It was an architecture award ceremony to remember. On June 2, family, friends, and faculty gathered during a reception in the courtyard of SCAD MOA, celebrating the inaugural class of the distinguished Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) program at SCAD.

"SCAD is excited to celebrate the first graduating class of our prestigious Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure program," announced SCAD Chair of Architecture Aaron Wilner, AIA. "These trailblazing students are leaving our program as fully licensed architects and taking their place alongside elite industry professionals, poised for incredible careers. It is an extraordinary milestone, as these exceptional graduates have etched their names into SCAD's history. They embody the rigor, excellence and vision of the next generation of architectural change-makers."

Graduates Jeffrey Rose (M.Arch., 2023), Ellen Filiatreau (M.Arch.,2023), and Nicolas Barrera Castaneda (M.Arch., 2023) were honored in recognition of their successful completion of the IPAL program and distinguished achievement in the university's renowned architecture program.

IPAL is a prestigious academic track merging all three components of architectural licensure (education, experience, and examination) into the university's existing Bachelor of Fine Arts and professional Master of Architecture programs. Through the IPAL program, students achieve an architectural license in as few as seven years. Students who complete the program graduate with a professional architectural degree while completing the Architectural Experience Program, which includes all six of their professional architecture licensing exams. These steps are accomplished in parallel with the architecture degree program. Upon graduation, students will have gained real-world experience at professional firms and learned from the industry's very best.

"It has been a wonderful experience partnering with SCAD and watching their innovative IPAL program flourish," said Harry M. Falconer, Jr., Vice President of Education and Experiences at the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. "These graduates and the ones that will follow in their footsteps will leave a lasting impact on the architectural community."

All three graduate SCAD as licensed architects prepared for an impactful career in this thriving industry. Each alumnus will pursue opportunities that allow them to stretch their creativity in design, functionality, and community-centered architecture.

Barrera Castaneda, from Bogotá, Columbia, previously worked as an architectural designer at Sasaki in Boston, where he was part of the design team for the new campus of the University of Lima (Peru). SCAD valedictorian as an undergraduate in 2018, Barrera completed his master's thesis entitled "Tangible Narrative" focused on the role of materiality in architecture and its ability to enhance the architectural narrative. He now joins the design team at Brandon Haw Architecture in the position of senior architect.

Filiatreau, from Bardstown, Kentucky, came to SCAD compelled by appeal of the IPAL program, and enjoyed the flexibility of taking electives outside the architecture program. For her thesis entitled "Rural Exchange Hub: Modernizing Rural America Economies By Reimagining Existing Air Transportation" she focused on convenience and accessibility via General Aviation Airports. After graduation she will begin her career as a licensed architect at the community-centered firm Neighboring Concepts in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Rose, interned for Court Atkins Group in Bluffton, South Carolina while an undergraduate in the SCAD architecture program, and has continued to work there since. From Pooler, Georgia via Toledo, Ohio, Jeff adhered to an exacting regimen to balance work, school, and twenty-plus hours a week of exam prep. He was able to pass each of the Architect Examination Registration (ARE) exams during his first two years of graduate studies at SCAD.

Left to right: Nicholas Barrera Castaneda, Ellen Filiatreau, Jeffery Rose, and SCAD Coordinator of IPAL and Field Internships Cristina Gutierrez.

Learn more about SCAD architecture and the IPAL program.

Congratulations, SCAD class of 2023! A sumptuously successful commencement weekend thrilled the more than 3,500 graduates and their families across two tremendous days. The ceremonies on Friday, June 2 and Saturday, June 3 in Savannah, and on Friday, June 2 in Atlanta were a fitting celebration of the new graduates' collective accomplishment. Plus: confetti cannons.

SCAD Savannah Vice President Darrell Naylor-Johnson, wearing a gorgeous bowtie by Jessica Pope (B.F.A., fibers, 2005) expressed his joy in his opening remarks at the Savannah Convention Center: "During your time at SCAD, the entire world changed, but you all distinguished yourselves as focused professionals, determined to achieve your dreams of reaching this momentous occasion."

