Photo by Duncan Snyder

For Duncan Snyder, CCAD alumnus and chair of Photography, a sabbatical wasn’t just a time to work on his personal craft, it was a time to force him out of his comfort zone—and his recent residency in Italy did just that.

The 1988 alumnus attended a new four-week, single-artist residency at San Giovanni Valdarno in Tuscany, Italy, in conjunction with SACI in Florence.

“Attending this residency was one of the most challenging things I have done,” Snyder said. “But with being the first person to do this residency and the location being remote—I had a lot of flexibility in my schedule. I spent a majority of my time taking photographs. I shot about 6,000 photographs during my time there.”

When Snyder first found about the opportunity to work in Italy he started doing language tutorials. However, upon arrival he quickly learned that there was a big difference between learning brief phrases and trying to talk to a native Italian speaker.

Photo by Duncan Snyder

“The language barrier was particularly challenging at the beginning,” Snyder said. “Being in a small town, I would go for days without speaking to anyone, and that was very apparent the first couple days when I had no access to the Internet or a phone.”

Snyder would break up his days by shooting in the mornings and then grabbing a cappuccino at a local shop. After going back to his studio to upload photos he would do some more shooting in the evening hours.

Snyder’s studio, located in the same building where painter Giovanni Mannozzi was born, was a half-hour train ride from Florence. The studio building was also home to the the town’s contemporary art collection.

Snyder spent a lot of time adjusting to the living abroad experience: fixing the water heater, figuring out which is laundry soap at the market, and realizing stores close during the afternoons and are also closed on Mondays.

“It made you really plan out your day,” Snyder said. “There was one grocery store, and it was closed on Sundays and Mondays, so you had to think okay it is getting to be the weekend, so I need to get groceries before the week, and I need to plan out my meals.”

Stair compilation by Duncan Snyder

Snyder finds that when teaching, being an administrator, and trying to balance a family life it becomes very difficult to set aside time for his own artwork. Residencies for him have become a luxurious time to do that.

“One thing that is powerful about residencies is it takes an artist out of their comfort zone and routine,” Snyder said, “When you are able to walk away from everything and focus directly on the work you are producing it is extremely helpful.”

Photo by Duncan Snyder

Snyder also brings his residency experiences back to the classroom, sharing with students that there is a wealth of opportunities for them if they take that step out of their comfort zone—a decision he says every student will have to and should make at one point in their career.

This is Snyder’s second residency; his first was in Ireland. He hopes to return to Italy, although he notes his daughters will most likely insist he take them along next time.

Snyder plans on traveling to Paris for his next residency with a goal to capture the culture and landscape.

“One important take-away from each and every residency or travel abroad experience is the people,” Snyder said.

He hopes to exhibit his work regionally, and he has been invited by SACI to have a show there in the future.

Duncan is from Columbus, and attended Upper Arlington High School.

Examples of the work Jessica Porter has done

In any design field, artists have to balance their own brand or their company’s brand with the trends that come and go. We had a chance to chat with three alumnae working at Victoria’s Secret about their own efforts to find this balance in their work.

The alumnae work on marketing projects from new gift card designs to environmental graphics that appear in stores nationwide.

Advertising & Graphic Design alumna Jessica Porter (CCAD 2011) is a contracted photo retoucher for the company. She does image correction on  models and products for the in-store displays, working on elements such as skin cleanup, product swap, and background extensions.

“Each new floor set is exciting to me,” Porter said. “As the seasons change, so do the stores. One month I’m retouching beautiful girls in swimsuits and the next I am working on girls in adorable Pink Valentine’s Day products.

“The retouching industry is definitely on the rise. As for Victoria’s Secret, we tend to keep the models looking as naturalistic as possible—and good retouching means you can’t tell it has been retouched.”

Porter, along with other photo retouchers, has often had to deal with the criticism that digitally manipulating a woman’s image can lead to unrealistic photos and perceptions about beauty.

“I am here to sell a product, not a woman or a body” Porter said. “We [photo retouchers] don’t remove flaws—and let’s face it, some of these supermodels don’t have any—but we do remove all the distractions from a photo. If something draws your eye away from the product, I am not doing my job properly.”

Fine Arts alumna Anna Porreca (CCAD 2006) works as a graphic designer for Victoria’s Secret Pink, a segmented brand aimed at a younger demographic.

Example of Anna Porreca’s graphic work

“I’ve been given the opportunity to work on so many fun projects in the past year that I’ve been with Pink,” Porreca said. “It is really rewarding to see how the graphic concept and design work that my team does affects and gets implemented into so many of the other areas of the Pink brand.”

An example of this is the script typography that Porreca developed for hoodies, which was then used to create LED signage that will be displayed in stores nationwide.

“The most fun is when our ideas lead us to an opportunity to work on projects that are less common for my job description, like thinking three-dimensionally and designing new and humorous shapes for iPhone cases,” Porreca said.

This type of work requires daily research. The designers’ days are spent not only working on products and store models, but also sifting through competitor websites, social media platforms, and anything that yields clues to what fads and trends customers are currently into.

Advertising & Graphic Design alumna Krysti Kalkman (CCAD 2010) is a graphic designer for Victoria’s Secret who works closely with the strategic marketing team from conceptualizing design to executing it.

“Social media is definitely affecting every single big brand,” Kalkman said. “I am always asking myself when designing in-store marketing signage or pieces for PR events if there is an opportunity to bring that into the design. Our customers eat that up, and it helps to get our message out.”

Glyphs of supermodel signatures that Krysti Kalkman developed

Trends in typography or pop culture verbiage may be big, and the designers need to gather all those trends into one place and figure out what can and should be worked into the design and brand.

“Basically we take note of all the inspiring stuff we see and hear and create concept boards that will drive our graphic approach that season,” Porreca said. “Sometimes ideas are saved for the next season, and other times they are completely dropped from development. We take what we know about our customer and anything fresh that we see in the world and blend the two.”

Although these alumnae soak up pop culture daily and have busy schedules, they all have similar CCAD experiences and lessons that helped them develop their fine-tuned skills.

“My foundation year classes and professors, especially Tam Peterson and Stuart McKissick, were tough, smart, and pushed my understanding of color and two-dimensional design, as well as re-enforced a strong work ethic,” Porreca said. “I have so much respect for them.”

For Kalkman, a memory from her senior year sticks with her, and it came in the form of a note from her professor Heather Miller.

