"When you invite someone into your space, they should see the essence of your intentions," says David Colas (B.F.A., furniture design, 2012), greeting a visitor to the meticulous Colas Modern design studio. The combination workspace and marketplace proves his point: "I'm in love with order flow and how things get made. When the process is efficient, the pieces speak for themselves."

Modern Heritage is appropriately eloquent: hand-hewn furniture, stylish and timeless, the collection at the heart of Colas Modern. David and his wife founded Colas Modern in 2014 after Lara, then a local curator, displayed David's SCAD senior collection in her gallery. Today, the young parents run a burgeoning business where family is key. The Colas lineage of French master craftsmen goes back eight generations, explains David, proudly displaying a prized relic, his great-grandfather's antique wooden hand plane: "When I hold this in my hands, it's almost like a mission. I feel driven to do it, on both good and challenging days."

David Colas:

Everything with Colas Modern is concerned with wellbeing in your home. Our goal is to bring people in to see the Colas Modern marketplace because that's where you get to see our Modern Heritage collection: the bar top, the shelving units, the stools, the coffee table, that nightstand, everything is part of the collection. All the woodworking and welding, we do in-house. Potential customers can see this is being built here in Savannah and say, "Hey, this is very different than what I could get at Target!"

All our materials are locally sourced. Our wood comes from a supplier in Savannah that I've been shopping with since I was at SCAD in 2010. As a SCAD student, I would stay at Gulfstream Design Center as long and late as I wanted, working in the 3D printing and laser cutting and rapid prototyping areas. SCAD students have an incredible amount of technology at their fingertips. That Gulfstream production space has been a direct influence on how I've designed our shop and how we maintain it. Everything is cleaned and put away so that when we come in the next day, it's ready.

My journey to SCAD began when in 11th grade at Mont'Kiara International School of Kuala Lumpur (MKIS). My plan was to play basketball at a Division III college in the U.S. When my class at MKIS took a trip to Petronas Towers to see an exhibition by the artist Latiff Mohidin, it was an epiphany. A recruiter from SCAD visited MKIS, and SCAD became my first choice.

We offer Colas Modern internships for SCAD students that are about real-world practical training and providing a look at operating a small business. Lara posts the internship positions the SCAD portal for employment. One recent intern, Griffin Feeney, we saw his SCAD portfolio and could tell he made everything himself. We're looking for interns who love the building and fabricating process.

shopSCAD currently sells our Savannah Beehive cutting boards. They're fun, they're original, and have a message. The fruit boards include papaya, avocado, and pear, a nod to our favorite superfoods. The Irobo boards are inspired by my West Cote d'Ivoire heritage, with the look of the board based on African textiles.

Ours is truly a family business. If you want to get better at this trade, pay attention to details. It's extra work to maintain quality, but if you start out that way, it's not something you build towards, it's part of who you are.

Visit Colas Modern.

"Technology has advanced everyone's access to music," says Deepr founder and CEO Austin Webster (B.F.A., industrial design, 2006). "As music lovers in the streaming era, there's nothing nicer than making a music discovery that speaks to your soul."

At this nexus of exploration and curation, Webster and co-founder and COO Darrell Thompson have created a suite of Deepr products, chief among them the Deepr App, rooted in an unabashed love of music.

"The first time I met Austin and Darrell, we spent hours breaking bread and swapping stories about Muscle Shoals, Muddy Waters, and the future of music and tech," says SCADpro Fund managing director Ray Crowell. "Their passion, business hustle, and devotion to creators made it an easy choice for SCADpro Fund to invest." 

A streaming discovery tool, currently available to download for iOS and Android devices, the Deepr App coordinates with users' Apple Music, Spotify, and/or YouTube accounts, using audio recognition technology to instantly identify a song, as well as diving into advanced options including songwriting, sampling, and musician and production credits. "Our proprietary technology connects the dots between millions of songs, enabling listeners to craft personalized playlists in an instant," Webster explains.

As a high school student at Ridgeway H.S. in Memphis, Tennessee, Webster hoped someday to design sneakers like the coveted joints he saw in Kicks Magazine, leading him to pursue an industrial design degree at SCAD. He continues to view his SCAD experience as foundational to his business development.

