Hartford Art School student and visual communications design major Millie Hamlin ’25 has designed this year’s Day of Giving stickers. Day of Giving is an annual event that celebrates UHart, as it brings together alumni, students, parents, and friends who raise funds for UHart students, scholarships, and programs. In recent years, students have been selected to design the stickers, as another creative connection to the school and the wider community. The stickers will be available on Day of Giving, held on April 3.
The creative process for designing the stickers provided Hamlin with a stronger connection to the school. Hamlin says that this project allowed them to “Take a step back and appreciate the alumni who came before me.” Gratitude is the theme of what this project means to Hamlin, and they are “Eternally grateful for what resources I have, the tools I can use in the art studio, and the resources other students have on offer for their needs.” The stickers that were designed are, in Hamlin’s words, “Both representative of the school, as well as the traditions that we have. Every time I cross the bridge on my way to or from class, I look to see if there is anything “written in stone” in the water. I think making something that is in nature and isn’t harmful to the environment is something so special, and it can be a fun way to (safely) show support for something. I wanted the traditions and symbols of UHart to be remembered and continued.”
In addition to designing the Day of Giving stickers, Hamlin’s design work can also be visible on other areas of campus. Visitors to the University of Hartford’s Joseloff and Silpe galleries are welcomed with a new logo designed by Hamlin last year.
“Design has the power to make us feel understood and appreciated,” Hamlin explains. “If I can help give people a sense of belonging with my work, that would be extremely fulfilling.”
The Gallery logo is part of the Hartford Art School’s branding campaign, developed as a way to help celebrate the unification of the Donald and Linda Silpe Gallery and the Joseloff Gallery under what the school calls a single and harmonious identity. With its colors and contours, Hamlin’s logo symbolizes the collective artistic spirit of all the galleries. It is used in marketing purposes on behalf of gallery events, as well as on gallery merchandise.
Carrie Cushman, director and curator of the galleries praised Hamlin for their “Talent and professionalism throughout the creative process.”
With the school’s help, Hamlin has made a name for themselves outside of campus, after taking the lead to create a logo, business cards, and other items for Shine Your Light CT. This branding campaign was under the guidance of Civic Design Professor Michael Scricco. Shine Your Light is an organization that, though partnerships with other groups, helps communities explore creativity and promote self-expression. According to its leadership, Hamlin’s design makes a positive difference in the first impressions and reactions of patrons who want to find out about the organization.
As a sophomore, Hamlin won a gold award from the Connecticut Art Directors Club for a charity tennis tournament poster they designed.
“In sixth grade, I wrote a children's book for an assignment,” Hamlin says. “I used PowerPoint and spent a lot of time finding the right clip art and stock photos. I may not have known it at the time, but that was the beginning of my career path! I was very proud of the end product.”
In addition to the many design projects on campus, Hamlin is involved in other University organizations. Hamlin is currently the creative intern at the Women’s Advancement Initiative office, where they “get to see the behind-the-scenes of how an organization supports alumna, donors, and board members.” Hamlin is also the co-founder and president of the University’s first graphic design club, .JPEG. This graphic design club is another highlight of her college experience, as Hamlin says “I get to collaborate with so many talented people. It is also not just for design majors, which I think is something so amazing. Creativity doesn’t have to be just for art majors! I think my college experience so far has been incredible in that I am so happy to be involved in so many different programs, organizations, and projects.”
The design future certainly looks very bright for this dedicated and creative Hartford Art School student.