"You can sketch something wonderful and beautiful," says Ashley Boyle, "but then you have to sit down and think, 'Can I make this?'"

This question became the challenge at the center of Boyle's senior collection, Olympus. A dean's list scholar and Fahm Hall studio monitor, Boyle (B.F.A., jewelry) created over 200 sketches as she designed Olympus' sumptuous centerpiece, a crown called Hephaestus. But could she turn it into a crowning achievement?

"I have witnessed Ashley maturing as an artist, designer, and maker," says jewelry department chair Jay H. Song (M.F.A., jewelry, 2000). "Her body of work proves a high degree of intellectual depth, imagination, and sensitivity. She successfully manipulates materials to complement the content of her work. Ashley continues to be a creative individual with incredible potential for success."

In advance of this week's SCAD Jewelry Trunk Show, Boyle discussed her extraordinary journey.

Ashley Boyle, 'Persephone,' 2022, 14k gold-plated sterling silver earring, lab-created and natural rubies; modeled by Ella Kerner (B.F.A., jewelry).

Ashley Boyle:

I grew up in Shirley, New York, on Long Island, and attended William Floyd High School. After I graduated it took me a while to figure out my next step would be. When I decided that I wanted to go to art school, I did a google search and found SCAD. I liked that SCAD offered so many majors to choose from. I went through a couple of majors before landing in the jewelry department. When I took Introduction to Jewelry: Material and Processes (JEWL 120) with professor Adam Grinovich, as soon as I pierced out my first copper shape, I thought, "This is it!" I'd found a place where I belonged.

In Fall, 2021, I took Collection I: Research and Development (JEWL 400) with professor Jay Song. That's when I began developing my senior collection, based on the symbolisms and traditions associated with Greek wedding culture. I wanted to have a floral-inspired and garland-like wedding crown be the center of my collection. Professor Song was there for every step of the process, critiquing sketches, pushing us and our designs to their fullest potential, guiding us to the point where we could confidently say that our collection was achievable.

I utilized many techniques throughout my collection: wax carving, casting, hand fabrication, soldering and forging. I knew the crown was going to be my biggest feat. I took the time to figure out how many leaves would fit comfortably around the crown, give me the shape and the look I was going for, while still being comfortable to wear.

I ended up with 18 leaves total, nine pierced-out, nine wax-carved. I soldered them all to a half-round silver wire, so it would sit comfortably on the head and forehead. The process included using investment to create a one-time mold and putting it into the kiln for the wax to melt out. The last step is using the centrifugal to cast. This machine spins with enough force to push the molten metal into the mold.

Ashley Boyle, "Dionysus," 2022, 14k gold-plated hair comb, sterling silver, lab-created rubies.

My senior collection includes two pairs of earrings, two tie-clips, a backdrop necklace, a hair comb, a pair of cufflinks and one wedding crown. The whole collection has a satin finish, which I achieved using a diamond bur engraving tool to make the surface texture sparkle, followed by a 3M wheel to soften it up. I incorporated both natural and lab-created rubies, inspired by the symbolism of pomegranates.

This quarter, I am taking Haute Couture Jewelry: One of a Kind (JEWL 411). Designers Sybil and David Yurman donated over $1.6 million worth of stones to our department, and our class has been fortunate to work with and incorporate the stones into our pieces. My neckpiece, titled Wonderland, features three gemstones lemon citrine, rose quartz, and blue topaz. David and Sybil Yurman, the founders of the company, were kind enough to come to the jewelry department and be a part of this fun, challenging experience.  I had the opportunity to share my process and receive feedback from them. It was an amazing experience.

The thing I love most about the SCAD jewelry department is how small and close-knit we are. We have the ability to develop close relationships, which is special. This is the first time I will be participating in our department's annual Trunk Show. I am proud to be a part of and represent SCAD jewelry.

See more of the work of Ashley Boyle.

Fabulous? Absolutely! It's time for SCAD FASHION 2022, a global showcase of original designs by SCAD School of Fashion senior and graduate students.