“It said ‘remember to always keep inspired,’ and that really stuck with me,” she said. “When I’m not with it on a project it’s because I’m not inspired anymore. I think that’s something that is really important. For a designer to conceive vision, you must collect inspiration from others to help drive you.”

For Porter her most important lesson was time management.

“Time management is one of the most important skills you can have as a professional,” Porter said. “When I know I am going to have a lot of work for a very quick deadline I factor in my hours. Staying at work past midnight does happen, programs crash, files go corrupt. You always have to have a backup plan and work diligently.”

Kalkman is from Canton, OH, and attended Jackson High School; Porreca is from Grove City, OH, and attended Grove City High School; Porter is from Heath, OH, and attended Newark High School.

Professors working in the new Fab Lab

The CCAD campus has undergone some serious changes that I bet some of you would find very interesting if you came back for a visit (hint: we would love for you to come back and visit).

One of the big additions that we’re particularly excited about is the new 3D printing lab, dubbed “The Fab Lab,” which is now officially up and running in Kinney Hall.

The Fab Lab was funded by Nancy and Tad Jeffrey and includes equipment like a Shopbot 3-axis CNC router, a 4-axis CNC Milling Machine, a Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), a laser cutter, a format printer, and a vacuum former.

“Students are getting to learn how to use this equipment in the safe confines of the college so when they get out into the real world they will have a competitive edge,” said Tom Gattis, dean of the School of Design Arts.

Not only Industrial Design students, but all majors have started working with the equipment in the lab and are excited about the possibilities. CCAD has begun to bring in technicians versed in the technology to show students the application of these tools in the real world.

“Some of our students may not end up with a design firm that has this equipment in house, but they may be working with a service bureau that they get pieces and parts from, so having the ability to communicate with those technicians is huge,” Gattis said. “They may design something and realize that the technician will need to modify this or flip that part. That give and take is part of the design process. Learning communication and compromising skills as a student is invaluable.”

The lab may be a dream come true to students and faculty, but Gattis isn’t done just yet.

“In five years I just want to see more,” Gattis said. “I would like to see a farm of this equipment, so to speak. My greatest hope and fear, quite frankly, is that come fall semester we are saying, ‘Ahhh, we are overwhelmed.’ This equipment will have a great benefit to the students, all students, no matter what their major is.”

But enough from us; check out the photos below of the new Fab Lab!

Add the following dates to your calendar.

Spring is finally here! If you are starting to venture around town or planning a trip back to Columbus we have some great upcoming events that would bring some extra color to the sunny days ahead.

Exhibitions:

• WALL, open until April 4
• Fred Tomaselli’s New York Times, open until April 8
• MFA Thesis Exhibition, April 12–May 3
• SHOW: The 134^th Annual Student Exhibition, May 10–June 28

Visiting Artists & Scholars Series:

• Fred Tomaselli, painter, April 4
  • Prior to Tomaselli’s presentation there will be a campus tour open to all alumni. The tour will begin at 5:30 p.m. and leave from the Canzani Center’s atrium. We will explore some of the new additions on CCAD’s campus including the new MFA spaces being built in DSB’s atrium and the Fab Lab—if you have any additional questions contact Molly Gilbride.
• Greil Marcus, music critic, April 11
• Gwenaelle and Marc Gobé, May 2 and 3—these events are free, but RSVPs are encouraged as space is limited.

CCAD Events:

• CCAD Juried Art Fair, April 13
• The 2013 Senior Fashion Show, May 10

To keep up to date on all CCAD events, check our continually changing online calendar here.

Classnotes, March 2013

We do our best to get most of the news you submit to us onto the CCAD News Blog, but because there are more than 10,000 of you making news all over the world, not everything can make it into the blog. We’re glad to have another venue where we can share everything with you—this newsletter’s classnotes.

You can submit classnotes via the easy-to-use form on the alumni landing page. We only post career-related successes, awards, exhibitions, and publications, but we’d also love to know when you move, get married, or have children—just use that same form.

Now, without further ado, your classnotes from December, January, and February!

Tim Rietenbach ’77, Joel Gundlach ’86, David Burghy ’89, and Danielle Julian Norton ’99 showed their work in a CCAD faculty exhibition at Columbus’ Cultural Arts Center. Read more here.

Jamie Berger ’78 curated PUSH Print, a book on contemporary printmaking published by Lark Crafts. Read more here.

Paul Emory ’78, Ellen O’Connell Bazzoli ’83, Alex Conrad MFA ’12, Nicole Crock MFA ’12, and Virginia Kistler MFA ’12 showed their work in the Ohio Art League Curated Exhibition, presented at the Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery. Read more here.

Richard Cowdrey ’81 illustrated the re-released children’s book The Legend of the Candy Cane. Read more here.

Joel Gundlach ’86 designed new starting blocks for New Albany High School’s natatorium. Read more here.

Ed Valentine ’91 and Michael Stillion ’02 had exhibitions at Linda Warren Projects in Chicago. Read more here.

Julie Abijanac ’92 had her piece Disease Mapping selected for the Fiberart International 2013 exhibition. Read more here.

Anthony Weiler ’94, Annie Weihrauch ’03, Hazel Tarr ’07, and Maggy O’Reilly VanOrder ’09 are participants in CCAD’s MindMarket Incubator. Read more here.

Benjamin Lane ’96 is now a story artist at Disney Feature Animation Studio in Burbank, CA.

Daniel King ’00 was featured in Temporary Art Review discussing his artistic career and inspiration. Read more here.

Anne Holman ’02 had a busy winter full of exhibitions and art sales. Read more here.

Mariana Smith ’02 showed work in exhibitions from the East Coast to the West Coast. Read more here.  She also had her piece Untitled (After Tarkousky Stalker) in the 34th Bradley International Print and Drawing Exhibition, hosted by Bradley University, Peoria, IL. Read more here.

Brian Williams ’03 had an illustration featured in ARTnews. Read more here.

Lea Gray ’04 and Eric Jefferson ’04 were featured in Alive!, a weekly magazine that covers events and culture in Columbus, OH. Read more on Gray here and Jefferson here.

Sean Conner ’05, Nate Reese ’05, Chris Meister ’06, Andrew Mark ’07, Scott Ulliman ’10, and Chavilah Bennett ’12 took home Columbus Society of Communicating Arts (CSCA) Creative Best Awards for their work with S77, a motion graphics company in Columbus, OH. Read more here.

