Graphic Design Senior Bryan Perez Reflects on His Growth at UMO
April 6, 2026
Contact: Rhonda Jessup, Director of Public Relations
MOUNT OLIVE – Bryan Perez arrived at the University of Mount Olive with a clear goal. A native of Saint Pauls, North Carolina, Perez wanted to become the first in his family to earn a college degree while pursuing a major that matched his interest in graphic design. After learning about UMO’s Graphic Design curriculum and the courses offered within the Visual Arts & Design program, he decided it was the right fit.
“I joined UMO because I wanted to be the first generation in my family to graduate college and also find a graphic design major,” Perez said. “When I read about the program and the classes, it really got me interested.”
Now a senior, Perez looks back on classroom experiences that pushed him to explore tools and techniques he had never used before. Working with watercolors, micron pens, pastel chalks, and other traditional media expanded his understanding of his own capabilities as an artist.
“There are some art materials I never used at all before coming here,” he said. “Trying different tools helped me understand what skills I can do well and what I still need to work on.”
Perez credits the Visual Arts & Design program with helping him develop a clearer artistic direction. Coursework emphasized contextual understanding, experimentation, and versatility, while also encouraging students to study artists from the past and how their work became recognizable. “They helped me find my voice,” Perez said. “Learning about artists from the past helped me understand how they became memorable, and that helped me think differently about my own work.”
He has also valued the program’s blend of traditional fine arts and digital design. Perez often begins projects with hand drawn sketches or drafts before refining them using digital tools. “That combination helps me improve both sides,” he said. “I can sketch ideas by hand and then build them up with digital work.”
Critique has been a key part of his experience at UMO. Regular feedback from classmates and faculty helped Perez identify mistakes, make improvements, and gain confidence in his direction. “Critique really helps me learn what I need to fix or make better,” he said. “Without critique, I would not know if I was going in the right direction.”
Perez points to his junior year as a turning point in his development. A project that involved watercolor, micron pens, and creating original characters helped him recognize the style that suited him best. “That was when I started to understand what kind of art style I can make,” he said. “That project helped me see my skills more clearly.”
As he prepares his senior portfolio, Perez is compiling work from his freshman through senior years to show how his skills have progressed. He hopes the portfolio communicates his growth to future employers and helps him begin his career working with small businesses, with plans to continue developing his skills over time.
When audiences encounter his work, Perez wants them to understand where his inspiration comes from. Many of his characters and designs are influenced by favorite games, shows, and comics. “I want people to know that my artwork comes from inspiration,” he said. “The characters I create are inspired by things I enjoy.”
With training in both traditional and digital design, Perez prepares to leave UMO with a strong foundation and a clear sense of direction as he prepares for graduation and the next stage of his creative career.
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University was founded by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. For more information, visit www.umo.edu.
