Graduation Spotlight: Natalya Abrahamian, Visualization
Natalya Abrahamian had always gravitated toward creative outlets, particularly through art and film studies throughout high school. With that in mind, she had plans to go to film school after graduation.
That path changed once the Boerne native heard about Texas A&M’s Visualization program. She realized she had found a new passion.
“At the time, I didn’t know where I would fit into Viz specifically, but I did know that I wanted to transfer into the program,” Abrahamian recalled. “During my very first semester, I took an InDesign class and really fell in love with print and graphic design. Ultimately, I decided to pursue the Interactive Design degree track.”
Abrahamian is set to graduate with her Bachelor of Science degree in Visualization on Thursday. She will also be honored as a distinguished student in the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts’ Graduation Recognition Ceremony on Wednesday.
“I always felt like transferring to this school gave me a second chance, and I didn’t want to waste that,” she said. “I feel like this award is a culmination of all the work I’ve put into Viz over the last almost three years. I also think it’s a great reflection of all the support I was offered along the way from friends, family, faculty and administration.”
Among the accolades she received during her time in the program, winning the Disney Aggie Alumni Scholarship at Viz-a-GoGo was extra special, Abrahamian said. She was also grateful to win the Viz Undergraduate Fall Research Symposium award for her capstone research, in which she made materials for a patient advocacy program.
Professors who amplified her passion in the field include Jill Honeycutt, instructional associate professor and associate program director for the Visualization undergraduate degree; and Anatol Bologan, instructional assistant professor. Honeycutt encouraged creative ideas and helped bring them to fruition, she said. Bologan was pivotal in furthering her research in concept development or design.
“I feel like I developed more as a creative in Professor Honeycutt’s classroom than anywhere else,” she said. “Professor Bologan really helped me realize my skill and potential as a designer.”
After graduation, Abrahamian said she plans to pursue a career in user experience design, graphic design or motion design. In the long term, she hopes to become an art director or creative director.
“Everything is one step at a time right now,” she said. “Whatever happens — I can’t ever sit still — so I’ll always be designing something!”
