"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."

SCAD proudly announces the appointment of Lace Walker as the university's new director of inclusion. Walker, a Savannah native, is a SCAD alumnus, with an M.A. in creative business leadership and a B.F.A. in sound design. She will work closely with SCAD students, faculty, and staff at all SCAD locations to ensure a culture where all members of the university community feel welcomed, valued, respected, and empowered to thrive.

"SCAD is my family, my home," Walker says. "It is my intention to ensure every member of our SCAD community feels seen, celebrated, and cared for. It is important that we continue to engage in a culture that accepts all people with respect and open arms."

Walker is being promoted from within the university. Prior to her new role, she has an 11-year tenure at SCAD, working at the university's locations in Savannah, Atlanta, and Lacoste, France as a student success advisor and admission records specialist, developing authentic relationships with students and families.

"I was afforded memorable moments to contribute to embracing our diverse and inclusive culture," Walker says. "When the opportunity came along to work with the office of inclusion, I saw it as a chance to extend my heart, care, and concern for the greater SCAD community, and duplicate my efforts to faculty and staff."

The SCAD office of inclusion engages the collective ingenuity of its students, faculty, and staff to create opportunities and inspire inclusive innovation within the university community and the creative industries in the disciplines SCAD teaches.

"SCAD has so much to engage in—from museum exhibitions, workshops, events, training, student clubs, alumni affinity groups, tours, library resources, gender-inclusive restrooms, and programs, to name a few. No goal of mine is ever short-term. I do everything with passion and longevity in mind and want it to resonate as a legacy, building a foundation to grow and change with our cultural climate."

In her new role, Walker will develop and administer diversity and inclusion learning for the university community. Her focus will include implementing programming that engages diverse ideas and perspectives, broadening recruitment and hiring practices, engaging in proactive community collaborations through SCAD SERVE, and amplifying the work and ideas of artists, designers, and educators who are members of historically marginalized groups.

Learn more about the SCAD Office of Inclusion.

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!

Chalk it up as a Sidewalk Arts Festival for the ages! On Saturday, April 23, the 41st SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival transformed Savannah's scenic Forsyth Park into a dynamic technicolor landscape of nearly 800 chalk compositions as SCAD students, alumni, and local high school students sketched vibrant designs and competed for cash prizes.

"SCAD Sidewalk Arts is our university's longest-running and most beloved festival," said SCAD President Paula Wallace. "A perfect pairing of Savannah pavement and SCAD preeminence, this spring tradition enlivens the senses, awakens the creative spirit, and fosters an unrivaled joy that can only come from art."

Prizes were  be awarded across categories including Best of Show, SCAD Alumni Spirit, SCAD Student Spirit, Student Individual, Student Group, Graduate Student, and Alumni. This year introduced the SCAD Peace Award for the artwork that best incorporates iconography of peace; the SCAD Love Award, featuring images of adoration; and the SCAD Homage Award, for the chalk artist who best replicates a painting by a renowned artist using approved SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival materials.

In addition to the nearly 800 chalk designs, alumnae Juliana Lupacchino (B.F.A, fibers, 2017) and Sophie Tompkins (B.F.A., graphic design, 2016) painted a mural live during the event. The festival also included an installation of papier-mâché vases by Trish Andersen (B.F.A., fibers, 2005). Festival attendants shared their imagination and creativity through Instagram using #SCADChalk.

Congratulations to the winners!

SCAD Peace Award

$3,000 (open to current SCAD students, individual or a group)
Olivia Williams (B.F.A., illustration)

SCAD Love Award

$3,000 (open to current SCAD students, individual or a group)
Kassidy Keenehan (B.F.A., painting)

SCAD Homage Award

$3,000 (open to current SCAD students, individual or a group)
Yashvi Goel (B.F.A., production design)
Parth Bansal (B.F.A., sequential art)

SCAD Student Spirit Award
$3,000 (open to current SCAD students, individual or a group)
Val Slivka (B.F.A., sequential art)
Margaux Menand (B.F.A., fibers)
Marie Alvizo (B.F.A., illustration)
Alex Putprush (B.F.A., sequential art)
Julia Paiewonsky (B.F.A., animation)
Caleigh Steele (B.F.A., illustration)

SCAD Alumni Spirit Award

$3,000 (open to SCAD alumni, individual or a group)
Tyler Jacobs (B.F.A, advertising, 2018)

High School Student

Gift card to Ex Libris bookstore
Catherine Bock, Garrison School for the Arts, Savannah, GA

Best of Show

$1,200 (any participant)
Glen Osterberger (B.F.A., illustration, 1990)

Graduate Student Award

$700 (any current SCAD graduate student, individual or group)
Madhuri Guntupalli (M.F.A., illustration)
Rebekah Price (M.F.A, illustration)
Killian Hu (M.F.A., illustration)
Kiki Jenkins (M.F.A., illustration)

SCAD Student (Individual)
$1,000 (any current SCAD student)

Laura DiAngelis (B.F.A., sequential art)

SCAD Students (Group)

$1,000 (any current SCAD student group)
Kai Buffington-Cogliano (B.F.A., production design)
Isabelle Mercer (B.F.A., illustration)
Saige Buffington (B.F.A., writing)
Becca George (B.F.A., performing arts)

SCAD Alumni

$1,000 (any SCAD alumni)
Anné Revlett (B.F.A., illustration, 2019)

SEE ALL THE WINNING 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.

SCAD is proud to announce the wonderful work of more than 150 alumni who have contributed their talents to films nominated for the 94th Academy Awards®. This year, SCAD alumni and students contributed to a total of 21 films that received nominations from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

These talented SCAD Bees represent a variety of award-winning degree programs, including animation, visual effects, film and television, production design, sound design, performing arts, sequential art, illustration, motion media design, fashion, painting, and photography.

Notably, SCAD alumni worked on all five films nominated for Best Visual Effects, including "Dune," "Free Guy," "No Time to Die," "Spider-Man: No Way Home," and "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings." Four of the five nominees for Best Animated Feature also featured the work of SCAD alumni, including "Encanto," "Luca," "Raya and the Last Dragon," and "The Mitchells vs. the Machines."

Standout SCAD alumni Andrew Finley (B.F.A., visual effects, 2015) and Alejandro Solorzano (B.F.A., animation, 2011) each worked on three different nominated films. Finley is currently Look Development Artist at Walt Disney Animation Studios; Solorzano is Lead Technical Animator at Luma Pictures.
 
SCAD alumni also made notable contributions to the look of Academy Award-nominated films outside of digital media. Jurasama Arunchai (M.A., production design, 2010) worked as assistant art director on "West Side Story," nominated for Best Production Design and Best Picture; Lauren Stewart (B.F.A., film & television, 2010) and Jordan Law (B.F.A., fashion, 2013) worked on props and costumes for "The Tragedy of Macbeth," also nominated for Best Production Design.

Three 2021 graduates contributed to nominated films: Hope Schroers (B.F.A., visual effects) was an effects intern for "Luca"; Vivian Amaro (B.F.A., visual effects) worked on "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" and "Spider-Man: No Way Home" (both nominated for Best Visual Effects) as a VFX artist for Perception; and Madison Boehme (M.A., creative business leadership) worked as Production Supervisor at Disney on Best Animated Feature nominated films "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon."

"Our students work in an environment of collaboration where the classroom is a living model of the industry," said Andra Reeve-Rabb, dean of the SCAD School of Entertainment Arts. "Cutting edge facilities, equipment and mentorship by Oscar-winning professors elevate student experience and creative content. Unique to our university, students work on professional film sets in above and below the line roles in Savannah and Atlanta during their time at SCAD, making them ready to launch the moment they graduate!"

Max Almy, Dean of the SCAD School of Digital Media said, "Our programs in the School of Digital Media are top rated in the world!  Our graduates are working at Pixar, Disney, ILM, Blue Sky, DreamWorks and dozens of great companies and the word is that they are the most talented, prepared and professional.  It's no surprise that so many of our alumni have worked on Academy Award®-winning and nominated films.  We are the best and we are so proud!"

SCAD is the only university named by the Hollywood Reporter in all of its top entertainment rankings: film, performing arts/drama, production design, costume design and visual effects.

Congratulations to the students and alumni who contributed to this year's Oscar-nominated films:

Aaron McGriff (B.F.A., animation, 2005) "Luca"
Adnan Hussain (B.F.A., computer art, 2000) "Spider-Man: No Way Home
Alasdair Willson (B.F.A., broadcast, 2008) "No Way Home:
Alejandro Solorzano (B.F.A., animation, 2011) "King Richard", "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings", and "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Alex Dubois (B.F.A., film and television, 2016) "West Side Story"
Alex Moed (B.F.A.,visual effects, 2011) "Free Guy"
Alex Wood (B.F.A., visual effects, 2014) Free Guy"
Alexander Snow (B.F.A.,animation, 2009) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Alexis Cabone (B.F.A., visual effects, 2018) "Cruella"
Alireza Bidar (B.F.A., visual effects, 2017) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Allan Cox (B.F.A., sound design, 2009) "Coming to America"
Andre Danylevich (B.F.A., film and television, 2009) "Lost Daughter"
Andrew Finley (B.F.A., visual effects, 2015) "Encanto", "Luca", and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Andrew Hudson (B.F.A., sound design, 2010) "tick, tick…BOOM!" and "West Side Story"
Annie Taylor (M.A., sound design, 2019) "Lost Daughter"
Austin Bonang (B.F.A., computer art, 2005) "Dune"
Ben Girmann (M.F.A., animation, 2016) "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Benjamin Lopatin (B.F.A.,visual effects, 2014) "The Mitchells vs. the Machines"
Bianca Gee (B.F.A., animation, 2012) "The Mitchells vs. the Machines"
Bobby Taylor (B.F.A., animation, 2009, "The Mitchells vs. the Machines"
Brandon Lee Karcher (B.F.A, animation, 2018) "Cruella" 
Brandon Martin (B.F.A., animation, 2008) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Brandon Nelson (M.F.A., visual effects, 2008) "King Richard"
Brian Freesh (B.F.A. film and television, 2005) "The Tragedy of Macbeth"
Brooke Eilers (M.F.A., visual effects, 2019) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Caitlin Low (M.F.A., animation, 2017) "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Cameron Black (B.F.A., naimation, 2014) "Raya and the Last Dragon
Carlos Alarcon (M.A., visual effects, 2010) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Carmen Wong (M.F.A., visual effects, 2014) "King Richard"
Chad Cox (B.F.A., animation, 2012) "King Richard"
Chana Klein (B.F.A., film and television, 2018) "Coming 2 America"
Charles Cronkite (B.F.A., animation, 2012) "The Mitchells vs the Machines"
Charles Ehrlinger (B.F.A., visual effects/film and television, 2004) "The Tragedy of Macbeth"
Chien-I Kao (B.F.A., animation, 2006) "Free Guy"
Christian Rodriguez (B.F.A., visual effects, 2021) "Encanto"
Christine Uyemura (M.F.A., visual effects, 2017) "Cruella"
Courtland Jones (M.F.A. performing arts, 2012) "CODA"
Courtney Stephens (B.F.A., film and television, 2013) "CODA"
Daniel Irons (B.F.A., film and television, 2015) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Daniel Jardin (B.F.A., visual effects, 2015) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
David Butler (B.F.A., computer art, 1997) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
David Michaels (B.F.A., computer art, 2002) "Free Guy" and "West Side Story"
Davies Rushing (B.F.A., animation, 2019) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings"
Dawoon Kim (B.F.A., animation, 2018) "Don’t Look Up"
Demorrius Sims (B.F.A., animation, 2014) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Derek Nelson (M.F.A., visual effects, 2019) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Diana Chu (M.F.A., visual effects, 2019) "Coming 2 America"
Diana Li (B.F.A., visual effects, 2008) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
D'Lun Wong (M.F.A., visual effects, 2001) "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Douglas Addy (B.F.A., visual effects, 2007) "Encanto"
Dwayne Green (M.F.A., film and television, 2014) "Coming 2 America"
Dylan Nett (B.F.A., visual effects, 2020) "House of Gucci"
Elise Hannon (B.F.A., visual effects, 2018) "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Emily Cramer (B.F.A., film and television, 2018) "Cruella"
