ENMU Student Re-Designs Logo for Online Magazine

By: Nicole Trujillo

Mikki Shaw, a Graphic Design major at Eastern New Mexico University, redesigned a logo for ENMU’s online magazine HoundBytes.

Sponsored by the Communication Department, HoundBytes is an online magazine that features original literacy and artwork created by students, faculty and staff. The magazine helps students build their portfolios and gives them the opportunity to display their work.

The logo took Mikki about four hours to complete, as she is familiar with design programs and had good collaboration on the project. She mentioned her inspiration for the logo was the classic running hound that ENMU uses often, but its popularity made her move away from it to create something that stands out. The redesigned logo displays a greyhound’s head exhibiting emotion and personality with a newspaper in its mouth.

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“(Being a part of the logo design) has been one of the coolest experiences. I was really thankful that you (HoundBytes) would consider me,” Mikki said.

Mikki is a transfer student from New Mexico State University. She transferred to ENMU after her sophomore year, because she had seen an article in ENMU’s Green & Silver Magazine featuring ENMU alumna Consuela Ruybal, who graduated with a degree in graphic design. Ruybal’s pursuits and achievements inspired Mikki to transfer schools.

“I was a sophomore at NMSU, but upon seeing the article I knew that I was in the wrong place to pursue my dreams. It was a major decision to switch universities halfway through my education, but as I see the countdown to graduation I know this was the best move for me,” Mikki said.

Now a senior, her sights are set on graduating from ENMU with her bachelor’s degree in the spring of 2020. She chose graphic design as her field of study because she always had a creative side and wanted to find a way to utilize it in a productive and positive way. Her art style is inspired by everything around her and she likes to put her own spin on things.

“The world will always need to visually convey messages and that is what I do – I am a visual communicator,” Mikki said.

Mikki was born and raised in Hobbs, NM and her father Rohnnie served as a police officer for 21 years before retiring as a captain. Her mother Michelle currently works as a licensed nurse and massage therapist and she has a younger sister named Morgan.

For four years, Mikki has been actively working in the graphic design field. What became her passion, started as a job at Simply Design Studio and Print Shop in Hobbs after her high school graduation in 2016. She currently works there seasonally and as a freelance graphic designer.

Mikki has many different career paths she hopes to pursue, but she emphasizes that her ultimate goal is to be a graphic designer for a major league baseball team, specifically the Texas Rangers. She also dreams to run her own business and pursue a master’s degree to teach others interested in her field.

“My main goal is to set myself up to be able to pass on my experiences and knowledge to influence another potential designer,” Mikki said.

During Mikki’s time here at ENMU, she has been on the Dean’s List and earned several scholarships including the Steelman Starving Artist Scholarship, Lorraine Schula Endowed Scholarship and the Luna Memorial Scholarship.

Mikki said her favorite class at ENMU is her Senior Portfolio class taught by Professor Scott Golem. The class gives students the opportunity to work on projects that showcase them as young designers and professionals.

During Mikki’s free time, she likes photography, playing the bass guitar, and spending time with her family, her boyfriend William and their dog Tucker.