Asian Studies Center — camille north.

Asian Studies Center (MSU)

Graphic Designer / Cartographer

September 2018 - Current

As a National Resource Center (for Pan Asia) under the US Department of Education's Title VI program, the Asian Studies Center at Michigan State University directs one of the largest, most diverse programs of education about Asia in the Midwest. Unlike other programs, the Center is distinguished by its approach to East, Central, North, West, South, and Southeast Asia in the design of its curriculum, focus on faculty research, and outreach activities. Presently, the Center’s 240+ affiliated faculty members represent various academic departments in all of MSU's 17 colleges.

The Asian Studies Center collaborates closely with affiliates and specialists in various Departments and Colleges. The Center provides support to both undergraduate and graduate students through scholarships and a paper competition with awards for their pursuit of Asian language training, area studies, international studies, or the international aspects of professional studies.

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Siddharth Chandra Bio

Job Responsibilities

It was junior year, and I had just decided m concentration within my journalism degree would be visual communications. I immediately found my passion in design, and its techniques and rules felt as if they came very naturally to me. With that, alongside my passion to continue learning more outside of the classroom, I gained my first-ever mentor, Professor Rick Epps. Not too long into the semester, Rick approached me with a design opportunity - cartographer for the Asian Studies Center at MSU. I felt entirely unqualified, but after taking the chance, I found a passion for a new realm of design - maps and infographics. After diving into studying the art of infographics, and many trial and error wireframes, I found my groove and more importantly my confidence. With this position I have been given many opportunities to continue expanding my portfolio with projects outside of cartography; including, multiple book and journal covers, posters, grant proposals, and archive files restoration. I am entirely grateful to have been working for this department for 4+ years.

Gathered and researched client’s requirements for design, based on project’s budget, target audience, collected data and publishing platform.
Designed 20+ Indonesian and Michigan cartographic maps and 13 infographics, using the platforms ArcMap, ArcGIS and Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
Published maps and infographics to globally recognized web platforms to engage and solicit response from international audiences.
Conceptualized, created and produced advertisement and marketing brand of the Asian Studies Center’s event series, “Unity in Diversity”.
Designed and printed multiple book and journal covers, ranging from assets for my client’s personal bookshelf, to educational grant proposals, an the Indonesian Journal.