If you attended a movie, sporting event, concert, or conference over the summer, you likely saw the work of a Florida A&M University School of Journalism & Graphic Communication (FAMU SJGC) alum or student.
Alumni and students alike have been showcasing the skills they developed on “The Hill” and are serving as global ambassadors of the Graphic Communication Division’s commitment to positioning scholars to inspire, inform, and captivate consumers, communities, and viewers through images, words and graphics.
Alumna Brianna Grant’s Design Innovations on Display in Pixar’s “Elio“
Left: Brianna Grant pauses to take a moment to celebrate her contributions to Pixar’s “Elio,” as she saw the movie in theaters for the first time. Examples of her initial designs for the film are seen below. Photos courtesy: Brianna Grant/Pixar.
“Elio” is Pixar’s latest cosmic adventure animation, where the film’s main character goes through an intergalactic journey to discover who and where he is truly meant to be. The film’s stars include Zoe Saldaña, Yonas Kibreab and Brad Garrett. Among the team who made this story come to life in theaters around the world this summer was Brianna Grant, a 2021 SJGC grad. She made a significant contribution to the film. Her artwork was an early component of the development of the visual alien language seen on the big screen.
Her role also entailed experimenting with abstract colors and sound waves to determine, and visually interpret, how energy can be represented and translated in animated film.
She said it was “a new challenge but also incredibly rewarding.”
“It feels surreal. I’m a firm believer in stepping out of my comfort zone to unlock new levels of growth and creativity in both mindset and work. I trusted myself throughout the process,” Grant said. “Saying I worked on a Pixar film means a lot to me; it reminds me that anything is possible, and there are no limits to my potential.”
Developing one-of-a-kind concepts is a challenge Grant has consistently accepted from her days as a student to her current work as a highly sought-after freelance designer. She’s created custom snapback hat designs for the Phoenix Suns and was selected to participate in the Beats by Dre Black Creators Program, where she helped develop custom headphone and product designs.
After transferring to FAMU from Valencia College in 2018, Grant says she was embraced by SJGC faculty and staff, and she credits her experience as a graphic design student with helping to shape her into the visionary she is today.
“SJGC helped me find my voice by allowing me to connect and network with my peers. I really appreciate my professors, Alicia Hope and Anosh Gill, for always pushing me to think outside the box—not only to market myself but also to understand the importance of deadlines, storytelling, design principles, and being my own biggest advocate,” Grant said. “This preparation has helped me walk into rooms with confidence and resilience.”
Senior Zaria Salter’s Work Featured at Crypto.com Arena
Like Grant, SJGC senior Zaria Salter has been innovating and blazing new trails in Los Angeles.
As a result of being named an HBCU in LA intern finalist for the Entertainment Industry College Outreach Program (EICOP), Salter was selected to serve as the first-ever creative/graphic design intern for AEG Global Partnerships. The EICOP is the same program that helped Grant land an internship with Pixar as a student participating in HBCU in LA four years ago, demonstrating the talent continuously being noticed at SJGC.
Left: Zaria Salter poses at the AEG headquarters. A sample of her design work for AEG’s Crypto.com arena is featured below, which was displayed during the Flagstar Courtside Classic. Photos courtesy: Zaria Salter.
One of Salter’s projects, while in California for the summer, included designing print and digital assets for the Flagstar Courtside Classic, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament held at the AEG-owned Crypto.com Arena.
The venue is home to the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, and hosts prestigious concerts, award shows, and other major events.
Salter credits the encouragement she received through the EICOP’s HBCU program and the strong foundation she’s developed at FAMU SJGC as stepping stones for her early career success. Already a celebrated and award-winning designer, Salter won four awards from the Florida Graphics Alliance at the Florida Print Awards last year, including the Award for Excellence in Stationery Package. And she’s just getting started.
“To see my work displayed was confirmation that my dreams could come true, and that being a creative could also mean making a living,” Salter said. “To have this opportunity as an SJGC student means having the opportunity to prove that my education (at an HBCU) is just as important and valuable as the next person’s.”
Alumna Jasmine Patrick Helps Shape Brand of the First-Ever AchieveHER National Summit
Jasmine Patrick, a recent FAMU SJGC graduate, is seen left with her younger sister displaying attendee branded bags that reflect her design work for the AchieverHER Summit.
Below: Patrick’s work was seen by executives, celebrities, entertainers, students, and young professionals from all over the country. Photos: Captured by Luigi.
While Salter’s work was on display in one of the country’s biggest arenas, Jasmine Patrick, a fall 2024 graduate, also made her mark this summer in one of the nation’s biggest event-hosting cities. She was selected to develop a full brand suite for the inaugural, national AchieveHER Summit, hosted in Atlanta by Impressions of Beauty.
The summit was designed to guide female college students and recent graduates in turning their passion into purpose and dreams into reality. It provided tools to improve mindset, wellness, confidence, and connections for career success.
Patrick’s standout talent, sharpened on “The Hill,” positioned her to create more than 40 custom-branded assets for the event, including signs, bags, postcards, displays, and feature walls. She also developed a suite of social media visuals that generated nationwide buzz. Her work shaped an unforgettable experience for hundreds of attendees and reached a digital community that has inspired thousands of Gen Z women. Her work was also seen by Hollywood and business stars, including popular actress, executive producer and FAMU alumna KJ Smith, who was the keynote speaker; musical artist Dess Dior; and the summit’s creator and Rattler Ashlee Gomez, CEO and Founder of Impressions of Beauty.
“It feels so surreal,” said Patrick about the experience, who just about a year ago celebrated winning 14 Florida Print Awards for her various design projects as a student. “There’s something about seeing your work in person each time, especially in a room full of people that may or may not know you created it. From working on multiple graphics on a 14-inch laptop to seeing it all in its true size was truly amazing. It reminded me that this truly is my passion, my love and my purpose.”
Patrick, who has successfully operated her own graphic design business, JPatrick Designs, for the last eight years, even while a student, said her FAMU experience prepared her well.
“SJGC classes, micro-internships, and other experiences prepared me in the best way possible,” Patrick said. “When I was in school, most of our assignments were designed to showcase what real projects would require. Outside of class, I would work with the FAMU SJGC Print Shop, which introduced me to creating real work for the school. Working on multiple projects at a time and coming up with unique ways to communicate ideas helped me to prepare for this moment.”
Graphic Design Professor Alicia Hope Reflects on Student Success
Alicia Hope, alumna and instructor in the Division of Graphic Communication, reflected on the excitement of seeing SJGC-trained designers finding success on national and international stages.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Hope exclaimed. “Seeing students grow in their passion, and finding new ways to innovate and connect through design excites me, not just as a professor, but as a creative myself,” she said. “As an alumna, it makes me a proud Rattler. Moments like this remind me that the work we’re doing here at SJGC truly matters. Our students are out there making their mark, and it is proof that what starts in our classrooms doesn’t stay there — it impacts the world.”
Hope says the stream of stories about the global reach of graphic design students’ and graduates’ work underscores the relevance of the teaching style and strategies of the program.
“Their success speaks volumes about the kind of learning environment we’ve built at SJGC, especially within our Graphic Design Division,” she said. “Our students don’t just study design; they apply it. From hands-on projects to collaborative campaigns, we give them space to explore, take risks, and grow through real feedback. These kinds of experiences build confidence and prepare them to not only compete, but to stand out.”
