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Recent �鶹��ѡ 2025 graduate, Luana Johnson, earned her degree in visual communication design, and posted to LinkedIn stating that while she was refining her resume, she began reflecting on how �鶹��ѡshaped her career path.  

Originally from Brazil, Johnson’s journey to �鶹��ѡstarted through the American Academy, a dual-enrollment program offered jointly by �鶹��ѡand the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR), located in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.

Through the program, she completed general education coursework in Brazil for two years, then finished her degree in America.  

“When I graduated from high school, I wanted to be an actress,” Johnson told �鶹��ѡToday. “But during my first course, I understood that maybe theater is not exactly what I was looking for.”

Instead, she pursued visual communication design, a choice inspired by a live music experience.

“I went to a concert here, and the graphics and the motion design were crazy,” she said. “And that day I was like, ‘I want to do this.’”

During her time as a student, she gained hands-on experience working as a graphic designer for the Division of Student Life, where she created a wide range of graphics used across campus.

“I designed a lot of different materials,” Johnson said. “I was responsible for the entire move-in campaign. So, all the flags, all the materials, the photo frames, everything around campus were made by me.”

Seeing her work displayed publicly was a defining moment.

“I was going to the supermarket, and I just saw my things on the street, and I was like, how is it possible?” Johnson said.  

She said the role also helped her build a professional portfolio, saying most of it was the work she did at Kent State. “They were literally going to clients,” she said.

Access to high-end design labs and specialized software that are often cost-prohibitive elsewhere demonstrates Kent State’s award-winning support and access. This distinctive program environment, combined with the American Academy partnership, ensures that international students can transition seamlessly into high-quality academic tracks that lead to global career readiness.

In addition to her major, she completed a minor in human sexuality and combined both areas in her capstone project: a health-tracking app designed for people living with HIV.

“I was trying to find a way to merge my minor with my major for my capstone,” Johnson said. “I can make an app to help people to track their health.”

The app allows users to input daily information and manage appointments, with a focus on maintaining health after diagnosis.

“It’s for people that just discovered that they are living with HIV, and they can track their health and manage the virus load,” she said.

So, in short, how did �鶹��ѡshare her career? She answers, “basically, everything.”

She said her time at �鶹��ѡwas transformative, particularly in developing her English skills and access to resources.

“My English improved so much,” she said. “It opened several doors around the world.”

She also highlighted the university’s facilities as a major advantage.

“We don’t have that type of structure in Brazil,” she said. “We don’t have all those labs. It’s too expensive.”

Access to creative labs allowed her to experiment with techniques she might not have otherwise explored.

As she moves forward, she said the combination of academic experience, professional work and creative exploration has prepared her for future opportunities.

Learn more about the School of Visual Communication Design.