"At SCAD I had an influential professor named Jon Kolko. I told him I was trying to get into athletic apparel, and he encouraged me to take an intro class centered on human and computer interaction. My team's project was a music startup that included a music player where a listener would interact with their device. I came out knowing how to build out a concept and create a user journey, which became two of the keys to the creation of Deepr."

As a music-obsessed youth, Webster scoured the credits in CD booklets to see artist and producer credits, building an associative database in his mind of music he figured he'd dig based on its creators: "That was my process of discovering new music, and learning what I liked." Deepr, then, is a smarter, more attuned way of discovering music than the often-homogenous algorithmic approach of other apps. "The spirit of discovery birthed our company," Webster says. "With the Deepr App, we've eliminated those pain points where you'd have to use Google or Wikipedia to learn more about an artist, album, or song."

An interview with Webster can encompass recommending new female artists like Flo Milli and Arlo Parks, or how the samples of 1970s Motown mack Willie Hutch run through the Grammy-winning anthems of Three6Mafia. It's all love, Webster explains: "Deepr is for all music. You'll find country, pop, rock, hip-hop. Our mission includes making sure creators get the respect and due that they deserve."

"In a time when music listeners have no shortage of options for accessing content, Deepr is offering a substantially more thoughtful option," says Crowell.

In late 2020, Deepr was backed by Google For Startups new Black Founders Fund. Now with the support of SCADpro Fund, financial investment is paired with developmental consultancy.

"Getting SCADpro behind us is important not only from the significant funding, but from the business acumen that Ray and SCADpro executive director Josh Lind bring to the table," says Webster, who served as mentor at StartUp 2020 and 2021, and SCAD FutureProof and Diversity in Design 2020.

"I'm grateful to SCADpro Fund for having made this investment in us, and to Ray and Josh for connecting us with all the other incredible entrepreneurs in the SCADpro family."

Banner photo: Deepr founders Austin Webster (left) and Darrell Thompson.

Jessica Ma (B.F.A., interior design, 2020) has been named Emerging Interior Designer of the Year by the International Design Awards (IDA). Her award-winning portfolio focused on helping people, companies, and venues surmount obstacles that hinder human interaction. 

"Interior design is truly a way to make substantial differences in our well-being," Ma says. "As a creator, I shape experiences and the feelings associated with them."

Born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, Ma grew up believing she would be a doctor. As a teenager, her family moved to Macau, where she attended International School of Macau. As a volunteer desk clerk at The Macau University of Science and Technology hospital, Ma saw first-hand how a building's inefficiencies and outdated design components impact the treatment and well-being of patients.

The SCAD Atlanta 2020 valedictorian lives in New Jersey, speaks Mandarin, Cantonese, and English and, in her downtime, plays classical piano.

Jessica Ma:

As a child, I was always drawing and expressing myself creatively through art. As I got older, I started making my mom take me to open houses in our neighborhood. I loved seeing how people decorated their homes. When I got into The Sims, I played it a lot. My mom should have probably understood then that I was going to become an interior designer.

Before transferring to SCAD Hong Kong in 2017, I was studying medical engineering at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. While I was doing well in my courses, I realized I had to make a change. I remember telling my parents, "I have to follow my heart. I'm going to be an artist."

At SCAD, I became a different person. I was finally able to embrace my creative spirit. Following my heart and studying interior design was the best decision I ever made.

Interior design truly is a way to help people and make substantial differences in our well-being. We are constantly indoors, and we use spaces to connect with each other hundreds of times a day, whether in an office, home, café, hotel, or other public or private space. As a creator, I shape those experiences and the feelings associated with them.

My professors at SCAD provided guidance, and gave me space and freedom to create. There were no boundaries placed on what was possible, and that allowed me explore groundbreaking ideas. Working with chair of interior design Ryan Hansen, I was able to embrace new concepts on each new space I worked on.

In my submission to the IDA, I included designs I created for The Independent Living, Inc. I began working on the concept my junior year in the class Interior Design Studio II: Specialized Interior Environments. Professor Hansen encouraged us to reimagine and design a space that would assist autistic individuals integrating more fully into society.

