Deanna Sheehan Inspires the Next Generation of Graphic Designers
Friday, May 22, 2026 12:00 AM
Highlights of this blog
- Deanna Sheehan partners with local organizations and businesses to give students real world work experience.
- Students have many pathways when choosing a career in graphic design.
Deanna Sheehan has 25 years of experience as a graphic designer, illustrator, motion designer and freelance artist. As an instructor of Collaborative Media and Design and Layout, she wants her students to know they can succeed in a creative field.
“I want to inspire people to go and do this as their career too, to show them that it is possible,” Sheehan said.
By partnering with local organizations and businesses, Sheehan has been able to give her students that career experience before they leave the classroom.
Turning Classroom Projects into Professional Experience
When Sheehan became full-time faculty in 2022, she continued a unique and fulfilling experience for students started by her predecessor, a logo design contest for Shorewood Kiwanis Harper Charity Cruise where Design 3 students participate every year for a cash prize of $2,000.
Since then, Sheehan has taken this contest even further by having students print the winning logo on shirts, mugs and a variety of other materials.
Through word of mouth, she has brought in more opportunities for her students in other classes. Driveline Studios, a local marketing company, had a logo design contest for Design 2 students, and a yearbook design contest for a local dog daycare.
Students get to see what it’s like to work with a client, have a deadline and how to meet a client’s wants. “My goal is that this is a real job,” Sheehan said, “working with these customers gives students that experience so they’re not going into the real world unprepared.”
Showing Students What’s Possible
Sheehan loves seeing her students realize how many career opportunities are available to them. She said, “If I go into a grocery store, every package I see was done by somebody. Somebody had to design it, and somebody had to lay it out.”
Even if students don’t win contests, they are encouraged to use their designs from class for their portfolio and to post on print-on-demand websites like Red Bubble and Society 6 to earn a passive income.
When it comes to what Sheehan wants her student’s biggest takeaway from her class to be, she said, “That the possibilities for a career in this field are endless.”
If you would like to explore our Collaborative Media, Design and Layout, or any of our other Media and Communication Arts programs, visit our webpage.
“I want to inspire people to go and do this as their career too, to show them that it is possible,” Sheehan said.
By partnering with local organizations and businesses, Sheehan has been able to give her students that career experience before they leave the classroom.
Turning Classroom Projects into Professional Experience
When Sheehan became full-time faculty in 2022, she continued a unique and fulfilling experience for students started by her predecessor, a logo design contest for Shorewood Kiwanis Harper Charity Cruise where Design 3 students participate every year for a cash prize of $2,000.
Since then, Sheehan has taken this contest even further by having students print the winning logo on shirts, mugs and a variety of other materials.
Through word of mouth, she has brought in more opportunities for her students in other classes. Driveline Studios, a local marketing company, had a logo design contest for Design 2 students, and a yearbook design contest for a local dog daycare.
Students get to see what it’s like to work with a client, have a deadline and how to meet a client’s wants. “My goal is that this is a real job,” Sheehan said, “working with these customers gives students that experience so they’re not going into the real world unprepared.”
Showing Students What’s Possible
Sheehan loves seeing her students realize how many career opportunities are available to them. She said, “If I go into a grocery store, every package I see was done by somebody. Somebody had to design it, and somebody had to lay it out.”
Even if students don’t win contests, they are encouraged to use their designs from class for their portfolio and to post on print-on-demand websites like Red Bubble and Society 6 to earn a passive income.
When it comes to what Sheehan wants her student’s biggest takeaway from her class to be, she said, “That the possibilities for a career in this field are endless.”
If you would like to explore our Collaborative Media, Design and Layout, or any of our other Media and Communication Arts programs, visit our webpage.