If you’ve spent any time walking, biking, or driving around the Marywood University campus, chances are you’ve seen Nick Arcarese’s work. His art, an incandescent style which fuses smart concepts with creative, detailed, and sometimes bold designs, has a way of catching people’s attention. In layman's terms, Arcarese’s work is pretty darn good. 

“Art has always been my passion”, said Arcarese. “I’m a designer, but I’m more of an illustrator than anything else. It’s just what I do; I love it. I’m an illustrator at the core.”

Arcarese, who graduated from Marywood University in May 2022 with a bachelor of fine arts degree in graphic design, has already had his hands on a number of large projects through his work with local businesses, Northeast Art Project and Posture Interactive. As an artist, Arcarese has played a large role in creating accessible public art and showcasing culture in the Scranton area, which, to him, is purely a community act.

“I love the energy that comes from people coming together and sharing their ideas,” said Arcarese. “That’s sort of the standard at Marywood⁠—everyone supports each other. My fondest memories from the past couple of years have been creating in and out of the studio. I’ve been able to paint murals everywhere, from Marywood’s campus to downtown Scranton, with the help of Northeast Art Project. I also had the opportunity to work in an office setting during a design internship at Posture Interactive in Scranton, which was incredible. I have Marywood to thank for these great experiences.” 

Many businesses are shifting their focus to establish a more substantial brand presence digitally. Thus, designs for marketing campaigns are needed, and designers that will help build that foundation through building a good website are essential. Concept designers and illustrators who can provide fresh and gamified environment concepts in graphic design will capture more engagements in various digital communities.

“My three favorite places to be are in the studio, gallery, and museum,” said Arcarese. “The more I’m in those spaces, working on art and thinking about art, the happier I’ll be.”

Graphic design is considered a commodity on the web, with graphic design positions predicted to rise at a 5 percent annual pace until 2026, according to the national average for all occupations. The job of graphic designers will continue to be important in product promotion across the economy. 

Marywood University offers a bachelor of fine arts (BFA), master of fine arts (MFA), as well as a minor in graphic design. Other program highlights include the opportunity to work on real design projects, small class sizes, 24-hour access to fully equipped computer labs that are complete with Adobe Creative Suite and other industry-standard software. Further, students in the graphic design program have the opportunity to add a minor in areas including advertising, business, multimedia communication, illustration, and photography. For additional information about Marywood University’s Top-Ranked Graphic Design and Illustration Programs, visit marywood.edu/art.