For Ben Stephenson, a junior men's soccer team member, the goal was always to play his sport collegiately in America. He came to SCAD with an open mind but lacked the artistic focus his peers displayed.  "I don't have an artistic background," he says. "When I came here, I didn't really know what to expect." Not only was he out of place in his introductory classes, he also suffered a season-ending injury two games into his budding career. Ben found himself in a new country with a torn ACL, stuck unable to participate in the one activity he loves more than anything.

"It was tough, being away from home, being away from my family," Ben says.  He was still able to bond with his teammates, who helped him figure out what he needed to know about SCAD, and this relationship inspired him to start a class project that changed the course of his life.

In an early studio class, Ben was given the option to do an assignment digitally. "I'm not really an art and crafty person, so making stuff wasn't really for me," he says. He went home to his dorm and started studying up on Photoshop. Relying on YouTube videos and plenty of trial and error, he made his first graphic. His subject? The soccer team that was already becoming his second family.
Unexpectedly, Ben fell in love with the process and continued to practice making graphics in his spare time. When he began taking classes for his major, advertising and branding, he found even more opportunities to develop his skills.

When Ben heard that SCAD Athletics was looking to hire a student graphic designer, he decided to apply. At the time, his portfolio consisted of a mock ad campaign he'd created for Luka Doncic's sneaker collaboration with Nike, and some of his very first designs from introductory classes. His passion was evident, and he became the first student graphic designer hired by the department. "My two biggest passions are sport and graphic design, being able to do them together is great," Ben says.
Starting out, he was creating graphics for all of SCAD's teams. The workload was significant. "It's like taking a fourth class," he says. But he dedicated himself to every project thrown his way. "I work wherever, whenever," he says. "Sometimes I'll be working late at night, early in the morning. If there's a graphic that needs to go up today, I do it as soon as I can."

As the department expanded and more student workers were added to the team, Ben's workload lightened up. He now focuses on men's and women's soccer, women's lacrosse, golf, swim, and occasionally creates something for bowling. "I can spend more time on the graphics I am doing, make them a bit better," he says. "But it doesn't feel like work because I enjoy what I'm doing."

Outside of work, Ben still keeps sport in mind. In advertising classes, he curates his projects to build an athletically focused portfolio. Any chance he gets to create something new with soccer, he takes. "I've grown up with soccer my whole life, I know the industry inside out," he says. Whether it's a mock campaign for FIFA World Cup 26, or volunteer work for Savannah's UPSL team, Coastal Kings FC, he's always passionate about focusing on his niche and growing his skills in marketing and design.
"I think I've improved so much, just by doing it every day," Ben says. By becoming more comfortable with his process and artistic vision, he's now excited to tackle new projects in different ways. He keeps an eye on the designs of teams he admires and is always looking for inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram. "I'm always looking. I see what people are doing currently, what works, what doesn't work. I'm always trying to find new ways to experiment and make things a little better," he says.

Ben is abundantly grateful for his growth at SCAD, and career opportunities that he never had expected. "Now I can't imagine ever going somewhere else. I don't think I ever would've done graphic design if I'd ever gone to a different school," he says. In looking ahead at his senior season, he's excited to explore what his future holds and hopes to keep designing and playing soccer. "It is crazy, but I wouldn't change it," he says. "I wouldn't touch anything; I actually love it."