The highly anticipated signature event commences in the Alex Townsend Memorial Courtyard at SCAD Museum of Art, Friday, May 20, at 8:30 p.m., as SCAD welcomes international fashion and design luminaries and special guests for a first look at exquisite, innovative creations by the industry's latest prodigies. Audiences around the world can witness the elite sartorial showcase, highlighting the unparalleled talent emerging from SCAD, via livestream.

The show begins with the high-concept film Fashion Run, directed by SCAD alum Squire Fox, featuring an eclectic range of more than 100 student-created garments. The film takes audiences behind the scenes as models race to SCAD MOA and dash backstage where hair and make-up artists and wardrobe assistants await. Models donning more than 50 garments curated from the student collections, then grace the red carpet and command the runway amid a fantastical mise-en-scène. SCAD alumni from the university's top-ranked degree programs collaborated on the film, which stars more than 100 SCAD student models and actors.

Each year, graduating SCAD School of Fashion students in Atlanta and Savannah are invited to have their work expertly critiqued by fashion and design leaders, who provide mentorship and industry knowledge essential for students' future careers. The university's SCAD Style Lab mentor program connects students directly with established designers as they complete their final collections for the runway.

This year's SCAD Style Lab mentors include Studio 189 co-founder and Fashion Our Future founder Abrima Erwiah; designer and Another Tomorrow creative director Elizabeth Giardina; Diesel creative director, streetwear designer, and SCAD alum Phil Riedel (B.F.A., industrial design, 2006); SCAD alum Ashley Romasko (B.F.A., fashion, 2018), a ready-to-wear designer at Tory Burch; conceptual artist, stylist, and influencer Charlie Staunton; Draper James VP and design consultant Frederic Tremblay; and acclaimed stylist Jules Wood.

As part of SCAD FASHION 2022, the university hosts Our Friend André: A SCAD Tribute to André Leon Talley, honoring the beloved fashion luminary and SCAD advocate and champion, Friday, May 20, at 5:30 p.m. The ceremony includes an enlightening conversation with famed fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg and premier fashion journalists Vanessa Friedman and Constance White on Talley's legendary life and bold spirit. During the event, the university will bestow internationally heralded fashion designer and SCAD alum Christopher John Rogers (B.F.A., fashion, 2016) with the André Leon Talley Award in recognition of his phenomenal rise to global acclaim.

SCAD FASHION programming also includes the annual SCAD Jewelry Trunk Show, where guests can shop one-of-a-kind wearable art by SCAD students, alumni, faculty, and staff. The top-ranked SCAD jewelry program is the largest in the U.S. and prepares students for success through an advanced-level curriculum and access to cutting-edge technological resources.

On Saturday, May 21, Christopher John Rogers and his team of fellow SCAD alumni —brand director Christina Ripley (B.F.A., fashion marketing and management, 2016), studio director David Rivera (B.F.A., dramatic writing, 2016), and production director Alex Tyson (B.F.A., fashion, 2016) — unite in conversation to share how their radical creativity, business savvy, and kindred collaboration has catapulted the brand to international success.

See the full list of events and tune in to the livestream here!

"Design is design is design," says graphic design professor Nicole Roberts. "That becomes clear when you're working around multidisciplinary designers—we speak the same language."

A notable double alumna, Roberts (M.A., interior design, 2011; M.F.A., graphic design, 2010) teaches from expansive experience. "It's not a far leap from graphic design to interior design to architecture, especially when working in the built environment. We're all talking about the human condition, and the human experience, and we're in the same lane."

Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Roberts excelled in the design firm realm as creative director at Kolar Design, and as design director at FRCH Design Worldwide. She also taught at multiple institutions of higher-ed, before joining SCAD faculty full-time in Fall, 2021.

"Nicole is a force," says Michael Mikulec, SCAD chair of graphic design. "Her professional experience and exceptional skill set help further the dialogue around what a 21st century graphic design practice can be. Her understanding of design for physical environments provides our students with top-of-the-line insights into thinking beyond standard expectations. The university, department, and our students all greatly benefit from her presence."

