to become a doctor or a lawyer, something not art-related. At the same time, going to school with a dominant white population, I still felt like an outcast. I felt like I couldn’t relate to the average “American Dream” because I was raised in a Vietnamese household. The one thing that helped me feel like I had a place was art. I was inspired by the shows I’ve watched, the artists I discovered on YouTube, the different games I’ve played, the books I’ve read, the hours of music I’d listen to, and countless other things. I was always drawing characters and writing stories, so I wanted to be a storyboard artist or a concept artist for a game company or create my own animated series. Still, it felt a little bit too ambitious with my current skill set. Trying to figure out what to do, I moved to Washington for a while after graduating high school. I thought to myself, “Do I really need to go to college?”. I only had a certain level of skill from the things I learned in school and from what I taught myself. Going to STC for Media Design, I had to relearn everything I knew and gain more structure and organization when it came to creating. I didn’t see myself as a graphic designer until I realized that most of my skills could be applied to design and that this was something I could pursue, so I’m glad that I ended up going.

Anna

For about a decade, I lived in New York City. I met most of my friends working as a production assistant, costume designer, and background actor on nearly every film and TV production in the city!

Outside of work, I was known for being “one of the people who made the city what it was” by connecting with creative, eccentric people and introducing them to each other.

I left the city in July 2020 because New York closed my industry for months, and there was no clear timeline for when things would return to normal. Spoiler alert: my friends who stayed there say it never returned to 2019 normal.

I moved to Sioux Falls in February 2022 after almost a year of searching for a place to start a new life. While packing, I had an idea for an art exhibit called “Out of Lockstep.”

I have always been adaptable and able to roll with life changes while finding the humor in absolutely everything. I feel just as comfortable DJing a wedding three hours outside of Sioux Falls as I did weaving through the underground art, music, and nightlife scene of the most densely populated city in the US.

The personal, communicative, and psychological aspect of design and marketing interests me deeply. I love gaining a deeper understanding of how people think and how to design in a way that resonates with them. I once persuaded some family members to book last-minute flights to Armenia for my brother’s wedding by designing an attractive webpage and invitations.

One guest at the lean startup phase of “Out of Lockstep” described it as “a rite of passage.” A fellow Startup founder at a seminar said it will “transgress but also build bridges.”

AnnaCole.Info

Jackson Crandall

Skyler Dohrenwend

A long time ago, when I was a kid, I grew up with kids’ media. Mainly, kids’ shows and movies are animated by hand-drawn animation and practical models. These franchises changed my life, for I have dedicated my school path and career to doing animation myself. I have gained experience in Adobe software and Maya to learn the ropes of being an animator. My favorite of these programs are Illustrator, After Effects, Premiere Pro, & Maya.

I have also taken an interest in drawing and painting, which I use as a relaxing hobby or for concept art, as well as old-fashioned hand-drawn animation. I have been drawing for years and took classes to improve my skills. As an artist, I learned that if you make a mistake, make it into something special, like turning an accidental white line in the sky into a bird. I want to tell compelling stories to kids while keeping them interested.

You have to see what the competition is doing to create something different, not identical. Not to mention, doing something you enjoy will work out better in the long run. This is important because many companies are trying way too hard to jump on the bandwagon of whatever current trend is going on over trying to stand out.

I plan to start my animation career soon and expand my creativity in the coming years. Growing up with kid media has taught me my passion for animation and storytelling. I am grateful for my role models’ support and guidance, and I hope to carry on their legacy by creating high-quality content for children. I am excited to see where this career path takes me, and I am committed to making a difference in the industry.

Remember to follow what you love to do to have a presence in others.

-Skyler Dohrenwend

skylerdohrenwend.wordpress.com

Lucas Krueger

Like many creators, I take inspiration from many different sources. From the late 00’s YouTube era, I found myself watching what would become the largest source of online video sharing, and I dreamed of channeling the same creativity that I saw others use. At that time, I seemed to watch everything from funny cat videos, to live-action skits using popular characters, or stop-motion shorts using Transformers figures as the actors. I was in awe of these early content creators, and it got me thinking about what I could do if I were to practice these same skills. Seeing some of my favorite characters brought to life through this unique form of animation gave me a dream – learn video production, especially stop-motion, so that I can create content to share with the world.

I began this journey properly in high school, where I started attending CTE classes, which were mainly focused on different aspects of digital media. This helped me learn the fundamentals of the art that I loved, and helped me to branch out into similar styles of storytelling, such as 3D modeling and animation. After my high school years were over, I looked to continue refining my skills at Southeast Tech, practicing my skills using the Adobe Creative Suite and Autodesk Maya. I know that the things I learned here will help me improve for years to come.

Outside of the classroom, I enjoy exploring new avenues in this world of digital media. Expanding the tools that I knew, I’ve begun creating digital avatars to be used in a virtual reality game called VRChat, and learning how to work with game development tools like Unity to make base models, alter textures, and create something new and exciting.

Angel Larson

I have completed a semester of graphic design at the USD Community College for Sioux Falls, an associate’s degree in marketing, an associate’s degree in business administration, and now an associate’s degree in media design technology. I am very happy that I decided to extend my marketing education to designing because that’s where my creativity really shines. I enjoy being able to bring ideas to life through the use of different technologies and mediums. I am passionate about planning, organizing, and executing effective designs. I love exploring the areas of storyboarding, filming, photography, photo/video editing, layout, typography, web design, and print production. I thrive when I can be part of a creative team that will challenge and enhance each other.