The project helped me realize the power of designing for specific industries. For example, healthcare providers are constantly upgrading their facilities as the needs of their patients change. Interior designers are crucial to that effort.

Interior design is a young industry. It will be crucial to our society for years to come. We need safe havens to curate relationships, create connections, and rejuvenate ourselves. I see myself as a difference maker. I wouldn't have gotten here without SCAD.

Learn more about SCAD interior design.

Late last year, the NY-based clothing designer Wiederhoeft reached out to Saif Al-Sobaihi (B.F.A., film and television, 2017) for his lighting expertise as they photographed their Spring/Summer 2021 collection. "I told them I wanted to light the set with continuous light, using LED panels," says Saif, who minored in fashion photography at SCAD. "It's much smoother to the eye than the flashing lights used on most fashion shoots, and it means I'm not interrupting the photographer or models. The light is seamless and beautiful."

In a world where intense specialization is often a precondition of desirable employment, Saif is a multi-hyphenate lighting designer, composer, athlete, writer, and award-winning cinematographer. He dodges the dangers of dilettantism by stepping towards the light. Always the light.

"When you don't have confidence as an artist, you think you have to focus on one thing," says Saif. "With confidence comes the ability to conduct your talents in many directions."

Image from Wiederhoeft SS/21 | designer: Jackson Wiederhoeft, photographer: Paul Simon, chief lighting tech: Saif Al-Sobaihi.

From Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Saif first came to the United States a decade ago to commit to an immersive ESL program in Georgia. On a day off, he went to lunch with a friend who insisted they stop by the SCAD Atlanta welcome center at 1600 Peachtree Street NW. "We went inside, and a recruitment representative approached me and handed me a catalog," Saif remembers. "I opened it and the first thing I saw was a picture of the SCAD equestrian team. I asked, ‘Where do I apply'?"

Having grown up riding, Saif was a natural fit for SCAD's national championship-winning equestrian program. As a film and television major, he collaborated on two 16mm films that incorporated his love of horses. "Hamood in America" is a wry short comedy starring Saif's younger brother Mohammed (B.F.A., fashion), while "Rider" is a mini-doc featuring SCAD equestrian captain Ryan Genn (B.F.A., equestrian studies, 2016). Both films showcase Saif's stunning sensitivity to the emotional and psychological properties of light.

"In one of my SCAD cinematography classes, [our professor] gave us a fantastic exercise. He handed us cheap, disposable cameras and said, ‘Make a scene, light it and compose it as beautifully as possible, as if you're shooting a film.' Those disposable cameras are flashy and weird and you can't see what you're shooting, but everyone in the class got incredible results. Trust your eye, love what you see, no matter the camera."

"Hamood in America" caught the attention of Steve Cossman, founder of the Brooklyn-based non-profit cinema arts organization Mono No Aware. Cossman made the film a selection at Mono No Aware XI Film Festival 2018, and invited Saif to lecture in analogue filmmaking, adding "educator" to his CV. "I teach workshops in 16 millimeter filmmaking," Saif says, "how to maintain the camera and lenses, how to edit, how to create a film from the moment you order your stocks until your film is finished, printed, and being screened."

As the conversation winds down, Saif plays some instrumental tunes he's released under his moniker TheSaif, including his new single "Freelance Angel." Cool, warm, laid-back, and thoughtful, with the bluesy R&B feel of Tom Scott's "Today," the music captures the same lambent, radiant qualities as his cinematography.

"Instead of being a single-focus artist, every artist should explore what they want," Saif says. "By exploring different disciplines, you understand how they go hand in hand. Art is more fluid now."

Still from "Hamood in America" (2017) dir. Ryan Hance, produced and photographed by Saif Al-Sobaihi.

In the time it takes to sip a cup of tea, you can learn a lot from Brandon Sadler (B.F.A., illustration, 2009). Founder of the Atlanta-based studio Rising Red Lotus, and recipient of the SCAD Distinguished Alumnus Award winner in 2019, Sadler has created work for clients including Marvel Studios, Disney, Adidas, and the Atlanta BeltLine. His art is featured prominently in the film Black Panther, and he created site-specific wall paintings and digital illustrations for the exhibition Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design, at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film. 

