Prattfolio connected with the members of Pratt’s Young Alumni Leadership Group, a program of Pratt Alumni Engagement, to talk about where they landed after Pratt, changing paths, and what’s energizing them now. Sydney Barton, BFA Communications Design ’18, an art director at Amplify Education, has changed industries and roles while keeping up her personal design practice.
What was your first job after graduation from Pratt?
My first job after graduation was as a junior graphic designer at Bareburger, a sustainability-focused restaurant group known for its high-quality, organic, and eco-friendly offerings that accommodate a wide range of dietary needs. I was thrilled to learn from my incredibly talented manager, creative director and illustrator Zach McCurdy, and to contribute to real-world design projects—creating menus, signage, and digital marketing assets—that had a tangible impact beyond the classroom.
What’s your favorite part of the work you’re doing now?
In 2021, I decided to pivot into the education industry, driven by my long-standing interest in creating children’s books and designing for kids. When Amplify Education—a leader in K–12 curriculum and assessment—had an opening for a freelance designer, I took the opportunity to make the transition. Roughly one year later, I moved into a senior designer role on their marketing team, and I’m now an art director.
The shift to this industry has brought a new set of challenges, particularly in developing structural and visual systems that shape our design processes at both the team and enterprise levels. My work ensures that our visual systems effectively engage customers while maintaining a strong and cohesive brand identity.
“A colleague in my current role once shared a piece of advice that really stuck with me: Design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about solving problems.”
Is there an experience you had at Pratt that prepared you especially well for your career?
I originally started at Pratt as a photography major, but the Foundation courses during my freshman year—especially Light, Color, and Design and Drawing—opened my eyes to my love for color theory, illustration, and composition. Those classes helped me realize how much I enjoyed crafting visual narratives and designing with intention, which ultimately led me to switch my major to communications design with a concentration in graphic design. Throughout the following years, several courses deepened my passion for design, particularly my Senior Project classes, where I had the opportunity to develop brand identities for various types of companies. That experience set the stage for my professional career, where I’ve been heavily involved in rebranding efforts. I love building brand systems and guidelines and finding creative ways to translate them into cohesive designs across both print and digital platforms.
What’s a great piece of job advice you’ve received? What advice do you have for a student about to enter their next chapter, work after graduation?
First, I highly recommend keeping your portfolio updated throughout your career. Organizing your projects into folders and tracking key data metrics that showcase the impact of your work will be invaluable down the line. It’s easy to put off, but as years pass, it becomes much harder to backtrack and rebuild a portfolio when projects aren’t as fresh in your memory.
Additionally, a colleague in my current role once shared a piece of advice that really stuck with me: Design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about solving problems. While strong visuals matter, the most impactful designers go beyond aesthetics to understand user needs, business goals, and brand strategy. Ask questions, seek feedback, and always consider how your work functions in the real world. And just as importantly, document your design decisions—being able to explain why you made a choice is just as valuable as the choice itself.
What’s energizing you now?
Over the past few years, I’ve been designing whimsical, bespoke wedding invitations for friends—it all started with a random request, and I completely fell in love with the process! I’m excited to refine my approach to stationery design, explore new areas like illustrated holiday cards, baby announcements, and birthday invitations, and hopefully launch an Etsy shop. Getting back into my personal design style on weekends has been incredibly rewarding and energizing—it’s even made me feel more refreshed and creative in my 9-to-5 work. Follow along @littledaisystudio on Instagram!