In Fall of 2017, King DMAD students created a new set of stair riser designs for the library. On March 14, the new risers were officially unveiled. This is the third year students in the Introduction to Visual Rhetoric an Graphic Design course have created designs from classic literature for display in the King University Library. Students in the course select books from a set of eligible titles and research the themes, tone, and cover art of the book to create a compelling design. The work is then reviewed by librarians, and students adjust the designs accordingly. At the end of the semester, the best designs are chosen for application to the library staircases.
The risers were revealed at a reception event with a presentation by faculty and students. After the unveiling, students remained on hand to answer questions about the design process and their decisions for representing books ranging from The Cat in the Hat to Nineteen Eighty-Four.
By setting constraints for designs and offering feedback for revisions, librarians interacted with students in the same way a paying client would. The Dean of Library Services, Erika Brammer, valued the opportunity to provide students with the experience of professional work. She said, “So much of what we do with students is in the realm of academic exercise. This project gave both librarians and students a real-life practical situation in which to hone their graphic design skills.”
Students who take the visual rhetoric course have the hands-on experience of working with a client, and their work remains on display in the library where it is seen by dozens of people every day. The opportunity builds professional skills and is a badge of honor for those whose designs are chosen.