Enna Chow (B.F.A., production design, 2017) "Coming 2 America"
Erik Toth (B.F.A., visual effects, 2013) "Free Guy"
Erin Choroszylow (B.F.A., film and television, 2012) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Eryn Gruttadauria (B.F.A.,  film and television, 2020) "Free Guy"
Gal Roiter (B.F.A., animation, 2006) "The Mitchells vs. the Machines"
Galina Pak (B.F.A., animation, 2018) "Cruella"
George Watson (B.F.A., film and television, 2014) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Gian Ignacio Lombardi (B.F.A., visual effects, 2014) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings"
Hope Schroers (B.F.A., visual effects, 2021) "Luca"
Ian Ruhfass (B.F.A., visual effects, 2008) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Ian Steplowski (animation, 2003) "Luca"
James Kuroda (M.F.A., computer art, 2002) "Free Guy"
James Spadafora (M.F.A., visual effects, 2017) "Free Guy"
Jameson Everett (B.F.A., film and television, 2016) "Free Guy"
Jamie German (B.F.A., visual effects, 2013) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings"
Jason Koh (B.F.A., visual effects, 2016) "The Mitchells vs the Machines"
Jayda Cardoza (B.F.A., film and television, 2020) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Jeannine Kernisan (B.F.A., animation, 2015) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings"
Jenn Epstein (B.F.A., visual effects, 2005) "House of Gucci"
Jeremy Carroll (B.F.A., visual effects, 2006) "Free Guy" and "Spider-Man: No Way Home:
Jesse Erickson (B.F.A., visual effects, 2008) "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Jesse Hildreth (B.F.A.,visual effects, 2008) "No Time to Die"
Jessica Spinelli (B.F.A., visual effects, 2015) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Jie Meng (M.F.A.,visual effects, 2015) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Jocelyn Cofer (B.F.A., animation, 2009) "The Mitchells vs the Machines"
Johnathan Nixon (B.F.A.,visual effects, 2007)"Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings"
Johnny Nam (B.F.A., animation, 2016) "Cruella"
Jon Balcome (M.F.A., visual effects, 2011) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Jordan Law (B.F.A., fashion, 2013) "The Tragedy of Macbeth"
Jordan Schilling (B.F.A., visual effects, 2006) "The Eyes of Tammy Faye"
Joseph Hayden (B.F.A., visual effects, 2006) "Free Guy"
Josh Holtsclaw (B.F.A., illustration, 2006) "Luca"
Jurasama Arunchai (M.A., production design, 2010) "West Side Story"
Ka Yaw Tan (B.F.A., computer art, 1995) "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Kaitlin Duchene (B.F.A., visual effects, 2017) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings"
Karen Heston (photography, 1998) "King Richard"
Kate Kirby-O'Connell (B.F.A.,animation, 2013) "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Kirsten Yamaguchi (M.F.A., animation, 2009) "Luca"
Kori Amacker (M.F.A., animation, 2017) "Encanto" and "Ray and the Last Dragon"
Kurt Judson (B.F.A., computer art, 1997) "The Mitchells vs. the Machines"
Landon Lott (B.F.A., sound design, 2010) "Free Guy" and "The Tragedy of Macbeth"
Lauren Driskill (B.F.A., fashion marketing and management, 2011) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Lauren Longoria (B.F.A., film and television, 2017) "Cyrano: 1 Tale 3 Hearts"
Lauren Stewart (B.F.A., film and television, 2010) "The Power of the Dog"
Liaowei Chen (M.F.A., animation, 2017) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Lindsey Butterworth Langston (B.F.A., animation, 2007) "The Mitchells vs. the Machines"
Liz Feldstein (M.F.A., visual effects, 2015) "Free Guy"
Lucas Gregg (B.F.A., film and television, 2016) "Coming 2 America"
Madison Boehme (M.A., creative business leadership, 2021) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Mallory Mahar (M.A., animation, 2011) "The Mitchells vs. the Machines"
Margaret Cardell (B.F.A., motion media design, 2013) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings"
Marla Walkuski (B.F.A.,  production design, 2017) "Coming 2 America"
Marq Faulkner (B.F.A.,  visual effects, 2009) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Matt Ward (B.F.A., film and television, 1999) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings"
