Courtesy of Blinn College District
Blinn College literally led Conley Koberg to her first graphic design job.
Now a graphic designer for Bryan Broadcasting, Koberg was engaged in a class activity for her Drawing I class taught by Professor Kristi Hext when a nearby business, Fidelis Creative Agency, saw her work and invited her to apply.
“Professor Hext had our drawing class meet in downtown Bryan one day to draw real-life buildings in perspective,” Koberg explained. “I just so happened to pick the building that Fidelis was next to a the time, and they handed me a business card saying they are always looking to hire. So that same night I shot them an email and had an interview that week.”
Koberg’s family had moved frequently throughout her childhood, with stops in Arkansas, Pennsylvania, and Mississippi before she moved to Texas at age 14. No matter where she lived, however, her mother’s influence as an artist came to the forefront.
“She would let me join in with a small canvas to paint while she was working on a large piece. As soon as art became a possible elective in school, I joined and never looked back,” Koberg said. “I love how with art and graphic design, I get to put my creativity into something that other people can enjoy. Whether it’s sidewalk chalk art that a kid passing by gets to see or making a logo for someone’s new business, it brings me joy knowing I can make someone’s day with my art.”
Despite her passion for art, Koberg initially planned to follow in her brother’s footsteps by attending Blinn and then transferring to Texas A&M University. She knew she was talented in math and science, but she struggled to find a career path that she loved.
Then she discovered Blinn’s Graphic Design and Photography Program.
“It was such an ‘aha!’ moment of knowing that this is what I want to do,” Koberg said.
Blinn’s Graphic Design and Photography Program provides a well-rounded education in visual communication with courses that include graphic design, photography, digital imaging, and visual media. The program prepares students to work in a variety of fields within the industry, including advertising, marketing, media, and publishing, and courses transfer to other workforce classes at universities such as Sam Houston State and Southern New Hampshire.
Students can earn their Associate of Applied Science in Graphic Design online or on the Bryan Campus. While pursuing their associate degree, students can earn a Level-1 Certificate in Graphic Design and occupational skills awards in graphic design and digital photography.
“I liked how through the program you get to dabble in a lot of different things that go hand-in-hand with graphics,” Koberg said. “For example, we had a video editing class, an animation class, and a website coding class where we could use our graphics within other settings.
“I think my favorite part of the program is how much each project varied, from designing a candy box for a new candy that I made up, a record for an original music album, animating an underwater scene, to even creating a brand from scratch. The program really sets you up for just about any kind of job in the graphic design field.”
Koberg’s job with Fidelis Creative Agency not only served as her introduction to the profession, but also met the internship requirement for her graphic design degree. In that role, she began designing social media graphics and editing podcasts for YouTube before she was promoted to social media manager.
Last year, Conley moved into a full-time role as a graphic designer with Bryan Broadcasting. There, she designs the ads that go into the company’s nine local magazines, including Brazos Life, Best of the Brazos Valley, and Brazos Valley Bride.
“Blinn’s program sets you up for success by making you a well-rounded designer and giving you as much real-world experience as possible,” Koberg said. “The program also helps you prepare to be job-ready by having a class specifically dedicated to building an online portfolio and resume.”
To learn more about Blinn’s Graphic Design and Photography Program, visit www.blinn.edu/graphic-design-and-photography.
About the Blinn College District
With innovative programs and award-winning co-enrollment partnerships, Blinn’s academic transfer rate ranks No. 1 among Texas community colleges. For more information, visit www.blinn.edu.
Courtesy of Blinn College District
