Eunseo "Bella" So (M.F.A., sound design, 2023) is making a racket intentionally. The Foley artist, mixer and editor has been named a finalist for the Student Recognition Award by the Cinema Audio Society (CAS). On March 2, she will attend the 60th CAS Awards in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton, where the winner will receive a check for $5000. Her nuanced noises are getting noticed.

"Foley is a very cool and creative job, and it means being part of a sound design team that collaborates with other artists in the filmmaking process," So says. Currently based in Fort Lee, New Jersey, she works at C5 Sound, one of the top Foley studios in the industry.

Bella first found her way to sound design while a film major at Yong-In University in Yongin, South Korea. She began learning the unique discipline of Foley, creating original sounds to sync with moving images as a hands-on process, often utilizing odd props.

After graduating from Yong-In, she began working as a Foley mixer in Korea and "felt I was hitting a wall. I desired more knowledge. I wanted to become a master's student at the best university in America, to advance my career. Yet I could only speak English a little bit, so I was hesitant."

Her colleague Hyoenzi "Alex" Wang (B.F.A., sound design, 2022) suggested SCAD, for both its superior sound design program and the support services SCAD offers international students.

"Before I came to SCAD, I'd never gone to another country," So says. Taking ESL classes at SCAD, focusing on speaking, essay-writing, and presentation, Bella found her English improving quickly. "I met a lot of international students with different backgrounds from different countries. It really relieved my concern."

An emboldened So continued to demonstrate her Foley skills in Hamilton Hall. Soon sound design professor Jamie Baker invited her to become her teaching assistant for the course Foley Production Techniques (SNDS 322).

"Bella was a natural mentor to the students, sharing her tips and techniques on both sides of the glass in the studio," Baker says. "She is a versatile, enthusiastic, and creative sound mixer who collaborates well with the entire post sound crew as she exhibits her impressive technical chops. I am extremely proud of her nomination for the esteemed Cinema Audio Society Student Recognition Award. She is an amazing candidate."

For the Cinema Audio Society award, Bella submitted a reel of her noteworthy Foley work including live action, animation, and video game projects. This includes Pirate Lesson, an animated short film directed by Sofia Azpe (B.F.A., animation, 2021). Mixed in stereo/5.1 surround sound, the rollicking high seas adventure follows a father showing his son how to drive the ship...right into battle. "I really enjoyed working on Pirate Lesson, and I tried to deliver the characters' actions and emotions to feel as fun as possible, rather than obsessing about realism," So says. "I've learned a lot about how Foley is different in animation than for live action."

As she prepares to travel to California for the Cinema Audio Society Awards, Bella reflects on what her journey represents for herself and others. "I want other people to see what is possible. You can do this as a woman, as an Asian, and as someone with a master's degree from SCAD."

Connect with Eunseo "Bella" So.

"Every architect and interior designer will tell you the same thing: it is a unique feeling when you step into the space you designed," said Nanyan "Vincent" Chen (M.F.A., interior design, 2022), interior designer, Lissoni & Partners. "You know everything about it, every detail, every flaw, and the backstory. It is your child."

For Chen, a native of Nantong, China, the choice to pursue a career in interior design was clear. He had long nurtured his passion and worked in China on suburban renovation projects with S5 Design Co. Ltd., where he found inspiration in natural elements and absorbed insights from industry leaders who influenced him as a designer in his own right. SCAD Atlanta was the perfect place to make the next step happen.

"SCAD provided a friendly environment that allowed me to build on my past experiences and merge them into my design language," Chen said.

Interior design drawings by Vincent Chen from his SCAD project "Journey & Space," 2022.

Chen's professors encouraged and supported his creative journey toward a career in a sophisticated design studio. Interior design professor Peili Wang, who taught Chen in the course Graduate Interior Design Studio III: Inclusive Design for Special Populations (INDS 751), said: "He is gifted, diligent, quick-minded, and serious in his design study."

For Chen, whose job search presented challenges including a language barrier, the comprehensive resources at SCAD were crucial touchstones. Workshops, industry connections, and the SCAD Job Portal provided Chen with clarity and professional focus. As an international student, he gained valuable insight into how the interior design industry operates in the U.S., all of which led to his internship with Lissoni & Partners in New York in March 2022.

