Meet Bri Ford

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bri Ford.

Bri, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up as a dancer. I would train between 12-15 hours a week. At the beginning of my 9th grade year, I lost my passion for dance. I had to find a new one. I took my first serious art class that same year. That is where I met the person who influenced my future career. My art teacher at the time, Mrs. Thomas, discussed SCAD and their Rising Star Program with me. She believed I had the potential to make a name for myself as an artist. I did not see the same potential in myself, but my mom convinced me to enroll. When the program came to an end, I thanked my teacher and mom for encouraging me to participate. I finally knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I continued to take several art classes throughout high school and fell in love with art even more.

September of 2017, I declared my major as Graphic Design. As a person who has experienced mental health obstacles and was able to somewhat overcome them on my own, I believe my purpose in life is to bring awareness to the fact that good mental health is as important as physical health. In total, I have created five projects so far at SCAD that pertain to this topic. Often times I would think to myself, “Am I overdoing this? Are people tired of hearing about mental health?” Isn’t that the point though? I want people to hear me, to hear us. I cannot stop until I see significant change.

I am now a Junior at SCAD, majoring in graphic design, minoring in photography and advocating for mental health.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wish I could say it has, but the truth is it hasn’t been so smooth. There were many times where I doubted my talent and chance to be recognized due to me comparing myself to others and their artistic accomplishments. This is where those mental health obstacles came into play. I struggled with anxiety and depression before entering college and I can say it progressed during my freshman year. Me not managing my time well and being unorganized with my course work just made everything worse. All I wanted to do was stay to myself. On the positive side, I was able to complete my assignments and succeed in all my courses. Eventually, my mom convinced me to take advantage of the counseling program at the university. I was not able to be seen unfortunately, but found my current therapist, Dr. Pamela Wright. She helped me learn how to manage my stress and find self-love. Through all of this, I had to realize that what is meant for me is already set in stone. All I can do is persevere.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
As a graphic designer, I specialize in logo designs, illustrations and digital paintings. My most recent project is the one I am most proud of. I decided to speak out about my experience with mental health while attending a demanding art college. I created an illustration titled “Save the Bees”. This phrase is commonly used to bring awareness to the fact that bees help our environment in more ways than we may know. While I agree with that, I am using this phrase to show my support to my fellow SCAD bees and their mental health. I am aware that everyone cannot access outside help so I think it is important that help is more accessible to them. After posting my story on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, I received more support than I had ever imagined. The Dean of Student Success of SCAD Atlanta was even made aware of my experience and we discussed what changes could be made to benefit all of the Atlanta students. This project does not stop here. I will continue to be an advocate for mental health.

Contact Info:

• Email: brifordart@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brifjord
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/brivangeaux

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