Joaquin Baldwin ’06 was a juror for the 40^th Annual Annie Awards. Read more here.

Andrew Ina ’06 received a Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) Individual Art Fellowship in Media Arts this year. Read more here.

Boryana Rusenova Ina ’06 was in two group exhibitions in Michigan. Read more here.

Brent Payne ’06 was included in two juried exhibitions in Ohio. Read more here. He was also had work in an exhibition hosted by Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, TX. Read more here.

Michelle Dick ’08 is now working as an interior designer with Organized Home Remodeling, in Columbus, OH.

Brian Uhl ’08 had a solo exhibition at Static Age Gallery in Cincinnati. Read more here.

Steve Hubbard ’10 worked on animations for the movie Life of Pi. Read more here.

John Malta ’10 had his third illustration published in The New York Times. Read more here.

Kerry Kunze ’11 showed work in a group exhibition at Mount Vernon University. Read more here.

Alex Conrad MFA ’12, Nicole Crock MFA ’12, Leah Fisher ’12, and Crystal Tursich MFA ’12 had work included in the 13^th annual ImageOhio exhibition organized by Roy G Biv Gallery. Read more here.

Amanda Rouse MFA ’12 had a busy exhibition schedule including three juried and two group exhibitions. Read more here.

The 2013 Art of Illustration poster, created by Illustration senior Taylor Hicks

The Art of Illustration show is a student-run and -organized exhibition that is now in its 16th year. The juried show features illustrations from all majors and alumni who participated when they were students are now coming back to act as jurors.

This year the five Illustration student organizers included sophomore Haleigh Richards and seniors Lexie Holliday, Josh Parkinson, Wes Talbott, and chair Andrew Thompson. The students chose five judges to look over 291 submissions for the show that runs March 16–30. The judges included four CCAD alumni: Scott Hull (Advertising & Graphic Design 1977), Steve Prescott (Illustration 1995), Jason Jourdan (Illustration 1998), and Graham Erwin (Illustration 2011). The fifth judge was artist representative Frank Sturges.

The judges gathered on campus and spent the day going through submissions, offering thorough critiques and advice on every piece, whether accepted or not. Ultimately 40 submissions were accepted into the show.

“The show is and has always been entirely organized and run by the students,” said Stewart McKissick, Illustration professor and alumnus. “They selected and contacted the judges, organized where and when the judging would take place, and researched and collected donations for the opening reception at the gallery, as well as prizes for entry winners.”

This is the third year for the show to be held at Rivet Gallery, a gallery located in Columbus’ art district, the Short North.

“Rivet has been very generous to us, allowing students to sell their work from the show with no commission fee to the gallery,” McKissick said.

Having the exhibition at an off-campus external location for the last three years has allowed it to function as a professional, juried show.

Erwin, who does preproduction work and design for a custom screen printing shop and freelance illustration for a wide range of clients, has witnessed the show expand as a student and now as an alumnus.

“I first submitted work for AOI as a sophomore,” Erwin said. “Although my piece wasn’t chosen that year, it definitely lit a fire for the years to come, and I began approaching every piece as if it could be a submission for one competition or another. I continued to submit work my junior and senior years, where I had pieces accepted and awarded.

“The Art of Illustration show was an important part of my illustration training,” Erwin said. “It was my first experience where my work was looked at by professionals with a critical eye. I think it is important for the show to now be held at Rivet, where students can see their work in a real-world gallery setting.”

The show allows students the ability to access professionals to evaluate their work and have critiques by people other than their peers and professors.

“This process shows students the importance of submitting and getting their art into the real world,” Hull said. “And also accepting the rejection that may come along with this.”

Hull, founder of Scott Hull Associates and illustration representative, has worked as a juror twice now for the show and views helping out students at CCAD as highly rewarding.

“Helping young talent navigate their creative dream is a passion of mine,” Hull said. “I think it is a good practice to have alumni come back as jurors for this particular show, since they are able to understand the CCAD culture a little better and they want to offer any and all help to the students.”

Originally, the show was solely coordinated by Illustration students, and they were the ones submitting work, but as the show has grown so has participation from throughout the college.

“What’s exciting to see is the ever-increasing interest and participation now by the majority of our majors,” McKissick said. “It is an excellent leadership opportunity for the students who work on the committee, and it is a chance to have students learn about aspects of the art world beyond just the making of it.”

The show’s award ceremony was held during its opening reception March 16, 7–10 p.m. Selected work will be honored with first, second, and third place, and each judge selected a work to be awarded Judge’s Choice. The show will be up through March 30.

“I can honestly say that every year is another great memory for us,” McKissick said. “And we’re always very proud of what the students accomplish.”

Erwin is from Columbus and attended Whetstone High School; Hull is from Danville, OH, and attended Danville High School; Jourdan is from Mansfield, OH, and attended Mansfield Senior High School; McKissick is from Franklin, PA, and attended Franklin High School; Prescott is from Gates Mills, OH, and attended Mayfield High School.

2011 award recipient Nathan Greno accepting the award from CCAD President Denny Griffith

The Joseph V. Canzani Alumni Award for Excellence (AAE) has been honoring extraordinary alumni since it originated in 1962. This year, the Alumni Relations team will revamp the award by adjusting the timeline to allow an earlier call for nominations and more time to coordinate plans with the recipient.

“To receive this award is quite an honor,” said Molly Gilbride, alumni & parent relations officer. “We recognize one alumna/us each year with this award, which makes it prestigious for not only the recipient, but also the college. Having an extended time frame allows for a couple of things to happen. We have more time to deliberate and research the nominees, to plan an exhibition, and to work with the winner’s personal and professional schedules to coordinate a trip back to Columbus.”

This year, CCAD will accept nominations Feb. 4–March 1. Nomination forms call for alumni who not only exemplify the CCAD brand of hard work and innovation, but can also show their accomplishments and artistic excellence and how they have impacted a broad spectrum of people.

President Griffith presents the 2010 AAE award to Rosanne Percivalle

Alumni will get the opportunity to vote on the final nominees starting March 15. Alumni votes are then used by a predetermined committee to help select the winner.

The winner not only receives the award (we’re not going to lie—it’s a pretty sweet-looking trophy), but also has their work displayed in an exhibition on CCAD’s campus.

“Michael Goodson, our director of exhibitions, has done an amazing job with installing and organizing our shows this year,” Gilbride said. “The extended timeline will take advantage of this and will allow Michael a lot more time to coordinate and install a show that really showcases the winner’s work.”