Now based in Savannah, Roberts is known for her bonhomie, her Chi-Poo pooch named Logo ("A designer dog deserves a designer name!"), and her devotion to academic rigor. This quarter, she is teaching two sections (one in-person, one via SCADnow) of Graphic Design Portfolio (GRDS 408).

"We work to create the portfolio that will get you where you want to go," she says. "How do you define your mission, vision, and values? What are your specific goals for your career? Some students want to work at big agencies, some want to freelance, some are on the fence. I tell them about my own professional experiences, and let them know it's only one person's experience."

Roberts also helms graduate-level courses Experience Design for Physical Space (GDVX 757), and User-centered Strategy and Process (GDVX 770), the latter about "building human-centered design in the digital realm."

"Students develop a user app, allowing research to drive their design decisions," she explains. "Their project involves interpreting an analog game into the digital realm, without sacrificing the fun of sitting with family and friends and having a tactile experience. It's a deep dive into the human experience of fun."

Tactile and digital, research and fun—these dualities achieve unity through Roberts' pedagogy.  Working in Adler Hall, she sees the efficacy of a building that houses multiple degree programs, and what that does for students.

"There's not a hardline between departments. In my graphic design and visual experience design courses, I have advertising students, LXFM students, and fashion students, all coming in from adjacent industries."

She offers a knowing smile. "In the classroom we replicate the true experience of working in design."

With strings and sighs, the book comes alive. Partway through a webinar for teachers interested in the app Novel Effect, a reading of the book Hair Love is, as intended, "making story time more magical." It's impossible not to sense the educators' delight as sound effects and music cues accompany Dr. Natasha Rachell delivering the tale of a young girl falling in love with her fab 'fro.

"It's amazing the community we've been able to build around our commitment to making reading more engaging for kids," says Novel Effect Chief Product Officer Melissa Hammersley (B.F.A., graphic design, 2008) the following day. "People have a strong, positive reaction to Novel Effect, and that inspires us to continue to want to make it better."

Co-founded in 2015 by Hammersley and her husband Matt, Novel Effect uses voice recognition software to provide music, character voices, and relevant sound effects when children's books are read aloud. With a library of over 700 supported titles, the mobile app is available as a free download in the App Store and the Google Play Store.

"Supporting Novel Effect is an ideal partnership for us," says SCADpro Fund manager Ray Crowell. "Melissa and Matt believe in the power of tech-enhanced literacy, and instilling creative learning as a life-long discipline, which is fundamentally aligned with the SCAD mission. Plus, the app is super fun!"

Melissa—SCAD friends may remember her by her maiden name Furze—sees a direct connection between her SCAD experience and her current work. "What we're creating is very much like an art form, and it's affirming to have that recognized and supported by SCAD."

As a high school student at W.T. Woodson in Fairfax, Virginia, Melissa participated in the Rising Star summer program in Savannah, before returning years later to study graphic design.

"When I was studying graphic design at SCAD, the amount of learning and work that I had to do prepared me for the environment of operating a start-up. The underlying vision of what we've built at Novel Effect is the thing that keeps pushing us forward, the same way that the love of art and design kept me going through my challenging courses at SCAD."

Being a mom means that for Melissa, Novel Effect is a ubiquitous presence. Recent hits in the Hammersley household range from Llama Destroys the World to The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family. "My son's absolute favorite book is The Little Shop of Monsters by R.L. Stine. The characters called Piggler Gigglers just laugh, and he laughs too and wants to repeat it over and over again. It's so good!"

In a moment when access to books is being politicized, Melissa is keen to affirm Novel Effect's mission, exemplified by the range of curated titles supported by the app. "All kids deserve to see themselves reflected back from the pages of books, and that's one of the things we want to ensure happens. Books are magical on their own, and we've been able to take technology and add a little bit more magic to it."

Story time with the Hammersley family!

