Southeast Community College sponsored the Ninth Annual “Me, Myself & Design” Conference on Sept. 22, 2018. The daylong event was for graphic design students and new designers. Sessions included panels with seasoned veterans as well as new designers on tips to get a job and making your work stand out. Attendees also had the opportunity to network, get a professional headshot and have their portfolio reviewed.

“Me, Myself & Design challenges the perception of design past the classroom and expands on what students know about the creative industry,” said Elizabeth Vornbrock, chair of SCC’s Graphic Design/Media Arts program.

Current and former SCC students attended the event and also designed promotional material for it. Alumnus Cameron O’Brien was on the New Designer Panel as well. He’s a graphic designer at Turnpost in Omaha and said it’s important for students to attend these types of events because networking and meeting others is important in this field.

“What I enjoyed most about participating in the conference was it gave me the ability to not just network and connect with other student and professional designers in the community, but also the chance to start giving back in sharing my experiences with designing and transitioning from college to being a professional,” O’Brien said. “I would not be where I am today if I did not have the great teachers that I have had.” 

Holly Johnson is a GD/MA alumna and serves on the Nebraska Board of Directors as the Director of Me, Myself & Design. She is also an adjunct instructor and works as the Lead Web Designer/Developer at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.