The exhibition will be installed in the fall and will be coordinated with an alumni reception to honor the winner and his or her professional career.

For a full list of previous recipients and more details on the updated timeline, click here.

Alumna Megan Mathie working glass aboard the Solstice cruise ship

Fine Arts alumna Megan Mathie (CCAD 2006) spent her summer traveling the globe upon the Celebrity Cruise ship Solstice as a glassblower—cool gig right? We wrote part of her story in the fall IMAGE magazine, but there was just so much more to share that we decided to take a more in-depth look here.

The Solstice cruise ship has 1,250 crew members coming from 70 countries. The sheer number of employees may seem daunting to some, but aboard this ship Mathie was able to find a new family and the support she needed at a critical time.

Her decision to work aboard the ship as a member of the hot glass show team was a difficult one. She had worked on a cruise ship before, but this time she would be leaving her mother and sister who were both battling breast cancer.

One of the pieces Mathie created for the Pink Glass Show

“I don’t know a better way to say this, but cancer has made me feel my feelings really hard,” Mathie said. “I can go from feeling deep worry to intense artistic stimulation to loneliness to pure peace and joy. I am so fortunate to have managed to find myself surrounded by kindness and love where I never expected it. Being able to take this job, this opportunity, has turned into so much more of a gift than I thought it would be, and a big part of that is the people I’ve gotten to know.”

Although it was difficult for Mathie to leave her family behind, the Celebrity Cruise line provided her a productive way to help with the cause and funnel her artistic energy. The line has a partnership with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Each voyage holds special events to help raise awareness and support for the cause, including special cocktail offers, auctions, and dances. Mathie and the other members of the hot glass show put on a “Pink Show” once per cruise.

For this special show, the glassblowers make all their glass creations pink. They then auction the pieces, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Foundation Research Foundation.

Mathie was also recently granted a special recognition of her work aboard the ship and her passion for the breast cancer cause. She was named the godmother of a ship—one of the highest honors in maritime tradition.

Mathie and three other women affected by breast cancer were honored in a ceremony on Dec. 1 during which they christened a ship, Celebrity Reflection.

“These impressive women personify the qualities we admire among our Solstice Class Godmothers: remarkable strength and courage, along with optimism, warmth and genuine care for others,” said Michael Bayley, Celebrity’s president and CEO. “They beautifully represent countless other women within our company and around the world who have battled the disease or support the cause in honor of friends or family who have done so.”

To read Mathie’s blog, click here.

CCAD alumni at S77 (right to left: Chavilah Bennett, Scott Ulliman, Nate Reese (back), Andrew Mark, Chris Meister). Photo courtesy Rainer Ziehm.

Walking through the Short North, Columbus’ arts district, you will be sure to spot galleries, restaurants, and tattoo parlors. Look a little closer and you’ll see S77, a design studio that focuses on motion graphics.

Its work can be seen around the world and ranges from a Lil Wayne music video to EXPRESS online branding.

Out of the nine full-time employees, five are CCAD alumni: Chris Meister (Media Studies, 2006), Andrew Mark (Media Studies, 2007), Scott Ulliman (Media Studies, 2010), and Chavilah Bennett (Advertising & Graphic Design, 2012). We got a chance recently to sit down and chat with some of them about what it’s like to work in a creative environment alongside fellow alumni.

Q) What is it like to work with other CCAD alumni?

Andrew Mark (AM): Working with fellow alumni allows you to immediately have an idea of their background. You know that they come from the same foundation studies, and it gives you a good read on what they can do and how you can work with them.

Chavilah Bennett (CB): What Andrew said is absolutely right. I am a new graduate and have only been away from CCAD for six months, and coming here and knowing that everyone had a similar background was nice and made my transition easy and comfortable. We all had an initial commonality and can relate on some CCAD experiences, like all-nighters.

Scott Ulliman (SU): Honestly, I don’t really think about it (laughing). It does give us a common topic to talk about though—and there are plenty of times we sit here and chat about past professors and projects.

Chris Meister (CM): Yeah, I am with Scott in that I don’t think about this too much. I did know a lot of my current co-workers before starting at S77. For instance, I went to school and had class with Andrew, so we just had to transition our student teamwork to a professional setting.

CCAD alumni at S77 (from right to left: Scott Ulliman, Nate Reese, Chris Meister, Andrew Mark, Chavilah Bennett). Photo courtesy Rainer Ziehm.

Q) Why do you think S77 has employed a lot of CCAD alumni?

AM: The fairly obvious answer is that S77 is local, just a hop-and-skip away. I know a lot of people love the city of Columbus, and after they graduate they want to stay local. There is not only an attraction for alumni to come work here, but also for us to go search out graduating CCAD students to come work here. At S77 we are able to take comfort in the fact that when we are looking to expand we have people ready to join the team with similar training and background right around the corner. It has just developed into a natural relationship.

CM: When a lot of us have a similar education background we are able to know right off the bat when they start where their skills are going to lie, what they have a strong background in, and how we can mold that skill. Chavilah is a perfect example of this. She came to us with not a lot of experience in motion design, but we knew she would be able to pick up on this because she has a basic understanding in design and fundamentals, so we could easily teach her anything as projects roll in.

SU: To add on to what Andrew just mentioned about the natural relationship with CCAD—I have been working here for two years and it is primarily CCAD alumni, but I think it is natural and not intentional. Rainer [Ziehm] started this company and also taught briefly at CCAD, so when he is looking for new talent he is going to able to identify those people in town and where they are coming from—which is CCAD.

CB: Although there are a lot of CCAD alumni here, I think it is also important to note we work with a lot of freelancers based around the world. But when we are looking for a permanent fixture on our team, we pull from the local pool and a lot are affiliated with CCAD.

CCAD alumni at S77 (from right to left: Scott Ulliman, Andrew Mark, Chavilah Bennett). Photo courtesy Rainer Ziehm.

Q) What would your advice be to students and fellow alumni who want to work with S77 or a similar company?

AM: Develop your portfolio, definitely. Create a massive portfolio, and then you can trim it down to your best work. There are a lot of times that if you are a particularly good student you will have a big-fish-little-pond mentality. I think the best thing students can do is envision their pond as being the industry. They need to remember that they are not just competing against students, but they are up against professionals, too. That’s not to scare young designers away, since most employers will hire on potential, too, not just current work, but it is important to keep things in perspective and keep practicing and learning—because you will do that your whole career.