Interior design renderings by Vincent Chen from his SCAD project "Journey & Space," 2022.

Chen's excellent performance during his internship led to a full-time position with Lissoni & Partners. The transition brought more responsibility, including projects with the Ritz-Carlton and Waldorf Astoria. Working on high-end projects allowed Chen to apply his understanding of design processes learned at SCAD.

Lissoni co-founder and CEO Stefano Giussani said: "Chen is a reliable designer, creative, and professional with any task, able to meet deadlines, is well organized, and follows the design process being a detail-oriented member of our firm."

"SCAD taught me how to use design thinking throughout the design process ,which allows me to keep the creativity and open-mindedness to embrace what Lissoni offers," Chen said.

At this moment in his career, Chen favors renovation projects for their sustainable approach. He notes the importance of environmentally friendly materials and is passionate about minimalist design.

Chen's advice to aspiring interior designers includes staying passionate, nurturing curiosity, and having a clear vision.

"For me, it is not only a profession about design but also lifestyle. It is important to check different designs, visit different spaces, travel, and meet people with an eye for interior design. All of your experience and knowledge will be reflected in your design."

Learn more about SCAD's award-winning interior design degree programs.

Connect with Chen in LinkedIn.

Portrait photo: Wenyi "Bebe " Li (M.F.A., photography, 2022)

The punctuation stroke is part of the look.

Design Miami/, the prestigious fair and forum featuring SCAD AT MIAMI, returns to celebrate design innovation, contemporary art, and creative education, December 6-10. This marks the fifth year SCAD has represented as the flagship design fair's official university partner. Design Miami/ takes place at Meridian Avenue and 19th Street, Miami Beach, Florida.

This year's SCAD showcase will include work by student and alumni artists from top-ranked degree programs including jewelry and fibers. In addition to the booth activation, SCAD President Paula Wallace will feature in Design Miami/'s highly anticipated Design Talks series in conversation with global lifestyle designer Kelly Wearstler, founder and CEO of Kelly Wearstler. The university will also host an alumni celebration at the fair in honor of SCAD's 45th anniversary.

"This December, SCAD once again showcases extraordinary SCAD alumni work under the dreamiest of design fair tents," said President Wallace. "From organic whimsy and delicate floral beauty to ultra-modern geometry and evocations of wildlife and adaptive reuse, the many wonders of the SCAD booth are not to be missed. See you in South Beach!"

SCAD's activation at booth X/07 features designs by alumni from its leading jewelry program—the largest degree-granting program in the U.S.—including Shuoyuan Bai (M.F.A., jewelry, 2020), Seth Carlson (B.F.A., jewelry, 2007), Xinia Guan (M.F.A., jewelry, 2020), Miao He (M.F.A., jewelry, 2019), Xun Liu (M.F.A., jewelry, 2020), and Andrea Ortiz (M.F.A., jewelry, 2023). These artists pair extensive knowledge of materials and techniques in wearable innovations that embrace jewelry's relationship to the human body and self-expression, exploring themes and motifs from the natural world, illusionary geometric patterning, and whimsical object appropriation.

"These jewelry works are a testament to the university's degree program and its emphasis on fostering creativity in traditional jewelry techniques while encouraging a broader exploration of materials and narratives," said SCAD chair of jewelry Jay Song. "Through this diverse array of alumni accomplishments, we proudly showcase how SCAD equips its graduates with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in the dynamic landscape of the creative industry."

Paola Maldonado, "Otoño," natural fibers, 2m x 1.25m, 2022.

Embodying a dedication to multidisciplinary collaboration, the alumni designs are exhibited within an intricate installation by fibers graduate Paola Maldonado (B.F.A., fibers, 2018). For Maldonado, textile design transcends tradition. With every thread, she expands conventional boundaries of texture, color, and form, challenging her audience through unexpected treatments and compositions. Produced in her own textile studio in Quito, Ecuador, her work engages relevant issues related to the origins of materials and methods of production.

