Those who attend the Oct. 2 Manufacturing, Trades and Industry Expo at McHenry Community High School will have the opportunity to see the newest car wrap designs honoring McHenry Parks and Recreation on display in the advanced graphics lab.
The hood and door designs join past car wrap projects honoring the American Legion and McHenry Moose Lodge. They are all part of an annual project for Graphics 2 students to design and wrap donated car doors and hoods for outside organizations.
The Manufacturing, Trades and Industry (MTI) Expo features representatives from businesses and educational institutions, including McHenry High School, providing information for students and families on the variety of career path opportunities in manufacturing, trades, industry, health care, and more. The MCHS graphics lab, along with engineering, building and construction, manufacturing, computer science and others, will be open and available for tours at Upper Campus.
The spring graphics project involves students researching and gathering information about an organization, then designing wraps to reflect what they’ve learned. Organization officials pick hood and door designs, and the wraps are printed and installed on donated car parts.
Bryan Panfil, a junior whose hood design for McHenry Parks and Recreation was selected and installed, said he enjoyed being part of the entire process.
“This is the first big project I’ve done,” Panfil said, adding that making shirts is a favorite aspect of working in the graphics lab.
Recent graduate Rose Pekarek made the winning design for the car doors. Pekarek, Class of 2024 member who is studying graphic design at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, said the project was a great experience.
“Having something that was for someone else that I had to make was really helpful,” Pekarek said. “I think it helped me to become a better designer.”
Graphics 2 Instructor Matt Connor also enlists the help of local graphic design professionals to help with the project. Sticker Dude and Vindictive Vinyl have worked with students in the past, and SAE Group will assist with the spring semester project.