"I want my work to have a strong sense of visual literacy," says Saira Mary Netto (B.F.A., fibers). "I want to tell stories through texture and color."

A senior standout and SCAD Student Ambassador, Netto is currently completing her thesis, an installation series she calls "Rebirth + Regeneration." "My work is highly labor intensive," Saira says, holding up fluffy fistfuls of fabric, "but so fun when it comes together."

"Rebirth + Regeneration" embraces techniques Netto learned in an early fibers course, Textile Structures: Material, Form, and Function (FIBR  170). Compositional drawings, collages, and watercolors come first. Then she begins felting, riffing on cut-stuff-stitch. This is Saira's world now, a riot of chimerical fabric, caffeinated positivity, and exuberant chromaticism. She intentionally manifests influences from her personal pantheon, from Bauhaus pioneer Gunta Stölzl to polka dot superstar Yayoi Kusama.

"How do we apply history to our own circumstances, and do something we love?" Netto asks. "The way to innovate is to look at the past, interpret, take inspiration, and move forward."

Originally from Kerala, India ("Savannah reminds me of home, being in tune with nature"), Netto has designed a thesis project literally connected to her roots. "A few years ago, my dad wanted to construct a house on top of our ancestral home, and we had to dismantle my grandma's garden. She took down the plants, kept some, and gave some to family members. I decided to translate the soul and essence of the garden into fabric."

Saira Mary Netto, "Final Composition 1" from Rebirth + Regeneration, fibers senior thesis, 2022.

Over time, Saira herself has grown into the international student experience. When she arrived in Savannah in 2018—her first time in the U.S.—her intention was to study fashion. "My second quarter here, a friend said, ‘Hey let's go to Open Studio in Pepe Hall' and when I saw all the fibers work, I realized this is what I want to do. I changed my major the very next day."

Yet her affection for fashion has not wilted. This year, she collaborated with NBAF 2022 Fashion Forward Award winner D'on Lauren Edwards (B.F.A., fashion) on silk organza print patterns for Edwards' senior collection "The Messenger."

"Working with Saira was wonderful," Edwards says. "I'm drawn to her meticulous methods, and the cultural influences she pours into her prints. It's important to me to find someone able to combine beauty and artistry, all tied to the values prevalent in my collection. I'm so glad that person is Saira."

In her official role as Student Ambassador, Netto communicates with prospective students and parents about her SCAD experience. She also represents a fibers program that focuses both on commercial potential (typified by the annual Kravet Design Challenge) and avant-garde artistry.

When Andrew Clancey, creative director of outré fashion label Any Old Iron, gave a guest lecture at SCAD in early 2021, Netto emailed him samples of her work. Clancey subsequently hired her as a freelance pattern designer and illustrator. Netto embraces the commercial imperative while pushing the outer limits of experimentation. "You want to be an artist and be free, but you need to survive," she says, simply.

Saira is currently finalizing the staging of "Rebirth + Regeneration." She hopes her thesis is a step towards creating immersive installations that will occupy "hotels, and other buildings in the hospitality industry." In the meantime, the inevitable "What's next for you?" question gets a good-natured laugh.

"More drawing, more exploration, more innovation, more fun!"

Connect with Saira Mary Netto on LinkedIn!

SCAD is proud to announce that students from the university's prestigious School of Fashion have earned the most scholarship wins of any university in the highly competitive Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF) Scholarship 2022 program.

As announced in a live awards gala on Monday, April 11 in New York City, a total of 19 students from SCAD's top-ranked School of Fashion earned national recognition, totaling over $165,000 in scholarships.

SCAD Atlanta junior Naecia Dixon (B.F.A., fashion design) presented a passionate monologue live in front of hundreds of industry executives, editors, stylists, designers, and program alumni. Dixon, from Kingston, Jamaica, was awarded the prestigious FSF $25,000 Grand Prize Scholarship for her ingenious digital case study, "Radical Optimism," an idea for a unique and sustainable design collaboration between Nike and Iris Van Herpen.

