Purpose and Need

Business as Mission (BAM) spans a wide range of industries, and in many cases, visual communication plays an essential role in how products, services, and values are expressed. This may include areas such as brand identity, product presentation, packaging, digital communication, and customer experience.

Within BAM contexts, there is a growing need for individuals who not only possess creative abilities, but who also understand how design can reflect values such as truthfulness, order, clarity, and care for people.

This area recognizes the importance of individuals who can contribute to business and mission environments through thoughtful visual expression shaped by a Christian understanding of purpose and stewardship.

Intended Outcomes

Individuals engaging in this area are encouraged to develop the ability to:

• Understand the role of design within business and mission contexts
• Recognize how visual communication can reflect values, identity, and purpose
• Approach creative work with a sense of stewardship and responsibility
• Develop discernment in shaping visual language appropriate for different audiences
• Engage in collaborative creative processes within real-world contexts

Approach and Engagement

Engagement in this area may include:

• Participation in discussions and reflection on design, identity, and vocation
• Involvement in creative projects related to real or simulated business and mission contexts
• Collaborative interaction with practitioners and peers
• Opportunities for mentoring, feedback, and shared learning within a community setting

This engagement emphasizes the formation of identity, discernment, and responsibility, alongside practical creative experience.

Example Topics

Examples of areas explored may include:

• Brand identity and visual expression in business and mission settings
• Product visualization and presentation
• Packaging and communication of value and meaning
• Digital communication, including web and social media contexts
• Customer experience and visual interaction
• Ethical considerations in marketing and representation
• Visual storytelling for business and mission initiatives
• The relationship between creativity, vocation, and stewardship