MBA and Graphic Design Students at Neeley School Develop Networking App

Nick Fender, a second year MBA student at the Texas Christian University – Neeley School of Business, recently partnered with graphic design students to develop his app idea, offering students a chance to cross disciplines and gain hands-on experience.

Fender is currently in the process of developing his app, Climb – an app which would allow professional networking during air travel. Using both LinkedIn and travel itinerary profiling, Climb would be able to connect people and open the doors to business networking throughout the entire travel experience. Fender’s idea won third place at Startup Weekend Fort Worth, which included space at Idea Works as part of the prize.

Fender soon realized he would need help with the app’s visual design. Choosing to utilize the talent right in his backyard, Fender contacted Jan Ballard, Instructor of Graphic Design at TCU’s School of Art. Ballard was excited by the opportunity to provide students with a real-world scenario for practicing their skills. Undergraduate design students Jessie Edwards and Brooke Davis were given the chance to participate. The students met frequently with Fender to review and share ideas.

“Jessie and I not only learned about the process of desinging and creating an app, but also what it takes to have a successful relationship between client and designer,” said Davis.

Fender was thrilled with the product his fellow TCU students helped to create. Through their union, not only did Fender learn about corporate branding, but Edwards and Davis were able to learn more about business plans and how to pitch their own idea.

“It really made us think about things like looking at competition and feasibility,” Jessie said. “It was nice to have interaction of two different parts of the brain.”

regions: Dallas

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