"This award has been an honor of a lifetime, and I am incredibly grateful to FSF for this recognition and opportunity," said Dixon. "I want the world to know the influence that my SCAD professors have had on me, and their tireless efforts to foster greatness in young, ambitious creatives like myself."

SCAD students were selected from thousands of entries across 65 universities, each developing imaginative case studies reviewed by a panel of industry icons representing major brands and designers.

Dixon and fellow School of Fashion students Kachina Daniel (B.F.A., fashion design), Korin Jones (B.F.A., fashion design; drawing), Gianni Williams (B.F.A., fashion marketing and management) were selected as recipients of the Virgil Abloh "Post-Modern" scholarship, which includes a $7,500 scholarship, a paid summer internship at one of the supporting partners, a master class program for professional development, and mentorship from industry leaders. The trailblazing late fashion designer Abloh, with the support of evian, Farfetch, Louis Vuitton, New Guards Group, and Nike, committed $1 million to support scholarships and career opportunities for Black students and to foster equity and inclusion within the fashion industry, managed with FSF.

Since 2019, SCAD has won an unprecedented portion of scholarship funds from FSF for its students, totaling over $600,000. SCAD offers one of the most elite fashion programs in the world with undergraduate and graduate degrees in accessory design, business of beauty and fragrance, fashion, fashion marketing and management, fibers, jewelry and luxury and fashion management. Students of the program network with expert insiders through virtual showcases and global red-carpet events and earn international accolades from Vogue, The Met's Costume Institute, CFDA and more. SCAD fashion alumni launch their own lines and dress cultural icons like Beyoncé, Michelle Obama, Zendaya, Maren Morris, Tracee Ellis Ross and lead the industry into the future at international houses like Chanel, Thom Browne, and Marc Jacobs.

Founded in 1937, the FSF is the foremost fashion-oriented nonprofit in the U.S. to assist with education and workforce development. In addition to awarding over $1 million each year in scholarships, FSF provides scholars with intensive mentorship, industry networking, internship and career opportunities, professional development and direct access to the world's top companies and most influential leaders in fashion and related business sectors.

FSF Grand Prize scholarship winner Naecia Dixon.

2022 SCAD STUDENT FSF SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

FSF 2022 Grand Prize Scholarship - $25,000
Naecia Dixon (B.F.A., fashion design)

SCAD 2022 Virgil Abloh "Post-Modern" Scholarship Winners – $7,500
Naecia Dixon (B.F.A., fashion design)
Kachina Daniel (B.F.A., fashion design)
Korin Jones (B.F.A., fashion design)
Gianni Williams (B.F.A., fashion marketing and management)

SCAD Class of 2022 FSF Scholars - $7,500
Laura Elena Bach (B.F.A., fashion marketing and management)
Sophie Berner (B.F.A., fashion marketing and management; jewelry design)
Regina Perez-Corona (B.F.A., business of beauty & fragrance; fashion marketing and management)
Kaitlyn Delong (B.F.A., fashion marketing & management)
Georgia Holbrook (B.F.A., fibers; fashion design)
Savannah Johnson (B.F.A., fashion marketing and management; fashion design)
Anna Lanyi (B.F.A., fashion design; fashion marketing & management)
Julia Malloy (B.F.A., fashion design)
Victoria Malloy (B.F.A., business of beauty and fragrance; fashion marketing & management)
Valeria Martinez (B.F.A., fashion design)
Grace Miller (B.F.A., fashion marketing and management; fashion design)
Sudarshini Mukherjee (B.F.A., fashion marketing and management; art history)
Olivia Rogers (B.F.A., fashion marketing & management; fragrance marketing & management)
Jack Winkler (B.F.A., accessory design)
Morgan Winslow (B.F.A., fashion design)

Congratulations Naecia and all the winners!

"I'm learning as much about myself as my students are learning from me," says Brandon Sugiyama, professor of motion media design. "It's my job to help them develop what's in their heads into what they create on the screen, and in turn I'm discovering how to set them up for success."

