My name is Ben McDougall and I am currently studying Graphic Design at UW-Stout. During my childhood I had a love for basketball and the NBA, which sparked my interest in design. When I watched games on TV and played with trading cards, I was obsessed with the different designs of the jerseys, cards, and especially the shoes. I started drawing my own shoes and playing with the colorways of my favorite Nikes and Jordans. During the 1990′s, Nike was on the cutting edge of the basketball shoe industry and had several great designs that inspired me with unique lines and appealing use of color.
In elementary school, I always looked forward to art class because it was different than any other subject. I liked being hands on and creating things. I attended University School of Milwaukee for high school and continued to take art classes without knowing what career path I wanted to pursue. My art teacher influenced me to look into art as a major, and that is when I found UW-Stout’s program.
Now that I am in college, I am learning what it takes to have a career in an art related field. After studying the principles of design and other artists, inspiration comes from more and more places than ever before. I recently traveled to Spain and was able to experience the work of artists like Gaudi and Picasso. I felt the enthusiasm they put into everything they produced. I personally am inspired by nature, politics, and memories from my younger years. I am working on developing my own style as I explore different mediums and techniques that I learn in college.