Maya Peart (B.F.A.,  sound design, 2016) "tick, tick…BOOM!"
Melanie Weldon (B.F.A.,  visual effects, 2017) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings"
Meredith O'Malley (B.F.A.,  animation, 2018) "Luca"
Michael DalBello (B.F.A.,  sound design, 2016) "The Mitchells vs the Machines"
Michael Rogers (B.F.A., visual effects, 2010) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings"
Michelle Gao (B.F.A.,  visual effects, 2015) "The Mitchells vs the Machines"
Mitchell Snary (B.F.A., computer art, 1999) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Nancy Cummings (2000) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Nathan Engelhardt (B.F.A., animation, 2007) "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Naveen Sabesan (M.F.A., animation, 2017) "Free Guy" and "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings"
Nicole Taylor (B.F.A., animation, 2017) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Nicholas Cochran (B.F.A., sound design, 2011) "Coming 2 America"
Nicholas Leone (B.F.A., film and television, 2010) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Nick Bartone (B.F.A., visual effects, 2008) "Luca"
Noah Hamdan (B.F.A., visual effects, 2012) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings"
Paris Smith (B.F.A., animation, 2017) "Free Guy"
Patrick O'Connor (B.F.A., visual effects, 2015) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings"
Prasad Kamalakar Narse (B.F.A., visual effects, 2014) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings"
Rachel Bell (B.A., production design, 2019) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Rachel Clarke (B.F.A., visual effects, 2012) "Cruella"
Rattanin Sirinaruemarn (M.A., visual effects, 2013) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Rebecca Ulmo (MA., film and television, 2012) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Rich Fallat (B.F.A., visual effects, 2005) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Ross Macaluso (M.F.A.,  visual effects, 2014) "Spider Man: No Way Home"
Ryan Duhaime (B.F.A.,  visual effects, 2007) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’
Ryan Magid (B.F.A., computer art, 2003) "Cruella"
Sam Klock (B.F.A.,  visual effects, 2011) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Samantha Lee (B.F.A., painting, 2014) "Free Guy"
Sarah Ridenour (B.F.A.,  animation, 2016) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Satyajit Ranaprathapan (B.F.A., animation, 2016) "Mitchells vs. the Machines"
Scott Clark (B.F.A., illustration, 1992) "Luca"
Scott Johnson (B.F.A., film and television, 2007) "The Eye of Tammy Faye"
Scott Lebeda (B.F.A., film and television, 2005) "CODA"
Sean Loughran (B.F.A.,  visual effects, 2008) "Coming 2 America" and "The Eyes of Tammy Faye"
Sean Palmer (B.F.A., visual effects, 2005) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Shannon Dingle (B.F.A.,  animation, 2011) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Sharmishtha Sohoni (M.A.,  computer art, 2000) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Shaun Galinak (B.F.A., visual effects, 2009) "Luca"
Sophia Yu (B.F.A., animation, 2015) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings"
Stephen Null (B.F.A., visual effects, 2005) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Suan Tan (M.A., computer art, 1999) "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Taylor Aseere (B.F.A., animation, 2017) "Free Guy"
Taylor Tiahrt (B.F.A., animation, 2013) "Encanto"
Thomas Neugebauer (B.F.A., sound design, 2020) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Trevor Young (B.F.A., animation, 2008) "Encanto"
Tyler Kupferer (M.F.A., animation, 2011) "Encanto"
Tyler Old (B.F.A., visual effects, 2017) "Spider-Many: No Way Home"
Viki Chan (B.F.A., illustration, 2016) "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Vivian Amaro (B.F.A., visual effects, 2021) "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings" and "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Walker Kennedy (B.F.A., visual effects, 2017) "Encanto" and "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Wuyang Wang (M.F.A.,  visual effects, 2018) "Mitchell vs. the Machines"
Yuna Chen (M.A., visual effects, 2019) "Mitchells vs the Machines"
Zane Yarbrough (B.F.A., sequential art, 2010) "Encanto"

