"I'm not reduceable to only one thing that I'm passionate about," says the irrepressible Emily Castro (B.F.A., motion media design).

A Sun Conference All-Academic forward on the SCAD women's soccer team, Castro came to Savannah from New Port Richey, Florida in 2018 as "the first person from my immediate family to go directly to college after high school." Now, one quarter shy of graduating, Castro balances her athletic leadership role with her academic course load by integrating her disciplines.

Her soccer IQ — high spatial awareness, kinesthetic perception, and interactive savvy — is manifest in her work as a motion media designer minoring in art history.

"Emily demonstrates a tremendous commitment to research, and to establishing a broad framework for questioning assumptions and addressing the challenges that arise in her work," says motion media design professor John Colette. "She's tremendous asset to our program."

"She's a remarkable individual and a great motivator," says women's soccer head coach Rebecca Gunn. "Emily is an important part of our team."

Emily Castro:

I started playing soccer when I was eight years old. By the time I was a senior at River Ridge High School, I was playing in three different leagues, including ECNL, and I was in all AP classes. Coach Gunn saw me play, and I received an offer from SCAD. I was ecstatic to have the opportunity to study art and play soccer here.

SCAD soccer has allowed me to grow so much. I've never been part of something that was so close-knit. We're a big part of each other's lives. Though the season was canceled in 2020, my junior year helped me understand my academic priorities, and it made me yearn for soccer again. Now, as a senior, I try to take the younger teammates under my wing and let them know, if something happens to you, it probably happened to me. I'm notorious for giving people gift baskets.

There is a tradition of women's soccer players studying motion media at SCAD. Gabbie Garbe (B.F.A., motion media design, 2017) even went on to work for F.C. Barcelona. When I arrived, my predecessor Mikaela Heyboer (B.F.A., graphic design, 2020) introduced me to her classmate Lauren Kittle (B.F.A., motion media design, 2020) who took me to Monty Hall for my first ProjectionFest. I hadn't taken a motion media class yet and I remember thinking, this is what I want to do.

This quarter I'm in Motion Media Projection (MOME 305) with professor John Collette. Projection mapping is experiential. You walk into it, rather than viewing it on your phone. The goal is to bring fans in and create an experience for them. Imagine being in a concert hall or stadium, and seeing moving visuals leading you where you need to go. It's also for the athletes. When you're getting ready for a game and you see your field or track come to life, you can't help but get pumped to do your best possible performance. It amplifies the grandeur.

For my senior project, I'm rebranding the graphics for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. I'll be animating the entire design package, including logo rebrands, lower thirds, and wayfinding projections. My goal is to work for a sports network like ESPN or CBS when I graduate.

Art history is also one of my passions. Studying with professor Gabriela Jasin has helped me understand why artists make choices, and why the choices I make as an artist matter. Art is a driver of the potential for social change. Soccer has the power to do so too.

Come cheer on SCAD women's soccer for Senior Day as they take on rivals Thomas University, Saturday, October 23, 2 p.m. at the SCAD Athletics Complex in Hardeeville, SC!

Famed American designer Christian Siriano's first solo museum exhibition, People Are People, honors the undisputed industry leader's electrifying contributions to fashion. Drawn from his extensive archive, the exhibition features bold creations from Siriano's decade-plus career, celebrating self-expression for every body at every age.

People Are People is on view through January 30, 2022 at the SCAD Museum of Art. The exhibition showcases over 35 sensational creations and statement-making red carpet gowns from the designer's decade-plus career. People Are People is a highlight of SCAD MOA 10th anniversary programming and festivities, celebrating the cultural impact of the university's premier contemporary art museum.

On October 22, Christian Siriano will be fêted at a gala reception at SCAD Museum of Art in attendance with celebrity supporters and loyal friends who have worn some of his most signature designs over the past decade. The People Are People reception weekend also coincides with the 24th annual SCAD Savannah Film Festival, the largest university-run film festival in the world and a distinguished stop on the awards circuit, showcasing cinematic creativity from both award-winning professionals and emerging student filmmakers. On October 23, 3 p.m, "In Conversation with Christian Siriano" will take place as both an in-person and live streaming event.