An address by President Paula Wallace emphasized the university's relationships with global companies leading to job opportunities for students and careers for alumni at Adobe, Deloitte, Delta Air Lines, Microsoft, Spotify, and many more. "SCAD Bees solve big problems with big brains and big hearts. How do you manage such extraordinary feats of invention? Is it because you believed in yourselves? Yes, absolutely. And also because others believe in you. Many of those believers are with you right now. Look around: Your classmates, friends, brothers, sisters, partners, professors, and of course, your parents."

Savannah Valedictorian Khushi Bhatt (B.F.A., immersive reality, 2023) acknowledged the tumult of recent years with a smile: "Like every graduating student in the class of 2023, my journey at SCAD has been a testament to the power of perseverance and the pursuit of excellence." Bhatt's perceptive remarks made mention of a Gujarati saying and life mantra that, as she said, "roughly translates to ‘It's alright if you miss your aim, but it's not alright to aim low to begin with.'" There was no question: Bhatt and her classmates' aim was high and true.

"Oh my goodness, this is a very good moment!" said actress, social media star and honorary degree recipient Tabitha Brown. Honorary degrees were also presented to Emmy-nominated producer Will Packer,  renowned international artist Liliana Porter, philanthropist and entrepreneur Stacey Leebern, Hyundai Hope on Wheels executive director John Guastaferro, BAFTA award-winning director and story artist Joel Crawford, and former Disney Imagineering president Robert Weis.

For loved ones who could not attend, a YouTube livestream was an opportunity to tune in. A rousing rendition by the SCAD HoneyBees of alma mater anthem "Unique, United" was, as the lyrics proclaim, a "masterpiece in motion."

At the close of an electric commencement weekend, there was tassel-flipping, ice cream, hugs and happy tears. And a lot to look forward to: 99% of SCAD Spring 2022 graduates reported being employed, pursuing further education, or both within 10 months of graduation. 

As honorary degree recipient Liliana Porter advised the graduating class: "I recommend you to be happy, understanding happiness is the highest form of rebellion."

SCAD is thrilled to present the exhibition Ellen von Unwerth: This Side of Paradise at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta. Curated by SCAD FASH creative director Rafael Gomes, This Side of Paradise presents more than 50 photographs and fashion films from celebrated photographer Ellen von Unwerth's vast editorial and artistic repertoire.

“The exuberant Ellen von Unwerth shows SCAD students how to plot a truly polymathic career as a director, photographer, author, storyteller, stylist, model, provocateur," remarked SCAD President Paula Wallace. "This Side of Paradise at SCAD FASH is already the show of the season in Atlanta, and a spectacle worth seeing up close.”

Von Unwerth is one of fashion's most sought after photographers, revered for her provocative yet poignant images that amplify bold sensuality and the joy of identity's unique fluidity — themes that have carried throughout her work for more than three decades. Inspired by von Unwerth's Paris studio, the atmospheric exhibition at SCAD FASH emulates a mischievous and raucous party through a dazzling curation of the artist's trademark images brimming with movement, decadence, and glamour. Come face to face with fashion VIPs and cultural icons as seen through von Unwerth's lens, including portraits of Beyoncé, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Janet Jackson, RuPaul, Britney Spears, Naomi Campbell, Paris Hilton, Christina Aguilera, Zoë Kravitz, Alton Mason, and others. This Side of Paradise's film component includes projections of von Unwerth's stimulating and exuberant short fashion films featuring characters played by Coco Rocha, Miley Cyrus, and Georgia May Jagger.

“I am so proud and thankful to SCAD FASH for dedicating this show to me," said Ellen von Unwerth. "This Side of Paradise is the place to be! The show reflects my vision of a society with no boundaries, of celebration, intimacy, love, friendship, fun, and glitter — even a little devil is allowed in. I hope everyone who visits enjoys this exhibition!”

