Pictor Graphics: A university-owned, student-run design and print service

Linda Nelson and Brent Bergham, Walla Walla University

How are students preparing to enter the profession?
By making it real. The entrepreneurial enterprise created in Pictor Graphics primarily serves as technical support for our design curriculum. Ample opportunities for the selected design students are provided to reach beyond the classroom/lab experience, including a strong service component. Pictor students do content creation, photography, layout and design, and production for real clients, budgets, and deadlines. Professional level performance in design and production while communicating with clients, determining their design needs, budget and timeline.

What social skills do they need?
Professional attire and practices are stressed. Professional communication skills are performed on the phone, written bids, accounting, billing, and in person. Vendor relationships are established and ongoing communication with the supervising faculty member, the academic department chair and the office manager.

How do they communicate through their portfolios, their work, and through the written and spoken language?
The real world projects differentiate Pictor student portfolios from the basic class project type of portfolio. A higher quality in the design work is found in their portfolios, as well as examples of written and spoken language in a professional business environment.

How do they learn to make friends and influence people?
Campus outreach is a skill developed in each of the student managers while creating opportunities to meet with each department chair/dean on campus. Word-of-mouth created substantial repeat customers, putting Pictor in the black operationally and anticipating total payback within the next two years.

Co-presented by Brent Bergherm and Linda Nelson.