CM: Presentation is key. And for me personally, I love looking through students’ and peers’ sketchbooks. You can see specific projects in their final portfolio, but sketchbooks kind of give you a peek into how they are as a personal artist and what their passion is.

SU: Like Chris said, I like looking at sketchbooks and more personal work. A big thing when you are looking to get hired at a place like S77 is fitting in with the company and having something unique to bring to the company and the team. Always do work outside your professional or educational projects; that way you can show the company something else and little bit more of who you are.

CB:  I think a big part of being hired someplace and having people trust you enough to become a part of their company is being able to think creatively. It is not always about the skill level you are at; you have to be good, but you have to show that there is thought behind your work and that you will continue to grow. It is a continual process, and for me, I have learned an astronomical amount since I have gotten here and I have a lot more to learn.

CCAD alumnus Andrew Mark (right) watches a co-worker play skee-ball in the S77 office. Photo courtesy Rainer Ziehm.

Q) What past experiences do you share and remember from being a student at CCAD? How has this influenced your professional career?

SU: We do talk a lot about difficult and easy professors—and of course the all-nighters. We have also brought the competitive nature you have as a student here into the workplace. I studied a lot of 3D work in school, and it was a small group of students, and we got competitive with our work. I think it is the same way here and probably in any office. But with friendly competition you are constantly able to learn the strengths of others and able to develop your own style.

AM: All-nighters is one thing we all remember, and it is something that doesn’t disappear once you go into the professional world. There are a lot of things that are similar, though, between this line of work and your time as a student. In school you try and get a good grade on a project, and now you want to get a good grade with the client. So that mentality has stuck with me.

CB: Critiques have definitely continued into my professional life. Now you will get critiqued by not only the client when you present the work, but also your peers and co-workers. It is productive criticism, though, and really valuable in becoming a better designer.

CM: My favorite classes at CCAD were the ones with brutal critiques. I know sometimes they would make students break down and cry, but it was always so helpful because it was so truthful—like when they say, “This looks awful, why would you even turn it in?” In the professional world you need to kind of have that tough skin. Clients have an idea in their head, and they are coming for you for help, but if it is not what they want they will always be honest about it.

An S77 hallway, hung with part of their collection of albums released in the year 1977. Photo courtesy Rainer Ziehm.

Q) Why are you in the creative field—why do you love your job?

SU: What makes it great here is how comfortable I feel. I mean of course we can all wear what we want, but the people make you feel comfortable. I don’t ever want to have a job that is not as fun as this. You get difficult clients or boring projects occasionally, but then you remind yourself that you worked on a rapper’s music video that is seen now worldwide.

CM: I like the fact that we all do a little bit of everything, so there is never a boredom factor of having to do the same thing day-in and day-out. And there is also a level of freedom—if you want to start learning a new technique or something you can explore it and learn new skills.

AM: I really like the people here a lot. We can joke around with each other and small talk. Here at S77 we have a small, intimate team, where you know everyone’s strengths and weaknesses. I trust everyone I work with, and I have genuine friendships with everyone.

CB: The best thing about working here? There are just so many great things. The first thing I noticed when I walked in the door here is the environment. We are surrounded by toys; we are all big kids and everyone can take a break once in awhile. It is exciting to work on projects and then see them released on TV. Recently I worked on Highball [Short North’s Halloween celebration], and when I went there I got to see my work on the big screen—it’s a new, exciting experience.

Editor’s note: Their offices are brag-worthy. They have a bowling arcade game, a wall covered in record albums released in 1977 (based on the company’s name), a skee-ball machine, and a fully functional kitchen (word is that Andrew makes pancakes every Monday morning). We are a bit jealous.

CM: To jump off that idea—it is exactly like the music video we worked on for TI and Lil Wayne. It premiered on VH1 in October, and I got to watch the whole show and kept getting excited when they would say, “Coming up, the world premiere…” I know that if I ever get a project that is boring or slower than the rest it is immediately erased by the fact that I got to work on a Lil Wayne music video.

Add the following dates to your calendar

The days may be getting shorter (and colder), but that doesn’t mean we don’t still pack them full of events! Here are a few things going on that might interest you.

CCAD in NYC Feb. 15

Several CCAD faculty will be in NYC for the College Art Association conference and are planning a get together at 7 p.m. on Feb. 15. Want to meet up with President Denny Griffith, Dean Julie Taggart (class of ’91), Graduate Studies Director Ric Petry, Professor Tim Rietenbach (class of ’77), and more? We are still figuring out a few details, but if you’d like to be kept in the loop, shoot us and email and we’ll make sure you’re updated as we get more info.

Exhibitions:

• Byron Kim’s The Sunday Paintings, open through Jan. 10.
• Donald Moffett’s The Radiant Future and Mr. Gay in the U.S.A. open through Jan. 11.
• Simulacrum open through Jan. 11.
• Scholastic Art Awards: 2013 Central Ohio Regional Exhibition, Jan. 18–Feb. 2
• Sam Martineau’s Fair Touching, Feb. 4–Feb. 21
• Wall, Feb.22–April 5
• Trenton Doyle Hancock’s FIX, Feb. 22–March 14
• To see a full listing of upcoming exhibitions, click here.

Visiting Artists & Scholars:

• Feb. 22: Trenton Doyle Hancock, multimedia artist
• Feb. 28: Sharon Olds, poet
• March 15: Nari Ward, sculptor
• To see a full listing of Visiting Artists & Scholars, click here.

To keep up to date on all CCAD events, check our continually changing online calendar here. Also, check the exhibition page for updated holiday hours.

Screen shot from IMDB, photo by Richard Harbaugh © 2011 Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Attention everyone, drum roll… the 2012 Alumni Award for Excellence goes to Illustration alumnus Dan Scanlon (CCAD 1998).

Scanlon will be making his directorial debut with Pixar’s Monsters University next year, and there is already buzz about both his work and the animated movie, including a nod from the LA Times.

Since joining Pixar in 2001, Scanlon’s film credits include Cars, The Little Mermaid II, and 101 Dalmatians II as a storyboard artist and The Indescribable Nth and Joseph: King of Dreams as an animator. He also co-directed the short film Mater and the Ghostlight.

“Every year we get amazing CCAD talent nominated for the award,” said Denny Griffith, CCAD president. “I know the committees deliberated for hours on this tough decision, and Dan is one of the many alumni who signify the range of work they are doing in their professional careers.”