Previously the lead animator on Emmy award-winning Netflix show "Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj" and a 2017 fellow of the Tow-Knight Center for Entrepreneurial Journalism at CUNY, Sugiyama came to SCAD Savannah in Fall 2021. His résumé includes more than a decade of experience with revered agencies including BigStar, Framestore, Eyeball, and Trollbäck+Company. He joins a growing SCAD department named by The Rookies as the #1 place to study motion media design for five consecutive years.

"As we continue to lead the way in motion media design education, Brandon joining our faculty makes our department even stronger and more versatile," says Kelly Carlton, chair, motion media design. "His professional experience inspires our students to get excited about their own work, and his relatability helps them envision their own futures more clearly. I'm really pleased he's here."

What might surprise students and fellow faculty is Sugiyama's other chief discipline. This punctilious paladin is a nine-time member of Team USA in competitive wushu and taiji, and an internationally certified martial arts judge and  instructor whose classes are available on YouTube.

"When I teach martial arts, I teach complex movements to people with varying degrees of ability," Sugiyama says. "Teaching wushu online has helped me find new ways to engage, both with groups, and by providing individual attention to students. Those experiences have helped me transition to teaching motion media in classroom and hybrid settings."

This quarter at SCAD, Sugiyama is teaching Principles of Motion Media Design (MOME 105) and Motion Media Design Techniques I (MOME 130), where students develop skills in the Abode application for post-production called After Effects. He also helms Screen Design and Typography (MOME 501) and Motion Analysis and Application (MOME 502) which he describes as "graduate-level courses for M.A. and M.F.A. students that are also popular with non-MOME majors who want to explore motion media design."

Born and raised in Southern California, Sugiyama has lived, worked, and studied in countries from Barbados to China. He is attuned to the challenges faced by SCAD's international students. "Language and culture contribute to how people learn." he says, recognizing the gulf between colloquial and technical jargon. "The way an international student hears me speak English is not the way a native speaker hears me speak English. In the classroom it means we pay a little more attention to details, which winds up being good for everyone."

All this has an aim: to prepare a diverse student body for their creative careers. As Sugiyama says: "Students want to work on big movies and projects, and I show them that they can do beautiful and impactful work at smaller companies too. Some industries may be shrinking, but motion media is opening up. There's going to be a new place where you can put a screen, a new place where you can see a video, a new interface where people are going to need to communicate a message visually. That's the place for motion media designers to shine."

Visit Brandon Sugiyama!

Action photograph by Logan C. Thomas (B.F.A., photography, 2014).

"How do you recreate something without real reference images?" asks Miranda Leighr (B.F.A., visual effects). "When you don’t have photos, what do you do?"

In October 2021, six students in professor Joe Pasquale’s Visual Effects Studio I (VSFX 408) course undertook a project using CG and digital compositing techniques to present a restored visual experience of Savannah’s historic Eastside Theater, which closed in 1969.

"The idea came when we were location scouting and saw this interesting old building on Broad Street," Leighr says. "We could tell it had once been a theater, and thought, what was it really like?"

Guided by art history professor Chad Newsom, the students’ research revealed that during segregation, the Eastside was the desirable destination for Black moviegoers. "It was upscale and glamourous, an entertainment hub for the South," explains Valerian Ortmann (B.F.A., visual effects).

With Leighr as producer, project manager and compositor, the stalwart student group included lighting and look development artist Ryan Harper (B.F.A., visual effects), compositor and actor T’Naige Wallace (B.F.A., visual effects), compositor Jake Diana (B.F.A., visual effects), photogrammetry expert Ben Gilbert (B.F.A., visual effects), and modeling and look development artist Ortmann.

"The only archival image of the Eastside we found is a black and white illustration, which made other parts of our research especially important," Ortmann says. "Because the same architects designed Trustees, Lucas, and Savannah Theaters for the Weis family, we were able to go to those locations and create visual references of design trends that we could incorporate. The neon marquee and tiled panels are pretty identical across all Weis theaters."

