The lead designer for the Amazon Innovation Lab met with Graphic Design students on Wednesday, Mar. 6 at 6 p.m. in the Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery Conference Room via Zoom.
Designer Mary Kim Harmon is currently based in Los Angeles, Calif. Harmon was also a student of Keene State Professor Randall Hoyt while he taught at the University of Connecticut.
“Mary Kim’s always been energetic, [a] go-getter, always talking in class,” said Hoyt. “She was working late, she cared about her design. I wouldn’t have ever guessed that her career would have become so grand,” he said.
Harmon has previously worked with brands such as Athleta and LuLuLemon. During her presentation, she highlighted her interior design work for companies like Warner Brothers Studios.
“It’s really beyond the normal work description of a graphic designer,” Hoyt said.
Hoyt said he was shocked at the scale of Harmon’s work and shared his pride in her accomplishments.
Harmon told students the full creative process for projects can take a lot longer than they think.
“It can be like three years to five years,” she said. “But the process is so enjoyable along the way.”
Harmon is currently working on designing Google headquarters, which she said she is in its fifth year of work.
“It’s a long lead time, but there’s so many steps along the way, and when it’s done it’s super rewarding,” she said.
Harmon also talked about the balance between keeping your originality as an artist and working with companies that had their own vision.
“It’s a dance,” she said. “I learned over time that they [companies] saw things differently than I did, and that the sweet spot was understanding their perspective and selling them in on mine.”
She added, “Some of my most successful projects are where I actually pushed them so hard, which is not in my nature.”
Harmon’s advice for students is that, “It starts small. I just kind of built my house, one room at a time,” she said. “I didn’t know what any other room would look like and I just allowed myself to be curious. My path has been about following that curiosity.”
She also advised students to put themselves out there and, “Look at as many things as you can, talk to people, get yourself out at conferences. Just keep inspiring yourself and following the things that you’re curious about. If you ever feel like you’re not curious anymore or you’re not having fun or you’re not excited, then it’s probably time to change it up.”
“I just think it’s really cool to talk to these professionals and see where they’ve been,” said senior Vitheavy Barton, who attended the presentation. “I think it’s been pretty common across all of these speaker events we’ve seen so far [that] they’re just like ‘Do what you love. Find what’s fun.’”
“None of them are doing what they thought they were going to do when they left,” said senior Rachel Boudreau. “It’s just really interesting to see all of the things we could do with this degree that you don’t really think of when you’re a senior.”
“I feel privileged,” Hoyt said. “It’s a testament to my success as a teacher to have my students succeed me.”
“Her teaching laboratory is the world,” he added. “She was driven to follow her curiosity.”
Emily Sloane can be contacted at
esloane@kscequinox.com