Since the launch of his eponymous luxury fashion house in New York in 2008, Siriano's star has soared. He is beloved for his statement-making looks that combine fantasy with expert craftsmanship and a bold point-of-view, endearing him to the fashion industry, celebrities, and public alike. Recognized by Time Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People of the Year 2018, Siriano has consistently been an industry-leading champion of body positivity, diversity and inclusivity, having integrated social responsibility into the ethos of the Christian Siriano brand from the very beginning.

People Are People honors Siriano's electrifying contributions to fashion design and features collection highlights of glamourous show-stopping creations worn by the world's brightest stars and style trailblazers.

"No designer understands people as well as Christian Siriano," said SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. "Celebs love his designs—Billy Porter, Amy Adams, Zendaya, and Lizzo all sing his praises. But what sets Christian apart is his belief that fashion is for everyone—and when we zip up a Siriano design, we are all stars."

In this exhibition, SCAD MOA presents extraordinary gowns and red carpet looks from the Christian Siriano archives, featuring garments worn by the world's biggest stars and luminaries including Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey; legendary divas Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, and Celine Dion; LGBTQ+ heroes Billy Porter, Laverne Cox, Michael Urie and Jonathan Van Ness; leading ladies Sarah Jessica Parker, Amy Adams, Lucy Liu, and Danielle Brooks; pop icons Janelle Monáe, Lizzo, Ariana Grande, Sia, and Cardi B; and international top models Heidi Klum, Naomi Campbell, Coco Rocha and Ashley Graham.

"It is such an unbelievable honor to follow in the footsteps of so many great designers who have exhibited their work at SCAD," Siriano said. "As a young designer it has always been my dream to create and inspire others, especially a young generation, and I truly hope this exhibit does that. This exhibition is a celebration of people in all of their beauty."

SCAD students and alumni from an array of the university's top ranked degree programs including fashion design, accessory, jewelry, film & television, fibers, and luxury fashion management will have the opportunity to view and explore these iconic designs and interact with Siriano with exclusive programming throughout the academic year.

"It is an honor to dedicate an exhibition at SCAD MOA to Christian Siriano's incredible body of work and highlight the undeniable impact he has had on the fashion industry," said Rafael Gomes, director of fashion exhibitions at SCAD and curator for People Are People. "His stunning creations are vibrant, whimsical, and combine beautiful craftsmanship with a unique point of view and upbeat positivity. We are proud to recognize Christian during this momentous year for SCAD Museum of Art."

Purchase tickets and passes to "In Person with Christian Siriano" here.

And they're off! Meet Nitro Lux, Iron Byte, and gumptious gremlin Snaxx, as they jostle and bustle up from the slippery sewers through a shimmering metropolis for the title of "Hex Limit" champion.

Following the breakout success last year of award-winning musical short "Bearly", SCAD Animation Studios revs up to present its newest film this Saturday at SCAD AnimationFest 2021. "Hex Limit" was written, developed, and realized by SCAD students in the university's top-ranked animation, dramatic writing, and sound design degree programs.

In advance of their Saturday panel, director Jordan Fleming (B.F.A., animation) and producer Dejanna Price (B.F.A., animation) reflect on how they pushed the 3D world of "Hex Limit" to the max.

Dejanna (DJ) Price: Jordan and I had previously worked together on "Bearly" though we'd only met in person a few times. Working on "Hex Limit" was really when learned about each other and our capabilities and became friends.

Jordan Fleming: Truly inseparable! When we finished "Bearly," professor Warman introduced the concept of the next film being an action comedy. During the summer of 2020, we were able to pitch several ideas, including the idea of a witch delivery service, which became a drag race, which was brainstormed into the city of "Hex Limit." We decided to combine classic fantasy characters like fairies and goblins and a cool, high-tech environment.

Price: Working on "Bearly," I learned so much from Cameron Brown (B.F.A., animation, 2021), so when we started working on "Hex Limit" I felt prepared as a producer. Of course, on "Hex Limit" we were working virtually. To keep everyone active and engaged, we used Zoom, Slack, Discord, and sent text messages — everything we could get our hands on because everyone was all over the world.

Fleming: I'm a story artist, so watching and hearing our different leads communicate and hearing how certain programs work and the coding involved was incredible. A major reason why it went so well was because all the knowledge from students who'd taken different classes in different degree programs brought us to the point of collaborating and using all those skills together.

