GRAPHICS GURU BARR EARNS 2022 ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD
By Megan Crotty
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” The ever-present question follows students from kindergarten to high school — and often changes several times even after graduation. Unless you're 2022 Randolph Community College graduate and Academic Excellence Award winner Shawn Barr “As a kid, I would spend hours upon hours drawing, usually indistinguishable nonsense, but attempting to create,” he said. By the time Barr was in eighth grade, he had already mastered a free illustration program on his science teacher’s laptop and started making designs for friends, family, and anyone else who needed graphics. Through these experiences, he developed a profound interest in graphic arts. While learning the Adobe suite in high school at Uwharrie Ridge Six-Twelve, Barr dual-enrolled at RCC his junior year, pursuing his Associate in Arts while finishing high school. He planned to graduate with an associate degree and then enter the workforce.
“It was quite beneficial as a younger student to learn alongside people who actually seemed to care about their education, rather than your typical high school student,” he said. “When I learned about the Advertising and Graphic Design [AGD] Program at RCC, I decided that spending an extra year after high school would benefit me more than a regular [Associate in Arts]. This step truly altered the direction of my career.” While a student, Barr was also a Production Assistant for Core Supply Graphics, Visual Designer for Sunday Social, a Graphic Designer for Vintage Church, and a Graphic Designer for Stir Social. Always wanting to learn more, at the end of the Summer Semester in 2021, he asked his instructors if there were any new design programs the class would be learning in the fall. Barr spent his break learning Adobe XD — a website prototyping tool — to be a step ahead in the coming semester. He credits his RCC instructors and the AGD Program for fostering his love for art and design and helping him launch his career further than he ever thought possible.
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