The lights dim. The music starts. As dancers step onto the stage, Fashion Design student Lily Murchie watches something she once sketched in a classroom come to life in motion.
“It was emotional,” says Murchie. “Seeing something you created move with those dancers—it’s really cool.”
At Columbus College of Art & Design, moments like this are part of how students learn.
Real-world experience starts early in CCAD’s Fashion Design program
In CCAD’s Fashion Design program, students begin working with real clients early in their education. For a group of students in the Professional Practice course, that meant collaborating with BalletMet, a professional ballet company and dance academy in Columbus, Ohio, and choreographer Leiland Charles on costumes for his piece Divide and Conquer.
The class begins with an on-site visit to BalletMet, where students immerse themselves in the environment and gain a deeper understanding of the demands of dance. They’re designing for more than appearance. Costumes must support movement, withstand partnering, and function seamlessly within choreography.
Charles presents a clear challenge: create designs that are visually compelling but also practical for dancers in motion. That balance becomes central to the work.
“Something that surprised me was the difference between inspiration and what dancers actually needed,” Murchie says. “Being able to combine desires for design with performance necessities was a challenge. A good challenge!”
Learning to design with purpose, feedback, and constraints
Over the next several weeks, each student develops original concepts, presents their work, and refines ideas through critique. The process mirrors what designers experience in professional settings, iterating, responding to feedback, and making decisions within real constraints.
At a midpoint review, Charles sees early designs and is struck by how far the students have already pushed their ideas.
“The ideas that they got just from the little information I had given them…they had taken it to a level I didn’t expect,” he shares in an interview with BalletMet. “All of the students who came with their designs were just incredible. I felt inspired by every single one of them.”
For students, the experience reinforces how design functions beyond the classroom.
“These classes are so critical,” Murchie says. “It’s not like you are just working on a made-up project. You are working with real clients in a creative company. It’s great to be able to get that real-world experience, especially when you are early on in your education.”
From concept to stage: Bringing student designs to life
By the final review, the class narrows in on a cohesive direction that best reflects the vision for Divide and Conquer. Murchie’s designs, featuring bold color blocking and dynamic patterns, are selected to move forward into production.
BalletMet then fabricates the costumes, translating her concepts into garments that debut in the company’s performance For the Love of Dance.
For Murchie, seeing the finished work on stage is a powerful moment. For the entire class, the project provides a full view of the design process, from first concept to final performance.
“I went to the premiere night. This experience was rewarding at a young age,” Murchie says. “I didn’t think this would happen."
Preparing students for creative careers through collaboration
Experiences like this are built into the curriculum at CCAD. Students regularly work with industry partners and community organizations, gaining hands-on experience that strengthens both creative and professional skills.
CCAD Associate Professor Audrey Nicolas says these opportunities are intentional.
“In our classrooms, we design projects that reflect the realities of creative work,” Nicolas says. “Students learn how to communicate with clients, manage feedback, and develop ideas that meet both creative and functional needs. Those experiences build confidence and help ensure they’re ready to step into professional roles after graduation.”
Through projects like the BalletMet collaboration, students learn how to think beyond a single assignment. They gain experience working as part of a team, adapting ideas, and seeing how their designs function in real-world contexts.
Back at the theater, as the performance unfolds, the costumes move exactly as intended—supporting the dancers, enhancing the choreography, and becoming part of the story on stage.
For Murchie and her classmates, it’s a reminder of what’s possible when classroom learning connects directly to the professional world, and how those experiences begin shaping their paths forward.
Interested in studying Fashion Design at Columbus College of Art & Design? Learn more about the Fashion Design program, explore additional career learning experiences at CCAD, or start your application.
Photos courtesy of BalletMet.