Price: A lot of work went into making each character unique. The art director and artists built the characters' personalities, then the animators picked up on that and took it home. Starting out, we did walk cycles for the characters, like, considering the character is spunky yet elegant, how does she walk? And ultimately, there's no walking in the film!

Fleming: We had three characters competing in a race. One of our big inspirations was the classic story of “The Tortoise and the Hare.” Then it became how do we put our own twist on it.

Price: I would definitely consider the environment a character too.

Fleming: Absolutely. We kept adding different locations as we kept going deeper into the city. We knew from the get-go it was going to be a challenge, and that meant everyone working on the film had to push themselves beyond what they'd done before. Ultimately, the story of "Hex Limit" is the story of the film's creation: Have a goal and stick to it, don't let outside distractions take you from your path, and you'll accomplish your goal.

SCAD AnimationFest 2021: SCAD Animation Studios Presents 'Hex Limit'

Sat. Sept. 25, 2021, 11 a.m. ET

Get an inside look at Hex Limit, the second film from SCAD Animation Studios. In this not-so-classical broom chase, three characters race through a cyber-fantasy city to win the title of champion. SCAD chair of animation Chris Gallagher guides viewers through the film and SCAD Animation Studios, where SCAD students create and animate movies over a yearlong production cycle in collaboration with faculty and fellow students in dramatic writing, performing arts, sound design, and more — and experience real-world roles before they graduate.

For more information and tickets, visit the SCAD AnimationFest official page.

"That's a really weird duck, Bebe," says a little girl named Heba to her doting grandmother, who is reading a poem about a forgetful waterfowl raised by chickens in a henhouse. "Not so, sweetheart," her grandmother responds. "After all, we are all ducks, living like chickens."

This moment takes place in "The Ocean Duck," a new animated short produced and directed by Huda Razzak (M.F.A., animation, 2021). Inspired by a passage from Rumi's 13th century epic poem the "Masnavi," the film will be explored this week at SCAD AnimationFest 2021, during a panel featuring its creative team.

Still from "The Ocean Duck" (2021)

"I was born and raised in the U.S., aware of my Iraqi cultural heritage, and I have Persian ancestry as well," says Razzak. "I grew up in a household where the poetry of Rumi was part of life." As a young pre-med student in Texas, Razzak found herself inexorably drawn toward the arts, enrolling in SCAD eLearning before moving to Atlanta to attend SCAD in person full time, and "soaking up everything I could learn from the incredible professors and my fellow students."

"The Ocean Duck" mirrors Razzak's own relationship with her grandmother, who was a treasury of family memories before being stricken with dementia. The film slips through time, showing an older Heba at the bedside of the hospitalized matriarch.

"My daughter is actually the voice actor for Heba as a little girl," says Razzak. "I love that I was able to make this film with my daughter about my grandmother, my mom's mom, so that multiple generations of women give it its meaning."

SCAD associate chair of animation Matthew Maloney provides perspective on how the technical facilitates the artistic in Razzak's work: "I watched Huda cross from being a student and a fan of animation to being a transcendent filmmaker with ‘The Ocean Duck'. The film is transcendent because the production team had no allegiances to any one tool. It's something we talk about in class: Whichever tool creates the least obstruction between the idea in their heads and the film itself, use it. As students, they study cutting edge master controller techniques, but first and foremost, they are storytellers."

Razzak's sources of inspiration includes 16th century illuminated manuscripts, particularly regarding planar perspective and "how elements can enter from outside the border, which is a beautiful metaphor for transcending realms, levels of existence, and space and time," she says.

Still from "The Ocean Duck" (2021)

"We ended up exploring a lot of different ways to achieve the vision of the film," Razzak says, shouting out her creative team, including co-director and animation supervisor My Anh Ngô (M.F.A., animation, 2021), who Razzak met in professor Jenna Zona's digital cel animation class. "It's not a traditionally drawn 2D film. The main character Heba as well as the chickens are all rigged, while everyone else is hand-drawn. It made our process more efficient, and enabled us to finish on time."