Von Unwerth began her career as a model in Europe. Constrained by the rigidity demanded of models, she transitioned to a role behind the lens. Photography became the medium by which she shared her personality and artistic vision with the world. Throughout her career, von Unwerth has been celebrated for her distinct style and ability to portray electric narratives through her images and films. Her advertising campaigns for Guess, Agent Provocateur, Absolut, Chanel, Tommy Hilfiger, MAC Cosmetics, Baccarat, H&M, Dior, A.P.C., and Belvedere, among others, remain legendary. She is a longtime collaborator with the world's most revered fashion, art, and lifestyle publications including Vogue, Elle, Glamour, i-D, Interview, Numéro, Paper Magazine, Playboy, and GQ. An accomplished author, von Unwerth has published bestselling books showcasing her powerful photography including Snaps (1994), Wicked (1998), Couples (1999), Revenge (2003), and Fräulein (2009).

“Ellen von Unwerth is one of the industry's most enigmatic personalities and photographers — her style is truly one-of-a-kind, and her images and ffilms are spontaneous, playful, bold, and seductive," declared SCAD FASH creative director Rafael Gomes. "Ellen's thrilling body of work is an inspiration to so many of our SCAD students and it is an honor to present this exhilarating showcase at SCAD FASH.”

On the occasion of the exhibition, the museum hosted an exclusive reception and conversation with von Unwerth and journalist, editor, and curator Stefano Tonchi, followed by a masquerade party with an avant-garde dress code. SCAD students from the top-ranked degree programs of photography, fashion, advertising and branding, film and television, and luxury brand management were delighted by the opportunity to engage with the artist through portfolio reviews, artist talks, and other programming.

The opening of This Side of Paradise inaugurated the university's signature SCAD FASHION 2023 weekend in Atlanta, a film and runway showcase of innovative and original collections from students within SCAD's prestigious School of Fashion. Von Unwerth will be a featured guest for the weekend's festivities and the esteemed recipient of the SCAD Étoile, recognizing the artist's illustrious contributions to fashion, photography, and film.

Ellen von Unwerth: This Side of Paradise is on view at SCAD FASH Atlanta through January 8, 2024.

On May 5, Sand Arts Festival 2023 took place on a lovely day on Tybee Island's South Beach. All the competitors showed true grit, though some were sandier than others.

Hosted by the School of Foundation Studies, the annual university-wide competition featured students and alumni creating amazing Sand and Air Sculptures with major prizes at stake. Thousands of visitors came out to view the sand masterpieces during an event that was free and open to the public.

Special guest artist Rachel Hayes, renowned for her large-scale fabric work in natural environments, worked with students to create a seaside installation during the event.  

And the winners are:

SCAD Spirit: Relief #9 - $3000
Team name: Potatoes
Gracia Abadie, Melanie Massu Nino, Mariana Naranjo Farinas, Chi Quash, Mavita Sayal, Cece Shaub

Best in Show: Castle #33 - $1200
Team name: Scaddie Baddies
Rory Baxter, Alex Chilton, Lucas Kermit, Elina Singh

Sandcastle Winner: #76 - $1000
Team name: RUF
Joy Chamberlain, Kedrick Condie, Laura Diangelis, Sara Garzon Millan, Caleb Hatzidakis, Maryellen Koeninger, AJ Manby, Olivia Morgan, Madeline Phillips, Emily Sheilds, Lucy Taylor, Brooke Witzel, Josh Zapf

Sandcastle Runner-Up: #63 - $800
Team name: The Guppies
Diego Aguilar Sarnari, Felipe Bello Lugo, Tyler Conrow, Hallie Dufner, Ami Sakai Frost, Ryan Hong, Hannah Kim, Madhava Kinnicutt, Celia Merino Sanchez

Relief Winner: #17 - $1000
Team name: Sandy Dragons
Olivia Franzia, Raine Lam, Madeline Ouzts, Lindsey Rogowicz, Breonna Smarr

Relief Runner-Up: #41 - $800
Team name: Dino Dudez
Isabella Smith, Madison Stuckey

