“Be the Breeze” by Nicole Nguyen  (‘27 Graphic Design, Advertising minor).

Associate Professor Eric Chimenti (Graphic Design) has been facilitating an automotive graphic design project in partnership with the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center since 2007. Last fall semester, the Classic Center welcomed Introduction to Graphic Design (GD 200) students and gave them tours of the showroom as well as an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at where they conserve historic cars. The students then finalized their projects: creating a poster design that incorporates a classic vintage Mercedes on a road trip celebrating one of the 50 states for the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Long Beach. Three designs were chosen from the class to potentially be used for various advertisements for the Mercedes Classic Center.

The top three students’ designs recognized were, “Can’t Say No To a Drive” by Ella Aranjo (‘27 Graphic Design), “Classically Connecticut” by Jane Sacon (‘27 Graphic Design), and “Be the Breeze” by Nicole Nguyen  (‘27 Graphic Design, Advertising minor).

“It was a thorough, well-set-up, project. Hard, but rewarding,” said Olivia Greenberg (‘27 Graphic Design, Advertising minor).

“Classically Connecticut” by Jane Sacon (‘27 Graphic Design).

From start to finish, Greenberg said the project took her over 60 hours to complete. All students were required to design their posters in either Art Deco or WPA styles, designs popular in the 1920s and 1930s.  They also had to compile a 30-page process deck (a tool for brainstorming and designing creative activism projects) that highlights all of the outside research and sketches done to prepare for the project.

Classic Center taken on the class field trip. Photo by Olivia Greenberg.

Classic Center taken on the class field trip. Photo by Olivia Greenberg.

“It gives the students perhaps their first experience working with a worldwide brand and understanding design parameters for design and logo usage,” said Professor Chimenti.

“The project was a great running start and gave me a lot of confidence for future projects,” said Anisa Abdulkariem (‘26 Graphic Design, CCI minor).

(Pictured in header: “Can’t Say No To a Drive” by Ella Aranjo (‘27 Graphic Design)