Two Graphic Design seniors, Tyler Handa and Paige Alana Bowermaster, have been named GDUSA 2023 Students to Watch.

Paige Alana Bowermaster

Bowermaster, originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, grew up creating artwork and became serious about it when she was 10 years old. Her passion for graphic design surfaced during her Foundation year of college when she attended a department meeting about the program. She is a founding member of The Agency, the College’s in-house branding and marketing program, where she took on several leadership roles. Her most recent accomplishments include creating and designing the America250PA coloring book, which was distributed to the state’s schoolchildren. She also won the 2023 PCA&D Senior Show & Celebration Branding Competition, designing the signature branding for the annual thesis show. Bowermaster is a passionate designer and constantly pushes herself to see what she can design next to surpass her previous work. When Bowermaster isn’t creating you can find her riding her horse, Jessie, hanging out with her cat, Molly, or driving around town with her friends.

• What makes you feel inspired?

Music, artists of the past, the human mind, and the simplicity of just creating and doing what I love.

• What area or areas of design are you hoping to work in or specialize in?

I am hoping to work in design jobs that allow me to create with a purpose. I am passionate about brand design, publication design, advertising, and packaging. At the end of the day designing in any sense is rewarding in itself.

• What is one thing that design school has taught you that you did not expect?

Design school has taught me how to succeed with grace, and that where you come from, or your past design experience, is not a detriment to the capabilities you can possess if you are willing to work harder than everyone else in the room. 

• Who is someone you look up to in your field? Either today or historically?

I look up to Jessica Walsh. As a woman who tends to gravitate toward taboo, controversial topics, I am inspired by her ability to design in a way that makes people think. As artists, that is our job, to make people think. 

• What are you reading, listening to, watching?

 I am currently reading Jeanette McCurdy’s new biography, listening to Twenty One Pilots and Mickey Darling, and re-watching my favorite show, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel!

Tyler Handa

Handa, a graphic designer and illustrator from Levittown, Pennsylvania, has a passion for creating and a talent for award-winning design. He is a founding member of the College’s in-house design firm, The Agency. Handa loves customizing fonts, using bright and bold colors, and illustrating fun characters. His interests outside of art and design include watching football, listening to a wide variety of music, and building Legos.

• What makes you feel inspired?

I’m really inspired by music and movies. Also, I’m inspired by designers such as Abi Connick, Michael Irwin, James Martin, and Allan Peters.

• What area or areas of design are you hoping to work in or specialize in?

After I graduate, I hope to specialize in brand identity, packaging, and type design.

• What is one thing that design school has taught you that you did not expect?

One thing I learned in my college experience that I didn’t expect was how to be resilient.

• Who is someone you look up to in your field? Either today or historically?

There are a lot of people I look up to in my field, but Rosita Mullane, my high school commercial art teacher, has been a big part of my life and I really admire her.

• What are you reading, listening to, watching? 

Currently, I’m reading House Industries Lettering Manual by Ken Barber, listening to Walk the Moon, and watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer.