Alumni Stories

When you’re in the business of inventing toys, you expose yourself to some brutal critics: kids. Columbus College of Art & Design alum Peter Wachtel (Industrial Design, 1990) can take it, even if he has to live with a couple of them and face others on national television.

Sugandh Agrawal, CCAD alumna, founded Gunas, a luxury vegan handbag label, driven by her CCAD experience and commitment to ethics. She advises: Act on entrepreneurial instincts and never wait for readiness. 

Cameron Granger (Cinematic Arts, 2016) and Pallavi Sen (Fine Arts, 2011) earn spots at Skowhegan, a prestigious summer residency for emerging artists.

The ink had barely dried on their diplomas when Wes Talbott (Illustration, 2013) and Lillie Talbott (Advertising & Graphic Design, 2013) upped and moved to Billund, Denmark, where Wes had been offered a position with childhood toy favorite LEGO Group.

Paitoon Ratanasirintrawoot, CCAD grad, fulfilled career goals at Disney, Marvel, and now leads projects at ITEC, creating dreams every day.

Anthony Baker (BFA, 1986) discovered medical illustration after CCAD, earning a second degree in the field from OSU. Now, he illustrates for doctors and researchers at Ohio State, combining his art and science skills to advance medical understanding.

The summer before he arrived at CCAD, Jeremy Rosario (Advertising & Graphic Design, 2000) worked to save the money for his airfare from Puerto Rico. The portfolio he’d created in his arts-focused high school had won him a spot at CCAD, and he was ready to live his dream of a life in art. Why let a little thing like the fact he couldn't speak English stop him?

Andy Harkness, Disney art director since 1993, shaped Mulan, Tangled, Zootopia, & Moana. His journey from cleanup artist to Emmy winner inspires.

Twigg (Fine Arts, 2003) owns Twigg’s Bindery, which is based in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, and specializes in handmade luxury journals, everyday books, custom editions and albums. She and Twigg’s Bindery have been featured in a number of national publications including The New York Times, Design Sponge, and New York Magazine.

Fifteen years ago, two friends — Nand Dussault and Andy Hayes (Advertising & Graphic Design, Class of 2001) — collaborated on a piece for the Columbus Society of Communicating Arts to promote a visiting speaker and graphic designer, Chip Kidd.