Senior showcase features original art, pop-up shop, and reflections on personal growth.
By Dylan Smith, Managing Editor
For nearly two decades, “Vantage Point” has given senior design students the opportunity to showcase their artistic abilities to the campus community. More than 40 Toros participated in this year’s exhibition at the University Art Gallery on May 1, which marked the first time students were able to sell their designs to interested buyers.
Graduating design students displayed their work throughout the show floor, with posters lining the walls to showcase each student’s artwork. Each poster featured designs unique to the student who created them. Some displayed a variety of drawings, while others showcased product designs such as cups, shirts, and playing cards.
Mauricio Sandoval was among the participants who showcased their work. Sandoval’s exhibition offered his take on the classic fantasy roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons, featuring character designs inspired by the 12 animal signs of the Chinese zodiac. He told The Bulletin that his friends helped him to brainstorm ideas.
“They’re like my babies—I just want the world to see them,” Sandoval said, adding that CSUDH’s design program played a key role in his growth as an artist.
“I’m not going to lie, the first semester really did teach me some new things—shading, coloring and some tools in Photoshop, since that’s the program we use to draw,” he said. “Honestly, the longer I sit here, the more I’m like, ‘Oh, I didn’t know about that,’ or, ‘Oh, you can actually do this,’ yeah, I just learned a lot throughout my whole year here.”
After graduating, Sandoval said he hopes to find a job and earn enough money to attend conventions where he can sell and display more of his designs.
Francisco Noble-Waters, another exhibition participant, focused on past experiences with product design. He highlighted three projects: a web-based project, designs from his current job, and a set of playing cards he created for a class assignment. Noble-Waters also praised the design program for helping him to identify areas for improvement—some of which he hadn’t realized needed work.
Noble-Waters said he believes CSUDH has helped him grow as a designer by revealing weaknesses he hadn’t recognized before.
For the first time, students were allowed to sell their designs through a pop-up shop. Items ranged from small products like pins, notebooks, and bags to large-scale drawings and custom skateboards.
Noble-Waters sold a few of his company’s products at the shop, including a memory journal with a honeycomb pattern. He told The Bulletin that he was “really honored” to have both his and his company’s work featured at the event.
“I plan to keep looking for this company. The hours are very lenient and I could work however many hours I want so I’ll probably keep working there,” Noble-Waters said. “I’ll also try to find a full time job, one that pays consistently,” he said.
During the event, art and design students and faculty gathered to celebrate the graduating seniors’ accomplishments. Tim Caron, the dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, expressed his appreciation for the students and the faculty who helped bring the showcase to life.
“We’re so proud of the students, so thank you for showing up—friends, families,” Caron said. “None of these students would be here without you and the support you’ve provided—the sacrifices you’ve made, the encouragement, the kick in the ‘tookus’ when they needed it.”
Caron also praised the faculty and students for their continued dedication, saying he was impressed by “such amazing work.”
“I was going to say I’m so proud, but I’ve done absolutely nothing to contribute to your success,” Caron quipped. “This is all you and your faculty.”
A few students also stepped up to share their experiences at CSUDH. Senior student Ana Hernandez reflected on her struggles pursuing a career in design. She told attendees that despite multiple setbacks, she refused to be defined by what she described as her “failures.”
“I didn’t accept these words, as I couldn’t finish my major as a fashion designer at Los Angeles Trade [Technical College],” she said. “I didn’t accept these words when I was [at] Santa Monica College from 2017 to 2019, when I failed to get into the [Interaction Design] program twice and almost got scammed for a too-good-to-be-true job.”
Hernandez credited her friends and partners for helping her reconnect with her talents, passions, and cultural identity—support she said was strengthened by her time in the design program.
Ellie Zenhar, chair of the Art and Design Department, also commended the students’ dedication—particularly their drive during challenging times at the university.
“Those long nights, those deadlines, those other commitments you had to push through … and now you have this portfolio that reflects your vision and your voice,” Zenhar said. “I think that accomplishment is a milestone—in your lives, and in all of our lives. We’re so proud of you.”