On Wed., Feb. 24, 2 p.m., Sadler will conduct a virtual studio visit as part of SCAD deFINE ART 2021. In advance of that event, he checked in to chat.

Brandon Sadler:

My morning routine is I listen to a record on and make tea. Today is pretty cloudy outside so I'll probably put on some Chet Baker, drink a few bowls and then go to my studio. It's pretty simple, but that's how I get my day started.

What's my origin story? I was tossed in a vat of ooze and crawled out neon-colored! Actually, I attended SCAD at the very beginning of SCAD Atlanta. I come from a graffiti background, and I loved comic books, so I studied illustration, and learned the technical aspects of how to tell a story visually. I also wanted to focus on emotional and psychological content, so I studied in the painting department as well. My SCAD experience helped define my work ethic which was important, because I'm efficient in my industry today.

Seeing the impact that Black Panther had, to see how far it reached and what it did for people, is really special. And after the film came out, I've received related commissions that have kept the story alive. I just finished a mural for Trilith Studio, which used to be called Pinewood Studios, where some of Black Panther was filmed. The mural is in a similar style to what I created for Black Panther, and they're going to dedicate it to Chadwick Boseman. To have my work commemorate him is an honor.

My working connection with Ruth Carter began when she created a clothing line for H&M. I painted a Black Panther-inspired mural for the activation and that was the first time I met her. When she decided to do the show at SCAD FASH, she put my name out there and I was contacted by Alex Sachs and Trang Vu at SCAD FASH and everything followed. I wasn't even fully aware of all the movies Ruth worked on. It blew my mind that Ruth was this person who'd been with me my whole life, because I'd been watching her work on screen. To be involved in showcasing her legacy is a big deal.

With the SCAD FASH exhibition, my objective was to bring some continuity through those pieces, and create background pieces that allow Ruth's costumes to be in the forefront. I used different motifs in my painting to reflect the time period the costume is from and when the film is set.

I have a deep abiding interest in Eastern practices. In my work I try to find ancient practices that are applicable, that are the foundations of the contemporary creations I appreciate. I try to figure out how to bring them both together so you can have something contemporary that's full of historic substance.  The ritual of tea is connected to my approach to creating art, the nature of the process. It manifests in the tea room and the tea branding projects I've worked on. I have another big tea-related project brewing right now.

Sign up here to tune in to Brandon Sadler on Guests and Gusto during SCAD deFINE ART 2021.

"We founded Q4 to change the shoe game," says Quintin Williams (B.F.A., industrial design, 2011), chief global designer at athletic and leisure apparel company Q4 Sports. "We are building something that will fundamentally revolutionize how athletes and influencers work with their brands."

Williams and co-founding business partner Aaron Sokol launched Q4 Sports in 2016. Today, SCADpro Fund has committed to providing investment backing and creative business consultancy for the young company. "Quintin is a next-level designer who understands what makes shoes desirable and functional at the highest competitive level," says Ray Crowell, SCADpro Fund managing director. "For us, partnering with Q4 means backing an entrepreneur whose business mind and values make him a pioneer in his industry."

At Q4 Sports, Williams works with athletes, influencers, and entertainers to create distinct, highly functional products that reflect the individual designer. "We cultivate true partnerships," he says. "We want to help our athletes monetize their full potential, and we are here to help them capitalize on their extraordinary talent."

Williams grew up dreaming of one day playing in the NBA. Standing at six-feet-seven-inches, it's not difficult to imagine the life-long Chicago Bulls fan gliding up down court, draining seventeen-foot jump shots, wearing his favorite pair of Q4 495 Lo SP White Streaks. "I always wanted to play. Designing sneakers was my hobby when I wasn't on the court."

As a SCAD industrial design student, Williams participated in an internship with Simple Factory Group (SFG). "Michael Mack, who was at SFG and is now a SCAD accessory design professor, helped ignite my entrepreneurial spirit," Williams explains. "He showed me that designing my own shoes was achievable if I learned the business."

