Alumni Interview: Elizabeth Bishop

Year of Graduation: 2004

Concentration Title: Marketing, Communication, and Graphic Design

Current Occupation: Graphic Design Manager

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          Elizabeth and I worked together in the BDIC office as peer advisors for a few semesters.  She seemed no-nonsense and flawless, usually dressed to the nines and always with a smile on her face.  She trekked across campus daily, always with a load on her back.  She carried a very large bag with her, filled with some of her photography pieces and equipment, a laptop, books, notebooks, and a sketch pad.  It seemed she was always working on something.
          As for her peers at BDIC, to us, she never seemed like the typical student.  I remember assuming she was older than I, because of her presence.  She had a maturity and calmness that was natural to her disposition.  Although this was a girl filled with passion, we never saw a raw spot.  Elizabeth fit right into our student advisor staff.  She quickly became an advisor that many other student employees sought out for advice because she had a knack for communicating academic ideas and information, as she was rarely ruffled by any type of interaction. 
          Now, almost three years after we’ve both graduated from the BDIC program, we sit together in the cafeteria on the bottom floor of Whitmore and order lunch.  Our conversation goes like this:
          In her original proposal, Elizabeth mentioned her interest in computers and art often, as it is the basis of the concentration she designed in Marketing, Communications, and Graphic Design.  I asked her what these two have in common.  Her comeback was “everything.”  She went on to explain that the production of art has changed drastically since the insurgency of technology.  Once, art was created by hand, now it is almost impossible to not use a computer when dealing with visual art.  She explained the use of digital files and how they have impacted every aspect of the printing process; even the printing press is now being queued by computer.
          Elizabeth also included photography in her curriculum.  The BDIC office still showcases a small collection of her pieces.  I asked her if she was still taking pictures.  She said she now mostly alters photos being used in certain designs but she still picks up a camera every now and then.  She can’t help it.  She also explained the connection between graphic design and photography: detail. 
          In her current position, detail is very important.  It’s imperative for the printing of any design job, for all information to be accurate.  When a print comes to her for review, her eye is trained to pick up inconsistencies in fonts, colors, or the positioning of images.  The placement of images or text affects the overall feel of the visual representation, and it is important to make sure that everything is perfectly in place.  On a side note, she also shared that when she was younger (and even today a desire lingers) she wanted to be a surgeon.  She says this is also because of the emphasis on detail.
          Elizabeth credited Linda Roney, BDIC Coordinator, for pushing her to participate in an internship while an undergraduate.  She says this prepared her for the professional world and made her feel confident during the transition from a college environment to the working world.  While in college, Elizabeth worked at the Boston Globe during interim semesters, as well as at BDIC and Pre-Major Advising during regular semesters in order to put herself through school.  During her final year, Elizabeth was an intern for both the Nutrition Education Program and University Health Services for their graphics departments.
          After asking her how her view of the professional world has changed since she graduated, her response was “small things.”  Now that Elizabeth is involved with hiring for certain positions in her department, she has a chance to be on the other side of the interview.  She shared the view that “on the day of your interview, what you are wearing will be considered as the high of your appearance standards.  In other words, that’s the best you are going to look.”  Also, she noted things like the personal touch of sending a thank you note after an interview or making eye contact with everyone involved with the interview, really do increase your chances of a call back!
          During our conversation, since we were lunching only twenty feet from her department, Elizabeth said hello to passersby.  She told me how she knows each of them.  One individual she greeted was a woman named Amy Glynn, Associate to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.  Elizabeth explained how she helped her to get her first design job.  In the beginning of her tenure at Print Services, when she was learning the press and doing mostly “polish” work on others’ designs, there was a small emergency.  A catchy looking envelope needed to be designed for Student Affairs. 
          As usual, Elizabeth recognized her opportunity and designed ten different templates using funky fonts to show to Ms. Glynn, who loved her work!  She chose one of Elizabeth’s designs and has since come back to her many times.  Elizabeth now does the design and printing jobs for many student-related groups and programs such as The Every Women’s Center, The Stonewall Center, First Week, and Something Every Friday.  She also redesigned the University’s Undergraduate Application and the Dean of Students’ Alcohol and Drug Brochure.
          Her long term career goal is to one day become an Art Director.  What does she do in her current position to advance towards this goal?  She tries to get everything she can from her first job.  She asks questions and genuinely wants to be familiar with every part of her position and surroundings.  She described to me how she grilled the printing press employees about anything she could think of to ask!
          With her new and most recent promotion to Multimedia Graphic Designer, she can concentrate more on design and now is also working with multimedia, such as websites, print, t-shirts, and so on.  She told me that although she is busy, it seems more manageable than when she was in school.  During her undergraduate career she was bombarded with deadlines and spent most of her time seeking people out.  Especially because of her BDIC major, classes were harder to get into.  She was constantly meeting with professors and asking them to admit her into their class, or meeting with her sponsor for recommendations, and working on projects both for and outside of classes, looking for contacts and placements, etc.  Now, she said, working rather than studying in this area, means they come to her.  She is able to work with clients to come up with a manageable schedule as opposed to being required to conform to set deadlines.
          Elizabeth is the embodiment of a BDIC student, independent, head strong, and intuitive.  She never feared what others would think of her self-designed program or that she wouldn’t be able to complete all the work involved.  The BDIC program is grateful for students like Elizabeth who represent the program in such a positive way. 
I asked Elizabeth where she learned her work ethic from, who taught her how to act in a professional setting, and who gave her the confidence to strive for so much.  She credited her   adoptive mother, who stressed how important first impressions were and how to take advantage of an opportunity.  She taught her to keep her composure and treat others with respect.  She did her greatest to give Elizabeth the best tools with which to build her life.
          After thinking on that subject, Elizabeth came up with another answer too.  “I’ve been thinking a lot about where my drive to succeed comes from and I came to the conclusion that it relates to being adopted.  I was born in Peru and loved by my family.  Then, I was given this great opportunity, which was primarily my choice at the age of 5, to get out of complete poverty. Therefore, it was my responsibility to make sure all the efforts that were put into this process were not put to waste. That is the true reason I always push to succeed because it is my responsibility to be successful and in turn, return to my biological family and help them. How could I ever not want to succeed knowing all that was given up for me . . . That is the reason I have made plans and set goals in my life.”
          The BDIC program wishes Elizabeth all the best!  For a look at Elizabeth’s work please visit her website.

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