If you are aware of a name missing from this list, please email information (Name, Degree, Film) to [email protected].

Researched and produced by Jonathan Sage and Shannon Dade.

"Helping people has always been my goal, and your hand is so important to your life," says Chrissy Glover (B.F.A., fibers, 2017).

With Imago Rehab, CEO Glover and her team have created a telehealth solution enabling stroke survivors to conduct occupational therapy from home. Imago, recipient of a new investment from SCADpro Fund, is "a robot-assisted virtual clinic for stroke recovery," Glover explains. Focusing on hand rehab, Imago is developing a textile-based robotic glove that facilitates rehab activities.

"If you've had a stroke of the severity where you have little or no hand function left, it's been likely you will stay that way for the rest of your life," Glover says. "Patients need to do high-frequency rehab but can't drive themselves to a clinic. The solution is to get them the glove and an at-home telehealth program."

SCADpro Fund director Ray Crowell is enthusiastic: "Partnering with Chrissy and Imago exemplifies what we want to achieve: backing alumni start-ups using cutting-edge technology to make the world a better place."

As a SCAD student, Glover studied textile design and apparel design with an emphasis on wearable tech and textile-based sensors. By senior year, she was focused on assistive wearable technology for individuals with disabilities. She designed garments to help mediate the sensory environment for people with processing challenges such as autism. "I studied the clothing part of the equation first, and when I got involved in assisted wearable technology, I realized this was the kind of company I wanted to start."

When WOVNS co-founder Dena Molnar came to speak to SCAD fibers students, Glover was intrigued that Molnar's personal trajectory included Harvard Design School. After graduation, Glover decided to pursue her MDes in Technology at Harvard Graduate School of Deisgn, where she also worked as a researcher at Harvard BioDesign Lab.

Now based in Massachusetts, Glover prefers to bike to the Imago Rehab office in Arlington along the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway. "I've been an athlete most of my life. You learn a lot through sports that is applicable to work: soft skills like time management, the importance of rest, tempo, and interval days."

Chrissy competes in 2017.

At SCAD, Glover was an All-Conference runner in cross-country and a standout member of the cycling team. A native Savannahian who attended Savannah Country Day, she grew up with fellow hometown phenom Juliana Lupacchino (B.F.A., fibers, 2017), whose success she admires.

"I wanted to go to SCAD since I was little," Glover says. "I remember seeing a big purple boat they used to park outside Poetter Hall on SCAD Days, and as a little kid I'd think, Woah! Wait, so after high school you go to college? Well, I'm definitely going to SCAD!"

In February, Glover returned to SCAD in person as a judge at StartUp 2022, where she was awed by the advanced level of student projects and their potential viability in the marketplace. "You can't know everything at the start, because even you don't totally know what direction your company is going in. Surround yourself with mentors who can fill in key gaps in your knowledge and approach," she suggests.

"Everything I learned at SCAD set the foundation for what I'm doing now," Glover adds. "It feels great to continue my SCAD connection, which includes being a judge at StartUp, and having SCADpro Fund back what we're doing at Imago Rehab."

When alumnus Jon Gosier returned to SCAD Savannah in early February to be a judge at StartUp 2022, it was a homecoming over two decades in the making. It was also a moment of confluence, as the serial entrepreneur's newest venture, a fin-tech company called FilmHedge, was recently awarded backing by SCADpro Fund.

"I like to share knowledge," says Gosier (B.F.A., sequential art), "and I enjoy addressing the business challenges people face that I think I can solve."

