Selfless, talented, funny and hard-working are just a few words that describe graphic designer Khalid Al-Shethry. He is using his skill in design to make a difference in the world and to have a positive impact on the people around him.
Khalid Al-Shethry is a recently graduated graphic design major at Spring Hill College. He is a 6-foot 6-inch Saudi Arabian man with broad shoulders, thick black hair, and a well-groomed long black beard and mustache. Those who know him describe him as a gentle giant. Freshman Abie Hebert said he is “One of the most genuine kind souls on Spring Hill’s campus.”
Students can find him in a purple polo around campus serving as a resident advisor for upper class students or riding his massive black bike to class. In his free time, he is dedicated to serving and bringing happiness to others. He can be found in the design lab helping new design students learn the software, or occasionally feeding the homeless of Mobile at Labre Homeless Ministry on Saturdays. Sophomore Elizabeth Harris said, “He goes out of his way to help others and he gives the best advice.” He is constantly planning fun adventures with his friends such as movie nights in his apartment, pick-up basketball games, or simply taking a trip to Sonic for ice-cream.
Al-Shethry lives in Mobile, Alabama, but he is originally from Saudi Arabia. He has moved back and forth from Saudi Arabia and the United States for family and educational purposes. He said that he first got interested in designing for audiences as a teenager. He and his cousins would have competitions to see who could make the best movie and then they would have viewing parties. He said the rush and excitement he felt making these videos made him want to design for audiences as his career.
When he came to Spring Hill as a freshman, Al-Shethry declared graphic design as his major. He said, “As a freshman, I had no purpose for my designs other than making them aesthetically pleasing or entertaining.” Once he started his upper level design classes, his view of graphic design changed. The assignment that sparked this change was a protest poster. He made a protest poster directed towards the war going on in Syria and the affects it had on the people especially his friends that lived there. He had so much positive feedback and realized that he can use his skill with design to make a difference in the world.
After this change, he began to help other organizations within the community. He launched a campaign for the Baldwin County Humane Society. This campaign promoted adopting and rescuing animals from shelters rather than purchasing animals. He designed brochures and infographics for a website called Bundoo that allows new parents to interact directly with doctors and healthcare experts if they have questions about their child. He also interned for Camp Rap-A-Hope which is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free fun for children diagnosed with cancer. He said, “After working on these projects, I realized that we all have very specific skills that we can use to help others and do good with rather than using our skills for selfish gains.” When asked about his plans for the future and what his dream job might be he said, “I do not have a specific dream job in mind, but I do have dream work. I want to use my skill and love for design to create a positive impact in the world and in the lives of those around me.”