From Classroom to Campus Canvas: Forsyth Tech Talent Transforms Esports Lab with Custom Mural

When Forsyth Tech opened its new Esports Lab, the goal was clear: build a high-energy, immersive space where Trailblazer gamers could thrive. But converting an everyday room into a true competitive digital arena required a visual identity to match that passion—and a creative solution on a tight budget.

Rather than tapping an outside agency to design and install environmental graphics, Forsyth Tech's Marketing and Communications team turned the challenge into an opportunity. Partnering directly with the Graphic Arts & Imaging Technology (GAIT) program, the college transformed the mural project into an authentic capstone experience, bridging classroom learning, alumni expertise, and campus pride.

The result? A striking, custom-designed wall mural by GAIT student Sadie Dillon, installed with the hands-on guidance of successful Forsyth Tech alumni.

A Real-World Capstone Experience

For Senior Brand & Creative Strategist Jenny Terry, keeping the project in-house was about far more than stretching resources—it was about preparing students for the industry.

"Instead of hiring an outside agency, we partnered with our GAIT program to transform the project into a real-world capstone experience," Terry said. "Students weren't designing a fictional assignment for a grade. They were designing for an actual client, Forsyth Tech, with real brand standards, production requirements, deadlines, and stakeholders."

Throughout the semester, students received a full creative brief, brand assets, and style guidelines. Weekly one-on-one coaching sessions mirrored real agency client reviews, pushing students to pitch ideas, articulate design rationale, and process professional feedback.

"The goal was never simply to create a mural," Terry emphasized. "It was to create an authentic professional experience while producing something meaningful for our campus."

Capturing the Esports Energy

Out of the student proposals, Sadie Dillon's design immediately captivated the team. Her concept struck a delicate balance: honoring the intensity of competitive gaming culture while seamlessly integrating Forsyth Tech's official branding and athletic identity.

"Initial inspiration came from the idea of turning the lab into a space that feels like a digital arena," Dillon explained. "Since the team plays such a wide variety of games, I didn't want to focus on one specific genre or title. Instead, I wanted to create something that any gamer could connect with... Blaze also became a major part of the design."

Dillon also designed with the room's unique environment in mind. Knowing the lab operates under low light dominated by glowing gaming displays, she calibrated high-contrast blues and vivid highlights to pop under monitor glow—even pitching blue LED accent lighting to elevate the atmosphere.

For Esports Coordinator Kevin McCann, the transformation was immediate.

"Sadie took our ideas and transformed them into a dynamic design that reflects the spirit of collegiate esports while giving the lab a unique identity," McCann said. "The mural has completely changed the atmosphere of the space, making it more welcoming and visually engaging for our players, visitors, and prospective students."

Full-Circle Mentorship: Alumni Return to Teach

Bringing the vision off the computer screen and onto the wall required production expertise. Enter Forsyth Tech alumni Lee Smith (Titan Graphic Works) and Shaun Edwards (Phantom Graphics).

The duo didn't just handle the physical installation; they mentored current students through every technical phase of production. They taught students how to conduct professional site surveys, measure physical spaces, build production templates, and prepare large-format print files.

For Terry, having Smith and Edwards on board carried deep personal and institutional significance.

"Lee was my instructor in the GAIT program, and he also taught Shaun," Terry shared. "Years ago, we were the students learning from him. To come back years later, working alongside both Lee and Shaun to mentor the next generation of GAIT students, was a true full-circle moment. Knowledge doesn't stop at graduation. It continues to be shared, strengthened, and passed forward."

Under the guidance of GAIT instructor Tiffany Allgood and the alumni team, Dillon got to experience every stage of production—right down to helping squeegee out air bubbles on installation day.

"Seeing my artwork go from a file on my computer to a full-scale installation on the wall was incredibly rewarding," Dillon said. "Having my design selected and installed really reinforced that I'm on the right path."

A Pipeline to Industry Success

The mural stands as a testament to what happens when higher education, alumni networks, and industry collaboration align. In fact, the impact of the project has already yielded immediate career outcomes: one of the participating GAIT students has already been hired by Titan Graphic Works.

As for Dillon, her journey is just beginning. This fall, she will continue her studies at Salem College, majoring in Communications and Graphic Design, while staying on at Forsyth Tech as a student worker with the marketing team.

"Knowing that something I created will become part of the space and contribute to its identity is a really special feeling," Dillon reflected. "I'm especially grateful that the students and staff who use the space every day have responded so positively to it."

Special thanks to Lee Smith (Titan Graphic Works), Shaun Edwards (Phantom Graphics), GAIT Instructor Tiffany Allgood, Esports Coordinator Kevin McCann, and Senior Brand & Creative Strategist Jenny Terry for making this project a reality for Trailblazer Athletics and the Forsyth Tech community.

Check out more photos of the mural installation here.