Sydney Wertish has a passion for design. She loves designing logos for branding and packaging. One of her favorite Graphic Design II projects was creating a logo for a Hawaiian food and wine festival named Kapalua. The design displays a glass of wine with a vibrant pink and orange tone inside of it. Next to the glass is a big blue wave that represents the tropical aspect of the project.
“I was able to print out the logo on a tote and now I take the tote grocery shopping with me,” says Wertish. What Wertish truly enjoyed was seeing her designs come to life. Having the tote physically present, hanging at her side, instead of seeing it digitally on her laptop, was rewarding.
Choosing a major
Wertish, who will graduate with her Marketing and Graphic Design B.B.A. in Spring 2022, always knew that she wanted to go into business, and design has always been one of her passions. UMD was one of very few schools where Wertish found elements of both programs in one major.
“What really got me was the Marketing and Graphic Design program that I’m in now. It’s almost like a double major,” says Wertish.
She learned a lot about business in general. “To go far in business, is based on who you know, and the connections you’re able to make,” she says.
After UMD, Wertish hopes to land a job in digital marketing where she can work with others to get feedback on the work she does. “I really like being around people and I feel like working in teams is the perfect fit for me… especially in digital marketing because it will bring everything that I’ve learned in my education together.”
Wertish has advice for students who are looking for a job. “Go the extra mile with your employer.” She says going above and beyond takes effort but it’s worth it. “It’s very important and it can also help you in the future.”
Real Companies - Real Projects
Wertish knows about going the extra mile. She and her team in Dr. Marat Bakpayev’s Advertising and Marketing Communications course worked on an advertising campaign for the Duluth company, Heaven on Earth Wellness Spa.
The team met the owner of Heaven on Earth Wellness Spa and Wertish took ownership of the graphic design aspect. She created a mood board, different logo developments, and created mock-up’s of posters and advertisements.
She wanted “an identifiable and unique logo that is applicable to Duluth… something that is connected with the natural elements, such as the water of Lake Superior, or the pebbles of the beaches.” Wertish’s final concept included stacked rocks similar to those seen in the area and complemented the theme of Heaven on Earth Wellness Spa.
Overall, she enjoyed the experience of working as if they were a real marketing team. “There were a lot of fun times. I got to know these people super well and we did get really close,” says Wertish. “It really did feel like a job,” she said. “I think this class was meant to show students what a marketing job would be like and also taught us how to work with a real client.” She would be willing to show her work to an employer in the near future.
The Employment and School Partnership
Practice is important to Wertish. She is currently a marketing and social media coordinator at Apricot Lane Boutique located in Duluth, Minnesota. “It’s a fun job and I get to work independently. Overall, it’s just a great experience to work side by side with a female business owner,” says Wertish.
She recently accepted an internship at a baby boutique chain called Pacifier in the Twin Cities. “I will be a content marketing intern, so I am excited to see where that one will take me!”
Next! The MBA 4+1 Program
Wertish had to jump through many hoops to get to where she is today. It took hard work to earn a high GPA and achieve one of her biggest accomplishments, getting into the MBA 4+1 program. In fall 2022, Wertish will be back at UMD to earn a Master of Business Administration through that MBA 4+1 program.
Wertish proved she could take on obstacles and overcome them. She’s not afraid of the rigorous course load ahead, because the reward is high. She’ll earn her master’s degree in just one year.
About UMD's integrated MBA 4+1 Program
This story was written by UMD student Paris Vang, who is majoring in marketing and minoring in professional writing. Paris works with Cheryl Reitan in University Marketing and Public Relations.