Scanlon’s work will be honored at CCAD’s Family Weekend & Homecoming on Oct. 12–13. An alumni reception will be held on Oct. 13 welcoming all alumni, friends, and family to mingle and chat about CCAD then and now.

Each year CCAD accepts nominations for the Alumni Award for Excellence as a way to acknowledge not only the success and contributions of one very deserving graduate, but also the impact CCAD alumni have all over the world. To read about past winners, click here.

Molly Gilbride, alumni & parent relations officer

Columbus College of Art & Design has its first ever full-time Alumni & Parent Relations Officer, Molly Gilbride. We sat down for a chat to get to know her a little better and find out how she came to Columbus and CCAD.

Q) So, first off, where did you grow up?

Molly Gilbride (MG): I grew up outside of Akron, Ohio, in Stow. Most of my favorite childhood memories are tied up in countless hours of playing in the woods with my older brother and neighborhood friends and spending a great deal of time building the most epic forts and games.

Q) You grew up in Stow, went to school in Virginia and South Carolina, and then came back to Columbus—what brought you back?

MG: First and foremost, my family. I wanted to see my nieces and nephew grow up and be in my families’ lives on a more frequent basis. Being an aunt is my favorite role in the world. Secondly, I love this city. It’s a great-sized city for me—big enough to get lost in the crowd every once in a while and small enough to feel like you are in a community where people know your name or know your neighbor. When I moved to South Carolina I knew I would be back one day—this city has a way of bringing people back.

Q) Sounds like you really like Columbus. What is your favorite thing about the city?

MG: My favorite thing about Columbus is how invested the community is in making it an interesting place to live. There has been a lot of positive growth and excitement here over the past several years and it makes for great energy. I have been back for just over two years, and I love the variety of local events and places that bring people together. Some of my favorites that I highly recommend: Urban Scrawl, Pecha Kucha Columbus, Independents’ Day, and the Dinin’ Hall.

Q) So what do you think of CCAD?

MG: I really like it; I’m glad I’m working here and excited for what is to come. There’s a strong sense of community that comes with the CCAD family, and I really appreciate it. I’ve been spending my time getting to know the culture that surrounds our alumni, and once I get adjusted, I want to put my efforts into creating more opportunities and regional support networks for them, nationally and internationally.

Q) What’s something unique and different you like to do in your free time?

MG: I love to make cupcakes, but only cupcakes with unusual flavors that you would not typically associate with a cupcake. The craziest cupcake I’ve made so far was my Buffalo chicken cupcake with ranch-and-cheese buttercream icing. Surprisingly, they weren’t horrible. The crowd favorite and the one most requested is a chocolate curry cupcake with coconut-and-lime frosting.

Q) If others want to know more about you, how can they connect?

MG: Send me an email at alumni@ccad.edu, it’s that easy. I’m always happy to catch up with people on what they are doing, if they’re moving, if they have a new job, or just want to chat. Going forward I am also going to be looking for alumni who want to be more involved and help organize regional events, from alumni gatherings to admissions help. It’s going to be exciting rolling out the programming in the next year or so, so everyone get excited and ready.

From left to right: Mike Lorenz, Sean Svendsen, Sherry Jones, Chris Daniels, Todd Mendoza, Mark Mnich, Harlan Peden, Rob Green, and Kiel Mohrman

If you visit Priority Designs in Columbus you will likely run into some CCAD alumni, whether in the engineering studio, the prototype shop, browsing through fabrics in the materials library, or playing racquetball on the court they have in their lunchroom.

Priority Designs is a leading industrial design consultant and product development firm that works with companies such as Adidas, Mead, Lowe’s, TaylorMade, and more. We talked with several CCAD alumni employed there to ask what it’s like to work not only in a creative environment, but also alongside fellow CCAD alumni.

Meet Model Maker Rob Green (Illustration 1997), Senior Industrial Designer Michael Lorenz (Industrial Design 1991), Industrial Designer/Prototypist Todd Mendoza  (Industrial Design 2008), Senior Designer/Director Business Development Mark Mnich (Industrial Design 1997), Industrial Designer/Model Maker Kiel Mohrman (Industrial Design 2009), Senior Industrial Designer Harlan Peden (Industrial Design 2004), and Senior Industrial Designer/Insights & Brand Director Sean Svendsen (Industrial Design 1992).

Q) What is it like to work with other CCAD alumni?

Rob Green (RG): It’s strangely similar to the group projects we participated in during school. CCAD put an emphasis on group projects while I was there. It is how most projects are done in the workplace; multiple people are involved in the process of taking a project from idea to final deliverable. Knowing how to work in a group setting, being able to set egos aside to complete a task, and the ability to pull your own weight are abilities I have noticed in other CCAD grads.

Michael Lorenz (ML): One characteristic that stands out, in my experience, is the ability of CCAD alumni to communicate visually, through rapid sketching and other techniques, with confidence. Early in the design process when concepts are generated through sketching, whether digitally or [with] pen and paper, it should be clear what the intent of function and form are. Also, [CCAD grads have] a tendency to push the envelope in terms of material, form, color, mechanism, etc., and really get the details nailed down, which is revealing of a fine arts background.

Todd Mendoza (TM): We’re all family here. Working with CCAD alumni is really is no different than working with other industrial designers or mechanical engineers. We all come from various backgrounds that complement each other’s skills.

Mark Mnich (MM): Of course we often know many of the same people and, depending on our age, can sometimes recall the same instructors. We respect each other knowing that we’ve gone through the same grind and pulled those all-nighters. Eventually, we discover that most designers have a lot in common, no matter where they went to school.

Kiel Mohrman (KM): It’s great! Alumni are easy to work with and the projects always run smoothly. I’m guessing that what we learned at CCAD contributes to this.

Harlan Peden (HP): It definitely makes for a fun environment. Sharing our stories, ideas, and experiences from CCAD adds to our creative environment.

Sean Svendsen (SS): CCAD alumni are great to work with—CCAD grads are highly creative and generally have amazing artistic skills.

Q) Why do you think Priority Designs has a lot of CCAD alumni?

RG: With several other design schools close by, I doubt that proximity plays a large role in the decision. I would have to say that the students that are hired at Priority are the standouts in their class. When coming out of school, the strength of one’s portfolio and the internships that are under your belt are two key factors for getting hired, and a positive attitude always helps.

