First, You Hustle

Industrial design students created fresh takes on rattan furniture that you can actually purchase from a furniture retailer yourself. But this isn't a story about rattan- it's about how real-world partnerships in the classroom elevate the design skills students learn and the partners who make it happen, in this case a design agency called Awaken Koala. 

Photo by Nick Johnson

There is a shift happening in retail to move the focus from transactions to experiences and engagement. As the retail experience shifts, so will the designers who shape them. Dr. Jen Schlueter, Dean of Graduate Studies at Columbus College of Art & Design, explores how the industry is rethinking retail along with Rachel Friedman and Faith Huddleston from Tenfold, a design firm that just launched an experimental retail space called Tenspace, and Ed Hofmann, chair of the Master of Professional Studies in Retail Design advisory board at CCAD.

Interested in learning more? Catch the next installment of CCAD Knows Retail, a free webinar series featuring experts in the field. You can visit Tenspace in Columbus's Short North district (930 High Street) or follow them online. 

Wesley Adams (Animation, 2010) talks about the grass-roots game development community in central Ohio and how anyone who is passionate about creating video games can get started in their own back yard. Check out the Central Ohio GameDev Group (COGG) at thecogg.com.

Kyrsti Schwarz, Marketing Manager at Paramount Animation, talks about the production side of the animation industry as someone who went from animating in the classroom, to producing in the field, to marketing and recruiting. We dive into the various production and producing roles in the industry, what it takes to be successful, and why it might be a fitting career for you. 

Many designers aim to someday run their own solo design studio managing multiple clients, projects and creative endeavors. Getting to a point where you are artistically ready, financially prepared, and connected to the creative community can take some time. For Audrey Stemen (Advertising & Graphic Design, 2018) it only took a couple years and she made the transition during a pandemic. Learn about how her discipline, dedication and genuine approach helped her get there and launch successfully. Check out the many facets of Audrey's work on her website audrestemen.com.

The clues for crafting a strong job application are right there in the position description itself. This episode will break down a real job description to show you how to find the right key words and attributes to highlight in your application. We then spoke with the person hiring for that very position: Meg Marsh, Head of People at argodesign. To help you follow along, here is a PDF of the job description used in this program. 

CCAD recently participated in the Art Tells a Story, Let it Tell Yours web series where we interviewed Lea Gray (Fine Arts, 2004) about running her business, PaperBlooms Design, during a pandemic and how challenges quickly turned in to great opportunities. You can watch the original stream here, and also find more from the Art Tells a Story, Let it Tell Yours series here. The web series is produced by Nicolette Swift and Reese Brothers Productions.

The effects of COVID-19 are not limited to disrupting social norms. It has brought a steady economy to a screeching halt, which means job searching just got a whole lot different for the Class of 2020. What is a recession and how does it effect your career plans? We'll share some career advice and (light) economics 101. Plus, a look at how one person navigated their creative job search in Los Angeles during the last recession. 

An intersection in Chicago becomes the inspiration for a lifestyle boutique in Columbus. Now the creators are finding what they've built is not restricted to one intersection, city, or time. Hear their story about how it all got started and where they hope it is heading. Visit them at madison-usa.com. 

Also mentioned in this episode is the CCAD Fashion Show. Tickets are on sale now for L Brands presents: 2020 CCAD Fashion Show. Go to ccad.edu/fashion-show for more information.