‘Digital Design’ takes spotlight at North Central

Artwork by four North Central College students is featured in the monthlong exhibit “Digital Design” at the Naperville campus.

All the pieces are computer-generated and include print posters, motion graphics and animation created by seniors Amber Dvorak of Schiller Park; Tanya Fetzer of Richmond; Samantha Suarez of Romeoville; and Sarah Wilm of Westmont.

The exhibit runs through May 3 in Oesterle Library Gallery, 320 E. School St., Naperville. An artist reception will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 9.

The art in “Digital Design” reflects the artists’ backgrounds in graphic design and work with tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, sound-editing software and Autodesk Maya. Each of the four students is majoring in interactive media studies with a focus in graphic arts, and all find they have gained experience in designing for a variety of settings from marketing to entertainment.

“The pieces in this show represent four years of learning, personal growth and finding ourselves as graphic artists,” the artists wrote in a collective statement about the exhibit. “They represent who we are and who we hope to become.”

Dvorak, a 2009 graduate of East Leyden High School, works in a wide range of computer-based media and specializes in animation and illustration. She has a particular interest in conveying narrative through her design and illustrating characters and environments. She hopes to pursue graphic work after graduation, working in either 3-D modeling or animation while also writing fiction.

Fetzer, a 2009 graduate of Richmond-Burton High School, has focused her creative work in animation. A double major in interactive media studies and East Asian studies, she recently completed an independent study in which she worked on an animation sequence depicting the World War II bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. As a student, she has had comics published in The Chronicle campus newspaper and animated versions featured in the college’s Viewfinder multimedia publication. She plans on pursuing a master’s degree in animation after graduating in June and ultimately pursue a career as an animator.

Suarez, a 2009 graduate of Plainfield Central High School, has a passion for design and has worked on pieces for a number of organizations and entities, including the college’s Office of Marketing and Communications and Enactus. After graduation, she hopes to combine her majors in interactive media studies and sociology in addition to using her graphic design skills to bring attention to human rights issues that may go unnoticed.

Wilm, a 2009 graduate of Hinsdale Central High School, has experience working with traditional art media such as drawing and painting but specializes in graphic arts. A psychology minor, Wilm seeks to integrate her understanding of audience tastes and motivations in the creation of her artwork. She hopes to continue her design work after graduation in the marketing and advertising fields.

Christine Rabenold, assistant professor of art, is faculty adviser for the exhibit. For gallery hours or information, contact Rabenold at (630) 637-5543 or cmrabenold@noctrl.edu.