ML: Just a guess, but there is an emphasis on versatility at Priority Designs in terms of product category, material application, and level of mechanical complexity that creates a working environment that is suitable for a designer that is multifaceted in skill set, or at least multifaceted in interests.

TM: We’re a local company, minutes away from campus. Not to mention the talent that arises from basic foundation studies to extensive studio classes, all directly related to that specific career field.

MM: Proximity certainly has a hand in it, but we try to stay engaged with [CCAD] students by hosting tours of our office, reviewing portfolios, critiquing projects, etc. This interaction helps us identify the top students, so when it’s time to hire we know who to call.

KM: The hard work ethic and skills acquired at CCAD have a lot to do with it. When you’re done with the program, and if you’ve applied yourself, you’ll have a decent skill set to work with.

HP: For starters, Priority Design is located in Columbus. PD over the years has also been available to CCAD for critiques, in studio workshops, and assists with senior theses. This involvement allows for students to have an early exposure to PD, as well as helps develop a rapport that can lend itself to opening up future job opportunities.

SS:  I’ve found that CCAD alumni have higher visual communication skills than [those from] many other schools. Because of CCAD’s focus on fundamental art skills development, students get a deep grounding in fine arts. I find them generally better at sketching and 3D form sensitivity, which I think makes designs more emotionally compelling.

Q) Any advice for current students or fellow alumni who want to become involved with a company like Priority Designs?

RG: Make your portfolio as strong as possible. Feel free to contact any potential employer for portfolio reviews prior to graduating. Learn what they are looking for, because that will be applicable to most companies you will be applying to. Take the suggestions given to you and attempt to work them into your portfolio; it will usually improve the quality of your presentation. It also never hurts to get involved in portfolio competitions and win awards before you graduate; prospective employers look at those activities.

ML: When I was in college I had the benefit of being in a class where there was competitiveness, but also a willingness to share and critique each others’ ideas. I think that having a sharing attitude and not being afraid to critique and be critiqued while in school pays off big in professional life.

TM: Networking is key. While in school it’s important to meet and keep in touch with as many people in the industry as possible. Timing is everything, just as much as having a strong portfolio that accentuates your skill sets. We hire people not only for what they do, but who they are.

MM: Extend yourself beyond the requirements of the assignment. Like most employers, we’re looking for skills, passion, and commitment. We want people who are willing to keep asking questions and continue pushing themselves and those around them. You have to be highly adaptable; our world can change with a phone call.

KM: Don’t be afraid to reach out to [an employer] and show them your best work; if the quality is there then there is no problem getting matched up with a company like Priority Designs.

HP: Take an active role in visiting/touring or even having a portfolio review with local design firms. The design community is a close-knit group and having exposure and a line of communication open with any design firm can go a long way in helping a student find their first job.

SS: Work at making your portfolio visually impactful. We get tons of portfolios sent to us, and most of them don’t stick in our minds—they all look the same. You need to be distinctive, but in a way that is still appropriate. Use fewer words, and instead tell your story with simple compelling visuals. We see so many portfolios with tons of text and diagrams trying to tell a complicated story about the innovations they’ve created. The sad reality is when we get portfolios sent to us, they literally get about 10 seconds to catch our attention. If you didn’t instantly grab us with amazing visuals that tell a simple story, we move on. The marketplace of real products is the same. Consumers only give products on the shelf the same 10 seconds. Your portfolio is your shot to prove you know how to design successful products that can sell. If you want a great job out of school, your portfolio better be amazing.

Q)  Why do you love your job/working in a creative environment?

RG: What I like the most about my work environment is that we are rarely doing the same thing twice. There are projects that you are not as excited about, but that is always tempered by interesting and sometimes exciting projects that do come along. Plus, learning new skills is something that is always encouraged. It helps everyone when you can add a new skill set to the company’s bag of tricks.

ML: For me, the variety of experiences and challenges are fulfilling; there are always things to learn about technology, how things work, and human nature. And in a creative environment people tend to be optimistic and willing to share ideas. And of course, getting those projects that really improve life for others is what you tend to appreciate the most.

TM: I love being able to use my creativity to solve complex problems that arise in every product or project we work on. I also love that it’s different every day at Priority Designs. Since we’re a consultancy, we’d be working on appliances for Electrolux one day and then Nike golf clubs the next. We’ve fabricated concept bicycles, designed firearms, and engineered medical equipment. You really don’t know what client or what type of product you’ll be working on when you come into the studio on Monday morning.

MM: After 15 years, I can still make the claim that every day is different. It’s hard to imagine another job or career that can make that claim.

KM: I get to work on different projects every day; work never gets boring. I could be working on a project the size of a fork-lift one day and as small as surgical devices the next. Anything from prototyping to ideation, we do on a daily basis, so it stays super fresh.

HP: It’s fun, creative, goofy, exciting, and always different each day. Creative minds in a collective group can get crazy. Each day is a whole new task, and a whole new set of constraints, and a whole new objective. Projects can go from the most complex to the most simple and to-the-point. It’s great to have that uncertainty of what you are getting your hands into each day—it adds to the excitement. And having a group of people who you can bounce ideas off and work with to come to a common final result is extremely gratifying.

SS: I love the diversity of projects that we get at Priority Designs. It’s a fast-paced environment where we never know what we will be working on next. I can be designing golf clubs in our studio one week and the next week be conducting insight research on industrial equipment at the world’s largest copper mine in Utah. (That really happened.) The size and experience of our firm allows us to enjoy ever more challenging projects from the world’s most recognizable brands.

Q) What past experiences do you share and remember from being a student at CCAD? How has this impacted your professional career?

RG: The ability to work with deadlines and under pressure are two experiences that I will never forget from my time at CCAD. Short-timeline projects, especially in a group setting, were emphasized while I was there. Working at a consultancy, those skills are used over and over to deliver projects to our clients in a timely fashion. We always try to over-deliver our services to keep our clients coming back and telling others about Priority Designs.

ML: Honestly, what I remember the most is the exhaustion and sometimes despair of trying to get everything done well and on time. Also, being in a group of students that shared and critiqued out of a spirit of competitiveness, but also good will is something I remember. As trite as it may sound, these are the kind of experiences that prepare you for the real world.

TM: All-nighters. You may tend to think that once you’re in the “real world” they don’t exist anymore, but they do, at least they do here, anyway. Far too often we have large corporate clients with ridiculous lead times, and the bottom line is they have to get done. Unlike school, though, you can obviously not miss a deadline.

