Overview
During the Fall 2025 semester, I served as Co-Vice President of Graphic Design for The Agency at Quinnipiac, an award-winning, full-service, student-run creative agency at Quinnipiac University.
The Agency brings together students across disciplines, including graphic design, social media, content and copy, and photo/video, to deliver real client work. As Co-VP of Graphic Design, I was responsible for both designing and leading.
I created client-facing design work while also managing the graphic design team, assigning projects, collaborating across departments, and working closely with account managers to make sure deliverables were completed on time and aligned with client expectations.
Opportunity
Working in a student-run agency environment means balancing two things at once:
Producing professional-level client work
Managing a team of designers with different styles and skill levels
We worked with four clients during the semester:
Connecticut Innovations
QU Central European Institute
QU Conferences and Events
All American Waste
Each client had different goals, brand guidelines, and expectations, which required adaptability in both design execution and team management.
Graphics for The Agency
My Role
Title: Co-Vice President of Graphic Design
Timeline: August 2025 to December 2025
Tools: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Canva
Responsibilities
Designed graphics and deliverables for multiple clients
Led and managed the graphic design team
Assigned projects based on team strengths and timelines
Collaborated with account managers to meet client needs
Ensured all work aligned with brand guidelines and expectations
Maintained organization and communication across teams
This role was very different from working individually. I wasn’t just responsible for my own work; I was responsible for the output and success of the entire design team.
Project Overview
The biggest project I worked on during the semester was a postcard campaign for All American Waste.
The goal was to design a series of postcards that would be mailed to residents in Longmeadow and East Longmeadow, helping communicate the company’s services and values in a clear, engaging, and approachable way.
Key Project: All American Waste Postcard Campaign
The Challenge
Waste management isn’t always the easiest thing to make visually engaging. The challenge was to:
Clearly explain services in a simple way
Make the brand feel approachable and community-focused
Stay consistent with All American Waste’s established branding
Create designs that stand out in a physical mailbox
Strategy & Execution
We created a set of four postcards, each focused on a different aspect of the brand:
Family & Community Focus
Highlighting the company’s values and connection to the communityEase of Recycling
Breaking down how simple and accessible their services areDriver Safety
Emphasizing professionalism and safety standardsCart Cleaning Services
Promoting an additional, lesser-known service
Each postcard was designed to feel consistent as part of a system, while still having its own focus and message.
Key design considerations included:
Following All American Waste’s branding and “five-star quality” motif
Using strong visual hierarchy to communicate quickly
Designing for print, making sure everything was clear and readable at a glance
Creating a balance between informative and visually engaging
We used a mix of client-provided photography and original photos taken by our Photo/Video team during a site visit to the recycling facility. This helped make the designs feel authentic and grounded in the actual work the company does.
Team Leadership & Collaboration
As VP, a big part of my role was making sure everything ran smoothly across the design team.
This included:
Dividing work efficiently across multiple designers
Matching tasks to individual strengths
Providing feedback and maintaining quality control
Communicating with account managers to stay aligned on deadlines and expectations
Because we were working with real clients, timing and communication were just as important as the design itself.
Graphics for Clients
Impact
This project gave All American Waste a set of print materials that clearly communicated their services while staying true to their brand.
From a team perspective, we were able to:
Deliver multiple client projects within tight timelines
Maintain consistency across different designers and deliverables
Strengthen collaboration between design, account, and photo/video teams
Reflection
This role was a big step forward for me because it pushed me beyond just designing.
It helped me develop skills in:
Creative leadership
Team management
Client communication
Delegation and organization
I had to learn how to trust other designers, give clear direction, and make sure everything came together as one cohesive final product.
At the same time, I was still actively designing, which made it a really balanced experience between leadership and hands-on work.