Inspiring Graduate: Opal Lawrence, B.F.A. Graphic Design and Interactive Media

“I’ve spent my time at Stout balancing school with multiple jobs, so I want to give myself the time and space to be intentional in my next step,” she said. “I want my portfolio to be something that feels true to the voice I’ve grown here at Stout, and I’m excited to step into design roles that allow me to bring thoughtfulness into my work.” 

Lawrence graduated high school in 2021. Having spent her senior year at home during COVID, she wasn’t able to tour universities in person. She learned about UW-Stout’s School of Art & Design from her high school media teacher, an alum.  

“I enrolled without ever stepping foot on campus, not fully knowing what to expect. It ended up being the best decision I could have made,” Lawrence said. “Stout’s focus on hands-on learning felt right. Stout gave me a place where I could grow creatively and personally. I am leaving with a community I care so deeply about. I am really grateful for that.” 

How has UW-Stout prepared you to work in your field? 

Stout prepared me by letting me learn through doing. The studio courses and the importance of critique in my courses taught me how to accept feedback, refine my ideas and communicate decisions clearly. 

Working as a Graphic Design Lab Monitor and Tutor was an important part of my learning. Supporting other students and helping create a welcoming studio environment taught me that design is something shared. We wanted the lab to feel like a place where people could work together, not just pass through between classes. 

I worked on campus at the Memorial Student Center Service Desk, where I helped students and faculty with printing and production. My design background made it easier to solve problems and talk through files, and the role helped me feel really connected to the campus community. 

I also completed a remote design internship with ARC Community Services, a nonprofit focused on recovery support. The work shifted often, so I learned how to ask clear questions and adapt based on real needs. 

These experiences showed me that design is not just about making something look good. It is about listening, communicating and creating with intention. 

What stands out about your UW-Stout experience? 

One of the most meaningful experiences I had was studying abroad in Belgium and the Netherlands. We spent about a month moving through Antwerp, Brussels, Arnhem, Utrecht and Amsterdam visiting studios, museums and design schools. We worked directly with internationally recognized designers in multiday workshops.  

Seeing how they approached form, language, and how integrated design was in their lives was so inspiring and changed how I think about my own practices. 

That experience was closely tied to my work with Professor Alex DeArmond, who led the program and also oversaw my role as a lab monitor and tutor. Learning from him both in classes and abroad strengthened how I understand (and love) typography, publication systems and design history. His passion and guidance have helped shape how I work and what I want for myself in the future. 

Other professors that majorly influenced and improved my time in the GDIM program were Robert Fraher, who taught my interaction courses and helped me understand design as something people use and move through. His teaching made me pay attention to how something feels to experience, not just how it looks. Katie Lupton helped me understand what I value in my own process. She encouraged reflection, clarity and intention in the choices I make. Rachel Bruya, my printmaking professor and advisor, reminded me that making can be tactile, imperfect and intentional. She created space for me to step away from the computer, to reflect on what it means to be a creative and use that as a guide of exploration and direction in my printing. 

These professors did more than teach technical skills. They helped me understand how to make work with clarity, curiosity and care. 

How did your involvement on campus impact your experience? 

I was involved in American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), which gave me a way to connect with other designers outside of class and feel part of a larger creative community. I participated in the Mind to Mind Mentorship Program through AIGA Minnesota, where I was paired with an industry mentor whom I met with throughout the semester.  

Those conversations helped me understand what I value in design and how I want to work. 

Also, through AIGA I attended Design Camp after receiving the Emerging Creative Scholarship. It was an experience that broadened my understanding of what a design career can look like and helped me feel connected to the wider creative community beyond campus. 

My publication design, “Catalyst,” was selected by Professor DeArmond for exhibit in “A Year in Design – An Invited Student Showcase,” at the Furlong Gallery. And my printmaking was displayed in “WALLS CAN TALK,” an exhibition in Gallery 209. Seeing my work displayed alongside my peers was meaningful and affirming of the time and energy I put into my work. It reminded me that creative work deserves to exist out in the world, in conversation with other people, not just on a screen or tucked away in a portfolio. 

My experiences helped me see myself not just as a student working toward a degree, but as a designer who is part of a larger creative network. I am so grateful for how I was able to learn from and contribute to it in real ways. 

What challenges did you face in earning your degree and how did you overcome them?  

Balancing coursework while working multiple jobs was a real challenge. There were semesters where I was stretched thin and had to learn how to manage my time and energy. I had to learn how to ask for help and how to be patient with myself. It was not always smooth but learning how to advocate for myself and how to find balance in my life are skills I’ll carry with me far beyond graduation. 

What are you most proud of as you finish your degree? 

I am proud of the person I have grown into while earning this degree. I kept showing up, even when things felt overwhelming, and I held onto curiosity and care in the things I made. I am also proud of the relationships and community I built here. This degree feels like something I earned, not just something I finished.