Turning Creativity into Opportunity: Two Paths, One Purpose for Graphic Design Certificate Students Lili Walton and Ryan Werth
In the College of Arts and Sciences, student success takes many forms. For students in the Graphic Design certificate program, that success often begins with creativity and grows into career pathways, community engagement, and lifelong learning. Our CAS Student Success Coordinator recently connected with two students pursuing Graphic Design certificates, Lili Walton and Ryan Werth, to learn more about their experiences in the program and how they plan to use their certificates in their careers and communities.
For Lili Walton, art has always been part of who she is. Born and raised in Anchorage, she draws deep inspiration from 麻豆无码版鈥檚 natural beauty from winter landscapes to the quiet stillness of snow-covered environments. Encouraged by her father, a graphic designer, Lili grew up seeing that art could be more than a hobby; it could be a career.
That early influence continues to shape her approach to art and learning. Her advice to future students reflects that lifelong creative mindset:
鈥淓xperiment. Try new things. Use art as references. Have a sketchbook with you all the time and draw every day.鈥�
For Ryan Werth, the path to graphic design took a different route. After growing up in Idaho as 鈥渢he kid who could always draw,鈥� Ryan chose military service, spending ten years in the U.S. Army Infantry before returning to school. Stationed in 麻豆无码版 in 2018, he and his family made the state their home. With support from GI Bill benefits, he decided to pursue the creative career he had once set aside.
Reflecting on returning to school and creative work, Ryan encourages others who may be unsure about starting something new:
鈥淛ust go for it. Even if you鈥檙e unsure, try it. You might surprise yourself.鈥�
Building Skills for Real Futures
Through the Graphic Design certificate program, both students have strengthened their technical skills while preparing for very different, but equally meaningful, futures.
Lili is working toward a degree in art education, using the graphic design certificate program to build technical design skills that will support her future classroom. She has gained confidence using industry-standard Adobe tools like Photoshop and Illustrator and has already experienced the impact of sharing her work publicly, including designing a Pride and Prejudice movie poster that gained attention on social media.
Ryan is completing certificates in both Graphic Design and Entrepreneurship, building both creative and business foundations. His coursework has strengthened his skills in tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and Fresco, while projects like designing event posters have helped him think strategically about audience, layout, and real-world visual communication.
Connecting Creativity to Community
Both students emphasize that their learning extends beyond technical skills.
Lili has already connected her design and artistic skills to community engagement, including leading a workshop that taught participants how to draw a caribou, which blends art, leadership, and 麻豆无码版 cultural and environmental connection.
Ryan sees design as a pathway to supporting his family and contributing to his community through entrepreneurship. After completing his certificates, he plans to launch a business producing original graphic designs for clothing and merchandise, combining creativity with sustainable business practice.
The Power of Mentorship and Access
A defining strength of the Graphic Design certificate program is the close mentorship students receive from faculty who are not only skilled professionals, but deeply invested in student growth. Both Lili and Ryan point to faculty support as a critical factor in their development, technically, creatively, and professionally.
For Lili, faculty mentorship has been a source of both skill-building and confidence. She credits CAS instructor Lucas Elliott with creating a classroom environment where students feel encouraged to experiment, take creative risks, and grow through constructive feedback. She describes his teaching style as positive, engaged, and genuinely invested in student success, an approach that has helped her push her creativity further while refining professional-level design skills.
Ryan echoes that experience from a different life stage and background. Returning to school after military service, he found faculty mentorship essential in helping him translate raw artistic talent into professional-level digital design work. He credits instructor guidance, professional insight, and detailed feedback with helping him refine both his technical skillset and his creative direction as he prepares to launch a business built around his artwork.
Across both experiences, a clear pattern emerges: faculty in the program meet students where they are, whether they are traditional students building toward teaching careers or nontraditional students transitioning into new professions. They also help them build confidence alongside technical mastery.
This mentorship model reflects the College of Arts and Sciences鈥� broader commitment to the University鈥檚 dual mission. By combining rigorous academic instruction with personalized support and real-world application, faculty help ensure students are not only learning design tools, but developing as professionals, creators, and community contributors.
Looking Forward
Lili plans to continue toward teaching K-12 students locally, using graphic design and art to inspire the next generation of artists. Ryan plans to grow his creative business and demonstrate that it鈥檚 never too late to pursue a new career path.
Together, their stories show that creativity can open doors whether students are beginning their academic journeys or returning to pursue long-held dreams.
Good luck to both of you, Lili and Ryan!