By Ashley Ragone and Lake DiStefano
News Editor and Nation & World Editor
“Exit ‘26,” the senior showcase for graphic design majors, displays the individual journeys of the artists’ time at the College. With students exploring a wide breadth of production and digital art mediums, each exhibit reveals a unique tone and design perspective.
For some students, the showcase is a chance to address issues they have a vested interest in.
Samantha Jose presents two companies she created, “Nature’s Carriers” and “Manaola.” With a throughline of sustainability in her marketing, she urges companies to consider the environmental impact of their dirty business practices.
“When it comes to creating a company and selling products, really researching the materials used and the machines and labor involved, I feel is an important sense that should be focused on way more these days,” she told The Signal. “So that's why I really wanted to focus on that with my project and outside of the labels.”
“Nature’s Carriers” features layout ideas for a website, gift card and product samples, while “Manaola” has canned drink mock-ups and an entire merchandise design. Jose balanced both earth tones and nude shades with the vibrant, tropical colors of her energy drinks.
Jose created her own line of candles, honey jars and lip balm based on bee-related products to promote sustainability. (Photo by Ashley Ragone)
“I created products for this brand that are beeswax related or honey-related, and the products that are sold, percentages of those go towards conservation efforts,” Jose said. “And for my project, I decided to do honey jars, candles, and two sizes of chapsticks. I went the extra mile and I made the candles and the chapsticks myself.”
Jose created her own line of candles, honey jars and lip balm based on bee-related products to promote sustainability. (Photo by Ashley Ragone)
While “Nature’s Carriers” pulled inspiration from brands like Burt’s Bees, Jose gave “Manaola” a more beach-themed motif. “It’s a Hawaiian energy drink company, and it basically is also about sustainability and healthiness, but a healthy energy without chemicals,” she said.
For Ricardo Rivera, his art, including the friendly protagonist of his work, is dedicated to his family.
“My mom, she used to work at a kindergarten, and there was a whole bunch of kids’ books. I also have two nieces, so I kind of like wrote the book for them,” he said.
Socka, a sock puppet come to life, is the star of Rivera’s children’s book, despite having a vastly different origin.
“Originally, me and my friends were just doodling one day. We had an idea for a show, like sock puppets, but they’re evil,” he said. “It was just one of them. And then we made it nice.”
Rivera’s art is mostly based on a self-described “sketchy” kind of drawing, simple and easy to draw, aiding well to a product meant for children.
Socka’s Adventure features a friendly sock puppet story, Rivera’s showcase also including free stickers and bookmarks based on his character. (Photo by Ashley Ragone)
Leslie Suarez, who exhibits various pieces of prior work and passion projects, shared that cultural representation is one of her greatest motivations. While overall her work is a culmination of her graphic design career, her feature works are specifically practiced in boosting representation.
“Luna & Lalo is a children’s book. I wanted a book based on Veracruz, where I could showcase ancient civilization knowledge…you know, for kids like me, when they’re younger to learn more about the indigenous civilizations that existed before us,” she said. She found it important to bring attention to her own family’s culture, and Mexican culture as a whole, that has gone underrepresented.
Suarez's pieces in the exhibit. (Photo by Ashley Ragone)
Her other work, “Somos La Cultura,” has a similar message. Titled after a Spanish phrase meant to uplift community pride and identity, she hopes to educate her community through her art.
“I could show, hopefully spread [the magazine] around community centers, schools and stuff like that. Neighborhoods can learn more about their cultures and cultures within New Jersey so it’s all a representation of cultures that are in New Jersey,” Suarez said.
“Luna & Lalo,” a children’s book, hopes to educate kids on their culture and bring more representation to kid’s literature. (Photo by Ashley Ragone)
Although there are no requirements to pursue the projects presented in “Exit ‘26,” each artist shared that they would potentially consider following through on their work they developed for the gallery.
Jose shared that if she were to professionally develop one of her companies after graduation it would be Nature’s Carriers, while Rivera has come up with other book ideas that he has been interested in carrying out. Suarez also hopes to work with both her featured pieces. “Both Luna & Lalo and Somos La Cultura I wish to pursue them, I might have to write grants for that or like apply for it. But I hope that after this year I might be able to pursue that,” she said.
Amelia Grof-Tisza, a junior graphic design major, shared that she greatly enjoyed seeing the showcase go up.
As a gallery assistant, she had the ability to learn about the process of installation, and observe as each exhibit was constructed.
“Basically, when the shows are open, I sit and supervise the area, answer questions and then I also help with the installation and deinstallation of the gallery,” she explained.
As for the overall showcase, she also enjoyed the art created by her graphic design peers. “I think it turned out great, and it's really cool. They have a great turnout,” she told The Signal at the opening reception.
“Exit ‘26” will be on display in the AIMM gallery until April 22.
