Students To Watch • Graphic Design USA

Garret Smith is a 29-year-old graphic designer born in North Carolina and raised in Florida, whose practice is shaped by both discipline and curiosity. He is a U.S. Army Veteran, having served from 2014 to 2020 as an Airborne Multimedia Illustrator, where he developed a rigorous, purpose-driven approach to visual communication. In 2025, he earned a BFA in Graphic Design from Woodbury University.

Smith’s passion for design began in childhood through vinyl records and VHS tapes, where he found himself more captivated by cover art than the music or films themselves. These early experiences sparked a lasting fascination with visual storytelling and cultural context.

Today, his work is driven by the integrated narrative potential of graphic design and the evolving nature of creative problem-solving. He values exploration, adaptability, and concept-led solutions that respond thoughtfully to shifting challenges. Smith is also a proud father to his three-year-old daughter, Zoey Smith, whose presence continually inspires balance, perspective, and purpose in his creative life.

What does “good design” mean to you?

Good design to me means adaptability and sustainability. A good design should evolve within the system that it lives in. The moment that our design approaches become stagnate, our concepts are at risk of becoming stale.

What trends in graphic design excite you – or concern you – the most?

Graphic design is increasingly shifting toward a user-experience–driven agenda, where functionality, accessibility, and emotional clarity carry as much weight as visual impact. I’m excited to see the field evolve into a more human-centered discipline that prioritizes meaningful, intuitive experiences.

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WOODBURY UNIVERSITY

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