Sculpture Winner: #21 - $1000
Team name: Tusken Raiders
Ian Aquino, Emmerson Chen, Marissa Coppola, Ethan Kaminski, Kieran Panning-Miller

Sculpture Runner-Up: #20 - $800
Team name: Mochi Bandits
Crystal Baggett, Destiny Hall, Amanda Xia

Air Winner: #9 - $1000
Team name: Rango's Pals
Sage Parrish, Adelaide Lenihana

Air Runner-Up: #1 - $800
Kristen Witte

Sand Jam Winner: #43 - $500
Sydney Shaffer

Sand Jam Runner-Up: #31 - $300
Sophia Ungaro

Foundation Studies: Relief #42 - $1000
Team name: California Girls
Bobby Chastain, Sierra Ecton, Will Melvin, August Kerr

Class Project: Relief #13 - $1000
Team name: A Trip to SCAD Film
Negan Fu, Lizzie Adams, MJ Jenkins, Alyse Landry, Caroline McAlaine, Cleon Ony, Nicole Wheeler

Thanks to everyone who came out for Sand Arts 2023!

"Slow cinema exists to draw the viewer in by making them wait, expecting a pay-off that may not arrive," said professor Fatemeh Hosseini (M.A., motion media design, 2019). "This concept could be taught over twenty sessions, but today we will do it in two hours."

"Poetic Motion: Shot Design in Slow Cinema" took place on a Friday afternoon. Coffee and coconut biscuits were provided. Yet abundant curiosity was the prime motivating factor for those who attended the opt-in workshop.

As film and television majors flowed into the upstairs classroom at Arnold Hall, they were joined by students in motion media design, animation, and sequential art. Everyone was hoping for applicable tips.

Sans preamble, Hosseini screened a clip of Andrei Tarkovsky's 1975 film Mirror. "How do you feel about this scene?" she asked.


"I was captivated, because it seems comedic in the beginning, then it becomes very serious," said Alicia Horton (B.F.A., film and television).

"Oh good, I thought maybe you would say you were bored!" laughed Hosseini.

From that point, there was no turning back. A spirited discussion of structureless time, eye direction and camera movement, blocking and staging, restraint and release—Hosseini led with an artist's ardor and a technician's acumen.

Students watched scenes from Under Electric Clouds (dir. Alexy German, Jr., 2015) and Edward Yang's A Brighter Summer Day (1991). What exactly did this Taiwanese crime drama have in common with a Russian sci-fi conundrum?

"The camera moves with the characters, and you stay in the moment," observed Anna Robinson (B.F.A., sequential art).

A sense of narrative elusiveness was part of the point. Hosseini quoted screenwriter and director Paul Schrader: "If you use boredom as a device, when is it effective, and when is it simply boredom?"

This seemed contrary to notions of popular entertainment, pointed out Ponta Azarmginhaghighi (B.F.A., animation). Hosseini nodded and pressed forward: "Your creative opportunity arises when you decide how much restraint to show, and when to provide release."

Release arrived at the workshop's seventy-five-minute mark. Hosseini sprang a challenge: split into two groups, and plot and film a scene where people are separating, without the use of dialogue. "You decide what kind of separation takes place," she added.

Was the professor really asking students to incorporate novel concepts into short films to be shot in under a half-hour—and screened by the end of the workshop?

Yes. 

Students, many of whom had never met before, plunged into a flurry of focused work, filming in stairwells and by windows, followed by rapid editing sessions on laptops. Then the one-minute films were screened, like a self-contained mini-film festival. Students applauded each other's wonderful work.

"You all impress me. With no lighting, just a camera phone, you have achieved something here: an understanding of poetic motion," Hosseini said.

Special thanks to the students who attended "Poetic Motion: Shot Design in Slow Cinema":

Alicia Horton (B.F.A., film and television)
Anna Robinson (B.F.A., sequential art)
Brennan Haley (M.F.A., film and television)
Chandler Wills (B.F.A., film and television)
Dhruv Nambiar (B.F.A., sequential art)
JoJo Jin (M.A., motion media design)
Muta Fatin (B.F.A., film and television)
Ponta Azarmginhaghighi (B.F.A., animation)
Yuchan Yang (M.F.A., motion media design)


Sign up for upcoming SCAD events and view the unparalleled options.

