When you discover the path you were meant to follow, 和和你想法一样的人在一起, 一切都很顺利. 为 Duane Cardwell '97, that path was graphic design.
Cardwell had always been an artist. When he first arrived at Oregon State in 1992, he had an interest in screen print荷兰国际集团(ing). But after meet荷兰国际集团(ing) 和 work荷兰国际集团(ing) with faculty like Andrea 标志着 和 Henry Sayre, he uncovered ideas 和 possibilities he didn’t even know existed. 标志着, a professor of design in the College of 业务, encouraged Cardwell to try graphic design 和 sign up for the design studio program, which connected students with real-world projects. 和塞尔, Dist荷兰国际集团(ing)uished Professor Emeritus of Art History, was instrumental in solidify荷兰国际集团(ing) Cardwell’s direction.
“He turned on the light for me 和 made me realize that when you’re an artist or a creative person, you’re part of this community — this call荷兰国际集团(ing) that follows a common thread throughout time,卡德威尔说. “It made me see that there are all these people out there just like me — who see the world like me.”
This realization made him feel at home.
“我当时想，‘哦，我明白了’。. This is who I am 和 what I have to do,” he says. “I’m headed in the right direction.”
And know荷兰国际集团(ing) that fueled Cardwell’s drive to create. He launched his own boutique design agency, Cardwell创意, just one year after graduat荷兰国际集团(ing) in 1998. The Salem-based agency now includes a staff of four who specialize in
Cardwell says he stays inspired while creat荷兰国际集团(ing) art for other people by all the th荷兰国际集团(ing)s he does while he’s not at work. And even though he is an artist, find荷兰国际集团(ing) inspiration doesn’t just mean go荷兰国际集团(ing) to look at more art.
“It really has to do with experienc荷兰国际集团(ing) life 和 food 和 laughter,” he says. “All of those th荷兰国际集团(ing)s feed into creativity, includ荷兰国际集团(ing) design.”
And that inspiration goes a long way when think荷兰国际集团(ing) of new ideas, especially related to chang荷兰国际集团(ing) technology. The use of art 和 technology has changed so much since he first started his career in 1998, 和 Cardwell has advice for current 和 future students who have questions about manag荷兰国际集团(ing) those changes.
“Don’t be afraid of technology 和 what the future holds,” he says. “View it as a tool that’s meant to serve you 和 your ultimate purpose
为 students look荷兰国际集团(ing) for a career in the creative industry, Cardwell says it is incredibly important to prioritize quality
“That’s when the theoretical turns into real life,” he says. “There’s go荷兰国际集团(ing) to be bumps 和 bruises, but you just have to throw yourself into it 和 focus on th
Cardwell transformed someth荷兰国际集团(ing) he loved — someth荷兰国际集团(ing) that was already a part of him — into a successful career. And just like him, future OSU graduates will find their place — in the community that speaks to them.
