I was lucky enough to sit down with the lovely and talented Brooke Becker. In this interview she gives some insight into her design-rich background, what she digs about art, and how she stays sane as a graduate student and professional.
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SARAH: Brooke, you’ve got a great sense of design. Did growing up around art influence your education?
BROOKE: My mom was an art teacher; I was exposed to art at an early age. Other than elementary and middle school art classes, my first art class was my senior year of high school. I played the viola and my mom insisted that I be in the orchestra all four years and take four years of math! So, this was the first year I had extra electives that I could take an art class. Thankfully, the teacher knew my mom and allowed me to join with the other senior classes, Illustration and Commercial Design. In college, I was a Visual Art major with a concentration in Graphic Design. This program didn’t really get established until my junior year, when they built a new Mac lab and brought in adjunct teachers who were in the industry. Currently, I am getting my Masters in Arts in New Media at DePaul University.
SARAH: What’s your favorite kind of art?
BROOKE: I have always been drawn to photography. I like the idea that the moment captured by the photographer will be forever saved and documented.
SARAH: What is your key advice to others just getting into the creative arts field?
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BROOKE: I recommend getting exposed to creative environments and industries by doing internships or summer jobs. I wish I would have been a bit more focused on the types of creative companies out there and tried to get in at the ones that excited me.
SARAH: What is your “expertise specialty”? Has this stemmed or grown from something else?
BROOKE: I consider myself an expert in design for print and web. I am much better executing print work. However, I feel I have become more of a design consultant for print and web projects. Assessing bad design and making it better. I think this has just stemmed from being exposed to both print and web design for so long, and having a strong art background helps me communicate my ideas.
SARAH: What have you found to be most valuable being in the New Media Studies Program?
BROOKE: I love the fact that the NMS program is interdisciplinary allowing each NMS student to explore their own interests. I also have enjoyed the people I have met and collaborated with on projects.
SARAH: How do you keep life balance as a “constantly connected” new media artist?
BROOKE: I used to do a lot of improv comedy…I’m still doing a little here and there. I play volleyball. I’m also trying to take more fine art classes. I took an oil painting class last summer and it was amazing the amount of anxiety I had from starting the painting. You can always delete or create multiple versions in digital art, so I feel that pushing my creativity to be more decisive is a good thing.
SARAH: And lastly…where can we view your current portfolio?
BROOKE: www.brookebeckerdesign.com – I use WordPress for my site which allows me to easily update work and include descriptions.
[And be sure to follow Brooke on Twitter]
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