With FilmHedge, Gosier has created a company that is both a marketplace for film investors and a database of financial information. FilmHedge allows filmmakers to use debt to finance their films, while providing investment partners with opportunities to earn passive income from media lending. "By answering questions of efficiency and trust on the investor side, we make it easier for filmmakers to gain necessary access to capital," Gosier explains.

"FilmHedge is the first time where all my passions, skills, and interests have aligned: it's finance, it's media, it's tech. One of the biggest challenges for young filmmakers is rarely do they learn the financing side. Because that's a critical piece, it sets a lot of people back. I get to remove a complex barrier that they often don't know how to solve."

"Providing SCADpro funding to FilmHedge was something we went into without hesitation," says SCADpro Fund director Ray Crowell. "What Jon previously created with companies like Audigent demonstrates how far ahead he is of the competitive media curve. The fact that he is also a deeply empathetic speaker, writer, and leader makes him a perfect fit."

Conversation with Gosier is wind-ranging and edifying. He speaks of his post-collegiate days in Atlanta working as a sound engineer for everyone from Tyler Perry to André 3000, then details the years he spent living in Kampala, Uganda, where he founded the tech consultancy known as Appfrica.

While in Africa, Gosier, a prolific blogger, received an email from tech entrepreneur Angela Benton (M.F.A., graphic design, 2007). At the time, neither Benton nor Gosier knew that the other had attended SCAD. But after Gosier moved back to Atlanta in 2017, Benton mentioned that SCADpro Fund had backed her new venture Streamlytics. Gosier's own SCADpro Fund experience was on the near event horizon. In storytelling terms, this was Jon and SCAD's callback moment.

In 1998, after graduating from Cedar Grove High School in Ellenwood, near Atlanta, Gosier enrolled at SCAD Savannah to study sequential art. "SCAD did a great job bringing leaders from the comic book industry in to review student portfolios. The artist Joe Quesada came and complimented my work while giving me honest criticism. I realized I wasn't all-in with drawing, but I knew I couldn't give up storytelling."

Fastforward to StartUp 2020, when Gosier listened to dozens of pitches from SCAD student teams for products and services that served needs in the marketplace. It was the storytelling component of those pitches that, in Gosier's estimation, proved a key differential.

"At first I thought the students had been working on these projects all year, but no—most of them were created within a couple weeks, and they'd also being doing this during midterms. Their pitches were deeply impressive, and made me reflect on my own foundational SCAD experience," Gosier says.

"I'm happy to be part of what SCADpro is doing, both for FilmHedge, and for the new generation of SCAD students. I love SCAD. The SCAD ethos of creativity has guided me throughout my life."

Photo: Bret Hartman.

"SCAD is a family, especially for students from abroad," says foundation studies professor Fatemeh Hosseini (M.A., motion media design, 2019). "Think about leaving your culture and country, not knowing what will happen. I made that decision when I came to SCAD as a student. Now when I tell students that I'm sharing the journey they're going through, it resonates."

On a rainy Friday afternoon, Hosseini is sitting upstairs in Foxy Loxy after class at Arnold Hall. As she resets her coffee cup in its saucer, she is not intentionally being gestural, but there is an inherent sense of emphasis in her action. For this artist-educator, life is not a rehearsal.

When Fatemeh came to SCAD as a graduate student in 2015, she already held a master's degree in painting from Alzahra University in Tehran, Iran; had taught drawing, painting, and sculpting classes at Moon Gallery in Karaj; and worked as a commissioned artist in municipal beautification projects in major Iranian cities including Mashhad and Tehran.

"I grew up in Iran in a supportive family of artists, where much of my drive and inspiration was formed," she says. "That life experience now helps me. I'm teaching from my heart."

"Fatemeh is an artist who is dedicated and diligent, and I admire her passion for study and eagerness for aesthetic expression," says SCAD motion media professor Minho Shin, who taught Hosseini in Motion Media Design Techniques II (MOME 206), where she created a stunning promotional film for the VGIK International Film Festival.

