“When I think about my experience working for the Office of Instructional Resources the first thing that comes to mind is the level of professionalism I was able to cultivate. We got to work with campus partners as our own clients, maintained our own deadlines, and learned how to create material and projects of the highest caliber. Kaylene gave us so much freedom to develop our own design style and create a portfolio we were proud of. What I loved is that we were not just creating work for an event but building a legacy and brand based on the mission and values of the departments and Buffalo State. It warmed my heart to visit the campus and still see designs I created still in use, like the menus of Campus House. This job truly prepared me to finish my program in Communication Design strong as well as develop strong ties to the campus community.”
Lyndsay Raymond, '16, Executive Director for Student Success, Lincoln University
"I had the pleasure of interning with Kaylene during my last semester at Buffalo State College. I was familiar with the work and services Kaylene was offering in Creative Services and being able to collaborate with students, faculty and staff was an exciting thought to me, so it was a no brainer when I found out Kaylene was accepting interns.
During my time with Kaylene, I was encouraged to be proactive in so many ways. We were shown new ways to use programs we were already familiar with while also encouraged to learn new things whether it be how to properly address someone in an email to learning how to use a very comprehensive printer. We were given a chance to do just about anything you can imagine a graphic designer would want to do. Most importantly I think, we weren't just given these chances and opportunities without guidance. Kaylene was a willing mentor, supporter, and friend to all of us in the office. Anyone would be lucky to learn from her."
Alain Pierre-Lys '21, Graphic Design Faculty, Buffalo State College
"During my sophomore year in the Graphic Design program at Buffalo State, I reached out to Kaylene about working as a student designer after a class tour of Creative Services, and I'm so happy I did. I began working at Creative Services the following fall and was thrilled at the opportunity to truly use the skills I was learning in class in a practical manner. Our team of student designers functioned like our own little agency. We took on all different types of design work for faculty, staff, and students, and often saw work through from concept to print. The experience I gained working at Creative Services was without a doubt incredibly valuable to my future as a graphic designer, from building my design skills to working on client relations and teamwork. Even after I've graduated, Kaylene always makes herself available to help former students out by sharing job postings, design events and classes, and networking opportunities. As a graphic design student, working at Creative Services is one of the best things you can do on-campus to gain design and "real world" job experience."
Lauren Cox, '21
“If you’re looking for a fun, challenging, and versatile work environment, working with Kaylene at the Creative Services department is the way to go. The work environment is nurturing in a way that made me very proud of who I worked with, as well as the graphic contributions I’ve made around campus. I learned how to communicate and collaborate efficiently with clients from various departments on campus. Kaylene and the rest of the team helped me to become a confident designer with a powerful skillset in print production, design, marketing, and everything in between. My prospective employers were very impressed with the unique combination of collaborative, technical, and interpersonal skills I developed during my 2 years with the office.
Tamara Fontenelle, '19, Graphic Designer, Mean Guppy
"If I had all the time in the world and I lived forever, I still would not have enough time to explain all the benefits of working with Kaylene and the Design and Print center. To sum it up as best as I can, this is the best place to learn and develop during your internship. Kaylene is an endless supply of knowledge, super comforting and supportive mentor, and an all around great person. She treats us like her kids but respects us as working professionals. I highly valued my time as an intern with her and I hope more people can get the experience I did." -ps make sure you feed the fishes
Carlton X. Sanders, '22
"I believe everything happens for a reason! I was looking for a job on campus when I heard the school had a print shop. I went to see if there was a position available, and there was an opening for the new semester. From then on, I worked till I graduated. While I was working here, Kaylene taught me tricks and necessary print knowledge that wasn’t taught in class. These skills have followed me throughout my career and helped me achieve the position I am in now as Graphic Design Director. I still would recommend working here to any student. The hours you work are based around your school schedule. I commuted to school every day, where I lived 45 minutes from Buffalo State. Leaving me with huge gaps of time in between classes. When I started here, those gaps got filled with work, but it was fun work and if there was downtime we could work on our homework. Most of the time it didn't even feel like work, it was a joy to work here every day. Plus working here helped me build a portfolio and experience customer relations. Kaylene was the best boss! She was a boss but a friend at the same time, she is the kindest person I have ever met in my life. And when graduation came up, it was hard to leave. This experience has always been the foundation of what made me the designer I am today! Thank you for the amazing experiences you gave me over those many years, they will never be forgotten!"