The very fact that ‘The Ocean Duck' is deeply personal fosters its universal resonance. As Razzak says: "I wanted the film to capture the bittersweetness of losing someone, but I also wanted it to be triumphant."

Huda Razzak

SCAD AnimationFest 2021 Student Showcase Spotlight: 'The Ocean Duck'

Saturday, Sept. 25, Noon ET

Join SCAD associate chair of animation Matthew Maloney as he moderates a conversation with director and producer Huda Razzak (M.F.A., animation, 2021), lead rigging artist Denise Anger (B.F.A., animation, 2020), visual effects lead Ryen Goebel (B.F.A., animation, 2020), co-director and animation supervisor My Anh Ngo (M.F.A., animation, 2021), and composer and sound coordinator Stephanie Hamelin Tomala about the making of ‘The Ocean Duck.'

For more information and tickets, visit the official SCAD AnimationFest page.

Time to toon in! This week it's the fifth annual SCAD AnimationFest, presented in an all-virtual format September 23–25. The highly anticipated signature festival features three days of special sessions and screenings, star-studded presentations and panels, and a showcase of animation excellence in student work. The event offers global access to creative geniuses at the top of their craft in animation, visual effects, motion media design, featuring industry leaders from Nickelodeon, Fox Animation, Bento Box, Disney+, Paramount+, Stoopid Buddy, and more.

A highlight of SCAD AnimationFest will be the premiere of "Hex Limit," a standout collaborative student work from SCAD Animation Studios. The 3D animated film features a highly unusual broom chase as three characters race for the title of champion through a cyber-fantasy city. The festival includes a special session dedicated to the making of this exceptional animated short, as SCAD pushes the boundaries of animation, storytelling and visual effects. AnimationFest will also showcase SCAD student film "The Ocean Duck," available for on-demand viewing throughout the three-day event, as well as a Saturday panel featuring the film's creative team.

"SCAD is home to SCAD Animation Studios, the world's only animation studio housed at an elite university, where students write, perform, and animate 2D and 3D films," said SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. "To see SCAD's latest release 'Hex Limit' and enjoy a comprehensive look at everything SCAD offers future animators, including IMDB credits before graduation, SCAD AnimationFest is the place to be this September!"

SCADFILM is proud to present the 2021 Award of Excellence to Oscar-winning director, story artist and animator Everett Downing Jr., recognizing his transformational achievements in animation throughout his storied career. In 2019, Downing co-directed Hair Love, the Academy Award winner for Best Animated Short, and one of the most important short films of the past generation. He subsequently with Michelle and Barack Obama on We the People (Netflix), which will screen during this year's festival.

"Our festival programming celebrates the explosive growth of the animation industry and SCAD's role in preparing talent across all the disciplines that contribute to this transformative art form," said Leigh Seaman, Senior Executive Director of SCADFILM. "At SCADFILM, we illuminate the opportunities for artists in any medium to find success in the entertainment business, and animation offers opportunities galore. We look forward to welcoming guests from major studios and production companies to talk about trends and take us behind the scenes of some of this year's most anticipated animated content."

The curated programming for the festival represents the expertise and excellence of the university's top ranked degree programs from the Schools of Digital Media and Entertainment Arts. Animation has exploded in popularity in recent years, becoming one of the largest of SCAD's preeminent degree programs. The SCAD animation program is regarded globally as best-in-class for preparation in a growing field that encompasses film, television, interactive media and video games.

SCAD AnimationFest is presented by SCADFILM, the leading program for students and working professionals in animation, film and television, gaming, virtual reality, and digital arts.

Passes for AnimationFest are on sale now.

It's almost time to Escalate. The SCAD-produced fashion film, directed by Chris Anthony Hamilton, lauds historic changemakers and their legacies. Visitors can experience Escalate Oct. 13, 2021 – April 16, 2022 in the Film Salon of SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta.

The high concept film showcases student and alumni works created for the SCAD Changemakers Alumni Design Challenge. Envisioned by SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace and juried by Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter, the challenge invited exceptional alumni from the university’s top-ranked School of Fashion to design futuristic fashions evoking history-changing leaders, inspired by Carter’s iconic work for film.

