TWO! 2025 GDUSA Students To Watch!

Two BFA Advertising majors land a spot in the prestigious Graphic Design USA top Students to Watch 2025. https://gdusa.com/studentstowatch2025/students-to-watch-2025

The GDUSA Students To Watch feature has become a tradition that resonates and renews: the students get recognized and the professional creative community gets refreshed.

BFA Advertising ’25, Lauren Aber is a Junior Art Director and Graphic Designer with a passion for bold ideas and boundary-pushing design. From crafting engaging campaigns to quirky TikToks, Lauren approaches every project with energy, audacity, and a unique perspective. Since her earliest days glued to Kid Pix in the computer lab, she’s known her calling is creative thinking. Today, as a student at Michael Graves College, she’s honing her book by looking to break the mold. Lauren believes design should be as memorable as it is meaningful, and her work is a testament to that philosophy. Whether it’s turning big ideas into impactful visuals or finding unexpected ways to connect with an audience, she thrives at the intersection of strategy and creativity. Her one rule is simple: aim for audacity — because standing out is the first step to making a difference.

WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL INSPIRED?

The unconditional joy I get from embracing things I am passionate about.

WHAT AREA OF DESIGN ARE YOU HOPING TO WORK IN?

While sports and entertainment excite me, my priority is finding a place that fosters growth and development above all.

WHAT IS ONE THING THAT DESIGN SCHOOL HAS TAUGHT YOU THAT YOU DID NOT EXPECT?

Design school has taught me that once you know a little, you know a lot, meaning that universal and fundamental design spans across many more areas and disciplines than I ever imagined.

WHO IS SOMEONE YOU LOOK UP TO IN YOUR FIELD? EITHER TODAY OR HISTORICALLY?

Jessica Walsh was one of the first designers who truly inspired me, I have always deeply respected her commitment to social good, both personally and through her agency.

I’m Stacey Polynice, a senior at Kean University earning a BFA in Advertising. With a background in illustration, I discovered my passion for graphic design and advertising, where I’m particularly drawn to unique typographic treatments and campaigns that do more than sell — ads that entertain, tell compelling stories, and truly connect with their audience. When I’m not designing, you’ll find me exploring new hobbies to obsess over, baking, hand-lettering, or bullet journaling.

WHAT ARE YOU READING, LISTENING TO, WATCHING?

I’ve been reading a lot of how-to books for hobbies I want to explore, like calligraphy and embroidery. For TV shows, I’ve been watching Bridgerton, but I also love watching reality TV shows as well!

DO YOU, OR DO YOU PLAN TO, DESIGN FOR ANY CAUSES OR CHARITIES, I.E., DESIGN FOR GOOD?

I would love to have the opportunity to design for good. Making a positive impact through my work is something I aspire to. It’s rewarding when a design or ad goes beyond being visually appealing and genuinely adds value to someone’s life. I especially enjoy seeing how thoughtful design can change behavior or raise awareness in meaningful ways.

DO YOU FEEL THAT DESIGN SCHOOL HAS PREPARED YOU TO FIND A JOB?

Design school has definitely helped prepare me! I’m deeply grateful to my professors for pushing me to think creatively and outside of the box, take on challenging projects and embrace the process. Their guidance has helped me grow and taught me to truly appreciate the creative process.

WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL INSPIRED?

I take inspiration from many places, including hobbies I enjoy like bullet journaling and scrapbooking. I also find a lot of inspiration in the movies and shows I watch.