NCSU Career Development Center Mural Design
Art
Experience Design
Mural Painting
Client
NCSU Career
Development Center
Year
2023 (6 weeks)
Project Overview
After volunteering as a Career Ambassador, where I assisted fellow students become career-ready and confident, I was invited to paint a mural symbolizing the student journey as they prepare to leave NC State and embark down their paths of life.
Planning
I began by sketching my vision for the mural, aiming to depict NC State as a portal, symbolizing the transition into adulthood.
Key elements include:
Pathways: Representing the diverse directions life may take students after graduation.
​Butterfly effect: Showing how we have choices that influence not only our immediate future but the course of our entire lives.
Making The Frame
I then shaped clay over a frame in a swirling pattern to represent the 'portal' but while drying it severely cracked, so I used a flexible modeling paste to fill it in and hold it all together.
Then I spray painted and covered it in gold leaf.
Painting the Bell Tower
The Brick Wall
When thinking about how to depict the pathways, I was inspired by the movement of ants weaving through the grout of bricks. This imagery captures both the sense of feeling small while navigating life’s winding journey and pays homage to the iconic bricks that define NC State’s campus. To bring this vision to life, I used styrofoam to cut and assemble a detailed brick façade. Using the modeling paste to create grout and texture.
The Students
I chose to depict four characters, each representing a unique life journey. Beginning near the frame as recent graduates, they wind toward the corners of the mural, symbolizing their personal growth, aging, and the discovery of new passions as they progress through life.
The Butterfly
Lastly, I created a butterfly to place at the top, symbolizing how life is one continuous 'butterfly effect'.
Final Touches
I liked the idea of creating an interactive experience for viewers of the mural. I also knew the characters might be too small for someone with visual impairments.
So I added a magnifying glass on the wall beside the mural encourage engagement and enhance accessibility
Final Thoughts
Painting this mural was incredibly meaningful to me. It allowed me to leave my mark in a space that profoundly influenced my undergraduate experience and created a lasting legacy that future students will enjoy for years to come.