Escalate features extraordinary garments by challenge finalists, giving flight to a dream-like odyssey in which vital social, cultural, and political figures of the past and present celebrate creative expression, with a vision to a more inclusive future. Garments pay tribute to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Malcolm X, David Bowie, Semiha Berksoy, Fela Kuti, Elaine Brown, and Stokely Carmichael, among others.

SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace said: “Where else but SCAD can you share your work with Academy Award-winning designer Ruth E. Carter and see your designs featured in an exclusive fashion film for the festival circuit? Alumni designers featured in Escalate testify to a powerful truth: SCAD loves and never ceases celebrating, elevating, and advancing the careers of SCAD graduates. We love our Bees, and our Bees love fashion!” 

Filmed on-site at SCAD Atlanta, Escalate demonstrates the imagination, ingenuity, and exceptional talents of students and alumni from SCAD’s globally recognized degree programs in fashion, production design, jewelry, and performing arts. Production credits highlight student and alumni talent across SCAD’s Schools of Entertainment Arts and Digital Media, with many of the film’s performers placed through the SCAD Casting Office, the only professionally run university casting office in the U.S. Vibrating with choreography by celebrated dancer T. Lang and music composed by cellist-songwriter Okorie Johnson (OkCello), Escalate also centers SCAD’s role as a performing arts incubator for the Atlanta creative community.

“Any historical figure, known or unknown, famous or lost in time, is deserving of honest research,” said Carter, who is known for her own in-depth historical research underpinning her design process. “And in that study of humanity, a person reveals their true self. From the Changemakers design challenge to the film and beyond, I am so proud of these SCAD students and alumni. The work of the SCAD community never ceases to amaze me.”

Carter is a longtime champion of SCAD and its students. Building on the designer’s engagement with the university and her personal legacy, SCAD proudly announces the establishment of the Ruth E. Carter Endowed Scholarship to be awarded to a rising star student in the School of Fashion. This endowed scholarship, made possible by Carter, exemplifies her supreme generosity to SCAD students and cements her unwavering support and inspiration for the next generation of creative leaders and changemakers.

“I feel honored and grateful to have my design, which was inspired by the formidable Justice Ginsburg, recognized by Ruth E. Carter,” said Viviane Carvahlo (B.F.A., fashion, 2016), who won the Changemakers Alumni Design Challenge with her garment interpreting the social and cultural impact of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. “It is a dream come true to now see my creation come to life in this film.”

Learn more about the Ruth E. Carter Endowed Scholarship.

For more about Escalate, visit SCADFASH.org.

On a hot and starry Tuesday night in Harlem, the show began with birdsong. Specifically, "The Birds Belong to All of Us" by Pulitzer Prize-winning sound artist Ellen Reid, its avian trills accompanying the debut collection by designer Johnathan Hayden (M.F.A., fashion, 2016). As the models walked, the clothes seemed to sing in conversation with the music.

A sleeveless mini-dress, an acrylic-domed cloche hat, a dark blue belted trench coat with golden butterfly lapel pin; together in motion, the vision of the garments cohered. "As my debut, there's a lot of emotion behind these garments, and the collection is almost a wish-you-were-here postcard," Hayden explained. Sponsored by Harlem's Fashion Row and part of New York Fashion Week 2021, the outdoor runway show represents a major moment in the SCAD alumni's burgeoning career.

2022 Collection image courtesy Johnathan Hayden.

Hayden's commitment to collaboration is a sensibility he developed at SCAD. "As a graduate student, I worked with motion graphics students to make short films that opened up a whole realm of possibility I never thought possible, where my interests in fashion and animation and user experience and my background in music all came together in one. It was a tipping point for me." (The project led Hayden to create a dress included in the "Manus x Machina" exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2016.)

Hayden's cultural fluency is indivisible from his intellectual worldview and his kaleidoscopic creativity. In conversation, he flows from a soliloquy on Stravinsky to a detailed discourse on the history of labor practices in Manhattan's garment district. He is well positioned to be an industry sensation because he's already put in the work that deserves the attention.

"I've gone through life with people putting me in boxes of how they perceive me," says the mixed-race son of a military family from a small town outside Dallas, Texas. "I've never been enough for one group. Through merit alone I've been able to get accepted." 