Amelia Ziegler, '14, Marketing Associate, Cornerstone Community Federal Credit Union
"My time working with Kaylene allowed me to gain a whole new insight into what it meant to be a professional designer. I was able to collect real-world experience and build professional connections inside and out of the college, which opened up the door to several new opportunities. I would encourage students to take on this opportunity as a student designer as I was able to gain more confidence in my ability in executing design solutions for both print and web."
Curtis Kreutter, '21, Marketing Fellow, CEPA Gallery
“Kaylene gave us students an opportunity that allowed freedom to find our niche in the design world. A one-stop shop for all your print media needs; a compassionate environment where I cultivated getting paid to learn the ins and outs of Adobe Software like InDesign and more. She is hands-down the best work mom I’ve ever had.”
Shelanise Daniels, '17, Graphic Designer, Gravity Club
"I had the pleasure of working as Kaylene's student assistant at Buffalo State College from 2013-2015. Kaylene's expertise as a graphic designer is invaluable. Under her guidance, she taught me everything I needed to know about working in a design studio, such as how to solve design problems, and how to effectively communicate with clients. Kaylene is a wonderful mentor and communicator who is always willing to help her students. Anyone would be lucky to have Kaylene as their mentor!"
Sayumi Miura, '15, Graphic Designer, Agon Shu Canada Buddhist Association
“Working for the Creative Services department was one of the highlights of my college career. Kaylene is a natural teacher. She creates a fun and safe environment for everyone walking through her doors. Additionally, I was blessed to work with friends who were passionate, creative, and collaborative. We all came to this school to earn a degree in Graphic Design. The classes we took taught us valuable lessons. Yet working at Creative Services gave us a place to put our new skills to practical use. We could learn things like working with clients, completing projects from initial concept to finished product, and The unique aspects of print media. All of which made us more valuable assets for future jobs. In all, Creative Services allowed us to grow as designers and artists. We connected with students, faculty, and staff we wouldn't have known. I highly recommend working here to any prospective student— especially those who wish to learn in as fun a way as possible.”
John Steiner, '21
"I'm happy to say that I have been a full-time graphic arts teacher at the Falk School for the past 3 years. I teach graphic design, digital illustration, photography, and advertising to students from all over WNY. I still do freelance advertising/logo design and worked for about a year as a designer for a publishing company doing book covers, social media banners, and advertisements.
Working with Kaylene in Instructional Resources at Buffalo State definitely built up my design skills AND my customer service skills. I was pushed to combine my vision with what the customer wanted and was challenged to meet deadlines and problem solve/troubleshoot issues constantly. It was always a blast working with the team because everyone was very supportive and knowledgeable. No one was ever left struggling and everyone was always happy to help and give advice.
I use the skills I learned with Kaylene constantly and have been able to share skills and experiences with my students for the past few years. I would recommend working with Kaylene’s team to any design student who is self-motivated and would like to build their skills while earning credits or a paycheck!"
Elyssa Harper, '17, Graphic Arts Teacher, Falk School
"When I heard there was an opening at Instructional Resources, I jumped all over it. My best friend worked with Kaylene the year prior and told me how rewarding and fun it was. She is an amazing mentor/friend and taught me the ins and outs of the Adobe programs along with a lot of the key commands. She gives you the opportunity to be yourself and allows creative freedom with great guidance. I will always cherish my time there and shout it from the roof tops that if you’re looking to get a head start in your career development this is an amazing jump off point."
Allison Frank, '14, Visual Designer • UI/UX Designer
