TRAVERSE CITY, MI — NMC’s Visual Communications department invites area non-profit groups to submit graphic design, art direction and new media projects for consideration as pro bono class projects during the spring 2027 semester.
Part of the Visual Communications curriculum, the class project is free to the non-profits selected. The goal is a real-world assignment that allows students to interact with clients and exposes them to the commercial printing and production worlds, including film and new media production, creative advertising, graphic design and packaging. Projects will be completed by the end of the spring semester in April 2027.
Potential projects could include logos, brochures, ad campaigns, packaging, graphic design, branding, posters, infographics, announcements, invitations, film, motion graphics, animations, exhibition design, TV commercials or anything relating to visual communications, commercial art, illustration and film or web design. New this year is the opportunity to submit immersive video projects, a format that goes beyond traditional flat-screen viewing and makes the viewer feel as though they are physically part of, or immersed, in the scene. The department is especially interested in conceptually-driven projects that will offer the students substantial opportunity for interaction with the client and process. See examples of past projects here.
Please include the following in your submission:
- Description, tone and purpose of the design work requested, as well as the targeted audience you identify being associated with this work / your organization.
- List out EACH piece (logo / brochure / short film, etc.) that make up the ideal whole of your project. Other pieces may be identified by your student team or elements may be excluded based on their contracted plan or suggested in place of ones on this list.
- Ideal completion date between February 28 and April 25. All projects will be completed by April 29. Feel free to stagger dates individual elements might be due.
- Ideal time for mid-way progress check meeting in March.
- Budget: While there is no fee for the services students will provide, organizations must provide funds for printing / production expenses. NMC is happy to coordinate printing / production and get quotes under all budgets, and the students should be included in this step as it gains them experience in obtaining production quotes.
Please submit project consideration requests to instructor Caroline Schaefer-Hills at cschaefer@nmc.edu by January 1.
Release date: November 19, 2026
For more information:
Caroline Schaefer-Hills
Visual Communications chair
(231) 995-1334
cschaefer@nmc.edu