While still a SCAD student, Hayden interned at Badgley Mischka ("I became their first paid intern, which turned into an apprenticeship"). After graduating, he ran Parsons' design for disability education program, "and I was working retail for a sustainable brand, and making samples of my own stuff." Hayden was building relationships, being patient, knowing his moment to show his first full collection would come. This week it did.

2022 Collection image courtesy Johnathan Hayden.

"Now I'm hoping we see a large order and the beginning of a retail relationship and expanding clientele," he says. "As a practical philosophy, I only want to show one collection a year, and slow down our consumption of fashion, give the audience something to savor. We can still align with the retail calendar, but I think the future is making people excited to see what we've been working on for a full year. That gives my collaborators time to really be inspired and develop ideas as well."

He originally heard his collaborator Ellen Reid on an NPR segment about her SOUNDWALK app. Reid's "The Birds Belong to All of Us" was first composed to soundtrack The Ramble in Central Park, a place made infamous during an altercation last year between a bird watcher and a dog walker. After Reid and Hayden met, the composer created a special extended version of the piece specifically for the runway. "The context of Ellen's song is how my show opens," says Hayden. "I thought it was a really effective way to acknowledge the year we went through, and also to give it a hopeful tint."

And the birds did sing.

johnathanhayden.com

"At SCAD, we embrace collective genius and connection," said SCAD President and Founder Paula S. Wallace during this year's commencement. These aspects combined at a ceremony where President Wallace was aptly on hand to distribute popsicles to newly minted alumni.

Friday was a tad warm, Saturday nice and breezy. Both days lifted the spirits of the SCAD graduating class of 2021. Ceremonies in Savannah and Atlanta featured the in-person awarding of diplomas, as well as virtual features including a commencement address by Dan Levy. The award-winning writer, actor, director, and producer encouraged the more than 3,300 graduates to "always follow through."

"If you have an idea for something, in whatever form of the arts it is, if you have that painting that you have in mind, and it gets tricky and you are given that crossroads, 'Do I give up or do I keep going?'–always keep going," Levy said.

Keeping with SCAD's commitment to utilize the best aspects of all media, the university presented a digital commencement for all graduates, providing students and audiences around the world with a front-row seat to the momentous occasion. Following the digital ceremony, the Presentation of Degrees ceremonies took place at socially distanced, outdoor, in-person events in both Atlanta and Savannah, where faculty representatives called the names of graduates as they strode across the bespoke, radiant stage. Balloon sculptures by Jason Hackenwerth (M.F.A., painting, 2003) added to an atmosphere of well-earned fun.


After fifteen months of restrictions, the reality of togetherness brought a palpable frisson to the ceremonies. As President Wallace said: "'Once a Bee, Always A Bee'—our hive ever uplifts you!" Congratulations, SCAD Class of '21.

Revisit SCAD commencement 2021.

SCAD congratulates the Class of 2021 with digital and in-person commencement events Friday, May 28 and Saturday, May 29. The university presents a digital commencement at 9 a.m. ET on May 28 for all graduates, providing students and audiences around the world with a front-row seat to the momentous occasion. Following the digital ceremony, the Presentation of Degrees ceremonies will take place as socially distanced, outdoor, in-person events in both Atlanta and Savannah, where faculty representatives will call the names of graduates as they walk across the stage.

"SCAD Bees fly confidently into the professional world equipped with highly specialized knowledge learned at SCAD," said SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. "We honor our 2021 graduates with ceremonies in Atlanta and Savannah—joyous, SCADified celebrations of their elite SCAD degrees."

The high-energy digital commencement will include keynote speakers, outstanding graduates, and special remarks from President Wallace as she confers degrees. The event will be live-streamed via YouTube with the link to the live broadcast at scad.edu/commencement. The digital event will be emceed by actor, composer, and SCAD alumnus Christian Magby (B.F.A., performing arts, 2016).

Acclaimed writer, actor, director, and producer Dan Levy will deliver the commencement address to more than 3,300 graduates during the virtual ceremony. Levy is an Emmy Award and Golden Globe recipient for his work on one of the most beloved shows on television, Schitt's Creek, which he co-created with his father Eugene Levy.

