I stand out amongst many of my Arts and Humanities peers because of my STEM background. I graduated from the Lakewood Center for Advanced Technologies where I spent four years studying the scientific method, competing in robotics competitions, creating virtual reality simulations, earning certifications in programming languages, and working with cutting edge technology. In addition to my STEM experience, I have always had a strong interest in art, design, and media.

          I saw an opportunity to combine these passions in the Graphic Design field. I enrolled at the University of Central Florida in the Graphic Design track full-time where I began developing a strong foundation of fine art and design skills. Despite not having any formal artistic or design training before my Freshman year of college, I was able to quickly develop my skillset and pass the rigorous Sophomore portfolio review, officially securing my place in the Graphic Design B.F.A. track at UCF.

          During my time at UCF, I implemented humanistic design principles across a diverse collection of projects including brand identities, product packaging, editorial layouts, and digital and print artworks. I was required to justify every design decision to teachers, peers and clients throughout the processes and learned how to handle critiques professionally. While working on these diverse projects, I became highly proficient in the entire Adobe Creative Suite, including programs that were recently added, such as Adobe Dimension, which I use to create detailed 3D product mockups.

          Beginning in May 2021, I worked as a Graphic Designer for the UCF Office of Student Involvement. As part of a team of six other designers, I worked collaboratively on a variety of digital and print marketing materials including social media graphics, posters, email marketing content, and electronic kiosk graphics. I balanced up to five projects at a time while meeting regularly with clients to gather and define requirements, provide project updates, and implement timely revisions. Every Friday, we held a team meeting where I presented my week’s work, provided constructive feedback, and asked for advice. My designs were seen by thousands of students and faithfully implemented the UCF brand guide to create “Bold, Modern, Youthful, and Energetic” graphics that promoted active participation on our campus.

mail: cfriel2@gmail.com​​​​​​​