Student Stories – Digital Design

Design is often described as “art in the service of commerce.” Design students in the College of Arts and Media create visual communication solutions for businesses in all sectors of the economy, including advertising campaigns, social media content, moving graphics and animations, website and app designs. They can also have opportunities to intern on campus and with local companies.

Read about our recent graduates below.

Elisabeth Dombrow
2024 Graduate

Elisabeth Dombrow is an aspiring artist who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and Graphic Design. She has been trained in the Adobe Creative Suite, including Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign and Figma. During her time at GCU, she was able to hone her skills as a detail-oriented and passionate designer, uncovering her true motivations and driving forces.

Raised in a faith-based, competitive sports environment, Elisabeth embodies a powerful blend of toughness and tenderness. Her empathy, compassion and fierce competitiveness drive her to excel in every endeavor. Thriving in team-oriented settings, she meticulously considers every angle to ensure optimal outcomes. Her designs capture the duality of resilience and compassion, evoking both emotion and action. Guided by this unique approach, Elisabeth is eager to tackle new challenges and make a significant impact in the creative world.

Phoenix Irwin-McCabe
2024 Graduate

Phoenix Irwin-McCabe is a dedicated graphic and motion designer passionate about showcasing the beauty of design in all its forms. Currently working at Canyon Creative, an advertising and design agency at Grand Canyon University, Phoenix brings expertise and creativity to every project. Phoenix graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Design with an Emphasis in Animation.

Phoenix has worked on a diverse range of projects, including graphic and digital design, 3-D modeling and motion design. Collaborating with clients such as the Western Athletic Conference and the College of Arts and Media at GCU, Phoenix consistently delivers innovative and impactful designs.

Olivia Johnson
2024 Graduate

Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Media, Olivia Johnson brings a diverse background in e-commerce and retail, coupled with a robust skill set in digital marketing and social media management. Her professional journey at Amazon, Instacart and ThredUp has provided valuable experiences and skills that uniquely qualify her for a role as a social media manager.

Olivia's academic pursuits at GCU offered her a thorough understanding of social media platforms, content creation strategies and audience engagement techniques. She used the coursework and hands-on project experiences to craft compelling social media campaigns, analyze metrics to optimize performances and stay abreast of emerging trends in digital marketing.

Tory Barden
2024 Graduate

Tory Barden, a BA in Digital Design: Web Design Emphasis graduate, is a digital designer who has learned skills in Adobe Suite, Figma, Webflow and WordPress. Tory specializes in creating seamless digital experiences for websites and apps, blending next-generation technology with a creative flair. While attending GCU, Tory earned the 2024 AAF Bronze ADDY for "Scattered" and Silver ADDY for "Stellar Therapy Pods."¹

As a user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) designer at LevelUp, a smart-home tech firm, Tory innovates product ideas for diverse clients, excelling in user-centric design, feedback integration and cross-functional collaboration. Tory's experience at GCU has allowed for thriving in presenting refined solutions and collaborating with development, engineering, sales and marketing teams to optimize user experience for all stakeholders involved.