In 2010, as a SCAD junior, Williams was selected to participate in the inaugural Pensole Footwear Design Academy. "I was one of twenty-three students from across the nation to work with D'Wayne Edwards, the design director of Brand Jordan, and godfather of sneaker design," Williams says.

Shortly after graduating in 2011, Williams won Power Force Apparel's Design the 'YOU' Shoe competition and took home the twenty-five-thousand-dollar cash prize. "After that competition I got offers to join all of the big brands; Nike, Adidas, Puma, New Ballance. I turned them all down to lead the design team at Power Force. I wanted the challenge of establishing something new."

Williams spent the next five years fully immersed in every aspect of the footwear design industry. "I lived in Dongguan, China for a time, meeting suppliers, learning the machinery process, researching where the materials were produced, all in the understanding that it would lead me to where I am today."

Williams and Q4 Sports currently partner with two NBA stars, E'Twaun Moore and Langston Galloway, both of the Phoenix Suns. "Working with E'Twuan and Langston has been special," Williams says. "They have design input from the colors of the shoes to the special touches to the box the shoes come in. These are their shoes, and we work hard to make sure they see themselves represented when they hit the court."

Williams is committed to building his brand from the ground up. As a Black entrepreneur in a space not traditionally rich in diversity, Williams says, "I'm thankful to SCADpro Fund for the commitment to Q4 Sports. I understand the importance of allies in this space, and the SCADpro team have been incredible."

Register here to tune in to Quintin Williams 'Guests and Gusto' happening Thursday, Feb. 18, 2 p.m. The virtual talk is free and open to the public.

You can't see Chris Fonseca boogie without smiling. The incantatory ritual of Vivian Chinasa Ezugha may make you cry out. Witness Ellice Patterson's beguiling pas de deux with an unexpected partner, and tune in to Syrus Marcus Ware's afrofuturistic transmission to ancestors. These, and other performances, are all part of VISIBILITY: A Selection of Black Deaf and Disabled Performance Artists, the amazing, ongoing online experience curated by Ikouii founder Aleatha Lindsay (M.A., arts administration, 2013).

"When I decided to curate this exhibition, I knew I had to build an assemblage of strong, unapologetically Black artists with work that celebrates the aesthetic sensibility of the Black disabled community," Lindsay says. "While each work presents a singular narrative, they all capture the ephemeral and enduring moments of the Black disabled experience. Every work within VISIBILITY explores the themes of race and disability, and importantly the intersection of the two."

VISIBILITY is free. Visit Ikouii to watch the performances. Dancer and choreographer Antoine Hunter, soul singer-songwriter Lizzie Emeh, and disabled arts pioneer Leroy F. Moore also all feature to stunning effect. Additionally, throughout the month of February, the Ikouii Instagram is home to virtual studio visits with VISIBILITY artists. Lindsay: "We want to provide a space specifically for our Black disabled artists to share and engage."

Photos of Vivian Chinasa Ezugha by Rosie Cooper are the iconic representative portraits for VISIBILITY. "These photos are from Chinasa's series Because of hair; the dichotomy of culture and identity," Lindsay explains. "Celebrating the intersection of Blackness, culture, humanity, and strength, the photos are really representative of the themes examined in VISIBILITY."

The precedent for Lindsay's work was set at SCAD. "I majored in arts administration, which is now called creative business leadership. I knew early on that I wanted to work with artists and audiences with disabilities, so I loved that my professors allowed me to structure my interests in disability arts, accessibility, and inclusion. My SCAD experience facilitated invaluable connections with arts organizations including Cobb Energy, Atlanta Celebrates Photography, and the Oglethorpe Museum of Art." Lindsay's senior thesis, a program designed for children on the Autism spectrum and their families to enjoy an art museum experience, won the SCAD Thesis Award.

Now this alumna is curating, collaborating, and connecting on another level. Check out VISIBILITY on view through March 10, 2021.

VISIBILITY is brought to you by Ikouii, the Atlanta-based organization founded by Aleatha Lindsay. 

"The heart of UX design is understanding and solving needs," says Jenn Lee (B.F.A., user experience design, 2019). "The simplicity of the task combined with the complexity of the technical process is what I love about my career."

