Brandeis Law student shares legal guidance with graphic design students

A recent classroom visit created a full-circle moment for Edison Pleasants, a third-year student at the Brandeis School of Law.

Pleasants returned to the Hite Institute of Art + Design, where she earned her undergraduate degree in graphic design, to speak with students in Sheri Squires’s portfolio class about legal issues that can affect creative work.

Working with Associate Dean for Experiential Education & Samuel J. Stallings Chair in Law Lars Smith, Pleasants developed and delivered a presentation focused on the basics of contract law, copyright and trademark law with topics especially relevant to students preparing to enter creative industries.

The session introduced practical concepts that many artists and designers may encounter early in their careers, including written agreements, payment terms, ownership rights and brand protection. Presentation topics included what makes a contract enforceable, what kinds of creative work are protected by copyright and how trademark law applies to names, logos and branding.

Pleasants drew on lessons from coursework in contracts and intellectual property to translate legal concepts into language that was approachable and useful for undergraduate students.

The presentation also reflected the value of interdisciplinary learning across the University of Louisville, connecting legal education with real-world questions faced by emerging creative professionals.

For Pleasants, it was also an opportunity to return to a space that shaped her own academic path and share knowledge with students following a similar one.