Bieloh helping redesign visual arts department

You see their work every time you pick up a magazine or admire a logo, on Web pages and on T-shirts. Graphic designers have become an influential part of the 21st century and their presence can be seen all over Ouachita’s campus through its own products, but also in Moses-Provine.
The slim building tucked away between Anthony Hall and Harvey Jones Science Center houses the visual arts department on its second floor, including graphic design majors. The program has gone through a lot of changes the past two years but has finally found stable footing again with the arrival of David Bieloh, associate professor of graphic design and the new chair of the visual arts department.

“Overall, my main objective is to prepare students to be conceptual thinkers and creative problem solvers,” Bieloh said.

In addition to having taught at Texas Women’s University in Denton and Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn., Bieloh has experience with various firms as a designer, art director, production artist and illustrator.

So far Bieloh’s presence alone has encouraged graphic design majors.

“I have learned more in this semester than in the past three semesters,” said Katherine Frazier, a senior. “[Bieloh] has definitely lit a fire under the whole department, not just the graphic design students exclusively.”

There are some challenges to overcome in revamping the program, like keeping up with technology. Bieloh mentioned a desire to add more classes and of a wider variety.

“The first mission is to improve the work of our design students so we can start making them more visible,” Bieloh said. “I’d like to initiate some standards within the entire program. Even from class to class, I want to make sure we’re hitting the same objectives and moving in one direction.”

The list of goals is lengthy and courageous, but paint a bright future for the art department and the graphic design program.

Among his long-term goals are solidifying the curriculum and giving the whole department more of a presence on campus.

Bieloh is interested in possible accreditation of the program and Ouachita offering a bachelor of fine arts degree.

“[Graphic design is] a bachelor of arts degree with a limited number of hours allowed and we can’t go beyond the cap of hours allowed,” Bieloh said. “This of course would not only broaden the disciplines within the department and make the program more attractive to potential students, but also add tremendously to the employability of our students and to their abilities to enter quality graduate programs.”

Revitalizing the art society will also help bring more attention to the art department and provide help for organizing and running events, like art competitions.

“We are really trying to increase awareness of our galleries,” Bieloh said. “I believe the gallery should showcase not only great local and regional work, but also the features, culture and history of the community. The gallery is an incredible way to bring the community on to campus and to have them participate with the arts and culture of the university, which would turn the gallery into a legitimate recruiting tool.”

Meanwhile, students are already enjoying the benefit of Bieloh’s work in the classroom.
“David forces us to be more creative and not limit ourselves to the computer,” Frazier said. “He forces us to brainstorm more and makes us do sketches and more drawing to aid the development of the idea.”
To further students’ development, Bieloh plans on taking some graphic design students to the Dallas Society of Visual Communications in April.

“Students will get exposed to what other students are doing and if they do happen to win something then they will get recognized and an award,” Bieloh said.

Another possible competition for graphic design students is ADDYS in Little Rock. Its close proximity offers an extra advantage.

“The judges are local and always willing to offer internships or jobs to winners,” Bieloh said.
“David Bieloh is amazing,” Frazier said. “I think he is going to be an asset to Ouachita and help the art department grow as a whole.”