what can i do with a bfa?

J E N M E Y E R0 0 5 S T E I N B E R G H A L L3 1 4 . 9 3 5 . 5 9 3 0J E N N I F E R . M E Y E R @ W U S T L . E D UC A R E E R C E N T E R . W U S T L . E D U

Life After Art School

the endless possibilities of the BFA

jen [email protected]

314.935.5930@jenloganmeyer

careercenter.wustl.edu

mailto:[email protected]


What can I do with a BFA?

Here are some career paths:

Here are some career paths:INNOVATOR

BUSINESSMAN

ENTREPRENEUR

ACTIVIST

POLITICIAN

CREATOR

ART DIRECTOR

PRODUCER

PUBLISHER


BUSINESSMAN

ENTREPRENEUR

ACTIVIST

POLITICIAN

CREATOR

ART DIRECTOR

PRODUCER

PUBLISHER

TEACHER

CHEF

GALLERY OWNER

ARTIST

DESIGNER

FASHION DESIGNER

PRODUCT DESIGNER

ARCHITECT


BUSINESSMAN

ENTREPRENEUR

ACTIVIST

POLITICIAN

CREATOR

ART DIRECTOR

PRODUCER

PUBLISHER

TEACHER

CHEF

GALLERY OWNER

ARTIST

DESIGNER

FASHION DESIGNER

PRODUCT DESIGNER

ARCHITECT

ANIMATOR

CURATOR

CRITIC

WRITER

PAINTER

VIDEOGRAPHER

JEWELER

ART THERAPIST


BUSINESSMAN

ENTREPRENEUR

ACTIVIST

POLITICIAN

CREATOR

ART DIRECTOR

PRODUCER

PUBLISHER

TEACHER

CHEF

GALLERY OWNER

ARTIST

DESIGNER

FASHION DESIGNER

PRODUCT DESIGNER

ARCHITECT

ANIMATOR

CURATOR

CRITIC

WRITER

PAINTER

VIDEOGRAPHER

JEWELER

ART THERAPIST

APPRAISER

WEB DESIGNER

MARKETING

SALES

C .E.O.

Case Study 1:

technical art direction | communication design–illustration

Mara MacMahon

“I found a line of work that combines my creative side with my passion

of science”

What can an artist bring to the table?

To navigate the world today we need to be...

I N T E R D I S C I P L I N A R YFA S T- PA C E D

O K W I T H A M B I G U I T YN I M B L E

P R O C E S S - O R I E N T E D T H I N K E R SG LO B A L C I T I Z E N S

C R E AT I V E P R O B L E M S O LV E R S

Ellen SitkinCase Study 2:

designer | communication design–design

“As communicators in a world which hinges on communication [designers and artists] share a large part of the responsibility for the quality of public debate”

-Culture Agents

Artists and designers bring beautiful craft and powerful minds

inductive logic: the logic that goes from specific to general

deductive logic: the logic of what might be

designers and artists do this to create a fresh approach to a problem

abductive logic

abductive thinking is suggesting something may be and then reaching out to explore it

“In a global economy, elegant design is becoming a critical competitive advantage. Trouble is, most folks don’t think like designers.”

-Bill Breen, Fast Company

Case Study 3:

director | sculpture & design

Aaron Duffy

Where can my major take me?

There are 6 majors offered at WashU:

There are 6 majors offered at WashU:

Digita l Imaging & Photography

Fashion Design

Paint ing

Pr intmaking/Drawing

Sculpture

Communicat ion Design

I l lustrat ionGraphic Des ign

Case Study 4:

hair accessory designer | fashion

Jennifer Behr

Case Study 5:

global creative director at levi strauss & co. | fashion

Paul Dillinger

What else?

Beyond making, building, or deconstructing stuff, you will walk

away from your art education...

...having situated yourself forabundant professional opportunities.

...having situated yourself forabundant professional opportunities.

Knowledge

Disc ip l ine

Mentorship

Connect ions

Credib i l i ty

“In school you do not only learn. You become. The curriculum deconstructs the way you think and reconstructs your mind for the purpose of art. That is what sets a professional apart from an amateur. An amateur will always be "doing art". A professional is hardwired for it.”

-Deviant Art

Jenny MurphyCase Study 5:

social entrepreneur | sculpture

tWhere do I go from here?

For some, the path is obvious

Sculpture majors will become

sculptorsSculpture majors will become

sculptorsFashion majors will become



fashion designers



Painting majors will become fashion designers


sculptors

painters

Fashion majors will become



sculptors

painters


Design majors will become



sculptors

painters


designersDesign majors will become



for others, less so.

social workersSculpture majors will become

social workersFashion majors will become



Fulbright scholars



Painting majors will become Fulbright scholars


social workers

publicists




social workers

publicists


Design majors will become



social workers

publicists


doctorsDesign majors will become



If you choose to have an independent studio

or work in high-end branding

make cupcakes on a national show

or design for sustainable solutions

the experiences you gather at art school can

impact minds

the experiences you gather at art school can impact decisions

the experiences you gather at art school can impact outcomes

the experiences you gather at art school can impact the world

Case Study 4:

sustainable art collective founded by three 2011 grads

photographer | printmaker | painter

SYLVA JOHNSON | SIENNA BALDI | LEAH NIXON

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1349680912/mitch-collective-printing-press


Case Study 4:

sustainable art collective founded by three 2011 grads

photographer | printmaker | painter

SYLVA JOHNSON | SIENNA BALDI | LEAH NIXON

MITCH Collective



If the path of social responsibility is not for you...

or if the path of commercialism is not for you...

or you can’t bare to decide...

do not fear!

commercial success & social responsibility are not incompatible.

AND DON’T FORGET THAT WHATEVER PROFESSIONAL PATH YOU FOLLOW...

Plus, you’ll get to make cool stuff

Plus, you’ll get to make cool stuffYou’ll get to

make cool things

thank you!

jen [email protected]

314.935.5930@jenloganmeyer

careercenter.wustl.edu

J E N M E Y E R0 0 5 S T E I N B E R G H A L L3 1 4 . 9 3 5 . 5 9 3 0J E N N I F E R . M E Y E R @ W U S T L . E D UC A R E E R C E N T E R . W U S T L . E D U



what can i do with a bfa?

Career

sculpture majors

sculptorsfashion majors

scholarspainting majors

paintersdesign majors

c i t i z e n s c r

publicistsdesign majors

n e r c r i ti cactivist

s o lv e r s