Extending SCAD's 45th anniversary celebrations to Design Miami/, President Wallace will join global lifestyle designer Kelly Wearstler, Thursday, Dec. 7, at 5:30 p.m. as part of the fair's Design Talks series. Wearstler's design philosophy is driven by a deep passion to articulate a unique story and formidable point of view, typified by a singular, synchronized experience emerging from an alchemy of disciplines, from interior design and architecture to creative direction and brand identity. Given SCAD's own preeminence in these disciplines, this convergence of two powerhouse creative entrepreneurs will offer invaluable insight and inspiration. Following the conversation, copies of Wearstler's newest book Synchronicity (Rizzoli, 2023) will be available for purchase.

Additional SCAD AT MIAMI events scheduled throughout the week include a VIP press preview and admission information sessions for prospective students and families.

For more information, visit scad.edu/scadatmiami.

Diamond Kuts came clean, Saba dropped science, and Freddie Gibbs served "Ice Cream." When these hip-hop stars (and more) laced up for last year's Paramount+ reboot of Yo! MTV Raps, the pressure was on. Could HollandWest Productions take a beloved legacy property—the show that once bumped vibrant underground culture into the mainstream—and make it fresh?

"Going into that first meeting, I said, 'Let's stick to the essence of what Yo! MTV Raps represents,'" says HollandWest managing partner and executive producer Warren Oliver (B.F.A., computer art, 2000). "We don't want to change it, we want to enhance it."

The new Yo! clicked. Its success became a signpost for the MBE-certified development and production house Oliver and Kurt Williamson founded in 2012. From their early days "grinding to get clients," HollandWest has grown into "a company that can take on entire projects" for the likes of Walmart, History Channel, and Pepsi—with deep roots that track back to SCAD.

Warren Oliver lights up the set of Yo! MTV Raps. (Paramount+)

In 1996, Oliver was a high school senior enjoying a computer-aided drafting course at Hermitage High in Henrico Country, Virginia when he noticed a poster on the classroom wall for Savannah College of Art and Design. One visit to Savannah later, he says, "I fell in love with SCAD, and started taking graphic design classes that summer."

Professor Randy Akers has never forgotten his initial impression: "I remember Warren as soft-spoken and determined. He stood out in a group of exceptionally talented students that year. As his design skills developed, so did his technical acumen. Warren always delivered more than was asked for in a continuing quest for professionalism."

"Warren's contagious enthusiasm gave the entire class a sense of potential and possibility," recalls visual effects professor Joe Pasquale, who taught Oliver alongside "amazing, unforgettable" students including Chike Ozah (B.FA., computer art, 2000). "What especially distinguised Warren was his dedication to supporting his peers."

Under Akers' and Pasquale's instruction, Oliver built a demo reel of motion graphics title sequences. After graduation, his "continuing quest" led to New York City, where he worked with Telezign before landing a job at HBO. "I went from graphic designer/animator to art director kind of fast," Oliver says. Promotional graphics he created for the 2004 Alan Rickman/Mos Def film Something the Lord Made were so impressive that director Joseph Sargent made them the film's main titles.

Condensing two-plus decades of Oliver's excellence is impossible. One highlight is the Netflix Playlist film HollandWest delivered to promote the 2021 major motion picture The Harder They Fall. Its vibrant live action shots place the viewer inside musical performances. As Oliver explains: "I'm not a traditional DP or cinematographer. As a graphic designer turned director, I know composition. I apply graphic design techniques to finding shots."

It's this sensibility that Akers and Pasquale both feel will make Oliver a great professor—should he choose that path. "I am continuously proud of all that Warren has achieved, and I hope he passes on his wealth of knowledge to a new group of students someday," says Akers. Pasquale concurs: "I congratulate Warren on his outstanding achievements and look forward to him visiting our current students to share his expertise. What a great person."

Of course, Oliver's alma mater hasn't exactly been a stranger. In an industry enduring tumultuous times, Warren notes a key difference. "You can't go anywhere anymore without meeting someone from SCAD at a studio. We used to be few and far between." His smile widens. "Now, SCAD is everywhere, and I absolutely love it."

Connect with Warren Oliver on LinkedIn.

Susane Moua (B.F.A., architecture, 2018) keeps lighting it up.

