The University of Iowa graphic design program is about to take center stage as computer software giant Adobe descends on campus with its unique Creative Jam series. During the high-profile design event, UI students will have an opportunity to compete and collaborate while showcasing their talents for peers and local professionals.

The Creative Jam, which will take place from noon to 3 p.m. Friday at Art Building West, also is arriving at a time when UI design students and recent alumni are gaining more accolades from the design world.

“Our students spend so much time on their portfolios, so it is nice to see Adobe recognizes the talent coming out of our graphic design program,” says Serina Sulentic, lecturer in media, social practice, and design in the UI School of Art and Art History.

The Adobe Creative Jam is traveling to more than a dozen college campuses nationwide during its current tour. According to Adobe, the event series was designed to “bring local thought leaders in design to share a behind-the-scenes peek into their process and projects.” The event also has a competitive element: a full-on design tournament.

Megan Kirkwood, senior community manager for Adobe, says that the event is a great educational experience for students whether they are competing or not.

“During the speaker series, three or four creative leaders share a sneak peek into their process,” says Kirkwood. “A lot of times it’s the personal stories—how they got to where they are, showing off their work—that are super compelling.”

Students also will be able to meet one-on-one with local design professionals who will review their portfolios and answer their questions.

Simultaneously, a select group of nine UI students will compete in the tournament. The students will receive a theme upon their arrival and have three hours to complete a design they think fits the requirements. Each team will then present their work before an audience and panel of judges. Prizes for audience choice and judges’ choice will be awarded at the end of the event.

“The tournament is an opportunity to really put your creativity to work in a unique and fun way, having to put something together in three hours,” says Kirkwood. “It’s real-world experience—working under deadline, then having to present their work.”

In the spirit of collaboration, Sulentic also invited graphic design students from other institutions across the state, including Iowa State University, Drake University, and Black Hawk Community College.

Alison Schwebach, a senior graphic design major from Sioux City, Iowa, will compete in the tournament and says she looks forward to the exposure the event will bring to UI’s program.

“It’s incredible that Adobe is coming here,” Schwebach says. “It will also be cool to see students from different schools, the way they design, and how we can collaborate.”

Schwebach will have a chance to follow in the footsteps of recent UI students who already have captured Adobe’s attention.

UI alumnus Alex Brunsen and current graduate student Carley Cullen teamed up to win both the audience and judges’ prizes at a professional Creative Jam in Raleigh, North Carolina, last May.

Brunsen, who is a professional graphic designer in Raleigh, credits Sulentic and his other instructors at the UI for contributing to their win.

“While I was at Iowa, my professors really taught me to think outside of the box and do research before approaching a project,” Brunsen says, noting that their Creative Jam design was inspired by a project they did in Sulentic’s class. “Having the planning and research process ingrained into my brain before approaching a design really helped set us apart from the rest of our competition.”

Cullen, a Winfield, Illinois, native in her second year of graduate school at the UI, is excited that fellow Hawkeyes have a chance to experience the thrill of taking part in a Creative Jam. She also views it as a chance to show what UI design students are capable of.

“The design program is finally getting that street cred we deserve,” Cullen says. “We work hard and our program is growing. It makes me so happy knowing that the UI is helping shape the future of graphic design.”

Additionally, Adobe selected recent UI graduate Austin Smoldt-Sáenz as one of nine students to be featured in the company’s “Made by Students” campaign based on his senior thesis project as he pursued his BFA last spring.

Smoldt-Sáenz, who graduated in May, says he feels a momentum is building within the UI graphic design program.

“I think the students are really feeding off of each other right now,” says Smoldt-Sáenz, who works as a graphic designer in Iowa City. “As we fed off of each other’s creative work, we contributed to each other’s success.”

Schwebach agrees that her peers have been pushing each other to raise the bar.

“I think the group of students that we have are doing amazing work,” Schwebach says. “No one is afraid to try new things, and everyone is really supportive of each other.”

While Sulentic says hosting the Adobe event is gratifying, she hopes it’s a sign of things to come.

“We ask so much from our students,” she says. “They know Adobe coming here is a great compliment to all the efforts they give us in the classroom. They get better every year and really set the bar high for incoming students. I hope to see the program continue to grow and hope we’ll have many more opportunities like this in the future.”