The School of Art graphic design program area in Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences created a special topics course, Design and Entrepreneurship, bringing together design, entrepreneurship and community engagement through cross-campus and local partnerships this past spring semester. In collaboration with the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the Entrepreneurial Law Project, Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program (GORP) and Thrive Inc. in Helena, students applied community-centered design to develop branding solutions for early-stage Arkansas entrepreneurs and business owners.

"This course exemplifies the power of cross-disciplinary collaboration," said Rachel Debuque, director of the School of Art. "By combining design thinking with entrepreneurial strategy and community engagement, our students not only gained real-world experience but also made meaningful contributions to emerging businesses across Arkansas. Our hope is to add more courses like this with units across campus."

Senior program manager in the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Elizabeth Quinn was essential in the launch and success of this collaboration and course.

"This collaboration was born out of a clear opportunity — entrepreneurs building a business from scratch have trouble accessing affordable design resources," Quinn said. "Students benefit from hands-on experience with clients. We thought it was a pilot program worth testing, and everyone was thrilled with the results."

The course was taught by Nadia Issa, teaching assistant professor of graphic design, and Jessica Miles, visiting assistant professor of graphic design. It offered an unprecedented opportunity for students to work with emerging entrepreneurs as they begin building a business, when the vision is still forming and the values are still being defined. This initiative offered pro bono technical assistance that not only helped entrepreneurs grow their ventures but also strengthened the cultural relevance of their work.

Entrepreneurs from across the state participated in this course, including Misti Staley of Staley House LLC and the creator of FreeArm; Marcus Nelson, founder of Making Teachers Great Consultants; Joseph Haney, founder of ARKIE Cypress River Expeditions; Lisa Hicks Gilbert, founder of Courage and Cotton Creations; and Blane McClellan, founder of Frontier Climbing Company.

Each entrepreneur was paired with two students, working together to create branding and visual assets that support the growth of local businesses. Alongside design work, students conduct basic market research and SWOT analysis to assess client needs. Guest speakers from the Entrepreneurial Law Project provided insights into copyright, trademark and other legal considerations. Additionally, Thrive Inc., an Arkansas non-profit, shared how they are guiding rural communities to new economic opportunities through rebranding, placemaking and youth engagement.

"Throughout the course, students had to stay present, navigate uncertainty and carry the responsibility of knowing that their work could directly impact someone else's business — and possibly their future success," Issa said. "It wasn't an easy or straightforward path, but they adapted quickly and delivered work that was both thoughtful and impactful."

The Design and Entrepreneurship course required more than design skills. Students managed frequent conversations and check-ins with their clients, balanced multiple priorities and coordinated with vendors and merchandise companies to ultimately produce promotional assets and materials, including website and social media graphics, branding books, research posters and merchandise. This gave students a real glimpse into what life as a designer might look like after graduation.

"Working with these dedicated and inspiring design students to support entrepreneurs was a rewarding experience," Miles said. "Each group consistently improved as we guided them through real client experiences, further building their confidence and design capabilities. The work they created for each brand was skillfully designed and professionally executed, from beginning to the final presentation and exhibition."

The participating entrepreneurs expressed gratitude and excitement in this process.

"I would absolutely and highly recommend this program, especially if the founder is struggling or lacks knowledge about technology and website design," said Haney of ARKIE Cypress River Excursions.

Staley of FreeArm added, "This assistance was very helpful and required very little of my time. It was fun to learn from the students as they learn what it's like working with a client."

The final exhibition, "Building Brands Together," showcased of all the design work created and was a testament to this process. It emphasized that the act of building is never meant to be a lone activity and that uniting different perspectives — across disciplines and experiences — even when starting small, can lead to impressive outcomes. 

"Building Brands Together" highlighted how trust, collaboration and intentional design can contribute to the success of up-and-coming entrepreneurs and communities.