In brainstorming, there are no bad ideas. Juliette Good said this is one of her favorite lessons learned at Virginia Tech.
Good, a 2023 graduate who earned a degree in graphic design and a former student employee in University Libraries, is now a graphic designer for EDX Exhibits in Seattle. She is part of a team that designs exhibits for visitor centers, museums, and outdoor spaces. She credits her experience as a library student employee designing magazine spreads, Cheesy Nights aprons, social media graphics, and other promotional materials with helping her land her current job.
In spring 2021, Good was hired as a student graphic design assistant on the library’s strategic communications team. She took on more responsibility through graduation to help fill in during a short-term vacancy in the library’s creative services coordinator position.
“Coming into my role in 2021, I didn’t think I had the skills to be able to design anything on my own, but leaving my role in 2023, I was ready to take on any position post-graduation,” said Good. “Some of my favorite memories were days brainstorming for the University Libraries’ Imagine magazine where we got to share ideas and sketches with the team. It taught me no idea is a bad idea.”
She honed her skills in layout design, typography, and branding. She was able to be highly creative, experimenting with hand lettering, paint pouring, and illustration.
“It was a fun challenge to keep the magazine cohesive while making each spread unique,” said Good. “The experience strengthened my proficiency in InDesign and Illustrator — skills I now use daily in my career.”
Beyond technical skills, working at University Libraries helped Good develop confidence in presenting her ideas. She collaborated with librarians, faculty members, and other students to bring creative projects to life.
As graduation approached in spring 2023, Good began searching for opportunities that would allow her to apply the skills she had developed at University Libraries. She was thrilled when she landed a position at EDX Exhibits. In her role as a graphic designer, she works on exhibition layouts, typography, and environmental graphics — drawing directly from her library experience.
From the moment she started at EDX Exhibits, Good found herself relying on the foundation she had built at University Libraries. Her ability to conceptualize designs, work collaboratively, and translate ideas into visual narratives made her an asset to the team. Her experience with environmental graphics at the library proved invaluable, as she now focuses on making spaces engaging, accessible, and professional.
Good said her experience as a student graphic design assistant has given her technical skills and confidence. “My greatest learned skill was being confident in my work and knowing how to express my ideas within a team,” said Good.
Now, as she walks through a newly completed exhibition, watching visitors engage with the displays she helped create, she looks forward to continuing to learn, design, and communicate with audiences.
“I love working in the graphic design field and want to continue working within exhibit design,” said Good. “I enjoy having a variety of design work. So a large goal of mine is to continue learning skills to keep my work interesting. I want to continue to be always passionate about my work and have fun with my career.”
