DIGITAL & DESIGN
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Arts@Large, Inc. | Fall 2023 - Spring '24
As a part of Arts@Large's Career Development program, Milwaukee Public Schools high school students and/or recent graduates are paired with an artist mentor for an entire school year. The after-school program allows the time and space for students in this paid internship to explore an art practice and develop skills from a professional mentor.
In this 2023-24 Digital and Design Track, led by Whitney Salgado, selected interns were given various exercises regarding the basics of graphic design that would lead to building a design portfolio. In the first semester, the interns used collage materials while working with the basics of design and later transitioned into working with iPad Pro and design/painting software. At the end of the program, the Art’s @ Large Legacy Library would be transformed into a immersive and interactive experience. Along with Visual Installation, Sound & Music, and Photography Tracks, Digital and Design Track interns presented their body of work that built up to a final typeface design project.
HANDS ON EXERCISES
In the first semester, the interns were challenged with basic analog exercises designed around the basics of design. They would revisit and play with composition, heirarchy, color theory, and other design elements through collage work.
After winter break, the interns would then focus on working with digital programs and software to explore shapes in letterforms, create mood boards, create mockups and design t-shirts. For their final project to showcase during the final exhibition, they created a typeface and presention board.
COURSE SUMMARY BOOKLET
After the full term of the program, the interns had created a large body of work full of physical collages and also digital ideation. Salgado compiled all of their work into a "scrapbook-esque" booklet showcasing their progress building up to their final type project. During the interns' final presentation and exhibition, these were given out as gifts where students could see their progress alongside the building blocks of design they explored.
DIGITAL STORYTELLING
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Arts@Large, Inc. | Fall 2024 - Spring '25
In this 2024 - '25 Digital Storytelling Track, led by Whitney Salgado, selected interns were given various exercises regarding the basics of storytelling that lead up to a zine. Interns would familiarize themselves with digital software and programs to create an almost entirely digital body of work.
At the end of the program, the Art’s @ Large Legacy Library would be transformed into a immersive and interactive experience. Digital Storytelling Track interns presented their final project, a multi-page zine, alongside the other track programs suring their final exhibition. Their ideation and work were also compiled into a physical booklet at the end of the Career Development Program.
DIGITAL EXERCISES
In this Career Development Program, Salgado focused across various storytelling mediums & pop culture, self-introspective questions, and real-world exercises. Interns were challened to learn & utilize various digital tools through exercises such as self-portrait collages, editorial illustration, storyboarding, and writing exercises. The interns also analyzed various media and storytelling, such as comparing western animation and anime, to better understand concepts like the Hero's Journey.
In the second semester, more complex projects recapped their previous exercises through designing their own one-page comics and ultimately creating their own multi-page zine. Below are just a handful of examples of their work.
AIR ACADEMY
SCULPTURE
Arts@Large, Inc. | 2024
During local artist, Demar Walker's Artist Residency at Arts@Large, Salgado was invited to teach sculpture for their Artist-In-Residence (AIR) Academy program. Paired with various groups of emerging artists from 3rd grade to high school level, Salgado prompted them three short mini projects based on Demar Walker's residency in 2025.
SCULPTURE
For this six session program that ran early on Saturdays, Salgado worked with third through 8th graders on various projects. Based on work found in Art@Large's gallery from local artist Demar Walker, students created work through introspective questions. Walker's work in his residency Junior, explores the complexities of Black male identity, his childhood experiences, and his unique journey into adulthood
