Portraits of Impact
Grace Kang
Collaboration is Key: Design Student Works With Others to Achieve Goals
Grace Kang, a senior design and arts, technology and emerging communication student, has always been driven by curiosity. She is passionate about learning the wide array of techniques and skills that are associated with her preferred art form: graphic design. Her eagerness to learn in an expansive creative environment brought her to the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology at The University of Texas at Dallas.
“When I was applying to schools, I noticed the ATEC [arts, technology and emerging communication] program was relatively new and uniquely combined the arts with technology,” Kang said. “That’s exactly what I wanted. I thought it would be the perfect program for me because I not only wanted to explore art, but I was curious about integrating technical aspects like AI and graphic design into my art. It felt like the perfect fit for what I wanted to pursue.”
Kang has a close relationship with several of her professors, all of whom she says have gone the extra mile to ensure their students truly understand their coursework. She says this has helped her develop a passion for mediums she never would have explored otherwise. One of her favorite classes, taught by Andrew Scott, an associate professor in the Bass School and advisor to the 3D Studio LightSquad, brought her into the world of 3D Modeling.
“One of the toughest courses I’ve taken was a 3D texture and modeling class with Professor Scott,” Kang said. “But, it was also one of the most fun experiences I’ve had. We learned 3D modeling and had the chance to print our projects using 3D printers and create laser cut wooden lanterns. I really loved being able to share a physical example of my work with others.”
She likes to challenge herself by getting involved with events like the User Experience Club’s design-a-thon. Over a 24-hour time span, Kang and her team worked to create a functional and aesthetically attractive budgeting app for students. The app allowed users to easily find financial advisors, add bank statements, and form a budget plan catered to the user. They went on to win first overall in the competition.
“I’m still exploring what I want to do in the future, but designing apps, product design and working with social media are passions of mine. I’m particularly excited to see how digital products shape the way people interact with technology and each other,” Kang said. “I saw that while I was a design judge for HackUTD, the annual 24-hour hackathon. It’s always so impressive to see the innovative ideas students come up with and the back-end work to implementing those ideas.”
Kang loves to collaborate with grad students in the LabSynthE, a creative laboratory located within the Bass School that aims to create unique art installations and projects using a multitude of mediums. Kang was introduced to the group by Christi Nielsen MFA’07, associate dean for undergraduate studies in the Bass School.
“I asked Professor Nielsen in the beginning of the semester how to get involved with some grad student projects here, because I wanted to learn from them,” Kang said. “She invited me to observe LabSynthE. Now, every Thursday, I go to the lab with Professor Xtine Burrough. I’m currently working on the love data project, where we plan on making the world’s longest Valentine’s Day card. We’ve made it interactive by handing it over to different organizations for their design input and putting their signature on the card.”
Collaborating with other creatives is a learning process. In summer 2024, Kang took on a new adventure by interning at a summer camp for children. Started by Jacky Chao BA’22, Creator Camp invites students to learn about topics such as YouTube video creation, cartoon animation and video game development.
“They had a position open, and I thought it was the perfect opportunity for me to get some good career experience,” Kang said. “I saw Jacky was an alumnus here, too, and thought that was cool. I ended up working as the lead instructor for filmmaking, AI and YouTube courses part-time. Teaching the kids taught me a lot, especially about AI. I honed in on using AI generative tools because I realized that these kids are growing in a world with AI, so it’s important to involve the tech with art, which is exactly what I’m doing at UTD.”
She also loves to combine her passion for design with her love of fashion. In high school, she founded Artistry Grace, a clothing brand that focuses on wedding dresses and formal gowns. She loves to incorporate her Chinese heritage and culture into her work.
“Fashion has always been a passion of mine,” Kang said. “I decided to bring that dream to life by creating my own clothing line a few years ago. I design what I feel creatively and sell my dresses worldwide. I’ve even promoted my collection at charity events, which have allowed me to display my designs on stage.”
As Kang finishes up her undergraduate degree, she is hopeful that her experiences are setting her up for the future she wants: a life as a graphic designer in New York City and a growing fashion designer.