As Visualization Specialist with ME Engineers, Moua has worked on some of the most significant design challenges for some of today's most impressive, tech-forward arenas. ME Engineers' scope includes mechanical, electrical, plumbing, architectural and sports lighting, energy modeling, and technology design, delivering state-of-the-art systems for venues including Sun Trust Park, US Bank Stadium, Miami Beach Convention Center, and Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.

"For Climate Pledge Arena, I worked with our architectural lighting design studio, Illume, to verify the lighting design, and to help portray and relay that design to the clients and the architects," Moua says. Built on the site of the 1962 World's Fair, the home of the Seattle Kraken of the NHL and the WNBA's Seattle Storm "is a historical structure, which presented unique engineering challenges."

Image courtesy: ME Engineers.

Moua utilized visualization software Autodesk 3ds Max, Adobe Photoshop, and Enscape to provide more realistic and accurate representations of the proposed design, enabling "clients and architects to have a clearer understanding of expectations and how to work through these complexities." ME Engineers reworked building systems to take advantage of Seattle's hydro-powered electric grid and make Climate Pledge Arena the world's first certified net-zero sports complex of its kind. The firm received a National Recognition Award—the industry equivalent of an Academy Award—from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC).

Climate Pledge Arena, Players Tunnel. Image courtesy: ME Engineers.

"I am very impressed and not at all surprised to see Susane doing particularly well in her career," says SCAD professor of architecture Huy Ngo. "When she was my student, we had rigorous discussions about critical thinking, and the process of delivering architecture design ideas in construction. She is a committed, passionate designer and I'm so pleased to see that our SCAD architecture program has helped her blossom in the field."

Now in her fifth year at ME Engineers, Moua works at the firm's flagship office in Denver, Colorado. ME pledges per its company credo to "empower our teams to work proactively with clients and collaboratively with all disciplines." Moua repeatedly keys in on how their work is "highly collaborative."

Drawn to architecture from childhood, Moua was a "very shy" kid of Hmong heritage who knew she "needed to break out." (The greater Denver native is the first member of her family to attend college.) Susane acknowledges her childhood friend Brittany Schellin (B.F.A., dramatic writing, 2018) for leading the way to Savannah, and says: "SCAD was the perfect place for me to experience the historical richness of architectural culture and to become immersed in a creative environment." 

Moua's skill set encompasses project documentation, architectural lighting coordination, cutting-edge software fluency, and a focused, good-natured professionalism. With her high-level aptitude for learning, teaching, and using advanced design software, she believes that real-time visualization tools like Unreal Engine and Twinmotion will transform what ME Engineers can accomplish.

"I love my workplace. We work on complex projects with big visions, and create unique solutions," she says. "It's very, very satisfying."

Connect with Susane Moua.

Banner image: Climate Pledge Arena, Lighting Study Render. Image courtesy: ME Engineers.

For architectural historians, annual conferences are an opportunity to showcase and see new research, scholarship, and analytical approaches, connect with colleagues from across the country, and learn about the host city through tours and presentations. The annual meeting of the Southeast Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians (known as “SESAH” and pronounced see-saw)—attracts architectural historians, historic preservationists, social historians, architects, and independent scholars.

At this year's meeting, held Sept. 27-30 in Little Rock, Arkansas, SCAD had another great showing, with a total of seven presentations by faculty, a current graduate student, and three alumni—the largest representation by any institution of higher education. 

Architectural history faculty members David Gobel, Patrick Haughey, and Chair Robin Williams presented, respectively, on early 20th century Savannah architect Henrik Wallin, U.S. Presidential libraries, and Savannah's early sports infrastructure. M.F.A. student Bethany Laskin drew from her master's thesis project in presenting on the pioneering all-female architecture firm Gannon and Hands and the impediments they faced in a nearly all-male field in the early 1900s. Five alumni of the department attended the conference, with three presenting papers: Nathan Walker (M.A. 2006), Alesha Cerny (M.A. 2011) and Glen Umberger (M.F.A. 2015). Alum Ruben Acosta (M.F.A. 2010) serves on the SESAH Board of Directors as the Florida representative.

