Chris Howard, a sophomore from Pinson, AL, is an art major focusing in graphic design; he hopes to continue improving his digital art and design craft at JSU. 

Where is your favorite place to eat around Jacksonville?

For a while, my favorite restaurant around campus has been Cookout, but the tres leches cake from Heirloom Taco might have changed my mind. 

What are your favorite colors?

I am a simple man who enjoys many colors, but if I had to choose in order: green, blue, red.

What are some of your hobbies?

I’m a huge gamer, so I play Xbox a lot, so that takes up a good amount of my free time. If I’m not doing that, then I am either working on my art, watching TV, eating, napping, or hanging out with my RUF peeps. 

Why did you choose JSU?

I chose to attend JSU for a few reasons. I knew I wanted to become a graphic design major, so it was most important that I went to a college with a great art department, and JSU has just that.  We have so many talented professors in the department who are eager to help us improve our skills and help us understand how the field works. I also enjoy Jacksonville as a town because it doesn’t feel like a city, but it’s not in the middle of nowhere like my hometown. It has many places to eat and isn’t too far from bigger areas, like Gadsden or Oxford. Plus, it’s only about an hour away from home.

Why did you choose to major in art?

I felt like I’ve known for a long time that I was meant to do something with art. I’m always drawing and trying to improve my skills, and I can lose hours of my time doing so. I have always been interested in digital art and design, but have never had the resources to learn. I chose graphic design because I didn’t want a career for the rest of my life that I wouldn’t enjoy, and I’ve never felt more satisfaction than when I finish a huge project that I’ve spent a significant amount of time and energy on. 

Are you involved in any clubs or organizations on campus?

Since the first few weeks of my first semester, I’ve been involved in RUF, which was probably the best thing that I could have done. Through RUF, I was able to quickly make new friends, attend some really fun events, and most importantly, strengthen my connection with Christ. RUF had such an impact on me as a freshman that I joined the ministry team to help new freshmen feel as welcomed as I did. This year, I have also been trying to become more involved with the AIGA because I feel it will help me find inspiration for my art, build connections with other graphic artists, and further my career. 

Who is your favorite professor?

It’s a hard choice because the art department is stacked with so many amazing professors, but I think my favorite would have to be Christian Dunn. There is something about his teaching method that I just find easy to vibe with. He helps us understand that there is more to learning graphic design than what happens in the classroom. He encourages us to attend the shows and workshops of guest artists, and even uses up our class time to watch his nerdy documentaries like the history of Helvetica. Christian is not afraid to be real with us, telling us not only about the positives of the graphic design field, but also the negatives. He makes sure that we understand the line of work we are getting into, which I believe is very important. Christian Dunn is passionate about graphic design and his teaching. 

What has been your favorite class so far? 

So far, I can easily say Graphic Design I has been my favorite course I’ve taken. It was the first studio class that didn’t just feel like I was still learning the basics of design. Granted, we were still learning the basics of typography, but it all felt worth it by the end of the course. For the final project, we designed a twenty-page type specimen book, which was probably the hardest and most frustrating thing I have ever created. I spent entire nights tediously moving type around a screen, making sure all of my pages conveyed information of Gill Sans, while also telling a story and making sure the design stayed consistent. I have never felt more drained by the end of a project, but I have also never felt more satisfaction from seeing the final result. As much as it was frustrating at times, I really enjoyed bouncing ideas off of my peers, having those “aha!” moments, and really getting in the flow of things. All the new information I learned over the semester and the creative freedom we were given with the book project is why Graphic Design I has been my favorite course. 

Do you have any after-grad plans?

Well, the plan is to hopefully have several careers lined up, by the time I graduate, and start putting a dent in the pile of debt I’m building up. I haven’t thought about what companies I would consider working for or if I would just attempt freelance at first. Although the latter might not be the safest bet starting out. Aside from my professional plans, I also hope to marry my girlfriend, whom I’ve been dating for two years now, and live every day to its fullest.