School of Art + Design News

Marcus Harvey, BS ’12 (digital arts), is a Hillsboro, Oregon native who founded Portland Gear in 2014 after losing his job at a Eugene screen printing shop and moving back home. He said he had no expectation that this passion project would evolve to what it is today. He was just doing what he knew and loved, while creating a community of people who shared his passion for Portland.

Stella Prichard, who graduated in June, is one of five student artists in Flourishing by Art, a new art initiative that supports the university’s strategic goal of helping everyone at the UO to flourish. Under the joint project of Housing Capital Construction and the Associated Students of the University of Oregon, Prichard and the other artists recently completed murals and a sculpture for three residence halls.

Students Dani Jacobs and Lucy Rutherford are a dynamic duo who have been creating art since middle school and recently completed a project that pushed their skills and relationship to the limit. Jacobs and Rutherford were among five student artists in Flourishing by Art, a new art initiative that supports the University of Oregon’s strategic goal of helping everyone at the UO to flourish. Their mural, featured in the Living Learning Center, was completed as a joint project of Housing Capital Construction and the Associated Students of the University of Oregon, with other artists recently completing murals and a sculpture for three residence halls.

Senior art student, Anthony Michael Ryder, is one of five student artists in Flourishing by Art, a new art initiative that supports the university’s strategic goal of helping everyone at the UO to flourish. Ryder’s black-and-white mural for Justice Bean Hall, “Field Guide,” showcases a rich nature scene that is deeply personal and cathartic for the artist.

International student, Parisa Garazhian, is one of five student artists in Flourishing by Art, a new art initiative that supports the university’s strategic goal of helping everyone at the UO to flourish.

Amanda Wojick, professor of art and co-chair of sculpture in the Department of Art, has been awarded a Herman Award for Specialized Pedagogy from the UO Office of the Provost in recognition of Wojick’s critical insight, creative curiosity, and dedication to her students.

The university has made it a strategic priority to help everyone at the UO to flourish. Leaders are working collaboratively to create conditions university-wide that foster well-being, belonging and growth. The goal is to empower each and every person — students, staff and faculty — to reach their potential. To thrive. Read more about how UO is helping art to flourish in this new feature.

Product Design '25 graduate Audrey Saing is drawn to the product design field because it lets her apply research in a hands-on way. Read more about her journey through the program.

For 2025 graduate Eli Mikiten, product design means helping people stay active and live better.

Colin Ives's work was recognized by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation. This particular Sustainability Award recognizes a UO project whose innovations were developed in the course of UO research and are now offered as publicly available products or services that improve sustainability. For more information, watch Ives's video on Youtube!