Blending Innovation, Design, and Purpose

The Journey of Purpose—central to Mount Vernon’s 10-year strategic plan—encourages students to explore who they are and where they are headed. This vision is brought to life in Mount Vernon Studios, the School’s innovative Arts program, through the department’s annual theme of Personal Geographies, which invites students to navigate self-discovery through creativity. In Upper School, the MDE Foundations class, led by Catherine Altamirano, exemplifies this approach by combining innovation, design thinking, and real-world application to empower students as creators and storytellers.

Purpose-Driven Design in Action

In MDE Foundations, students undertake a professional-grade design process that reflects Mount Vernon’s emphasis on real-world application. Collaborating with the School’s Brand team, they develop narrative campaigns aligned with the School’s visual identity and voice. These projects immerse students in project management, client collaboration, and creative problem-solving—critical skills for their future endeavors.

The campus itself serves as a stage for innovation. In one project, students design visual messaging for reflective spaces like stairwell windows, where sunlight brings their work to life. “Through these projects, students learn to think critically, iterate effectively, and navigate the challenges of creative problem-solving,” explains Ms. Altamirano. “It’s inspiring to watch them grow as designers, thinkers, and collaborators.”

Exploring Personal Geographies

The Personal Geographies theme encourages students to reflect on their identities and life journeys. This exploration takes shape through innovative projects that combine technical skills with personal expression:

• Inspirational Mirror Messages: Using Adobe Illustrator and vinyl cutters, students craft motivational messages, blending self-reflection with design precision.
• Mapping Identity: Projects like fingerprint-inspired maps and personal color wheels transform introspection into intricate visual designs.
• ‘I Am From’ Ornaments: Drawing from Levi Romero’s I Am From poem, students create ornaments exploring themes of home and belonging.
• Personal Topographies: Grade 8 students explore personal locations of topographical maps highlighting the graphic elevation lines as Abstract Art pieces

Through these projects, students connect their personal journeys with Mount Vernon’s broader Journey of Purpose, turning self-discovery into meaningful work.

Skills for the Future

From initial concepts to final execution, students master industry-standard tools like Adobe Illustrator and vinyl cutters while building portfolios that demonstrate skills in typography, scaling, alignment, and quality control. The iterative design process reinforces the value of refinement and detail, preparing students for professional and creative challenges.

Embracing the Crooked Path

Collaboration among educators like Lynn Luster, Nikolai Ibañez, Mariana DePetris, and Susan Edwards fosters an environment where students connect their personal geographies to their broader journeys. Inspired by a visit to Plywood People, a social-impact entrepreneur collective, students designed motivational messages that align with Brandon Sadler’s earlier call to embrace life’s “crooked path”—celebrating growth in unexpected detours.

Experience Student Work

The culmination of this creative journey will be on display at the Upper School during the annual Christmas Arts Showcase on Thursday, December 5. Visitors will experience how Mount Vernon students translate personal geographies into inspiring works of art—from reflective mirror installations to intricate maps and ornaments.

Don’t miss this opportunity to witness their creativity and purpose in action at the Christmas Arts Showcase—a powerful celebration of the intersection of education and artistry at Mount Vernon.