Beyond the scholarship on display, the SESAH board unanimously approved SCAD's bid to host the 2026 SESAH annual meeting in Savannah, which will coincide with the architectural history department's 30th anniversary. SCAD last hosted the SESAH meeting in 2003. David Gobel concluded a four-year term on the Board as chair of the Editorial Committee overseeing the publication of SESAH's annual academic journal Arris.

Each year SESAH recognizes excellence in scholarship with four publication awards selected by a dedicated committee. Chair Robin Williams was honored with the Best Essay in an Edited Volume award for his chapter "The Global Spread of Street Pavement Materials and Technology, 1820-1920" in Infrastructure Designs: Global Perspectives from Architectural History, edited by Joseph Heathcott (Routledge, 2022). This was the second publication award received by SCAD faculty. In 2018, Williams and four departmental co-authors won the Best Guidebook award for Buildings of Savannah (University of Virginia Press, 2016).

Among the architectural highlights of Little Rock are the Old State House, the oldest state capitol building west of the Mississippi (built 1833-42, Gideon Shryock and George Weigart, architects) where the concluding keynote address took place, the William J. Clinton Presidential Center (built 2004 by Polshek Partnership, now Ennead Architects), and the dramatically renovated and expanded Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts by Studio Gang, which opened in April 2023. These buildings of historical significance were a fine setting for another successful SCAD experience at SESAH.

Congratulations to Chair Robin Williams, recipient, "Best Essay in an Edited Volume" Award, SESEAH 2023.

Learn more about architectural history at SCAD.

Group photo, left to right: Ruben Acosta, Nathan Walker, David Gobel, Robin Williams, Elizabeth Clappin (M.F.A., architectural history, 2016), Bethany Laskin, Glen Umberger, Alesha Cerny and Patrick Haughey.

"When there is a lack of representation, you assume there's a good reason why," says Jelly, Ben & Pogo creator Jalysa Leva (B.F.A., animation, 2015). "And there isn't."

In 2021, PBS Kids debuted Leva's program about a young Filipino American brother and sister (that would be Jelly and Ben) and their sensitive, sometimes silly sea monster (Pogo). The show represents the siblings' cultural reality with fun, educational stories suitable for Pre-K viewers. In one episode, they prepare a balikbayan box for a cousin in the Philippines. In another, they enjoy a kamayan feast with their best friend's family. Jelly and Ben's grandmother, Lola, speaks primarily in Tagalog.

"I wanted to give [Filipino American] kids [watching the show] a sense of validation that they don't know they need yet—when they get older they'll realize it's important," Leva told Asians in Animation in a 2022 YouTube interview.

Now, she expands on that idea, explaining how representation is an invitation: "I've gotten feedback from parents of all types of families and they specifically call out, ‘We're not Filipino, but we love the show. We even tried halo-halo!'"

After graduating as salutatorian from SCAD Atlanta in 2015, Leva went to work at Primal Screen, a studio with a close relationship with PBS Kids. "Jelly, Ben & Pogo was a result of a PBS Kids request for proposals for new content from new creators, and they specifically wanted more diversity," she says of the network home to Curious George and Molly of Denali. "That was perfect for me."

On Friday, Sept. 29, Leva will appear at SCAD AnimationFest on the Alumni Voices panel, hosted by professor animation Matt Maloney. "Having Jalysa take part in our Alumni Voices panel will be a highlight of what’s sure to be another incredible AnimationFest," says Maloney. "As both a creator and creative leader, she exemplifies the best of our professional animation alumni, and sets a sterling example for our students."

SCADFILM Executive Director Leigh Seaman is equally enthusiatic: "Alumni Voices is always one of the most popular panels and we are thrilled to have Jalysa join us this year. It is no surprise to those of us who know Jalysa that she's had incredible success in the industry, and it's exciting to have her back to inspire current students as they prepare to launch their own creative careers."

Leva is a dab hand at live events. At conventions like WasabiCon and Dragon Con, she represents as a Filipino American creator with her TOTO-O character brand offering toys, puzzles, hats, blankets, and yes, a shrimp crackers pillow.