Film editing has been called "the invisible art." During THE CUT, the names and faces behind the work take center stage, bringing the SCAD Editors Club up close.

"In every classroom, students have day-to-day concerns about their assignments, and then there are big-picture concerns, like what their studies are leading to professionally," says film and television professor Alexander Newton. "THE CUT helps demystify the process of becoming a professional, enabling our students to manifest their editing skills as a career."

The virtual networking event, this Thurs. and Fri., May 11-12, connects SCAD film and television students studying editing with alumni and industry professionals from top post-production companies.

A keynote address from industry luminaries Bill Kinder and Bobbie O’Steen, authors of Making the Cut at Pixar (Focal Press, 2022), opens proceedings on Thursday at 10 am ET. Kinder is founder of the editorial and post-production department at Pixar, while film historian O’Steen has written books including Cut to the Chase (Wiese, 2002) with legendary editor Sam O’Steen (The Graduate, Chinatown). All of THE CUT’s panels and workshops feature esteemed SCAD alumni.

"Our alumni are excited to help nurture the next generation of professional editors," explains Newton. "I’ve had the privilege of watching my former students become professional editors developing their careers, being promoted and making interesting moves professionally. THE CUT creates the very real sense of the baton being passed, and that’s a wonderful thing as we continue to grow editing as a specific discipline within our film and television program at SCAD."

The Alumni Panel (May 11, 11 am ET) will feature Isabella Herrera (M.F.A., film and television, 2021); Hannah Terry (M.F.A., film and television, 2022), associate editor, Gearbox; Jayda Cardoza (B.F.A., film and television, 2020), 2nd assistant editor, Marvel Studios; Jake McKee (B.F.A., film and television, 2016), freelance colorist; Laura Minto (B.F.A., film and television, 2015), associate editor at DreamWorks.

Isabella Herrera (M.F.A., film and television, 2021)

"I love giving back and helping out SCAD students," says Herrera, who worked on the Academy Award-nominated Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and as lead assistant editor on the Passionflix series The Secret Life of Amy Bensen. "The CUT is a way to show and share with students that they can achieve their dreams. In editorial and post-production, editors are involved in everything from documentaries to big budget franchises to social media—there’s a world of opportunity. My only wish is that they had THE CUT when I was at SCAD!"

A portfolio workshop will be led by alum Scott Boyd (B.F.A., film and television, 2019) and LooseWorld founder Dane Reiley (Impractical Jokers, How to Make it in America). All students are invited to portfolio reviews with post-production companies including Moonshine Post, Jupiter Entertainment, Scripps, Harbor Picture Company, Good Company, Magnolia Network, and 2K Games. 

THE CUT is presented by SCAD Career and Alumni Success and the SCAD Editors Club.

Learn more about THE CUT including a full schedule of events here.

Sometimes a playground only needs a lick of paint. Sometimes it gets an epic vibrant mural by an esteemed alumni artist, transforming the lives of loca students.

Hodge Elementary, pre-mural.

Last week the "Paint Our Parks" SCAD SERVE public art initiative returned with a brilliant large-scale mural enlivening the playground at Sarah Mills Hodge Elementary School on Clinch Street in Savannah.

Joe Dreher (B.A., architecture, 1993) designed the mural at Hodge Elementary. The Atlanta-based artist, architect, photographer, and poet is known for recently designing and painting beloved murals in Midtown Atlanta.

SCAD SERVE mural at Hodge Elementary.

"As murals become more accepted and desirable in public space, the opportunities for new locations have increased, and I am excited for this opportunity to paint a basketball court," said Dreher. "I am inspired by the young people of the next generation, our future problem-solvers. I want my work to be about the people and places where the murals will continue to exist after I have come and gone."

