Malachi Mitchell
Malachi Mitchell
"If I hadn't been in Pathways to Design, I wouldn't be as far along in my work today. That experience laid the groundwork for my comfort and skill with Adobe programs and helped me understand what it takes to succeed in design."Malachi Mitchell, Kansas City Art Institute Senior
Building a Strong Foundation in Graphic Design
Through PREP-KC's Pathways to Graphic Design (P2GD) program, Malachi earned valuable experience with industry-standard tools like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Premiere Pro. As part of the program, he took a college-level design course, where he applied new techniques to real-world projects. "Our final project was a mural competition with real clients. Working as a team, creating designs, and getting votes showed me how to present ideas to an audience—plus, seeing the mural up in Kansas City was amazing!"
Workers install the award-winning mural designed by Malachi and his classmates for the Kansas City STEM Alliance in 2021. The mural can be seen on UMKC's building located at 4825 Troost Avenue.
Experiencing College and Industry Firsthand
During his time in P2GD, Malachi had the chance to visit local college campuses like KCAI, Johnson County Community College, and the University of Kansas, and to participate in design workshops led by industry professionals. "Pathways gave me a head start," Malachi reflects. "At KCAI, you're expected to teach yourself a lot, with teachers as guides. Pathways helped me develop that self-discipline early on." Today, Malachi is building on his foundational skills, exploring areas like branding and interaction design.
Advice for Future Designers
For high school students interested in graphic design, Malachi encourages taking every opportunity to develop a unique portfolio and understand fundamental design principles. "Your portfolio can be more than just designs—it's your personal brand. Knowing that early on helps you approach each project with a sense of purpose," he shared. Malachi's journey will continue to reflect his strong foundation in design thinking and his real-world experience through PREP-KC's Pathways to Graphic Design program.
Inspired by Malachi's Story?
Discover how PREP-KC programs can transform your future, just like they did for Malachi.