Alumni visit information graphics class to share career knowledge with students

Students in Visual Communication Assistant Professor Adonis Durado’s Introduction to Information Graphics (VICO 3111 & 5111) class recently got to hear from two Scripps College of Communication alumni who have taken what they learned at Ohio University to go on to high profile careers. Amanda Weisbrod (BSJ ’19, MA ’22,) who works as a graphic designer at Radio Free Asia and Evann Figueroa, (BSJ ’19, MA ’21,) who works as a multimedia graphic designer at C-SPAN, spoke to the class at the end of September. Both women studied journalism and visual communication.

“It’s important for students to connect with alumni who are working in the industry,” said Durado. “These interactions not only offer networking opportunities but also provide real-world insight into how the skills learned in class translate to professional roles.”

“Experiential learning provides VISCOM students the important opportunity to apply what they have been learning in real-world settings, honing their skills through hands-on practice. It also helps them build portfolios, adapt to industry standards, and develop a deeper understanding of audience needs. All things required of a visual storyteller and communicator,” said School of Visual Communication Director Timothy Goheen.

Figueroa talked to the class about the work she is doing at C-SPAN in relation to the upcoming presidential election. She created the design for the 2024 Electoral College Map which is being distributed to teachers and students as part of C-SPAN Classroom. Weisbord, who recently won a national Edward R. Murrow Award for her work on a piece called “Under the Gun in Myanmar,” showed the students the interactive graphics she created for the online piece to help tell the story of the impact that the civil war has had on the Burmese people.

“It’s hard to get numbers across in a humanizing way,” said Weisbrod. “So, I like working with old analog ideas and that’s why the lead image has an analog feel to it with a conspiracy board.”

The students appreciated seeing how the current projects Weisbrod and Figueroa were working on related to what they are learning in class.

“Hearing from Amanda and Evann was very insightful. It gave me a good idea of what kind of careers exist,” said Emma Hopper, a senior infographics and publication design major. “I enjoyed seeing the work Amanda and Evann have done since graduating from OHIO. It was very inspiring and motivating.”

“It's easy to get lost in the nitty-gritty of the applications and assignments we are learning in class. Amanda and Evann's visit helped me zoom out my perspective and look forward to applying these skills in the real world,” said Olivia Raney, a second-year graduate student. “I was especially engaged in learning about Amanda's work with Radio Free America because Asia is underserved when it comes to free and open journalism. I enjoyed learning about how Amanda collaborates with others to consider multiple languages and cultural contexts.”

During the visit, Weisbrod also provided valuable feedback on the students' work during critique sessions.

“The critiques and input were very helpful and thought provoking,” said Hopper. “It allowed me to think more critically about my design choices and data visualization.”