During the digital commencement, President Wallace will present two honorary degrees to esteemed visionaries Darren Walker and Xerxes Irani. Walker is a renowned philanthropist and president of the Ford Foundation, a $14 billion international social justice philanthropy. Irani is a third-generation creative professional and currently the principal creative director leading the Amazon Design Community. Other programming will include an original poem by celebrated poet laureate of Oregon and SCAD alumnus Anis Mojgani (B.F.A., sequential art, 1999), a performance by the SCAD HoneyBees, and a compilation video of the university's 2021 Outstanding Graduates from both the SCAD Atlanta and Savannah locations. The outstanding graduates represent an array of the university's top-ranked degree programs including animation, graphic design, fashion, illustration, industrial design, and user experience (UX) design.

Following the digital Presidential Conferment of Degrees, students and their family members are invited to in-person ceremonies in both Atlanta and Savannah. In Atlanta, two in-person ceremonies will take place on May 28 at the Ameris Bank Amphitheatre; the first will be for 2021 graduates and the second ceremony will be for 2020 graduates. In Savannah, there will be four ceremonies on May 28 and May 29 at Memorial Stadium that will be designated by school.

After a virtual academic year, the combination digital and in-person events unite SCAD graduates around the globe with pomp and circumstance in celebration of their milestone achievement.

For more information, please visit SCAD Commencement 2021.

This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 14-16, SCAD Fashion hosts the annual SCAD Jewelry Trunk Show. The virtual marketplace allows collectors, aficionados, and friends of fashion to shop a stunning array of work representing diverse materials, processes, and aesthetics. Department chair Jay H. Song (M.F.A., jewelry, 2000), emphasizes makers who utilize a combination of traditional techniques with up-to-date technology, including Rhino 3D CAD software, ZBrush digital sculpture tools, and laser-welding and laser-cutting.

"SCAD jewelry students and alumni embrace unique circumstances to find innovative solutions," Song says.

Alumna Cinthya Cuba de Zabal (M.A., jewelry, 2008) is one of the 28 total students, faculty, and alumni whose work will be featured in this year's show. The Mexican-born artist and designer behind Nina Zabal LLC, Cinthya is known for the clean lines and modern shapes of her exuberantly colorful and fun jewelry made from polymer clay. While a SCAD graduate student, she was awarded First Place in Art Jewelry and Best in Show at the Southern Jewelry Travelers Association annual student design competition in Atlanta.

Nina Zabal jewelry is sold in venues including the Virginia Museum of Fine Art, Quirk Gallery, Richmond, and now at SCAD Jewelry Trunk Show 2021.



Cinthya Cuba de Zabal:

My fine art and graphic design background informs much of my work. Jewelry is a three-dimensional expression of my personal aesthetic and my love for color, shape, and pattern. My inspiration draws from art, illustration, fashion, and interior design. Every one-of-kind Nina Zabal piece is crafted in Richmond, Virginia.

Polymer clay is an amazing versatile alternative material that has been around for decades and made a more contemporary comeback in the past five-to-seven years. It cures at a very low temperature (275°F) and is produced in qualities from hobby grade to professional. My work is almost completely polymer clay, with a few metal components such as titanium or gold-filled or plated elements. 

I work in collections or series that have different vibes and styles. The patterns I create are all clay, not painted, although I see the process very much like painting with clay. 

Cynthia Cuba de Zabal, earrings, polymer clay and titanium ear posts, 1.75 x 1.25 in.

Polymer clay is a very affordable alternative material. Part of my commitment to it is to heighten its creative value regardless of its relative affordability. It is different than working with gold or silver, materials that in their raw state are valued at thousands of dollars per ounce before a jewelry artist even touches them. Polymer clay jewelry is mostly about what you can make with it and how well you can master those materials. 

There are only a few other serious polymer clay artists in the U.S., like Ford/Forlano, and Kathleen Dustin, who work tirelessly to raise the profile of polymer clay. I do my best every day to master this incredible material and to execute pieces that are flawless and exciting to wear. With my current work I've created pieces that were technically more challenging, and also exciting for people who truly love and appreciate fashion and design. 

I'm always happy to participate in the events that are part of SCAD Fashion, both when I was a masters student and now that I'm a designer and maker on my own. The SCAD community has always embraced my work, and it is a pleasure to participate in Jewelry Trunk Show 2021.

www.ninazabal.com