Many alumni have fond memories of the Commercial Art, or Graphic Design and Communications Department. The “cage” and the PMT camera have been gone for years, but the feel of the space is the same.

The department will have a new home next year – a building still under construction a little west and across the street from the current building. The staff is looking forward to the new location, but there are many memories from the old place.

The old building will be remodeled and house other Bismarck State College classes. The remodeling will take place this summer, so these photos are a last look at the old space.

From the interview process entering the Graphic Design and Communications program at Bismarck State College to through the freshman year the instructors frequently remind students to work toward building pieces for their portfolios.

In the graphic design industry, a designer’s portfolio tells her or his story. It showcases design style, concepts and strengths. Other than written testing, the portfolio is the last piece a sophomore student will produce before leaving the program.

The portfolios are no longer oversized briefcases filled with basic mylar pages, today they are full-blown promotional books. Below are examples from some of the sophomore portfolios.