A brochure design created by Cochise College student Kimberly Rose is being used as marketing material by a ski resort in Canada. Last semester, the Cochise College Art Department selected its favorite student design of a poster promoting the department’s International Film Series and sent it to its public mailing list. And student artists also have designed college signage and marketing pieces for the Center for Lifelong Learning.

The projects, which rotate as part of the Cochise College Graphic Design I and II curriculum, are a way for students to provide a real-world service while also earning college credit. Students learn to establish a client/designer relationship, the basics of graphic design and how design is part of daily life, the significance of visual communication, and working knowledge of design computer applications, according to instructor Rick Whipple. Clients get to choose from a range of design solutions at no cost.

 Rose began working on an assignment to re-design an existing brochure by searching online for websites promoting activities she enjoys. She stumbled upon the Remi Ski Club website and decided to design a brochure that would convey the thrill of skiing and snowboarding. Since Rose’s goal is to become a graphic designer, she also wanted to beef up her portfolio with a colorful design that differed from her past work.

“Graphic design isn’t just art for art’s sake,” Rose said. “It is solving a problem with design.”

The brochure needed to convey excitement and appeal to a broad audience. The design was unsolicited by the resort, and Rose initially had no plans to contact them. But after seeing her final product, she thought the staff might like to see her work. After some tweaks to the final design, including the addition of sponsor logos and information in French, the resort agreed to use Rose’s pamphlet in its marketing materials. It is posted on the resort website. The professional networking experience and being able to use the real-world design in her portfolio was benefit enough, Rose said.

Another class client – the Cochise College Center for Lifelong Learning – requested a dynamic poster conveying a southwestern theme to provide all the necessary information about the center’s lecture series. The finished product was printed and mailed to the center’s mailing list.

“The posters and flyers provided by the class have more than met those needs,” said center Director Rebecca Orozco. “People start asking for the next poster before the last series has ended!”

Whipple is open to requests from community organizations, particularly non-profits, that need print materials designed and can be flexible enough to accommodate class and semester schedules. Graphic design students can handle designs of brochures and publications, print advertisements, and logos, for example. Classes meet for 16 weeks from August to December and from January to May. Printing is not included, and web design is not part of the class. Clients whose projects are accepted as part of the semester curriculum will meet with and discuss their design needs with students before work begins. Interested organizations should contact Whipple at whippler@cochise.edu or (520) 458-8278, Ext. 2155.