Through the “What’s Your Dream?” program, high school students in Hunterdon County Polytech’s Commercial Arts and Advertising Design and Graphic Design programs partnered with sixth grade students from Delaware Township School (DTS) to complete a children’s book illustration and design.
The program culminated at the end of the school year with a book-signing event, where combined teams of Polytech and DTS students also displayed their books for judging by Kutztown University representatives.
The team of students that created the book “Where Kindness Grows,” which focuses on family and being open to learning new things, won for concept and design. Members of the winning team include: Lily Rose Robinson – Polytech Commercial Arts; Marianna Didea- Polytech Graphic Design I; Zoe Jane Kravetsky – Polytech Graphic Design II; Colton Davis – DTS, Lauren Tomson – DTS.
“It was a wonderful experience for all students to get recognized for their hard work,” said Teresa Diaz, instructor of Polytech’s Commercial Arts and Advertising Design and 3D Computer Animation programs. “The middle schoolers felt important while signing the books, even though they said their hands hurt from so much signing, and the high school students were very excited to show off their work and be able to bond with their teammates.”
Diaz created the “What’s Your Dream?” program last school year to educate and inspire students of all ages about educational opportunities and careers in art and design, as well as give students the opportunity to collaborate on team projects and share ideas freely.
This year’s program began in September with Delaware Township middle schoolers developing concepts for original character designs based on themselves. They then met with the high school students via Zoom to discuss the aesthetics and storyline for the book. Diaz then guided her students through the creative process including a book dummy and final illustrations.
Throughout the process, Polytech students learned from guest speakers provided by Kutztown University who spoke about their current careers as illustrators. Additionally, students were invited to take a field trip to campus and sit in on college classes.
Cindy Dailey, graphic design instructor at Polytech, guided her students in the type layout and final book cover designs. Dailey also compiled all the teams’ books into a complete anthology that was printed for the book-signing event.
In addition to the experience and the chance to showcase their work, the young artists also benefitted from the culminating book-signing event when they heard from 2002 Polytech alumna Miranda Dressler.
Dressler was the second inductee into the Hall of Fame, which Diaz initiated to formally recognize graduates with accomplishments in the arts and to hold them up as an example for “What’s Your Dream?” participants and all aspiring artists.
Dressler, who is currently an illustrator, designer and art director in Los Angeles, has worked in both animation and product design for the past 17 years for studios big and small.
“A very special highlight of the event was inducting Miranda into the Hall of Fame,” said Diaz. “My goal of creating ‘What’s Your Dream?’ was much more than to expose students to careers in the arts. It was to give them the courage to realize their dream is possible.”
During her acceptance speech, Dressler emphasized the importance of Polytech providing not only the crucial skills to score a college scholarship, but also the confidence to pursue her dream career.
“That fear of the unknown, that fear of failure, that fear of putting yourself out there, those fears can seem as big as your dream,” said Dressler. “And when I was a teenager in Hunterdon County, N.J., working in animation in Hollywood seemed as far away as Hollywood is from New Jersey. But, with Teresa’s encouragement and with the skills I learned at Polytech, I had the confidence and the training to succeed in the competitive business.”
Dressler’s framed portrait will be hung in the Hall of Fame on Polytech’s campus with a bronze plate memorializing the accomplishment.
For more information about Polytech’s Commercial Arts and Advertising Design and Graphic Design programs, visit https://polytech.hcvsd.org.
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