Maricopan’s designs on CAC textbooks

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Graphic-design major Taylor Slaughter won a cover-design contest at CAC. Photo by Michelle Chance

Two new Central Arizona College textbooks feature a Maricopa woman’s digital artwork on their covers.

Taylor Slaughter is a graphic-design major at the Signal Peak campus at CAC. She recently won a cover-design contest held by the school.

A magpie, constructed of various geometric shapes, is the main subject on the front of the English texts. Slaughter chose the bird because of what it represents.

“The magpie symbolizes knowledge,” Slaughter said. “It’s flying up to suggest the upward movement of a student.”

Slaughter has seen her own ascension, both in academics and her chosen career field.

She began taking graphic-design classes as an upperclassman at Maricopa High School before graduating in 2013. Slaughter continued teaching herself design before eventually enrolling in the graphic-design program at CAC in 2015.

One month ago, while still a student of design, Slaughter was promoted to a full-time graphic artist at UltraStar Multi-tainment Center after working various managerial positions at the theater for the past five years.

Designs by Taylor Slaughter

Susan Tatterson, chair of the CAC Creative Arts Division, has taught Slaughter graphic design for the past two and a half years.

“She is incredibly hard-working; she does so much hard work outside of the classroom,” Tatterson said. “Her desire to succeed is very strong.”

Through the CAC graphic-design program, Slaughter plans to transfer to the Polytechnic campus at Arizona State University after graduation.

Ultimately, Slaughter said she wants to open her own design firm.

“I would be able to do graphic design and photography, and then my boyfriend is learning web design, so he could do that half of it, and we would have our own little company,” Slaughter said.

The growing design program at CAC will be offered at its San Tan campus this semester for the first time. However, Tatterson said it is too soon to tell when courses might be offered in Maricopa.