The UW–Madison School of Education offers academic excellence in areas spanning the arts, health, and education. We are a proud community of innovative leaders, creative thinkers, and fearless trailblazers. Our talented students are committed to making their college experience a meaningful journey that aligns with their interests and helps them achieve their future goals.
Following is a Q&A with Mandy Choy, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Art with a specialization in Graphic Design. She is also pursuing certificates in Business and Digital Studies and graduating in spring 2027.
Where are you from, and how did you become interested in pursuing a degree in this field? I’ve lived in Wisconsin my whole life. Currently, I live in New Berlin, Wisconsin (about 20 minutes west of Milwaukee). My interest began at the end of middle school/junior high school — in a time when students were encouraged to explore future careers — when I knew I wanted to pursue the arts. I naturally gravitated towards traditional arts mediums (such as acrylic paints, colored pencils, and pens) but also enjoyed learning about digital art. Graphic design blended these mediums together, and I saw myself in the career. In high school, I enrolled in Graphic Productions courses, experiencing first-hand Adobe programs and designing logos, shirts, and posters. In a digital world, all of these interests solidified into my pursuit of graphic design.
How did you decide that you wanted to become at UW–Madison Badger? In my last year of middle school, I researched different universities that provided a well-resourced arts program. Coincidentally, the University of Wisconsin–Madison (UW) was listed as one of my top choices. However, once high school graduation drew closer, I knew UW would be my only choice as it’s one of the top public universities of the U.S. with in-state costs. It also has a graphic design program with many other potential studies and a great network for opportunities. When I received my acceptance letter, I did not hesitate to become a Badger.
What has been your most meaningful experience with the Art program? My most meaningful experience with the Art program was the “Steady Endeavors 2023 Foundations Exhibition” in Gallery 7 of the Mosse Humanities Building. In this exhibition, the Art program’s first-year interest groups (FIGs) showcased their fall semester projects. As a freshman, entering the university became overwhelming. In a new place with people I did not know, I grew my community of close friends from the Art FIG. Furthermore, I really connected with my FIG instructor, Emily Graves, from Art 212: Drawing Methods and Concepts. This particular exhibition was my first experience in the gallery space with new friends, my favorite instructor, and amazing artwork from all of the FIG students. This moment defined my first experience where I felt comfortable and excited to be a student in the Art program.
What class or professor has had the greatest impact on you, and why? Art546: Publications, taught by Mitchell Volk, has had the greatest impact on me due to its challenges and the encouragement I received. Centered on graphic design, the course projects dove into the real-life expectation of fully developing publication materials on a schedule. When Mitchell began the class, he emphasized a value that I struggled with: “Done is better than perfect.” Perfectionism and procrastination have always impacted my workflow, and the projects forced me to correct this. Every project came with its struggles and late nights, but they taught me how to create fulfilling design projects. Additionally, Mitchell does a great job of breaking down the design process and creating an innovative and collaborative environment with other design students. Now, I am in Art458: Branding and Identity with Mitchell again and I’m excited to continue improving my work.
What are your future goals or plans? As of now, my future goal is to design with a creative agency or company. Lately, I’ve been interested in branding projects! I am also thinking about freelancing for personal interests, including illustrations and book covers.
Anything else you value about the School of Education or your program that you’d like to share with others who are considering it? I recommend joining the School of Education Buddy Program. Part of my freshman experience included my buddy, a senior from the Graphic Design program, who taught me about the School of Education and the Art program. She also introduced me to the student organization American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) at UW–Madison, which I now lead as co-president. I am really thankful to her for sharing her knowledge, becoming a friend, and introducing me to the university.
Do you have any tips for students thinking about how to maximize their experience? My main tip: explore and chat! I recommend going to the student organization fairs and events around campus (Late Night events, Wheelhouse crafts, student-hosted concerts/shows, club meetings, etc.). Strike up friendly conversations with your classmates! In many of my classes, I made a lot of unexpected friends by chatting with them — many students are friendly and can be wonderful in creating close connections.
Can you tell us about a time you connected with someone at the Career Center? My memorable experience was in freshman year, when I met with Lore Bennett to explore possible art opportunities academically and externally. At my first meeting with Lore, I remember we instantly connected. For the majority of the meeting, I asked questions about the graphic design career path and expressed my uncertainty about my studies. In response, they helped clear my confusion, provided several options, and even went out of their way to share recommendations on my portfolio website. I met with them afterwards, where they shared information about a career fair and extensively helped form my resume, leading me to fulfilling a collaborative art project later that semester. Two years later, Lore is someone whom I still connect with and seek support throughout my university experience.
Anything else that’s important to you about yourself or your studies? I want to express that it is okay to take breaks — even to change paths. Last year, I changed my certificates from French to Digital Studies due to stress and changed interests — although, I realized my degree plan became limited to the Bachelor of Science in Art instead of my original goal of a Bachelor of Fine Arts. However, I don’t regret my decision. I tried my best with my original plans, I’m still on track, and my mental health has improved since. This semester is, as I have quoted to my friends, “the best semester out of all of the others!” Currently in progress with my major-related courses and certificates, I immensely enjoy learning in all of them and applying knowledge in a collaborative web of marketing, design, and the digital space. I hope others can use my experiences to support themselves in their university experience. With all of that said, On Wisconsin!