She is a senior, a double major in graphic design and public relations. She is a co-editor-in-chief for the Beacon, Fern Smith Hall resident and a competitive mashed potato eater. She is Jocelyn McCormick.
The decision to become a double major in graphic design and public relations came about when McCormick found out she could not pursue a minor in graphic design. McCormick knew she wanted to be involved in art somehow, and after talking over her options with her advisor, professor Ann Minnick, McCormick decided to become a double major.
“I love art,” she said. “I love all types of art, not just graphic design so I didn’t want just an emphasis.”
McCormick’s love for art started in middle school when she took art classes and continued to explore different mediums of art throughout high school.
“My grandma and aunt were into art, so I guess it’s kind of been in my family,” she said.
Drawing was McCormick’s main focus in her middle school and high school art classes, and she is currently taking a drawing class this semester. Her favorite art class that she has taken at Northwestern was printmaking. She had done some minimal printmaking work in high school, but she was able to learn more about it and explore it more here at college.
Through her various classes and art pieces, McCormick has developed her own artistic style that is clean, colorful and stylized. She pulls inspiration from the pop art movement and more specifically by Andy Warhol’s work during that time period.
“I just love pop art,” she said. “The consumer commercial part mixed with art; that’s like my job.”
When it comes to job searching after college, McCormick hopes to stay in the Midwest and ideally be able to use both of her degrees. However, McCormick is open-minded when it comes to what exactly her future career will look like.
“I don’t have a dream job because if I did, I’d be disappointed if I didn’t get it,” McCormick said.
Pursuing two degrees makes McCormick versatile with a wide range of skills.
“Having the public relations and graphic design majors combined helps me do both communications and creative, artistic tasks in my work,” McCormick said.
Not only has McCormick been ambitious with taking on two majors, but she has also been involved in other ways on campus. She has held a work-study position at the Compass Center for Career and Calling since freshman year, worked on the Beacon’s staff since sophomore year and participated in RUSH as a dancer the past three years.
McCormick has also been a resident of Fern all four years of college where she was able to take part in Fern’s Potato Classic freshman year. She took fourth place in the mashed potato eating contest and considers that to be one of her favorite memories while here at NW.
“That is my proudest moment because my friends doubted me and thought I would get last place,” McCormick said.
When the third north wing in Fern reopened this year after being closed for two years, McCormick was excited. That wing is where she lived freshman year and she was happy to move back into her original wing for senior year. As McCormick puts it, “Full circle, baby!”
As McCormick looks toward graduation in the spring, she is unsure what her senior art show will look like. The art department hasn’t given the senior art majors much information on how art shows will look this year, but McCormick said she is prepared with some ideas that lean toward a darker and edgier tone.
“I’m sure I could come up with a theme,” McCormick said.
When it comes to creating art and finding an artistic style, McCormick’s advice to other art students here at NW is: “Don’t feel pressured to make something perfect. Your own art style will develop over time.”
