This presentation was created by Alissa Millenson and Jen Meyer for National Portfolio Day at Washington University in St. Louis on October 30, 2011. The presentation was delivered by Jen Meyer, Career Advisor at the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University. The presentation was created to help

1. Life After
Art School
the endless possibilities of the BFA
jen meyer
jennifer.meyer@wustl.edu
314.935.5930
@jenloganmeyer
careercenter.wustl.edu

2. What can I do with a BFA?

3. Here are some career paths:

4. Here are some career paths:
IN NOVATO R
BUSINESSM A N
EN TREPREN E U R
ACTIVIST
POLITICIAN
CREATOR
ART DIRE CTO R
PRODUCER
PUBLISHER

5. Here are some career paths:
IN NOVATO R TE AC H E R
BUSINESSM A N CH E F
EN TREPREN E U R G A L L E RY OW N E R
ACTIVIST A RTI S T
POLITICIAN D ES I G N ER
CREATOR FA S H I O N D E S I G NE R
ART DIRE CTO R PRODUCT DESIGNER
PRODUCER A R C H I TE C T
PUBLISHER

6. Here are some career paths:
IN NOVATO R TE AC H E R A N I M ATOR
BUSINESSM A N CH E F C U R ATOR
EN TREPREN E U R G A L L E RY OW N E R C R I TI C
ACTIVIST A RTI S T W R I TER
POLITICIAN D ES I G N ER PAINTER
CREATOR FA S H I O N D E S I G NE R V ID E O GR AP H ER
ART DIRE CTO R PRODUCT DESIGNER J E W E L ER
PRODUCER A R C H I TE C T A RT TH ER A P IST
PUBLISHER

7. Here are some career paths:
IN NOVATO R TE AC H E R A N I M ATOR A P PR A ISE R
BUSINESSM A N CH E F C U R ATOR W EB DES IGNE R
EN TREPREN E U R G A L L E RY OW N E R C R I TI C MARKETING
ACTIVIST A RTI S T W R I TER SA LES
POLITICIAN D ES I G N ER PAINTER C .E.O.
CREATOR FA S H I O N D E S I G NE R V ID E O GR AP H ER
ART DIRE CTO R PRODUCT DESIGNER J E W E L ER
PRODUCER A R C H I TE C T A RT TH ER A P IST
PUBLISHER

8. Case Study 1:
Mara MacMahon
technical art direction | communication design–illustration
“I found a line of work that combines
my creative side with my passion
of science”

9. What can an artist bring
to the table?

10. To navigate the world today
we need to be...
INTERDISCIPLINARY
FA S T- PA C E D
OK WITH AMBIGUITY
NIMBLE
PROCESS-ORIENTED THINKERS
G LO BA L C I T I Z E N S
C R E AT I V E P R O B L E M S O LV E R S

11. Case Study 2:
Ellen Sitkin
designer | communication design–design

12. “As communicators in a world
which hinges on communication
[designers and artists] share a
large part of the responsibility for
the quality of public debate”
-Culture Agents

13. Artists and designers bring beautiful
craft and powerful minds

14. inductive logic:
the logic that goes from specific to general
deductive logic:
the logic of what might be

15. abductive logic
designers and artists do this to create a fresh
approach to a problem
abductive thinking is suggesting something may
be and then reaching out to explore it

16. “In a global economy,
elegant design is
becoming a critical
competitive advantage.
Trouble is, most folks
don’t think like designers.”
-Bill Breen, Fast Company

17. Case Study 3:
Aaron Duffy
director | sculpture & design

18. Where can my major take me?

19. There are 6 majors offered at WashU:

20. There are 6 majors offered at WashU:
Di gi t al I m agi n g &
Photography
Fashion Design
Painting
Printmaking/Drawing
Sc ul pt ure
Co mmu ni c a ti on D e s ig n
Il lu s trat io n
G r ap h i c D e s i g n

21. Case Study 4:
Jennifer Behr
hair accessory designer | fashion

23. Case Study 5:
Paul Dillinger
global creative director at levi strauss & co. | fashion

24. What else?

25. Beyond making, building, or
deconstructing stuff, you will walk
away from your art education...

26. ...having situated yourself for
abundant professional opportunities.

27. ...having situated yourself for
abundant professional opportunities.
Knowledge
Di sc ip l ine
Mentorship
Co nn ec ti on s
Cre d ibi l it y

28. “In school you do not only learn. You
become. The curriculum deconstructs the
way you think and reconstructs your mind
for the purpose of art. That is what sets a
professional apart from an amateur. An
amateur will always be "doing art". A
professional is hardwired for it.”
-Deviant Art

29. Case Study 5:
Jenny Murphy
social entrepreneur | sculpture

30. Where do I go from here?
t

31. For some, the path is obvious

33. Sculpture majors will become

34. Sculpture majors will become
sculptors

35. Sculpture majors will become
sculptors
Fashion majors will become

36. Sculpture majors will become
sculptors
Fashion majors will become
fashion designers

37. Sculpture majors will become
sculptors
Fashion majors will become
fashion designers
Painting majors will become

38. Sculpture majors will become
sculptors
Fashion majors will become
fashion designers
Painting majors will become
painters

39. Sculpture majors will become
sculptors
Fashion majors will become
fashion designers
Painting majors will become
painters
Design majors will become

40. Sculpture majors will become
sculptors
Fashion majors will become
fashion designers
Painting majors will become
painters
Design majors will become
designers

41. for others, less so.

43. Sculpture majors will become

44. Sculpture majors will become
social workers

45. Sculpture majors will become
social workers
Fashion majors will become

46. Sculpture majors will become
social workers
Fashion majors will become
Fulbright scholars

47. Sculpture majors will become
social workers
Fashion majors will become
Fulbright scholars
Painting majors will become

48. Sculpture majors will become
social workers
Fashion majors will become
Fulbright scholars
Painting majors will become
publicists

49. Sculpture majors will become
social workers
Fashion majors will become
Fulbright scholars
Painting majors will become
publicists
Design majors will become

50. Sculpture majors will become
social workers
Fashion majors will become
Fulbright scholars
Painting majors will become
publicists
Design majors will become
doctors

51. If you choose to have
an independent studio

52. or work in high-end
branding

53. make cupcakes on a
national show

54. or design for
sustainable solutions

55. the experiences you gather
at art school can
impact minds

56. the experiences you gather
at art school can
impact decisions

57. the experiences you gather
at art school can
impact outcomes

58. the experiences you gather
at art school can
impact the world

59. Case Study 4:
sustainable art collective founded by three 2011 grads
SYLVA JOHNSON | SIENNA BALDI | LEAH NIXON
photographer | printmaker | painter

60. Case Study 4:
MITCH Collective
sustainable art collective founded by three 2011 grads
SYLVA JOHNSON | SIENNA BALDI | LEAH NIXON
photographer | printmaker | painter

61. If the path of social responsibility
is not for you...

62. or if the path of commercialism
is not for you...

63. or you can’t bare to decide...

64. do not fear!

65. commercial success & social
responsibility are not incompatible.

66. AND DON’T FORGET
THAT WHATEVER PROFESSIONAL PATH YOU FOLLOW...

67. Plus, you’ll get to make cool stuff

68. You’ll get to
make cool
Plus, you’ll get to make cool stuff
things

69. thank you!
JEN MEYER
jen meyer
005 STEINBERG HALL jennifer.meyer@wustl.edu
314.935.5930 314.935.5930
JENNIFER.MEYER@WUSTL.EDU @jenloganmeyer
CAREERCENTER.WUSTL.EDU
careercenter.wustl.edu