“Graphic design shapes culture; it creates a visual vocabulary. I’m excited to contribute to that culture, using my background and personal experiences as inspiration,” says Nasher Museum intern Karol Perez (Appalachian State University Class of 2024).
As a senior at Appalachian State University majoring in Graphic Design with a minor in Art History, Karol Perez’s love for art has been a lifelong journey, deeply rooted in their upbringing. With a musician father and a mother skilled in Photoshop, Karol was surrounded by creativity from a young age. Their passion for graphic design began with a simple observation: browsing graphic t-shirts at Ross and thinking, “I can do better.” This spark of inspiration led them to take a graphic design course in their first year of college, solidifying their passion.
For eight weeks this summer, Karol worked closely with Joel P. Johnson, Head of Graphic Design, through an internship generously supported by Nasher Museum Friends Board Member David Arthur, A.B. ’88, P’21. Karol’s first task as an intern proved invaluable: archiving past Nasher promotional materials, such as ad designs, gallery cards, and posters. Although, at times, overwhelming, looking through these materials provided them with an in-depth understanding of the Nasher’s brand identity. By analyzing the fonts, visuals, and colors incorporated in past designs, Karol identified what worked and what required improvement. This foundational work set the stage for Karol’s creative contributions throughout their internship.
I’ve learned the importance of having a niche. Each person at the Nasher Museum comes from a different background in the art world and has a specific niche, which they nurture and grow.
Karol Perez, Appalachian State University Class of 2024
Karol’s first major project was redesigning the Nasher’s membership cards. They noted the importance of being “mindful of what the audience wants” during the design process, conducting visual research, and often turning to Pinterest to create inspiration boards for the project. From there, Karol sketched out ideas in their sketchbook before translating them into InDesign. Throughout the process, they collaborated closely with Joel, brainstorming and incorporating feedback to refine their designs.
I received two recurring pieces of feedback: to use more negative space and to focus on hierarchy. I learned to apply these principles effectively in my designs, keeping the Nasher’s brand in mind."
Karol Perez
Next, Karol helped develop the promotional campaign for the Nasher’s new exhibition, By dawn’s early light. Their supervisor, Joel, jokingly framed the project as Karol’s “final exam.” While the pressure was on, it motivated Karol to apply everything they had learned during their time at the Nasher. This project required that Karol delve deep into the exhibition’s themes to create graphics and designs that accurately reflected its ideas, especially since the title wall that they designed would be the first thing visitors encounter upon entering the exhibition. Karol, also, met with the show’s curator Xuxa Rodriguez, Patsy R. and Raymond D. Nasher Curator of Contemporary Art, to understand her perspective and objectives for the exhibition. During the process, it was also important for Karol to connect personally with the artworks. The process taught Karol the importance of communication and collaboration, working closely with different departments and incorporating feedback from various individuals.
The Nasher Museum has so many moving parts, with each department playing a unique role—it fosters a truly collaborative working environment.
Karol Perez
Karol’s journey at the Nasher Museum has been one of growth, learning, and creative exploration. They embark on their final semester eager to take more art history and graphic design classes. Karol expresses excitement about pursuing a future in graphic design, particularly within the art world. We look forward to seeing their continued growth and success!
“This internship has helped me tremendously as a graphic designer. My skills in graphic design principles, taking and incorporating feedback, and explaining my work have massively improved. With my background in art history, I can definitely see myself working in a museum environment in the future!” – Karol Perez
by Aviv Yochai, Duke Class of 2026