Abby Tosic - BFA Graphic Design, 2006
I can’t fully put into words what it is that makes attending UWSP for your future career in art such a unique experience, but it certainly involves a number of moving parts. You find yourself in a community where those around you are excited about new ideas, and possibilities. Fellow students who equate pursuing their passions of art in its many forms as would a person developing their budding career as a rock star. A small town, that somehow attracts superior professors who leave careers at larger schools because they want to be a part of an engaging program that’s nestled in a charming location they are happy to call their homes. It all comes together to form this positive flow of energy that can be so valuable to finding where your strengths are, and where the path of your future truly lies.
I have fond memories of honing my skills at the Design Center, late night hours with classmates, cutting and spray mounting projects long into the night, and being excited to look at everyone’s final portfolio’s to see how far we’ve all come. I don’t know many people who can say that their professor’s cared enough to tell you really like it is because they knew that you had more in you, and would take time out of their busy schedules, (even after hours) to make sure you had questions answered for an important project that might just be the presentation that lands you your first job out of college. It truly is an authentic environment of caring people that wanted to see its students and peers grow.
After finishing my BFA in Graphic Design at UWSP, thanks to the local chapter of UWSP AIGA, I already knew where my future would take me. I had toured an Advertising Agency in Minneapolis, MN for AIGA’s end of the year event and just knew it was where I belonged. I have a story that many would envy, but I only applied for this one job just knowing it was the one, and I actually got it. It was clear to me that UWSP had given me the proper tools to stand out and establish myself as a strong contender. I even had the Creative Director that hired me telling me to thank my professors for creating a program that focuses on presentation skills as well as design skills. Her words were that she was surprised how prepared I was for the real design world, and I know that’s all thanks to the UWSP Art Department creating a solid program.
Today, I currently work as an Online Design and Usability Lead at 3M in St Paul, MN. It’s a dream role with an innovative company willing to test and invest into growing technologies. I get to work with strong consumer brands like Post-it, Scotchbrand, Scotch-Brite, and Command on a global level. I design user experience flows, websites, landing pages, brand marks, interactive contests through social media campaigns and carve out what their online and mobile experiences look like.
My experiences have led me to such opportunities like speaking at Web Design Conferences around the globe, and being featured in magazines like .Net Magazine, the World’s best selling Web Design Magazine.
I feel truly blessed to have such a fulfilling career that I’m excited to get up and be a part of every day, and I know the encouragement and insights UWSP gave me is the foundation that I had that led me here.