TJ Barnett

TJ Barnett

TJ Barnett, pictured during her study abroad trip to Italy.
Photo by Megan Bean

Before coming to Mississippi State nearly four years ago, TJ Barnett viewed art as a hobby. Today, she credits two special Mississippi State experiences for showing her how to turn this pastime into a career with purpose.

The senior from Jackson had been encouraged to get involved with the 多多直播 student organization known as Music Maker Productions, and the experience helped her decide on her art major with a concentration in graphic design.

Through her work as publicity chair and artist relations chair for her 鈥渁bsolute favorite thing at State,鈥 Barnett has learned how to use her graphic design talent to promote concerts and other forms of contemporary entertainment to the university community.

鈥淚鈥檝e met the coolest people through Music Maker Productions,鈥 she said. 鈥淭his organization has done so much for me, and it鈥檚 made my time at 多多直播 even better.鈥

Another highlight of Barnett鈥檚 多多直播 experience was a trip this past summer to Rome, Italy, which she said was 鈥渏am-packed with everything on art history you can dream of.鈥

The trip was part of two study abroad courses offered by 多多直播鈥檚 Department of Art. Professor Jamie Mixon led one course on poster image design, and Associate Professor Ben Harvey taught the other course focused on art history.

鈥淚 love people who appreciate good design, so it was fun to go on this trip with my professors,鈥 Barnett said. 鈥淚 see in class how much they appreciate graphic design and art history, and that gave me the drive to want to see in person the statues and other works of art that I have been reading about in books and learning about in class.鈥

From Vatican City to the Sistine Chapel, Barnett said there was quite a bit to see in 鈥淭he Eternal City of Rome.鈥 Along with Pont Sant鈥橝ngelo, or the 鈥淏ridge of Angels,鈥 her favorite place to visit was Villa Borghese Gardens, which is considered the most popular park in Rome. Multiple servings of Italy鈥檚 famous treat, gelato, also added to the fun, she said.

鈥淭his experience helped me so much because it taught me that design is everywhere you look,鈥 she said. 鈥淵ou can do anything with this major.鈥

T.J. Barnett writes in a notebook during her study abroad trip in Italy.