Designer and muralist Julia Kenyon, who recently completed a mural at Reser Stadium, reflects upon her time as a graphic design student at the School of Visual, Performing, and Design Arts
Julia Kenyon
By Colin Bowyer, Communications Manager - January 22, 2025
Graphic design alumna Julia Kenyon, ‘20, always considered herself creative and into making art, but never an artist per se. Kenyon grew up in Monmouth, was a three-sport high school athlete, and wanted to pursue art and design in college, but was hesitant that it wouldn’t pan out into a successful career. During a gap year after high school, Kenyon saw a friend working on a project for OSU Athletics and thought that was something she could do.
Kenyon started at OSU undecided before enrolling in the School of Visual, Performing, and Design Arts’ (SVPDA) pre-graphic design program online, then becoming a full-time graphic design student her sophomore year.
“Though I had some Photoshop experience under my belt,” said Kenyon. “There was a huge learning curve with lots of technical knowledge I needed to learn, but the department was so welcoming and supportive. I never felt like I was alone.”
Kenyon appreciated the wide variety of classes offered, including branding identity, UX/UI design, book binding, screen printing, and packaging design. She also was a member of the competitive FLUX design class, a student-driven design studio that undertakes external client work, as well as a graphic designer for the Memorial Union’s Creative Studio and intern for the OSU Athletics' creative team (known as “Ideation”). The sense of community and general encouragement she received from peers and mentors alike allowed her to grow personally and professionally.
Kenyon was motivated to enter into service, so during the fall term of her senior year she applied to join the Peace Corps. She was accepted for a two-year English teaching program in Cambodia and was scheduled to leave in June 2020, one week after graduating. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 Pandemic derailed her plans and future entirely.
“I was absolutely devastated,” said Kenyon. “Through winter and spring 2020, I was working through my pre-departure checklist, gearing up and getting ready to go, then one-by-one I saw the Peace Corps begin canceling programs around the world. I was still hopeful that I could go, but it was only a matter of time before mine in Cambodia was officially halted.”
Lost and without any post-graduation plans, Kenyon finished up her graphic design degree program online, and moved to Lincoln City on Oregon’s coast. She began working at Beachcrest Brewing Company pouring beer and serving guests. The owners of the brewery knew that Kenyon had an art background so they asked if she’d like to paint a mural in the taproom.
“I hadn’t ever painted a proper mural before other than my own art,” said Kenyon. “It was very daunting, but I appreciate the owners of Beachcrest taking a risk on me at the time.”
Kenyon then became a graphic designer for the brewery part-time, primarily leading the design of their beer can labels, while still working behind the bar. This new opportunity inspired Kenyon to consider starting a freelance business.
“It was certainly daunting,” said Kenyon. “I wanted to expand working on more than beer packaging, but I had no idea how to start an LLC or do any sort of accounting. There was some serious imposter syndrome.”
Kenyon began to develop her brand, learn the legal and business side of freelancing, like creating an LLC and writing contracts. She started leaning into social media to get her name and new company out into the world, as well as connect with a community of freelancers who were able to help her with the logistics of starting a business.
The owners of Beachcrest introduced Kenyon to her first client, whom she still designs for today, the Siletz Bay Music Festival. Kenyon continued to work with local businesses, crafting a brand identity for Feather Root Farms in Monmouth, clothing merch for Breaking Grounds Coffee in Heppner, branding for local a photography and videography duo Kapsar Creations, as well as more beer can labels.
Kenyon also saw painting murals as a viable part of her business; she knew it was something she wanted to do more of. Again, she started small and local, adding color to baby nurseries and work spaces, then a 150 cement feet wall at Central High School in Independence, her alma mater.
Kenyon still kept in touch with friends and mentors from the graphic design program, one of whom, Keith Warner, had started working in OSU Athletics’ marketing and communications department. Warner reached out to Julia in early 2024 about potentially painting a mural at the south end zone concourse of Reser Stadium’s new addition. Kenyon leapt at the idea to give back to her school.
Kenyon started the weeks-long project by creating a design beforehand on her computer, and then projecting it on the 40 by 20 feet brick wall, where she outlined it in chalk. The unprimed brick required five gallons of primer and six gallons of exterior paint, which took less than a week to complete with the help of a few assistants.
“This was definitely the most challenging mural I’ve worked on,” explained Kenyon. “The weather didn’t always cooperate and painting on brick has its own unique challenges.”
The result was a beautiful landscape of conifer trees, the Oregon coast range, and football iconography, as well as local landmarks like Marys Peak and the Benton County Courthouse.
“I love seeing the attention it’s getting and pictures of fans standing in front of it on gameday.”
Despite almost five years since graduating, Kenyon still attributes the graphic design program at SVPDA integral to her success as a professional freelancer.
“There isn’t one skill, technical or otherwise, that I learned in the program that I haven’t used in my professional life,” said Kenyon. “This includes specialized skills, like learning (design software) Illustrator or InDesign, to vocational skills, like how to work with clients and create a business plan. To be successful at freelancing, you have to continue to grow and adapt, the graphic design program provided a firm foundation to start from.”
