Senior Anna Sella’s artwork regularly greets readers of the new monthly e-publication of the department of art and art history. The BFA major in digital media and drawing designed the masthead for the e-newsletter that features more student, faculty and alumni stories than we can fit into The Loupe. And the publication design is not the only project where Sella has put her design skills lately. She works as a graphic design intern for the Culverhouse College of Business. She created illustrations for K-3 reading books for the statewide initiative Reading Allies and she was part of the design team for the Black Belt Artist Project catalog, to be published in December 2020. Sella’s accolades include a Silver ADDY in the professional category for her work for Culverhouse College of Business, as well as a Silver ADDY in the student category for packaging design. She has been awarded the Paul R. Jones Endowed Scholarship, Carol B. Merkle Endowed Scholarship, Farley Moody Galbraith Endowed Art Scholarship and Mary Morgan Memorial Art Scholarship Fund.
We asked Anna Sella about how she works, what’s she’s enjoyed most about her courses and what she’s planning for the future. Here’s what she said:
How do you approach your design work?
I approach all of my design work with enthusiasm and an open mind. The most important thing for me is to create designs that have depth beyond the aesthetic, so my process always begins with developing a good understanding of the end goal. From this, I research and strategize ways to create a final design that captures and exceeds the client, professor, or employer’s expectations. Over my time at UA, I have learned the importance of reliability, time management, and professionalism, which has not only helped me in the classroom, but in the workplace, as well.
What have your favorite courses been?
The ones that stand out to me are 2D Design, Figure Drawing, Package Design, Branding and Identity Systems, and Concepts in Drawing. These classes have not only changed how I view and analyze art, they have transformed the way I create it.
What are you doing this summer?
I am continuing to work as a Student Graphic Designer for the Culverhouse College of Business and I have also taken on a few freelance design projects. I plan to work a lot on professional development this summer to get ready for job applications in the fall.
You’ve got one more semester. With health precautions because of the pandemic, how will you approach your remaining time at school?
Similar to how I approached the end of this spring semester, I am trying to stay as positive as I can. The most important thing for me is to put the same amount of effort into projects whether we are on campus or not.
What is your dream job and what do you see for yourself in the next few years?
I have a very open mind when it comes to where I want to work and what I want to do. My dream job would ultimately be having my own design agency. In the meantime, I can see myself working my way up to a director position in a design firm or pursuing an MFA in Graphic Design. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I love branding, packaging, and layout design. I am also interested in learning more about User Interface design.
For information about The University of Alabama’s programs in studio art and art history, visit our Degree Programs page.