USM Students Named in Prestigious Graphic Design Magazine’s Students to Watch List

Tue,
03/26/2024 – 10:30am | By: Ivonne Kawas

Two students in The University of Southern Mississippi (USM)’s Art and Design program have been named to the highly anticipated 2024 Graphic Design USA (GDUSA) “Students
to Watch” list.

USM Graphic Design seniors, Autumn Graves, of Hattiesburg, Miss., and Grace May of
Puckett, Miss., were selected to be among this year’s cohort of aspiring designers
due to their talent and potential to make significant contributions to the field.

Showcasing top emerging talents in the field of graphic design, the prestigious magazine
GDUSA recognized 115 outstanding art and design students from all over the country,
including undergrads, graduate students, and recent graduates.

“Both emerging designers have an exceptional work ethic and a talent that truly sets
them apart, making it fitting for them to be acknowledged as among the best in the
country,” said Jacob Cotton, associate professor of design. “Our graphic design program
at Southern Miss boasts a storied history of outstanding alumni, including luminaries
like AIGA Medalist Ann Willoughby, Rodney Richardson, and Michael Borosky. The consecutive
recognition of seniors in our program even before graduation not only underscores
the continuation of this illustrious legacy, but also serves as a powerful affirmation
that our program is unequivocally on the path of sustained excellence.”

As seen in GDUSA magazine, Graves shared that she was homeschooled until college,
which gave her the opportunity to tailor her education around her love for the arts
from an early age. In high school, she focused on classes like painting, classical
piano, and classic literature, influencing her creative direction and inspiration
as an artist today.

Graves has shown a dedication to her craft by actively pursuing creative roles—on
campus and locally. Currently, she works as the associate creative director for the
program’s design and marketing team.

Beyond USM, she’s found opportunities to enhance her skills through her work with
real-world clients, including her graphic designs for Temple Baptist Church. Upon
graduation, she remains open to all opportunities, but hopes to pursue a career focused
on her passion for illustration, branding, and publication design.

May also shared that she spent most of her high school years finding avenues to nurture
and express her creativity. She always knew that she was meant to be an artist in
some capacity, but she never imagined that graphic design was her calling.

May added that she finds a great deal of inspiration for her designs by going shopping
at antique stores and finding little knick-knacks with cool designs. Anything vintage
or unique in some way inspires her to go beyond her comfort zone and pursue creative
ideas. Upon graduation, May remains open to the idea of designing for causes that
are important to her and believes she could assist non-profits with finding success
through forward-thinking campaigns and designs.

Graphic Design USA has served as an information source for graphic design professionals
since 1963. In addition to the “Students to Watch” list, GDUSA also recognizes “Designers
to Watch” and provides other information regarding design education.

Check out the 2024 GDUSA Students to Watch list. Learn more about USM’s Art and Design program.