Adobe Illustrator Icon Project:
Students designed cohesive icon sets to communicate specific messages. Graded on originality, consistency, and clarity, this project developed branding and visual communication skills.
A cohesive set of icons created by Elise Larkin, Erica Lunnen, and Anonymous
A set of icons created in Adobe Illustrator by previous visual media course students Amelia Garcia, Breanna Latouche, and Alan Johnson.
A consistent set of icons created by Gable Holyoak and Andrew Mullert.
Adobe InDesign Magazine Spread Project
Students designed multi-page layouts, combining original photography, typography, and storytelling. This project emphasized layout principles and the importance of cohesive visual narratives.
Magazine layout project by Ethan Graham, designed with Adobe InDesign, featuring consistent typography and an engaging visual narrative. (Source here)
Adobe Photoshop Non-Literal Creative Advertisement:
Students crafted symbolic, non-literal ads for mundane products, blending multiple images into compelling visuals. This assignment pushed creativity while reinforcing technical skills like image manipulation and creating designs for multi-platform use.
Creative advertisement by Sarah McPherson, created in Adobe Photoshop. (Find student source attributions here.)
Creative advertisement by Nix Johnson, created in Adobe Photoshop, blending visuals to create a non-literal advertisement for Post-It Notes. (Find student source attributions here.)
Creative advertisement examples by students Nix Johnson, Amelia Garcia, and Sarah McPherson that was created in Adobe Photoshop. (Find student source attributions here.)
Creative advertisement by Rio Buck, created in Adobe Photoshop, blending visuals to create a non-literal advertisement for Roomba. (Find student source attributions here.)
Creative advertisement by Gerimae Abiera, created in Adobe Photoshop, showcasing multiple sizes for advertisements. (Find student source attributions here.)
Ad Campaign Recreation
Students analyzed professional ad campaigns, then designed complementary pieces that aligned with the campaign’s branding and messaging. This exercise emphasized consistency, branding, and audience targeting.
Mock campaign ad by Gable Holyoak, showcasing consistent visuals and strategic design.(Find student source attributions here.)
Ad campaign project by Morgan Thrasher, featuring cohesive branding and messaging. (Find student source attributions here.)
This mock ad campaign, designed by Sabra Gilbreath, demonstrates professional-level branding and design strategies. (Find student source attributions here.)
Ad campaign project designed by an anonymous student focusing on cohesive branding and audience-specific messaging.(Find student source attributions here.)
Branding-focused ad campaign with clear messaging, created by Gerimae Abiera as part of a Visual Media course. (Find student source attributions here.)
Cohesive branding and visual messaging are the hallmarks of this ad campaign project created by Rio Buck. (Find student source attributions here.)
Branded slide deck project created by Gable Holyoak, Erica Lunnen, Amelia Garcia, Keilana Clark, Alan Johnson, and anonymous, showcasing professional design principles. (Find student source attributions here.)
Designed to accompany a mock ad campaign, University student, Alan Johnson’s, slide deck features branding alignment, audience-focused messaging, and creative layout techniques. (Find student source attributions here.)
Custom-designed presentation slides by Erica Lunnen, emphasizing creative layouts and branding. (Find student source attributions here.)
A custom slide deck designed to present student Erica Lunnen’s ad campaign analysis with clarity and creativity. (Find student source attributions here.)
Communication student, Nix Johnson’s, designed slide decks to support their ad campaign analysis, focusing on maintaining consistent branding, typography, and layout throughout the presentation. (Find student source attributions here.)
This final presentation by Nix Johnson highlights strong visual storytelling through consistent slide design. (Find student source attributions here.)
Design analysis and slide deck design created by Gerimae Abiera for a communication college course — visual media. (Sources Found here.)
Mentorship and Real-World Applications
My teaching philosophy extended beyond technical skills to include mentorship and professional development. I encouraged students to think like professionals, focusing on problem-solving and strategic decision-making.
Real-World Integration:
- Students learned to create assets for diverse audiences, with projects like blog posts and ad campaigns reflecting professional challenges.
- I guided students in building professional portfolios, showcasing their work and articulating the strategic thinking behind their designs.
- Lessons on copyright, attribution, and ethical design practices ensured students were prepared for real-world industry standards.
Student Testimonials: Praise from the Classroom
Michelle is not only a wonderful person to be around, but she is inspirational in the way she teaches and leads others. When I was first hired to teach at BYU-Idaho, I sat in her classroom every single week taking notes and observing her interactions with students. She connects so well with others, understands how to teach at different levels of understanding, and cares about those in her classroom. I couldn’t recommend someone more for to teach or lead a team. I loved learning from her and I know her students did too.
I had the privilege of working with Michelle at BYU-Idaho, and from the beginning, I was impressed by her ability to articulate complex topics as an instructor in clear and engaging ways. Her proficiency in visual media, including photography, graphic design, videography, editing, and Adobe Creative Suite, enabled her to teach Visual Communication principles to her students. Her public speaking and presentation skills were evident in the engaging and informative presentations she delivered, positively representing our program.
Part II: As the semesters progressed, I noticed Michelle was leading students in creative discussions and helping them brainstorm and come up with ideas for projects. Michelle’s ability to actively listen to concerns and tailor communication ensured that her messages resonated effectively with all audiences. Her dedication to developing her own teaching plans and sharing those with others on the team was commendable. In every situation, Michelle seems to be able to analyze what is going on and then determine the best way to approach it. She clearly communicates her point of view and helps others move forward with her. She is a leader at heart and I am excited to see what she is able to accomplish in the future.