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Each year, seniors in Milligan University’s graphic design program prepare a showcase to highlight their creative works. This year’s showcase, “Zephyr,” will be on display from March 30 to April 4 in the Milligan Art Gallery, located in Derthick Hall. An opening reception will be held on Sunday, March 30, from 2 to 4 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The showcase features works by graphic design seniors Aiden Bailey, of Summerville, South Carolina; André Bazzana Semensato, of São Paulo, Brazil; Samuel Kyker, from Travelers Rest, South Carolina; and Brisa Lucas Pino, of Johnson City, Tennessee.

The title for the showcase, “Zephyr,” means soft, gentle breeze, and it was selected based on Lucas Pino’s observation that the seniors’ development at Milligan is similar to a “gentle, constant progression of growth and transformation.”

“Over the past few years, each of us has gone through a quiet change that’s also deep, like a soft breeze that gently shifts its path without rushing,” said Lucas Pino. “In our time together, we’ve learned, stumbled, grown, and redefined ourselves in ways that are sometimes clear and sometimes not, like the breeze that shifts with the seasons—barely noticeable at times but always there.”

For Bailey, Milligan’s graphic design program was distinctive because of its emphasis on professional experience and application. Bailey and his peers have been able to participate in multiple exhibits and add professional experiences to their résumés. For Bailey, this includes serving as an intern for Milligan Athletics, graphic design work for Milligan’s bowling team, being commissioned by the Appalachian Men’s Ensemble, and designing work for the American Heritage Girls.

“The Milligan graphic design program has been pivotal to my success and developmental growth as a designer,” said Bailey. “I have had the opportunity to not only engage in a plethora of learning experiences but have many opportunities for exposure. Through art shows and design-based discussions, our professors have given us real-world experience.”

Bazzana Semensato appreciates the strong foundation he has received at Milligan and the ability to experiment, brainstorm, and solve problems creatively through a graphic design major and business minor. He has appreciated how the Milligan program has opened the door to internships with Milligan’s Public Relations Office and Ribbons Physical Therapy.

“Milligan and the graphic design program have completely shaped me into the designer I am today,” Bazzana Semensato shared. “It has deepened my passion for design and helped me discover my style. The program has given me opportunities to grow and develop in many ways.”

The broader community and learning environment at Milligan have greatly shaped Kyker as an individual and as a designer. Kyker is the editor of the campus newspaper, The Stampede, a resident assistant, and a member of the cross country and track teams.

“Milligan has shaped me in profound ways,” said Kyker. “I’ve been taught how to think and have grown a love for research. I’ve been exposed to new ways of understanding the world around me here, whether that’s in my faith or in relationships with others.”

Milligan’s graphic design program teaches the elements of design and how to apply them across various media, in addition to the fundamental skills, theories, principles, and technologies necessary for design work. Central to all design and art majors at Milligan is the integration of the Christian liberal arts.