Canon brings industry expertise to mentor, support UofL's graphic design students

“This project hurt my brain,” College of Arts and Sciences student Haley Hartley said with a smile, pulling up images of her design work.

“Welcome to the design world,” Michael Di Tizio, a senior graphic design specialist with Canon U.S.A., replied with an affirming chuckle. “If your brain isn’t hurting, you’re not designing.”

On March 22, University of Louisville senior graphic design students experienced direct personal mentorship from professionals at Canon Solutions America, a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., in preparation for Portfolio Day, the capstone project for the Hite Institute of Art and Design's bachelor of fine arts in graphic design program. The Canon designers provided expert feedback as students presented their past and current projects in groups, over a multi-session virtual meeting.

“I am always eager to see what the new generation of artists will bring to the table in this industry,” said Veronika Levin, senior manager of creative services at Canon U.S.A. “I believe the group of students I met has a great foundation and strong pieces to showcase for their Portfolio Day.”

During UofL's Portfolio Day on April 26, seniors showcased their culminating work to community professionals, network with potential employers, celebrate with friends and family, and are awarded their red berets—a symbol of completing their degrees and entering the professional design world. The mentorship sessions were part of Canon Solutions America’s extensive support of UofL activities, including its flagship sponsorship of Portfolio Day.

Suzanne Oddsen, senior graphic designer for Canon U.S.A., felt inspired by the fresh ideas she saw in the students. “They all had unique takes on the same project and professionally conducted them. I provided feedback about how we work in the corporate world, and what we want to see when interviewing,” she said.

In addition to the portfolio review sessions, Canon provided other engaged learning experiences for the graphic design students, including a virtual workshop to help hone their video and still photography skills using Canon cameras, and hands-on sessions at the university’s Canon Solutions America print shop to teach students how to use large-format printers, prepare files and select papers and finishing options for their portfolio projects. In total, Canon Solutions America provided more than eight hours of instruction, helping students bring their projects to the next level with newly gained insights. The organization, which has partnered with UofL since 2018, also offered the graphic design seniors complimentary printing of their portfolio materials and provided the department with a printer, benefitting students for years to come.

Trysh Wahlig, assistant professor and head of graphic design at UofL, lauded the partnership as “truly a win/win.” Not only can instructors create class assignments that take full advantage of the technology and expertise Canon provides, but “the work our students create allows Canon to showcase its printing and imaging technologies in a practical educational setting,” Wahlig said.

“Canon is able to see the next generation of creativity as well as what students are looking for in the workforce, so that we can stay up-to-date,” said Oddsen. “For the students, it is a great way to gather insight of the real-world tools they need to prepare for working with clients or interviews.”

Corporate partnerships such as these lead to student success and offer an advantage in the professional world. They also demonstrate UofL’s role as a premier metropolitan university striving to better serve its students and the community.