Pathway to a Creative Future
Om Harris is a passionate fine arts professional with a strong foundation from the Associate of Fine Arts Transfer Pathway at Minneapolis College, currently pursuing a bachelor’s in Studio Arts at Metropolitan State University.
“I’m a multidisciplinary creative and strategist pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in Studio Arts with hands on experience from five internships with the Brandlab in major in-house company’s or agencies settings like General Mills, 3M, Blu Dot, Betty, Greater Twin Cities United Way, and Houston White,” said Om Harris who has a grounding in fine arts, graphic design, and photography and marketing internship experiences including brand strategy and art direction.
“I blend artistic innovation with strategic design to craft inclusive, audience centered brand experiences. My expertise lies in connecting visual storytelling with community voice and marketing strategy to build cohesive narratives and impactful solutions that captivate, engage, and drive results.”
Through creativity and strategy, Harris delivers work that is both visually compelling and meaningfully aligned with client and brand goals.
Om’s first campaign experience was a junior designer and art director intern on a major campaign — The Houston White x Target Summer Collective. “I had fun working with everyone on the creative team for this summer collective in Camdentown,” said Harris. “This was a huge moment for me stepping into art direction and contributing creatively to a project that celebrates culture, style, and collaboration. Over the past eight months, I’ve been mentored by Sam Soulek who helped sharpen my skills, especially in quick thinking, creative execution, and finding clear direction as a young creative. I’m grateful for the feedback and growth that came with this opportunity.”
Transfer Pathway Paves the Way
Minneapolis College’s Associate of Fine Arts Transfer Pathway is a combination of liberal arts general education courses and foundation courses in Art and Art History. It offers an opportunity for students to think seriously about a career in and related to visual art. Students complete the degree with a portfolio to prepare for transfer to a four-year baccalaureate program in Fine Arts. Students desiring a two-year degree for job placement or enhancement, as well as individuals returning to school for enrichment, also benefit from the degree.
“I appreciated the creative opportunities provided me at Minneapolis College including the versatility of classes in my major,” said Harris who studied sculpture, design, welding, and art to name a few of the courses that broadened the scope of the education. “I tackled numerous challenges that prepared me to not only work in the industry, but to transfer to Metro State.”
Harris was also involved in the African American Education Empowerment (AME) Center at Minneapolis College which develops pathways for student success by providing academic support, mentoring, and leadership opportunities. Open to all students, AME fosters community, celebrates diverse cultural backgrounds, empowering students to build skills, confidence, and meaningful connections.
Harris who remembers drawing at age six, grew up on the North and South sides of Minneapolis and attended schools including Best Academy, Juxtaposition Arts, and Eden Prairie and Southwest High Schools. “Minneapolis College was a natural choice due to its proximity to home, its affordability, the supportive faculty and staff, and the breadth of creative course offerings that prepared me for my next step,” said Harris. I am also grateful for the generous scholarship support from Nellie Stone and Minneapolis College that helped make college more affordable.”