Tropical Vibes and Creative Scribbles: A Week of Excitement with UGA’s PRSSA!

by Riley Mason

When I contemplate what I aspire to become as I reach adulthood—or rather, in just a few brief years—the realm of creativity is always the first that springs to mind. I understand that my trajectory may evolve, and my present-day vision of the future might not be entirely precise, but one thing remains clear: I must work in a setting that fosters my creative inspiration.

Last summer, I was fortunate to take part in Grady’s Summer Studio Creative Portfolio Program. I know—that’s quite a mouthful! But fundamentally, this program was a month-long intensive boot camp for creative portfolios. I finished eight mini-modules focused on Adobe Creative Cloud, visual design, typography, photography, copywriting, digital design, strategy, and personal branding. It provided me a direct insight into the creative future I envisioned for myself.

My mentor, companion, and PRSSA faculty advisor, Kim Landrum, oversees the program and encouraged me to apply. Thanks to her encouragement, June transformed into a month filled with creativity and new adventures, including meeting new acquaintances and collaborating with professionals from firms such as See.Spark.Go, Apple, Calor Creative, and more!

Relationships
Though lasting merely a month, this program facilitated friendships that extend far beyond the summer. My friend Savannah and I worked together on multiple projects during Summer Studio, but our friendship flourished outside the classroom as well. One of my cherished memories was our unexpected trip to the Athens Humane Society shelter, where we enjoyed a morning with some adorable senior dogs.

While the program is both academically and creatively engaging, the community you foster with like-minded people is genuinely extraordinary. I am immensely thankful for the friendships I nurtured during Summer Studio.

Portfolio
A particularly significant module was centered on personal branding, conducted by the remarkable Liza Dunning, Associate Creative Director at Apple. She was not only a phenomenal design mentor—she also showed us how to better comprehend ourselves through media. One afternoon, we were tasked with picking three words to define ourselves—a surprisingly challenging exercise!

Liza guided us in establishing our own online portfolio websites, which I’m proud to claim is still showcased on my LinkedIn. This site exhibits all the creative output I generated throughout the program, including photography, illustrations, digital designs, poster creations, and more! Feel free to explore it if you’re interested:

Click here for my online portfolio! 

Favorites
One of the projects I cherished most was the redesign of an album or podcast cover. I opted to reimagine the album cover for one of my favorite bands, Watchhouse. From the initial brainstorming to the final edits, I invested my creativity into this endeavor utilizing Adobe Creative Cloud—Photoshop and InDesign swiftly became my best allies.

This project was both meaningful and demanding. We frequently showcased our creations to the class for critique, which aided me in becoming comfortable with receiving constructive feedback and applying it for improvement. Now, I feel considerably more resilient and confident in my creative approach.

If you’re even slightly intrigued by the realm of creativity, I strongly recommend contemplating Summer Studio. It truly is a remarkable experience!