While pursuing her master's at SCAD, Fatemeh also earned two College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) certifications, enabling her to work as a mentor and tutor for SCAD students, and setting the stage for her joining SCAD faculty in Fall 2021.

This academic year, Professor Hosseini is teaching Drawing for Storyboarding (DRAW 206) and Storyboarding Essentials (DSGN 208). These foundation studies courses are primarily for students who will go on to major in film and television and animation—disciplines where Hosseini herself has achieved award-winning excellence.

"Being a SCAD professor is wonderful. When I am teaching, it's an ongoing conversation about film, filmmaking, storytelling, and shot design. In a class of 20 students, these are 20 individuals with 20 different ways of storytelling creating 20 different storyboards. I design my syllabus in a way that covers everything that they need to know. In every classroom session I teach, I demonstrate, I give students time to work on their assignment, and I give them feedback, one-on-one.

"In the time that I've been here, I've seen the consciousness of SCAD students grow. That's because of how hardworking the faculty is—professors helping students any way they can."

As her coffee cools, Fatemeh continues to exude warmth. "I tell my students, the purpose is not to be famous, it's to express life itself and speak of the truth. That's the true definition of happiness. Happiness is there for the artist as long as they're involved in creation, to make the world a better place."

See more at fatemehosseini.com.

View her "Blind Drawing, Bold Imagination" workshop, designed while a gradute student at SCAD. 

StartUp is a week-long design challenge, led by the SCAD user experience design club known as FLUX and supported by the SCADpro collaborative design studio. Now in its eighth year, StartUp continues to foster entrepreneurship and collaborative design thinking between students from over 30 different academic majors.

This year, close to 95 teams drawn from over 300 students are competing Feb. 4-11 for over 40K in cash prizes. Over the course of the week, students are able to interact with industry guests and alumni mentors from companies including IBM, Google, Zillow, Mailchimp, and TikTok Creative Lab.

On the ultimate day, with final judging underway, StartUp student directors Lara Felderspiel (B.F.A., user experience design) and Amadeus Cameron (B.F.A., user experience design) found time to talk. What follows is a condensed version of that conversation.

Lara Felderspiel: I directed StartUp last year with Savannah Wilkinson (B.F.A., user experience design). This year, I knew I couldn't do it alone, and Amadeus and I had worked together for an alumni app designer named Joe Kennedy (B.F.A., user experience design, 2018). I knew Amadeus would be a great partner.

Amadeus Cameron: At the time, it was a big question: "Would you be interested in being the new co-director?" It was affirming to be asked to put together this massive event.

LF: All the StartUp outreach was student-led, including deciding who we wanted as the mentors and judges. Finding sponsorship means we're able to print t-shirts and bags and offer prizes. This year our sponsors are Gulfstream and Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA).

AC: StartUp means connecting students with leading industry professionals as much as possible. These are leaders of companies, and when they get an awesome pitch from a student, they ask, "Can I see their portfolio?" We're facilitating that level of contact and potential hiring opportunities.

LF: This year's StartUp theme is "Where do we go from here?" We really wanted to dive into moments in history that impacted the whole world, and how we can build from there. When the iPhone was introduced, it changed tech, and human connection. We wanted to focus on research and applying it to the future.

AC: And we wanted students to look at their own past and ask the question, "How was I affected?" I grew up in the suburbs of Nashville, without a way to get to town, a bike was too dangerous, and sometimes I felt trapped. How can we make the suburb-to-city experience more accessible for kids?

LF: The judges listen to 12 to 15 pitches and pick one to advance to the final. Each pitch is four minutes long, plus a four-minute question and answer session with the judges.

AC: The prompt is wide-angle and open-ended, and as a result the judges are seeing so many different views of how our students work.

LF: Later this afternoon, everyone comes back together for a Zoom call, and we'll announce the finalists, and then they present in front of 500 or so people on Zoom. The judges will break out, make their decision, and we'll present first, second and third places, plus Fan Favorite, and our new MVP Award. It's exciting!

AC: Passion counts!

StartUp student directors Lara Felderspiel (left) and Amadeus Cameron.

Follow StartUp on Instagram to see the announcement of the winners!