The group decided not only to recreate the Eastside’s facade, but to build a scene where a patron approaches the booth to purchase a ticket to see Douglas Sirk’s groundbreaking 1959 film Imitation of Life—which their research revealed had shown there.

The theater building as it appears today; the restoration visualization created by students.

Key exterior elements like the ticket booth, vestibule, poster displays, lights, and neon marquee were all designed based on research. Scans were made of the concrete outside the vacant theater, where Harper had scattered digital popcorn Gilbert created. Green screen filming captured Wallace engaging with a booth attendant played by Baylie Bright (B.A., performing arts). The ticket, featuring the Eastside logo, was printed on paper from the 1950s sourced by Ortmann.

The team impeccably documented these technical flexes and their weekly progress on their blog sites, like this one by Leighr. In mid-March, the group showed their 45-second epic on the big screen at Trustees Theater during SCAD VSFX showcase. The project was also shared with City of Savannah Municipal Archives Director Luciana Spracher (B.F.A., historic preservation, 1998), who added it to the Savannah Area Local Reference Files, where it is available to the public for research use.

The hours and effort that went into the project may be inestimable, but looking back, Leighr points to an early stage of the research process, when the group watched an archival video interview with former Savannah mayor Dr. Otis S. Johnson speaking about the theater’s significance.

"I knew then that we could do it justice, and that it would mean a lot to people in the community," Leighr says. "We made sure we were sensitive and approached it in a way that can be appreciated. It has a deeper meaning."

Left to right: Miranda Leighr, T’Naige Wallace, Ryan Harper, Jake Diana, Ben Gilbert, Valerian Ortmann.

Witness the work!

At the vanguard of footwear design, SCAD has launched the first-ever sneaker design minor. Based on student interest and alumni success in the industry, the minor is designed to further enhance professional credentials and propel graduates to the top of the growing, lucrative field.

The SCAD sneaker design minor is available to students at both SCAD Savannah and Atlanta locations, and includes new courses specifically created to amplify innovative and sustainable design and manufacturing practices. The minor includes five courses designed to develop knowledge and design skills in sketching, rendering, concept development, digital prototyping, and branding for luxury and high-performance sneakers. These courses provide students with access to leading technology resources and ensure students complete the minor with a professional-quality portfolio that includes both physical and digital prototypes of original sneaker designs.

Offered within the School of Fashion, the sneaker design minor illustrates SCAD's elite status within art and design education, innovation, and creative business leadership, and demonstrates the university's mission to prepare students for professions at the forefront of evolving industries. SCAD alumni are already making major waves in the 80-billion-dollar international industry, working with leading brands like Nike, adidas, YEEZY, Reebok, Skechers, and others, and creating their own successful companies.

"From streetwear to sportswear, SCAD Bees define what is hot, haute, and happening," says SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. "SCAD grads work for the biggest names in the shoe game. They launch their own lines, too, like Q4 Sports, where SCAD alum Quintin Williams teams up with NBA stars to design shoes that command the spotlight. So many SCAD Bees are already at the top of the sneaker game, and SCAD's new sneaker design program empowers future sneakerheads everywhere to leap into their creative careers. It's a slam dunk."


One of the new hires to facilitate the excellence of the program is accessory design professor Quintin Williams (B.F.A., industrial design, 2011), who has designed footwear for professional athletes in the NFL, MLB, NBA, and WNBA. "I put in years of learning, and timeless hours of first-hand experience in both business and design in order to one day have the opportunity to share my personal knowledge and skillset," Williams says. "I'm super excited to take on this new endeavor and give all that I can the future of designers and entrepreneurs here at SCAD."

Coinciding with the launch of the sneaker design minor, SCAD showcases talented student and alumni designs in an exhibition at SCAD Atlanta, on view March 28–Dec. 2 at SCAD Studio. Alumni including Zaneta Horne (M.A., design management, 2018; B.F.A., industrial design, 2015), Vincent Vu (M.Arch., 2008; B.F.A., architecture, 2007), Carson Whittaker (M.A., industrial design, 2018), Quintin Williams (B.F.A., industrial design, 2011), and current accessory design students Tim Buchanan and Jordan Earley are featured.

