A tour poster designed by Tyler Hausser (Photo courtesy of Tyler Hausser).
A design for a DePaul School of Design tote bag designed by Tyler Hausser (Photo courtesy of Tyler Hausser).
A mockup of company postcards designed by Aaliyah May (Photo courtesy of Aaliyah May).
Aaliyah May's design in a book mockup (Photo courtesy of Aaliyah May).
Every year, Graphic Design USA compiles a list of
Students to Watch, featuring “top students ready to burst onto the design scene.” Two DePaul seniors in
DePaul’s graphic design program, Tyler Hausser and Aaliyah May, have been named to the prestigious list.
GDUSA highlights students seeking to use new technologies and techniques to make an impact on the profession.
"GDUSA acknowledges a wide range of programs and students working across boundaries in design, which aligns with DePaul’s mission," says Heather Quinn, an assistant professor of design. "Tyler and Aaliyah stand out not only for their exceptional work but also for their kindness as classmates and peers, always making time for others. Collaboration is at the heart of our GD program, and we are proud to recognize this quality in our nominees this year."
Get to know the students to watch
Tyler Hausser was listed as one of Graphic Design USA's "Students to Watch." (Photo courtesy of Tyler Hausser)
Hausser, a senior pursuing a BFA in graphic design with a minor in marketing, started his creative journey by drawing his favorite cartoon characters in high school. In college, he began to immerse himself in graphic design and helped relaunch the graphic design club at DePaul.
“Over the last few years, I have had the opportunity to experiment with many different visual art mediums, including fine art drawing, animation and sculpture. These art areas have influenced my design work,” Hausser says. “Design can affect countless lives in ways either good or bad, and it's our responsibility to make sure we can improve the world as much as possible.”
Hausser hopes to work in a studio with a physical medium, such as screen printing, long-term branding or environmental design.
May, a senior majoring in graphic design with a minor in animation, has a passion for publication design and typography. She finds inspiration through other forms of media, such as watching movies, exploring bookstores and spending time with her community.
Aaliyah May was listed as one of Graphic Design USA's "Students to Watch."
“In the early stages of my creative process, I often turn to horror films to immerse myself in a unique mindset,” May explains. “The intense emotions and unconventional narratives they offer inspire me to explore new approaches to storytelling and visual expression.”
May enjoys working with motion graphics and brand identity and hopes to work in publication design, especially if she can support the educational systems of marginalized communities in Chicago.
“Throughout my four years of design school, I have been challenged and inspired time and time again. With such a wide spread of classes the design school has to offer, I feel excited and ready to create,” May says.
Both May and Hausser were praised by GDUSA for their approaches to design work.
“These students are embracing the importance of so-called ‘soft skills—collaboration, communication, cooperation, presentation—with the goal of being more engaged, empathetic and expressive designers,” GDUSA editors Gordon Kaye and Sasha Kaye-Walsh wrote in a
statement. “They universally praise their design schools, teachers, mentors and classmates for encouraging a balanced learning environment and a value-driven education.”
Learn more about Graphic Design at DePaul.