Paint Our Parks is a unique university initiative envisioned by President Paula Wallace focused on serving the citizens of Savannah and Atlanta through SCAD's talented network of students and alumni. Since the initiative launched in fall 2021, five playgrounds, basketball courts, and other recreational spaces have been painted in Atlanta.  This is the second playground mural in the Savannah area. The first was painted at Coastal Middle School in Fall 2022.

This public arts beautification project was developed in partnership with the Savannah Chatham County Public School System. SCAD contributed funds for the restoration of the elementary school playground's court surface, and towards the creation of the larger-than-life mural.

Dreher's design was inspired by Hodge students. Using a process he calls "portrait partners," Dreher leads the kids in drawing each other as he draws with them. "I use the results to generate a composition full of color and shape," he explains. "It reads like an abstraction from a distance, and up-close reveals the faces of the students. The faces are meant to be a likeness and represent more than one individual. Many of the students look and say, "That's me!" That is exactly the point."

"My hope is that the process illustrates to students and staff and parents and the community that with some intention and a little hard work and organization you can make a change that will bring more joy and excitement to their lives."

More than 100 SCAD SERVE students, faculty, and staff volunteered. Starting on April 17, volunteers contributed more than 360 hours to this project, using more than 150 gallons of special acrylic paint.

"It's amazing to have this artwork by a SCAD artist displayed in front of our school because it depicts who we are as a school community," said Hodge principal Yvette Wells. "The concept of the mural represents the faces of our student population and creates a sense of belonging."

Hodge Elementary School Principal Yvette Wells and artist Joe Dreher.

Paint Our Parks is a community-focused initiative whereby SCAD students, alumni and faculty realize shared visions of positivity, wellness and joy to uplift local neighborhoods. SCAD SERVE will continue working with local schools, civic and community leaders bringing these thrilling murals to deserving communities and neighborhoods.

Learn more about SCAD SERVE.

While the forecast called for rain, Sidewalk Arts 2023 was a shining success. On Saturday, April 22, the 42nd edition of the beloved festival—the pinnacle of SCAD Family and Alumni Weekend—made Forsyth Park the place to be. Nearly 1,000 SCAD students, alumni, and local high school students created chalk compositions in a profusion of Bee-tific inspiration.

A highlight of SCAD Family and Alumni Weekend!

"Once again, the SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival brought students, guests, and our Savannah neighbors together in a beloved celebration of the creative spirit,” said President Paula Wallace. "Our Bees chalked every color of the rainbow across the pathways of Forsyth Park. Pure exuberance, elevated and underfoot!”

Prizes were given for Best of Show, SCAD Alumni Spirit, SCAD Student Spirit, Student Individual, Student Group, Graduate Student, Alumni, and High School divisions. In addition to the chalk art, alumni artist Abigail Tankersley (B.F.A., fibers, 2022) installed a breathtaking sculpture on the west side of the park near the fountain which appeared to traverse the earth.

SCAD's elite performance ensemble The Bee Sharps and SCAD alum and American Idol winner Candice Glover delivered a rousing concert featuring songs from legends like Gladys Knight, James Brown, and Outkast.

When the rains finally came, the festival had just finished, and the judging was complete. As the chalk artworks sluiced from the squares, it was a reminder of the nature of impermanence. Except for the winners, whose names will remain in the SCAD record forever.

SCAD Student Spirit Award: Jebrulo!
Sofia Denise (B.F.A., animation)
Otavio Santos De Albuquerque (B.F.A., illustration)
Jon Fackler (B.F.A., sequential art)
Arana Vazquez (B.F.A., illustration)
Alex Volkov (B.F.A., illustration)

SCAD Alumni Spirit Award
Lexi Mangieri (B.F.A., illustration, 2019)

Best of Show
Will Penny  (M.F.A., painting, 2013; B.F.A., painting, 2008)

Graduate Student Award
Junwei Huang (M.F.A., sequential art)

SCAD Student First Place
Yilan Zhang (B.F.A., animation)

