Last Friday, students in fourth and fifth grade at Legacy Elementary had the opportunity to hear from a special guest speaker, Dirk Fowler, a professor of Graphic Design at Texas Tech University. Fowler spoke to students about the role of graphic design in the world around them and gave insight into how art and creativity can be used in real-world careers.
During the presentation, Professor Fowler pulled up cropped images of logos to see if the students could recognize them. Hands raised all over the room, eager to guess the logo name. The purpose of this interactive activity was to show students that graphic design is everywhere.
The visit was organized by Legacy Elementary art teacher, Alex Jasso, who once studied under Fowler during his time as a student at Texas Tech.
“I was a student of Mr. Fowler’s from 2019–2021, while I was at Texas Tech and always enjoyed his class,” Jasso shared. “He taught me graphic design when at a time I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do. There was a passion he saw, and he took that and drove me into a space that I loved to do. He was always honest and willing to help whenever. I always admired his work, and it was just always a joy to be one of his students.”
Jasso credited Fowler not only for shaping his skills as a designer but also for influencing the way he now approaches teaching.
“He influenced me greatly, especially as a teacher,” Jasso explained. “As for a graphic designer, to me he is one of the greatest, up there with Aaron Draplin, James Martin, and even Saul Bass. He’s down to earth but not afraid to tell you how it is in your work, which I took to push my designs further and think outside the box a lot more. His teaching was instrumental as I grew as a teacher myself. The way he handles his classroom and mannerisms during class are exceptional. He is a true inspiration to me, and it was such a joy to get in touch again and have the kids meet and see his work.”
Jasso said the decision to bring Fowler in as a speaker stemmed from a desire to introduce his students to new types of art and artists who work in creative fields right here in the Lubbock area.
“I wanted to invite Mr. Fowler for a little while, since he was such an inspiration for me as one of his students,” said Jasso. “He is also a local legend and thought it would be a unique opportunity to see someone in this field doing something that is art but also something more and that is here in Lubbock.”
The presentation helped students see the broader potential of art careers, particularly in areas that might not be as familiar to elementary students.
“Graphic design, at least in my opinion, is something that I didn’t know even existed when I was their age,” said Jasso. “When you think of art your mind usually goes to drawing, painting, and sculpting. But graphic design, I believe, is a little bit more of a real art that can be a profitable career for the future. My students are learning a bit about this career right now, and I wanted to share a bit about what a true graphic designer is and how it can be something for the future.”
Ultimately, Jasso hopes that hearing from a professional like Fowler will plant seeds of inspiration in his students, whether they decide to pursue a future in graphic design.
“My goal for my students after seeing this is to see a potential future for themselves in this field of course,” said Jasso, “I also wanted them to start thinking about careers where they can express creativity and problem solving in a unique way. These kids are awesome and being their teacher is an honor, and I am just trying to raise them up to the greatest artists they all are.”
At the close of the presentation, several students even asked Fowler for his autograph, a true sign of their enthusiasm and admiration.
Frenship ISD is proud to support meaningful learning experiences like this, where students can explore creative careers and discover new possibilities for their futures.