Port Huron, Mich. — St. Clair County Community College (SC4) students in GD 255: Graphic Design 2 recently turned classroom concepts into wearable art through a hands-on collaboration with The Imprint House, a locally owned print shop in Port Huron.
Owned and operated by Ted Smith, The Imprint House welcomed nine SC4 graphic design students into its family-run business for an immersive introduction to two-color screenprinting. Students received hands-on instruction from Kyle Smith, gaining real-world insight into professional print production processes in a working studio environment.
Led by Professor Sarah Flatter, the project guided students through multiple stages of the design and production process. Each student developed an original T-shirt design, which was refined through several rounds of in-class voting and critique. Two standout designs were selected for professional production, while the remaining student designs were transferred onto tote bags using sublimation printing.
The selected winning designs were created by Cali Bacon, inspired by her love of sharks, and Liam Long, featuring a playful “How are you feline today?” themed concept.
“This project introduced students to key production skills, including color separation, spot-color design, and transferring artwork to screens using the photo-emulsion process,” said Professor Flatter. “Experiences like this help bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional practice. We’re incredibly grateful to Kyle Smith and The Imprint House for sharing their time, expertise, and insight into the print industry—from apparel printing to automotive wraps.”
The collaboration underscores SC4’s continued commitment to career-focused, experiential learning and strengthening meaningful connections between students and local creative industries. For more information about SC4’s Graphic Design program, visit https://sc4.edu/programs
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For media inquiries, please contact Sarah Rutallie, Chief of Staff and Athletic Director, SC4, at srutallie@sc4.edu
St Clair County Community College (SC4) was founded in 1923 and is the only public higher education institution in the thumb of Michigan. SC4 is a comprehensive community college that provides certificates and degrees for employable skills and college credits that can be transferred to a four-year college or university. The college provides collegiate arts and athletics for the area and has been an asset for students and the Port Huron community for over one hundred years.
