Southeastern receives state grant for new design technology
Contact: Rene Abadie
Date: July 30, 2013
HAMMOND – You've seen it in Times Square, at airports, on the side of interstates and even
in some campus hallways. And, Southeastern Louisiana University is the only university
in the state with a program dedicated to environmental design.
"Environmental design is retail signage, typography, motion and digital projection,"
said Tasheka Arceneaux-Sutton, assistant professor of graphic design at Southeastern
Louisiana University.
The Louisiana Board of Regents recently awarded a $92,000 grant with a $38,000
university match to Southeastern's Department of Fine and Performing Arts Graphic
Design program. The grant will allow for the addition of new equipment and software
to assist graphic design students advance their abilities and hone their design skills.
"We were the only school in the state providing an environmental design course
and now we're the only one able to offer this specialized technology," said Professor
of Graphic Design Gary Keown. "This will give our students an edge and unique experience
in graphic design."
The new equipment includes 23 Mac Pro computers with 27-inch screens. The technology
will also enhance other areas within graphic design including illustration, print,
motion and web design. The featured equipment: a large format printer/cutter and a
ShopBot CNC router.
"The wide-format printer prints in multiple colors, including white and metallic
inks, plus it will cut the printed shapes from vinyl," Keown said. "And the CNC ShopBot
will cut through plywood, metal, plexiglass, and plastic."
"People in most design offices and studios don't even have access to a product
like this, so this is a real advancement," added Arceneaux-Sutton, who authored the
grant. "I don't think the students really understand yet the importance of what we're
getting."
Environmental design is considered one of the top five most important disciplines
in the growing graphic design profession.
"It's futuristic," Arceneaux-Sutton said. "It's not about decoration, but about
orienting people. It interacts with the environment to serve a function or a purpose."
"Talent in this field is in high demand," Keown added. "This is going to benefit
a lot of students and bring a lot of good career opportunities."
