Advertising & Graphic Design students explore possibilities through skateboards

Skateboard design project provide a canvas for creativity

From celestial objects to pizza to Disney characters, students in Advertising & Graphic Design at the Center for Career Services recently discovered quite a variety of inspirations while working on a recent project. Of course, being creative was the goal during a project that required them to create a brand based off their inspiration and use it to develop three themed designs for the deck of a skateboard.

  “We had to make a brand, and we needed a name for our company,” said senior Jaylen Inniss, a White Plains student inspired by shapes and colors. “After that, we really had creative freedom, and we were able to do what we wanted.”

The results of the student designs are on display outside the classroom. Each student’s designs, which were created on the software of their choosing, have been printed out for other students and staff to see. Some even printed their designs and affixed them to skateboards, while others plan on painting directly on a skateboard deck.

“The students factored in a chosen demographic,” instructor Damian Powers said. “They had to create original design work and develop the skateboard designs based on client-based specifications.”

Despite those parameters, Powers allowed the students to tap into their vast imaginations. After designing their line of skateboards, each presented their brand and explained their design to the class.

“I thought that part was really fun, honestly,” said junior Oliver Klar, whose designs were created through iPad software and featured the sun, moon and stars. “We had a chance to see everybody’s different thought processes.”

“I haven’t done anything else like this in school,” Inniss said. “I was excited to see the result. Mr. Powers really gave us a lot of freedom. When it comes to a project like this, it can be very exciting and rewarding because you really get to do whatever your heart desires.”