BRIDGEWATER – Students at Somerset County Vocational and Technical High School (SCVTHS) are provided with opportunities to participate in work-based learning (WBL) experiences that allow them to gain exposure to “real world” clients and projects.
One of the ways Graphic Communications students get this experience is through PawPrints Print Shop & Graphic Design Studio, a full-service school-based business that is capable of producing a wide variety of printed products. Two recent projects showcased the talents of students enrolled in the program.
Photo: Priya Tunuguntla of Branchburg, a student in the Graphic Communications program at Somerset County Vocational and Technical High School, with some of the items she designed for Paolillo Welding of Hillsborough. PawPrints Print Shop & Graphic Design Studio, a full service school-based business at SCVTHS, printed the logo she created onto t-shirts and other clothingWhen the owners of Shade Tree Garage in Morristown were looking for someone to design and print apparel for their 50th Anniversary celebration, they turned to PawPrints. Shade Tree Garage was founded in 1976 and has earned a reputation for honest service, skilled craftsmanship, and lasting trust. In celebration of their fifty years in business, the owners wanted to do something special. They contacted Lori Demsey and Joe Alfieri, the Graphic Communications instructors at SCVTHS, and asked them if their students could design a commemorative logo that could be printed on different pieces of apparel. Seeing an excellent opportunity for a WBL experience, and knowing that their students were fully capable of turning out high quality products, the teachers agreed to take on the job. They then turned the process over to their students, who met with their client, came up with designs, and made revisions. Shade Tree Garage chose three logos designed by juniors Lian Salas of Bridgewater and Emma Pham of Millington, and senior Chloe Upton of Watchung. These designs were then turned over to the print shop, where Mr. Alfieri guided students as they used the automatic press to produce high-quality apparel for the event.
Another local business, Paolillo Welding of Hillsborough, turned to PawPrints to develop a company branding package. Juniors and seniors in the Graphic Arts program worked on logo designs, and several were submitted for approval. Designs created by Priya Tunuguntla of Branchburg and Jayden Cortez-Nieto of South Bound Brook were chosen as finalists. Ms. Tunuguntla and Mr. Cortez-Nieto were then given notes on their designs and were given an opportunity to make revisions and create mock-ups of apparel and business cards featuring their logos. Joe Paolillo, the owner of the welding firm, chose Ms. Tunuguntla’s design as the winner and will feature the branding she created on hats, sweatshirts, t-shirts, and business cards printed by PawPrints to promote his new endeavor.
“These projects gave students the opportunity to see their designs come to life through a real production process while learning industry-standard printing techniques and quality control,” said Ms. Demsey. “We truly appreciate Art Bruhn, owner of Shade Tree Garage, and Joe Paolillo, owner of Paolillo Welding, for choosing PawPrints Print Shop & Graphic Design Studio for this job” she added.
All proceeds from projects produced by PawPrints go directly back to SCVTHS students through the Senior Scholarship Program.
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