Service-learning capstone
Building a repeatable bridge from classroom learning to community-centered creative practice
At Lakeland University, I created GDN 401 Graphic Design Practicum as a capstone graphic design course that pairs freelance business fundamentals with service learning. Across four spring offerings, students managed real client work for community non-profit partners while learning the business of design. The Spring 2022 partnership with Lemons of Love shows that model in action through three multichannel event campaigns.
- Role
- Course creatorInstructorClient liaisonCreative mentor
- Scope
- Capstone curriculumCommunity partnershipsCreative directionCritiqueProfessional-practice systems
- Timeline
- Spring 2019–Spring 2022
- Outcome
- A repeatable client-based learning modelComplete marketing campaign assets to promote three non-profit events in 2022
The challenge
Students needed more than a portfolio assignment. They needed a supported way to navigate client conversations, ambiguous feedback, changing content, production details, and the business decisions surrounding creative work. The course also had to serve community partners responsibly, balancing student exploration with usable deliverables and professional standards. In 2022, that meant coordinating teams and one non-profit across three events, distinct audiences, and shared print and digital needs.
My approach
I structured the course around an end-to-end freelance workflow. Lessons on pricing, contracts, copyright, bookkeeping, taxes, time tracking, and invoicing led into client research, a creative brief, concept development, presentation, critique, revision, production, and delivery.
For Lemons of Love, students met with non-profit representatives and developed concepts for a charity barbecue, golf outing, and 5K. After the client selected one concept for each event, I translated feedback into actionable direction and guided peer critique and individual coaching. Students extended the campaign systems across sponsorship flyers, social graphics, Facebook covers, posters, postcards, billboards, and event banners. They also tracked time, prepared practice invoices, documented their process, and presented at Research Day.
Three event campaigns, one professional-practice framework
The three campaign families show selected concepts adapted across print and digital formats. Each retains a distinct direction while remaining cohesive across touchpoints.
The outcome
GDN 401 became a repeatable capstone connecting creative craft, professional judgment, and community contribution. Lakeland’s dean called the inaugural course particularly impressive, citing real-world community design problems, partner participation, and student presentations.
In 2022, Lemons of Love received complete, ready-to-use marketing campaign assets for three non-profit events, including coordinated print and digital materials for each campaign. Students gained real-world client experience and strong portfolio pieces just before graduating and entering the job market.
Leadership in practice
- Systems thinking
- I turned freelance practice into a repeatable framework connecting business fundamentals, creative development, feedback, and delivery.
- Team leadership and talent development
- Peer critique, individual coaching, client presentations, and reflection helped students strengthen their work and professional confidence.
- Cross-functional leadership
- I aligned student teams, non-profit representatives, and academic goals around work that supported learning and remained useful to the partner.
If you’re building or strengthening a brand, process,
or team—I’d love to connect.