Lipscomb student Phillip Jones was just playing around with Adobe Illustrator to make himself a T-shirt design when he simultaneously crafted the graphic for the newly-found element 117 Tennessine, named after Tennessee.
The sophomore mechanical engineering major was invited to attend the Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s recognition of the discovery and naming of the element today because of his contribution.
Jones said he didn’t anticipate his design being chosen as the official graphic for the element since he originally just made it for himself to put on a T-shirt, and there wasn’t a call or competition for the element’s graphic.
“When they named it [Tennessine], I thought it would be really cool to have a shirt with the design of the element — just a basic symbol and then have colors of the Tennessee flag on it,” Jones said. “I designed one draft, and then another, until I was satisfied with the colors and the border I wanted and everything like that.”
After he finished his design, Jones said he had the idea to send it ORNL’s Public Relations director to see what would happen.
“I didn’t really even expect a response,” Jones noted, “but a few days later, I got a response back from the same person saying that they were really interested and excited, and they would like to use it.”
Jones said he didn’t even get to the T-shirt part of his project, but after he gave the ORNL permission to use his design, they offered to give him free T-shirts, pins and other items the design will be printed on.
“It’s not an extremely complex design, as far as a lot of stuff going on — and I don’t claim to be a graphic design artist since this was my first thing ever — but I’ve heard that a simplistic design that can be drawn is sometimes the best design,” Jones said. “It represents Tennessee, and the colors of the flag incorporated into that is just sort of a perfect way to sum up Tennessee’s achievement.”
Jones said the design didn’t take him longer than a day to create, and he definitely sees more designing in his future because of his engineering major and “can’t wait” to see what’s in store.
Despite this being his first major design, Jones added that other students shouldn’t be afraid to seek out opportunities, but should always make sure to be happy with his or own project first.
“On my limited success, I would say not to be afraid or intimidated that just because you haven’t used a software before that whatever you’ll make is terrible. Just be happy with it for your self — make something that you would like — and sometimes, it may just be that somebody else will too. Don’t be afraid to send out emails to people, even if you think you’ll never get a response, because sometimes they can end up being successful.”
To find out more about element 117 Tennessine, readers can visit the Oak Ridge National Laboratory website.