"When I take my business to convention spaces, Filipinos always recognize that we're Filipino," she says. "They're grateful because they're getting what we've been giving our Jelly, Ben & Pogo audience, which is representation in a space where they thought there wasn't room for them. It's really rewarding."

A cool conversationalist, Leva is also an attuned leader. Close to twenty SCAD alumni have worked on Jelly, Ben & Pogo, demonstrating the power of creative collaboration in a professional setting.

"I believe a strong leader should not be the strongest artist in the room—they should be the strongest leader," Leva says. "The leader is meant to support their strongest artists. I love doing that."

Meet leader, creator, and super cool person Jalysa Leva at SCAD AnimationFest 2023!

photo: Alex Kelly

SCAD is proud to announce the creation of the Master of Business Innovation (MBI) in design management degree, part of the prestigious De Sole School of Business Innovation, now offered for the 2023-2024 academic year. The new SCAD MBI in design management is the only program of its kind at any university in the United States.

This new MBI graduate program exemplifies SCAD's innovative approach to curriculum and academic offerings, serving the university's mission to prepare students at an elite level for successful, creative professions. This pioneering MBI in design management empowers creative professionals with the business principles that will enhance their careers, creating leaders who will solve business challenges with research and design intelligence.

"Our MBI in design management is truly a one-of-a-kind program that will prepare the next generation of business leaders with creative thinking and business authority to realize visionary transformation," said Victor Ermoli, Dean of the De Sole School of Business Innovation. "We are equipping our graduates with strategic and innovative business knowledge to execute, succeed, and create an impact at the C-suite level."

Led by expert faculty from dynamic leadership positions at the world's most admired brands, SCAD's MBI in design management program offers a comprehensive curriculum of 18 specialized courses. Students explore vital practices including business plan development, technology transfer, and building alliances with partners and suppliers. Financial, legal, and human-centered strategies are woven into every facet of the curriculum. By uniting data-based business strategies with design thinking and individual creative specialization, SCAD MBI students will be prepared to lead an established company or to launch their own brand.

Additionally, SCADs MBI in design management students have the opportunity to collaborate with the world's leading companies through SCADpro, the university's innovation and design studio. At the newly formed Deloitte Foundry at SCAD, students gain experience that will mirror their careers in the professional world. SCADpro projects lead to expanded opportunities for pioneering research, design thinking and business solutions and ultimately, exclusive recruitment opportunities for students.

SCAD's top-ranked design management program is part of the De Sole School of Business Innovation. The De Sole School of Business Innovation prepares the next generation of creative leaders to pioneer emerging markets and navigate the rapidly changing business landscape through in-depth industry knowledge, design thinking, research, and collaboration. With curriculum focused on the fundamentals of business design and economics, quantitative insights, global supply chain management, lifecycle marketing, brand acceleration, social analytics, and more, the school's premier degree programs empower students to become forward-thinking subject-matter experts who will thrive in their future creative careers. Other elite programs within School of Business Innovation include: advertising and branding, business of beauty and fragrance, social strategy management, luxury brand management, and service design.

Learn more about SCAD's MBI in design management program.

SCAD is proud to announce Dominica Baird as Chair for the pioneering business of beauty and fragrance program within the DeSole School of Business Innovation. Baird assumes her role immediately for the 2023-2024 academic year.

An accomplished SCAD alumnus with an M.A. in luxury and fashion management and a B.A. in fashion design, Baird brings over fifteen years of experience as a leader, strategist, storyteller and trend innovator in the beauty and fashion industries. As Chair, Baird will oversee the academic leadership and vision for the business of beauty and fragrance program at SCAD, one of the university's fastest growing majors, and its curriculum.

Dominica Baird, Chair, business of beauty and fragrance.

"I am delighted to join SCAD as the new chair of the department of the business of beauty and fragrance, and doubly enthused to bring great energy and focus into this new academic year," said Baird. "I was privileged to earn my master's degree in luxury fashion management at SCAD, which set me up for an incredible decade-and-a-half at the high end of the industry. Bringing that experience back to SCAD—while working in gorgeous Morris Hall with my colleagues and our students—is a dream come true."