In addition to the exhibition, SCAD will host two sneaker design conversations at the upcoming SCADstyle 2022 signature event. On April 5 in Savannah, SCAD alumni take part in the panel Up Your Game: The Future of Sneaker Design. In Atlanta on April 6, 11:30 a.m. SCAD hosts a conversation with alumni, The Next Big Thing: Sneakers from Concept to Market, moderated by SCAD professor and footwear designer Michael Mack. A public reception for the sneaker design exhibition at SCAD Studio will be held April 6 from 7–8:30 p.m.

For more information, visit the SCAD sneaker design minor.

Design by Quintin Williams (B.F.A., industrial design, 2011) for Q4 Sports.

"I love traveling and I love road trips. One of my dreams is to buy an RV and visit all 48 continental U.S. states."

Tzuying Wang—called Wan by faculty and friends—is a native Mandarin speaker from Taipei, and a graduate of Ivy Collegiate Academy (ICA) in Taichung, Taiwan. Currently in her final quarter at SCAD, Wan (B.F.A., interior design) has designed a dynamic RV park, branded under the name The Bond of Border, aimed at revitalizing the U.S. tourist economy.

"RV living in an exciting alternative lifestyle choice that gives people the freedom to explore the world as part of their day-to-day," Wan explains. "During the pandemic, with air travel way down, people indicated a new willingness to travel by RV. That was an early inspiration for my project."

The capstone has evolved over two quarter-long classes: Interior Design Studio V—Design Thinking for Innovation (INDS 470) and Interior Design Studio VI—Design Development and Communication (INDS 480). Under the guidance of her thesis chair, professor Christine Van Duyn, Wan's project reveals great technical skill and a humane vision at work.

"I've known Wan since she was in my Introduction to Interior Design class (INDS 101)," says Van Duyn (B.F.A., photography, 2004). "It's been a pleasure to watch her grow into the designer she is today, always taking the extra step and making sure every detail is attended to."

"Instead of imposing limitations, Professor Van Duyn encourages us to extend the possibilities of our designs and develop a strong visual aesthetic," Wan says, noting that the professor gifted students the Elizabeth Gilbert book Big Magic: Creative Living Without Fear (Penguin Publishing, 2015), to liberating effect.

"With her thesis project, Wan is pushing boundaries," Van Duyn adds. "Her bold intentions and deep research mean she is designing a project both timely and thoughtful."

Wan visited local Savannah RV resorts including Red Gate and Creek Fire to research first-hand how wayfinding and amenities affect in the park experience.

"My project aims to create a complex for relaxing, socializing, and recharging," Wan explains. "My goal is to reshape the harmony between individual and collective, and revive local business economies through encouraging tourism."

Interior rendering of The Bond of Borders reception center, by Tzuying Wang (B.F.A., interior design)

Wan envisions The Bond of Borders as a replicable, environmentally sensitive model that can be iterated successfully in different locations. The multi-functional park features fresh food market, restaurant, RV maintenance station, interactive art gallery, outdoor gardening area, equipment rental for bicycle and kayak, and a pet café "because so many people travel with their pets."

In conversation, Wan exudes the self-sustaining enthusiasm of an international student who has embraced the range of opportunities at SCAD. In February, she participated in StartUp 2022, teaming with students from industrial design, graphic design, and animation to design a pair of VR glasses called Janus. "StartUp offered the chance to get valuable feedback on our project from industry leaders, and allowed me to take a workshop where I learned new facets in UX design."

With graduation on the near horizon, Wan is in the process of refining her portfolio. She hopes to stay in the United States, has obtained her OPT card, and is currently applying for design jobs.

"It will be hard to leave SCAD, but I know I'll be back. Maybe in my RV."

Visit Tzuying Wang.

And view all the project renderings on Wan's IG!