A senior product designer at C3.ai in Redwood City, California, Lee works to facilitate small companies interfacing with artificial intelligence. She previously worked on UX projects with Google, IBM Watson, and Ford Motor Company, focusing on improvements to mobility assistance and IoT data visualization platforms. Chair of the SCAD UX design department BC Hwang praised Jenn as "one of the most promising UX designers this century."

Jenn Lee:

I grew up in the Bay area, the daughter of an engineer, surrounded by technology. At the same time, I enjoyed expressing myself through art. When I found SCAD, I knew I found a place where I could blend these disciplines together.

I took Human/Computer Interaction (IACT 315) with professor BC Hwang my sophomore year. The class was my first exposure to the full depth of the UX process. We had ten weeks to "create something humanity needs."

I worked to understand each step of the UX design process. Beginning with the initial research phase, then iterating the design, and finally creating a prototype, I did it all. Professor Hwang helped me understand how to research an idea and improve the concept, empowering me to present something I was proud of.

That's when it clicked. The work was iterative, collaborative, and incorporated hands-on design components. This was the type of career I wanted.

I participated in a SCADpro partnership with Ford Motor Company my junior year. My team researched and developed a personal voice assistant. The assistant would, over time, provide a multimodal mobility experience, unique to the individual user.

Senior year, I worked on a project for Google Maps. The team at Google asked us to reimagine the experience for 18-to-24-year-olds, specifically urban users. We conducted a lot of interviews and worked closely with the development team to get the final results. Google loved our ideas, and you can see components of our project on your phone now.

Those experiences prepared me for life after graduation. When I got to IBM, I knew how data shaped an initial idea, and how that idea needed to be tested, and tested again. SCAD taught me how to present my ideas and how to shape and tell the story of the product.

I entered the workforce with a solid foundation and transferable skills. Today, I am senior product designer at C3.ai. focused on democratizing AI. I want to empower people to do things that traditionally only very technically savvy individuals could do. I am taking complex concepts and making them more accessible for people who may not have STEM related backgrounds.

I want to make sure that I make decisions that connect my passions and aspirations. I went to SCAD to combine my interests into a career. Now that I'm living that reality, I'm determined to make a positive difference in this industry.

Visit Jenn Lee.

In 2015 SCAD, in collaboration with Google, launched the first UX design degree program at the university level. Learn more about the program here. 

Banner image: user flow storyboard created by Jenn Lee for IBM Watson, Internet of Things (IoT), 2020.

From Bryan Cranston to Cynthia Erivo to Laurence Fishburne, the 2021 SCAD aTVfest was a star-studded success. Javivia Leslie discussed her groundbreaking role as Batwoman, Jurnee Smollett shared how she uses her voice as a Time's Up activist, and Kenan Thompson reflected on being the longest active cast member in the history of Saturday Night Live.

Many of the voices behind this current golden age of television are SCAD alumni. These Bees shared insights from their burgeoning careers during panels at this year's virtual festival. Here are a few of the most memorable quotes from SCAD alumni at aTVfest.

Madison Hamburg, (B.F.A., film and television, 2014), director and executive producer, Murder on Middle Beach (HBO): "When it comes to making a documentary, the subject matter is not the most important factor. What matters most is you. What is your goal? What story are you trying to tell? How can you use your unique vision to connect with the audience? There will always be a more brutal crime, a more salacious scandal, a better researched climate change film, but there will never be another you."

Brandon Nelson, (M.F.A., visual effects, 2008; B.F.A., visual effects, 2005), VFX supervisor: "Study and master the art of photography. Everything we do is based around the concept of the moving picture. Know how shutter speeds work. Understand how to use the camera as a component of the story you are trying to tell. Television is a blend between art and science, and the better you understand both, the more seamless and immersive your work will become."

Cynthia Adarkwa, (B.F.A., dramatic writing, 2012), story editor: "The most important lesson I can give a young writer and storyteller is to embrace the re-writing process. Writers write. Then they edit. Then they write again. Your first draft is never the final draft. You can always improve, so embrace that process. The more comfortable you are in the editing stage, the better your work will be on screen."

