As one of their class projects this spring, students in Rachel Smith’s advanced graphic design class (DMA 11: Graphic Design 2) participated in the Bridgegood.org Inspire Oakland  design challenge, creating billboard designs inspired by the diversity and culture of Oakland.  

Bridgegood program manager Elisa Feng visited the class at Solano Community College’s new digital media art lab in Vallejo, and introduced the project to the students.  From there, they created conceptual moodboards, thumbnails and design drafts, which were reviewed by the instructor and in class critiques, before submitting their work to the challenge. 

Student Lilliana Mendez placed in the Top 6 with her design, while students Herman Billingsley and Nova Ojeda both placed in the Top 20. All three students presented their work at Bridgegood’s offices along with the other finalists on May 7. 

Inspire Oakland is a yearly design challenge that provides real-world experience, free access to open labs and coaching from BRIDGEGOOD, portfolio building project to use as a case study, equitable access made available to all, and industry learning & engagement with like-minded students. 

Solano College’s Digital Media Arts program provides students with opportunities to work with real world clients as part of class projects.  Previous projects have included work for the Mare Island Historic Park Foundation, The California Department of Child Support, and the Solano Community College Library.