GDES Students’ Designs Spreads throughout Campus

GDES senior Zoë Mueller works in the College of Architecture, Design and Construction (CADC) Career Services office designing posters, handouts and promotional materials that reach students every day. She balances creative projects with practical office tasks—from layout design to organization—and credits her coursework for giving her the foundation needed to step confidently into the role.

“With every class I feel I improve thanks to the insight of my professors,” she said, noting how much her skills have grown since her first year.

Beyond design, working in a professional office environment has been transformative.

“Not only have my design skills improved dramatically because of this job, but other supporting skills I’ve learned while here, like efficiency in Excel and navigating a professional environment, will be invaluable in the future,” she said.

Adhering to university brand guidelines has also helped her appreciate structure in corporate design and sharpen her ability to communicate design concepts to non-designers—an essential professional skill.

GDES senior Anna Kate Hammett works as a graphic designer for the Harbert College of Business’s New Venture Accelerator (NVA), a free resource for Auburn students, alumni and faculty to receive support in their entrepreneurial

journey of growing and advancing their start-up companies. As part of the NVA’s marketing team, no two days look the same. Hammett might photograph a pitch competition one day and consult with a startup on website design the next. Working alongside fellow GDES students Cheyenne Butler and April Kirk, she helps create marketing collateral while also advising entrepreneurs across a wide range of industries.

Hammett said her GDES classes prepared her not only through technical training, but through frequent presentations and critiques.

“I’ve learned that presenting your work confidently is just as important in a work meeting as it is in the studio,” she said. “Receiving feedback from peers and applying that to a project is also a regular practice in my GDES classes, and it prepared me well for the process of meeting with a client and taking their thoughts into account during revisions.”

Adhering to university brand guidelines has also helped her appreciate structure in corporate design and sharpen her ability to communicate design concepts to non-designers—an essential professional skill.

GDES senior Amanda Valentine has a similar immersive experience working as a graphic designer for the College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM). Since May 2025, she has developed branded templates, led event branding efforts and designed original T-shirt graphics. Valentine said her coursework helped her move beyond intuition to intentional design decisions, while also teaching her how to ask the right questions of clients.

“This role has really helped me gain confidence and independence as a designer,” she said, emphasizing how real-world feedback and revisions have shaped her understanding of design as a collaborative process.

Together, these experiences show how GDES students are building professional confidence, practical skills and creative versatility long before graduation—proving that learning doesn’t stop at the studio door.