Most recently, Baird held the position as Global Director of Trends and Digital Innovation at Maybelline (L'Oréal), influencing and translating global product concepts into real-world activations. Her insights have redefined storytelling, identified groundbreaking opportunities, and accurately forecasted macro beauty trends that have rippled through culture and society. Prior to Maybelline, Baird was a highly sought after beauty, fashion, and marketing consultant and previously a fashion designer for luxury womenswear brand Elie Tahari. For the past three years, Baird has also engaged with the university's students as a professional mentor.

"Dominica Baird embodies a unique blend of experience, creativity, and mentorship, and as we build upon our incomparable business of beauty and fragrance program at SCAD, her keen understanding of industry insights and innovation is essential," says Meloney Moore, Associate Dean for the DeSole School of Business Innovation. "Our students know that what distinguishes our program is that they are learning from professionals who have already excelled at the top of their industry. We are excited to have Dominica's talent, experience, and leadership propel this program to new heights."

SCAD offers an elite academic program dedicated to the business of beauty and fragrance, an over $530 billion-dollar global industry. Since its launch in 2018, the program's groundbreaking focus of study is dedicated to all facets of innovation within the industry, and to preparing SCAD students for elite, successful careers.

Through exceptional instruction guided by faculty with international experience at the world's most prestigious and compelling brands, SCAD students are prepared at an expert level to succeed in their creative professions in this lucrative, and ever-evolving field. SCAD students gain an in-depth understanding of the beauty industry grounded in future-forward marketing techniques, product development, branding packaging, and entrepreneurship. The program culminates with the development of a new-to-market beauty brand, product, business model and retail strategy.

Alumni of SCAD's beauty and fragrance program now hold leadership positions at the world's top beauty brands including L'Oréal, Estee Lauder, Coty, Chanel, Lancôme, Saks Fifth Avenue, MAC Cosmetics, and Maybelline.

Learn more about SCAD's top-ranked business of beauty and fragrance degree program.

In honor of the moon at its fullest and brightest, the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival is a worldwide celebration of harvest, abundance, and family. Since ancient times, Chinese people have celebrated through the traditional sharing of mooncakes, honoring the moon goddess Chang'e, and by lighting paper lanterns, all while reuniting with loved ones. For international student Tong "Lily" Sheng (M.F.A. illustration), studying far from her hometown in Tianjin means sharing customs with new friends and family at her second home: SCAD.

Sheng looks forward to the festival—which arrives this year on Sept. 29—as an opportunity to share her home culture with her chosen family in the States. "The feeling of home is a sense of belonging and security," she says. "At SCAD, I feel that I am embraced and I belong. I feel a sense of security that I can do anything I want to do. No matter how big your dream is or how small you are, you can always find your place here."

To honor her heritage and the significance of the holiday, Sheng plans to creatively commemorate the Mid-Autumn Festival with her American boyfriend Alexander L. James (B.F.A. industrial design). The two will learn to make the customary egg yolk and lotus seed paste mooncakes that are typically shared during this festival. The couple will also create decorations—including a custom 3D-printed mooncake—to mark the occasion.
 
"I'm thrilled to delve into traditional China's fascinating history and customs," says Sheng. "Each exploration brings fresh insights and knowledge, making it an endless process of self-discovery. This is also one of the reasons why I love traveling: the more I see, the more I feel about other cultures, the more I appreciate China."

"In His Eye," digital photo collage, 2023.

She loves to create in an array of styles, including linocut print self-portraits, funny cat comix, and digital photo collage. She believes that her artwork reflects different aspects of herself and her personality. While flipping through her diary, she found a quote from her favorite professor of illustration, Richard Lovell: "Draw what you really love, and others will feel it." This inspired her to pursue her passion for illustration, love what she does, and expand her artistic identity.

Sheng spent spring quarter 2023 studying at SCAD Lacoste, immersed in the color and history of Provence, affirming her growing artistry and sense of global citizenship.

Soon, under the bright moon of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Sheng will reflect further on the journey that brought her to SCAD, where she has found a supportive community that builds her confidence as an illustrator. As she says, "SCAD helped me relax and believe in myself, increasing my self-expression."

Follow Sheng's work on Instagram @lilylanguage22.