MM: Many of the design assignments at CCAD left some latitude for interpretation. Being resourceful and planning your work was critical to performing well. That holds true outside the classroom; not every client comes in with a clearly identified development path. You have to adapt to the situation, utilize your skills (and those of your co-workers), and follow through with passion and commitment.

KM: The hands-on experience was great. Being able to try everything or anything I wanted to do really helped me figure out the direction I wanted to go when I graduated.

HP: All-nighters, staying in the studio burning the midnight oil trying to get work done for a critique the next morning. It is still so true in the real world. There are times when it’s “all hands on deck.” Clients in the real world can sometimes have an unrealistic deadline that you have to meet; that’s when you buckle down, cancel any plans, and work till it’s done.

SS: I met some wonderful students when I was at CCAD. I still work with several of those people today. These relationships allowed me to find a great job at a great studio and have helped me build a great career.

Classnotes, September 2012 Issue

We do our best to get most of the news you submit to us onto the CCAD News Blog, but because there are more than 10,000 of you making news all over the world, not everything can make it into the blog. We’re glad to have another venue where we can share everything with you—this newsletter’s classnotes.

You can submit classnotes via the easy-to-use form on the alumni landing page. We only post career-related successes, awards, exhibitions, and publications, but we’d also love to know when you move, get married, or have children—just use that same form.

Now, without further ado, your classnotes from June, July, and August 2012.

John Schaffner ’60 and J. Luray Schaffner ’62 both exhibited their work at the Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center in Solomons, MD. Read more here.

Elena Osterwalder ’76 showed work in Celebrating UA, an exhibition at the Concourse Gallery in Upper Arlington, OH. Read more here.

Joe Howard ’72 had his piece Stone, Steel and Wood chosen for the permanent Western Art Collection of the Pearce Museum at Navarro College in Corsicana, TX. Read more here.

Jeff Stahler ’77 was interviewed in The Illustrator’s Market. Read more here.

Tim Bowers ’79 illustrated Dinosaur Pet, which climbed the best-seller lists. Read more here.

David Groff ’79 received gold and bronze awards in the 29^th annual Aster Awards for his illustrations in a hospital calendar.

Marty Husted ’79, Mark Thomas ’90, and Heather Nibert ’12 are each participating in a public arts project in Columbus, OH. Read more here.

Laura Sanders ’88, Sarah Fairchild ’94, Chris Rankin ’94, Adam Brouillette ’02,  Anne Holman ’02, Lauren Mudd ’04,  and Boryana Rusenova Ina ’06, participated in Art for the Environment, a silent auction benefiting the Ohio Environmental Council. Read more here.

Kaname Takada ’89, William Shearrow ’97,  and Michael Bonardi ’04 are featured in a group exhibition at the  Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum in Coshocton, OH. Read more here.

Peter Wachtel ’90 is now selling his product STAKE, an all-in-one BBQ tool, via Quirky, Target, Fab, and ThinkGeek. Read more here.

James Alicea ’92 organized a fundraiser for the victims of the 2011 tsunami and earthquake in Japan, involving artists from Japan and New York. Read more here.

Laurie Brown ’94 showed her work in a group exhibition at the Mansion at Strathmore in Bethesda, MD. Read more here.

Chad Hunt ’94 spent time training with a U.S. Special Operations Command team, and his resulting photographs were featured in an issue of Popular Mechanics. Read more here.

Chris Rankin ’94 exhibited his work in two Columbus, OH, venues this summer. Read more here.

David Hartman ’95 is a supervising director for the show Transformers: Prime, which won a 2012 Daytime Emmy®. Read more here.

Jason Goad ’96 has partnered on projects for some big-name brands and projects, including Mattel’s Hot Wheels. Read more here.

John Urbano ’96 released a limited edition photography book and directed a music video for British pop band One Direction that has been nominated for an MTV Video Music Award. Read more here.

Nathaniel Galka ’98 had work in the exhibition The Birds and Bees. Read more here.

Mike Hein ’98 exhibited his work at Mulherin + Pollard gallery in New York City. Read more here.

Dan Scanlon ’98 was featured in the LA Times for his upcoming directorial debut on Pixar’s Monsters University. Read more here.

Michael Phillips ’99 was profiled in All4You, a contemporary culture magazine based in Croatia. Read more here.

Clint Davidson ’00 worked on a mural for a public park in Columbus, OH. Read more here.

Olga Ziemska ’00 installed a sculpture at the Columbus State Community College (CSCC) main library.  Read more here.

Adam Brouillette ’02, Nikos Fyodor Rutkowski ’02, and Corey Aumiller ’06 are participating in the Columbus Arts Pop-Up Project (CAP-UP), a public art project. Read more here.

Carl Bork ’03 exhibited his paintings at the Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center in Salida, CO. Read more here.

Sarah DeAngulo Hout ’04 worked on a mural that is now in the Columbus Metropolitan Library. Read more here.

Michael Lai ’04 presented as a special guest for the Columbus Society of Communicating Arts in Columbus, OH. Read more here

Jill Raymundo ’04 exhibited her work in the City Center Gallery of the OSU Urban Arts Space in Columbus, OH. Read more here.

Manjari Sharma ’04 was featured in the Huffington Post’s iPad issue for her photography project Darshan. Read more here.

Corey Aumiller ’06 worked on a video project featuring CCAD President Denny Griffith. Read more here.

Martina Nikova ’07 had a solo exhibition at the Ohio Art League in Columbus, OH. Read more here.

Greg Beck ’09 helped start Longstride, a creative marketing company in Columbus, OH, that was featured in a local business journal. Read more here.

John Malta ’10 received a grant from the Xeric Foundation to self-publish his comic book The Professor and the Paperboy. Read more here.

Kartika Mediani ’10 showed her film The Box at the 2012 Comic-Con’s San Diego International Children’s Film Festival in California. Read more here.

Kerry Kunze ’11 displayed her work at ZenClay Gallery in Morgantown, WV. Read more here.

Rachel Cass ’12 was featured in Easton Town Center’s 2012 directory after being awarded Easton’s Fashion Design Award. Read more here.

Kathryn Chamberlin ’12 became the graphic designer at Origo Branding Company in downtown Columbus, OH.

Alex Conrad ’12 showed his work in a national MFA competition. Read more here.

Brianne Schulze ’12 earned a goldsmithery apprenticeship at the Diamond Cellar in Columbus, OH. Read more here.