Emily Cardone-Dennis, (M.F.A., film and television, 2014), art department coordinator and production assistant: "Continue to evolve as a creative professional. Never stop learning new skills and look to work with people that will push you to try new things. SCAD has created an environment where you can collaborate with creative individuals form numerous backgrounds. Take advantage of this opportunity and don't be afraid to explore."

Marc Casey, (B.F.A., film and television, 2009), underwater cinematographer and assistant camera operator: "Don't ever give up on your dreams. Write, direct, and shoot your own stuff early. Connect with established filmmakers and work to get on the set as early as possible. Learn something new every day, and look for opportunities to acquire new skills. Understand the importance of set etiquette and how to be a team player, while taking those opportunities to grow as an artist."

Christian Magby, (B.F.A., performing arts, 2016), actor: "Participate in as many student films at SCAD as you can. Learn how a set works in the real world. The students creating at SCAD are running their sets exactly like we do in the industry. The more you can take advantage of your time at SCAD, the better you will be prepared for your career."

Zeke Waters, (B.F.A., production design, 2019), set designer: "Television is booming right now, so take advantage of the opportunities around you. That includes your time at SCAD. Say yes to the work that presents itself to you, and collaborate as often as possible. The more well-rounded you are, the more valuable you are on set."

Angela Benton is no start-up neophyte. Her previous ventures BlackWeb2.0 and NewME garnered hosannahs from CNN, Business Insider, and Marie Claire. She enlivened Fast Company's Most Influential Women in Technology and Goldman Sachs' 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs lists. She made mind-meld business mates with influential actor Issa Rae.

Now, with her third company, Streamlytics, Benton (M.F.A., graphic design, 2007) is making an even bigger splash – this time with investment backing from SCADpro Fund.

"A lot of startups come across as versions of pre-existing services, while Streamlytics is something new," says Ray Crowell, SCADpro Fund managing director. "Making the decision to invest in Streamlytics also means committing to a more equitable internet, where users benefit from the sale of their personal data."

"Streamlytics enables users to get paid for their data," Benton explains. "We buy your data from you, clean it, enhance it, and then it gets sold to companies who can leverage it."

As more users get wise to being used by Big Tech, Streamlytics makes clear that personal data has value, and users should get paid accordingly.

"Data drives society," Benton says, "no ifs ands or buts. The problem is that our data is often exploited and our privacy violated. We see that with targeted ads and targeted misinformation that drives real-world consequences."

One benefit of her SCAD master's degree, explains Benton, "is that I'm able to conceptualize and manifest my ideas. I'm doing the design work to bring an idea to life. A lot of founders are reliant on other resources. I've been able to harness the creative education I received at SCAD to be successful in business."

That success is one of the reasons Benton was invited to Savannah in 2019 for StartUp, the annual week-long design sprint hosted by SCADFLUX and SCADpro. In a geographic twist, that was the first time Benton, a graduate of SCAD eLearning, visited the city of Savannah in person.

"Josh Lind [executive director, SCADpro] found me on LinkedIn and invited me to StartUp," Benton remembers. "I was so impressed by the students I met. We talked about their creative process, how to pitch and position your company, and how to raise funding. I was evaluating students' business plans and giving feedback, suggesting they use a certain methodology."

At StartUp, Benton and Crowell served as judges together. "Seeing Angela work with our students gave me significant insight into the type of founder and leader she is," recalls Crowell. "Having her among the portfolio of founders is an honor and significant benefit for our next generation of creative leaders in business."

As Streamlytics CEO, Benton believes SCADpro Fund may represent a new model of how institutions of higher education can promote alumni business development. "It's common for university endowments to invest in VC funds in the tech space, but what feels innovative about SCADpro Fund is that SCAD is investing directly in the alumni founders they believe in."

SCADpro Fund also functions as a creative consultancy for alumni entrepreneurs. "The education aspect of SCADpro Fund is compelling," Benton says. "I've been working with Ray on how to use creative methodology to set Streamlytics corporate strategy." The fact that SCADpro Fund is not a hands-off investment, but an engaged, ethical partner may prove to be a key to Streamlytics' success.