I have spent a year interning in marketing communications at North Central International. My role involves working closely with the marketing manager to perform the various tasks required for in-house marketing. I have gained experience creating ads for various mediums, creating flyers, creating signage, creating trade show banners and displays, performing market research, planning advertising campaigns, and coordinating various events. The internship has been very challenging but rewarding, and I have learned so much by taking on every new project that has come my way.

For fun, I have been taking adult beginner ballet classes once a week. I enjoy the ballet classes and that I am pushing myself to learn new things and go farther than I ever thought possible by going outside of my comfort zone. I also deeply enjoy drawing, coloring, and painting, where I can turn my inspirations into reality by envisioning my idea, planning the materials, researching, sketching, and then executing different techniques to achieve the results I desire.

angellarsondesign.com

Ethan Louwagie

I grew up in Clements, Minnesota, and went to school in Springfield. I’ve always loved nature, sports, and video games—interests that have stayed with me. In high school, while registering for classes, I picked “Digital Imaging” as a filler course with my friends. We had a fun teacher, and the class was enjoyable, but unlike my friends, I took it more seriously. I found myself excited to go to class every day, and eager to learn more.

One day, after I had signed up for the advanced course in my senior year, my teacher pulled me aside and asked if I had considered pursuing this as a career. Until then, I hadn’t thought about it as more than just a class, but that conversation stuck with me. By the end of my senior year, while still taking the class with my friends, I officially decided that graphic design was the field I wanted to pursue in college.

I enrolled at Southeast Technical College with a couple of high school friends, all starting in the Media Design Technology program. By the end of our first year, they had switched majors, but I remained committed. Compared to my friends, I had always taken it more seriously and saw it as more than just an interest—I saw a future in it.

I love using my creativity and skills to design logos, banners, ads, and more. My strengths lie in the digital aspects of design, and thanks to my high school experience, I already have a solid foundation in design software. Now, after further training, I have become proficient.

What started as a filler class has now become a passion and a career path. I’m excited to keep learning, improving my skills, and creating meaningful designs.

ethanlouwagie.com

Abby Moore

N/A

Olivia Oetken

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Erin Pazour

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Autumn Schreiber

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Tin Tran

Art is like an onion—it has layers. Art is more than just the surface. I am art.
Growing up, I never felt like I belonged anywhere. I was too weird for most people, but I eventually found my group. However, I never connected with any of my teachers. Many of them only talked about football, which I didn’t like. It wasn’t until my final two years that I found two teachers I could relate to—my photography and painting teachers. For once, I could bond with teachers over a shared interest. I felt like I belonged in that classroom. When I graduated, they gave me farewell gifts and cards that meant so much to me. It showed that they cared. That’s what I love about art—it makes you feel like you belong somewhere.

This sense of belonging led me to join STC. I first learned about the school during my freshman year on a field trip for an interior design class. It left an impression on me, one that lingered until I applied during my senior year. I always knew I would work in the art field somehow, and with STC, that dream could come true.

I don’t want to be pigeonholed in this field. I aspire to be a jack-of-all-trades with my designs. That’s why I intend to gain a solid understanding of all the programs Adobe offers. My classmates say they hate Dreamweaver, but they only hate what they don’t understand. I’m determined to master these programs and become the best I can be. My parents didn’t immigrate here for me to give up easily. I will never back down—I will be the best I can be.

tincandesignit.com

Dannika Weelborg

Despite my challenges with cystic fibrosis, my passion for media design fuels my determination to excel in this field of creativity. Every obstacle I encounter only strengthens my determination to push forward, refine my skills, and bring my artistic visions to life. I refuse to let my condition define my limits; instead, I channel my experiences into my work, allowing them to shape my perspective and enhance my creativity. By embracing life to the fullest, I hope to inspire those around me, showing them that perseverance and passion can overcome even the most difficult circumstances. Living each day as if it could be my last allows me to experience things that I usually would say no to.

“Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.” – Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt’s quote opened my eyes to how I see life. Keeping my eyes on the stars while also keeping my feet on the ground has formed my personality. When hardships come, I keep my faith strong and depend on it to get me through to the other side. Getting knocked down can mean quite a few different things. When someone is harsh with feedback, or when life knocks me down in general, I have to be strong enough to get back up and go on. When designing, it’s easy to get frustrated and mad quickly. However, staying patient and kind is something I always strive to do. One of my best skills is caring about the humans around me. No matter who or the situation, my big heart seeps into every conversation. If someone around me is struggling.

With writing skills, design skills, people skills, and more, I am beyond ready to see what the future holds for me in the design field. The sky is limitless, and thinking about where I could be shortly makes me smile.

dannikaweelborg.com

Kaylen Wieneke

Abrianna Zuccaro

As the youngest of six kids raised by a single dad, growing up was difficult. I had to learn early on how to be independent and resourceful. With limited resources, I had to figure things out on my own and find ways to keep myself occupied. Much of my childhood was spent doing crafts with random items I found around the house or drawing on printer paper. What started as a simple way to pass the time turned into the spark for my love of creativity.

Heading into my senior year of high school, I had no idea what I wanted to pursue. I explored teaching, counseling, and even culinary school, but none of them felt like something I could see myself doing for the rest of my life. Then I discovered graphic design. It was exactly what I was looking for—something where there wasn’t just one right answer, like in math or science, but where I could be creative and challenge myself to do my best. I wanted to work in a field where I could continuously learn and grow, not just repeat the same tasks every day.

But more than that, I wanted a career that I could not only enjoy but also rely on for stability. Seeing how hard my dad worked every single day to provide for us made me realize how important it is to find a job that is both fulfilling and financially secure. I didn’t want to end up in a career where I dreaded going to work every day. Graphic design offers that balance. It allows me to be creative, think outside the box, and push myself while also giving me the stability to build the kind of future I want.

abriannazuccarodesigns.com