SCAD Student Runner-Up
Parker Schovanec (B.F.A., painting)

SCAD Students (group) First Place: Slayers
Katriella Britt (B.F.A., visual effects)
Charlotte O’Dell (B.F.A., production design)
Julia Paiewonsky (B.F.A., animation)

SCAD Students (group) Runner-Up: Immersive Reality Club
Jacob Alexander (B.F.A., immersive reality)
Christian Wheeler (B.F.A., immersive reality)
Andrea Castro Yaines (B.F.A., user experience design)
Kushi Dharien Bhatt (B.F.A., immersive reality)
Jesse Fazzini (B.F.A., immersive reality)

SCAD Alumni First Place
Kaitlin Westbrook (B.F.A., industrial design, 2020)

SCAD Alumni Runner-Up
Britt Spencer (professor of illustration; M.F.A., painting, 2011; B.F.A., illustration, 2005) 

High School Student Award
Catherine Bock, First Place
Maya Eurich, Second Place
Kyrin Fox, Third Place

Chalk art by first place High School Award winner Catherine Bock.

Sidewalk Arts Festival 2023 was sponsored by Savannah Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Bon Appetit, Collins Quarter, Ex Libris, Sunstates Security, First Transit, The Kicklighter Company, Yates-Astro, and Brightview Landscaping. Read the event coverage in Connect Savannah, and review the full gallery of winners. See you next year!

"It was my dream since I was four to become a fashion designer, but I never knew how to do it," said Anna Sui, sitting beneath the Women of Vision bas-reliefs on the Arnold Hall stage. "My whole childhood I was looking for the magic key."

Sui herself provided the magic key to SCADstyle 2023. In conversation with SSENSE digital content chief Steff Yotka, the beloved designer recounted a career that has transformed American fashion. As Yotka said of Sui's work: "Every design awakes the simple joy of dressing and elevates it to pure magic."

The event teemed with exuberant students from degree programs including fashion, fibers, business of beauty and fragrance, and fashion marketing and management. The star was funny, funky, and unaffected, as Yotka talked her through a scintillating slideshow dating back Sui's first runway show.

"It was 1991, the height of these huge corporate designers, and I thought how am I going to compete?" said Sui. "But that summer, I noticed a lot of models were asking me to take them to the flea market and buying vintage tops. They were wearing jeans, whereas a few months before that, they would show up to every party and every dinner head-to-toe in Chanel or Versace. I thought maybe it's my time, maybe I can do this."

Inspired by patent leather, white tights, and Sixties-style Carnaby Street caps, Sui's first runway show captured the mood of grunge and "that great Smashing Pumpkins video where they're wearing vintage dresses on the ice cream truck."

Anna Sui (left) conducts class visit critiques during SCADstyle 2023

Reminiscing about her flagship Manhattan store on Greene Street in Soho, Sui said, "We painted the walls ourselves, my favorite color lavender. It was all do-it-yourself. The store was my heart."

Yotka described the Anna Sui store as a place where "you could learn not only about fashion through Anna's collection, but you could learn about culture and the connected art of being cool."

Since her debut, Sui has produced 84 collections, and grown her label to include cosmetics, accessories, and fragrances. As she said: "Just ‘cause my name's on the label, I'm not the only one responsible."

She praised her photographer friend Steven Meisel's advice on models, and sound designer Frédéric Sanchez's suggestions on integrating classical music into her rock'n'roll palette. "Always have a story to tell. My job is to transport the audience on the same journey that I'm trying to express."

And oh, those clothes: There were baby doll and tiara looks based on party dresses her mother once made her. Handbags inspired by cake frosting. Marabou stoles and Johnny Rotten sweaters. "I wanted [my version of] punk to feel optimistic, so instead of black we used silver and white," Sui said.

The conversation swelled with references to notable names who have modeled for Sui, from Linda Evangelista to Gigi Hadid. Finally, Yotka asked: "Do you have a favorite person who's ever worn your collection?" Sui: "I think my mom."

At the event's end, students created a line stretching well out of the theater to get their books signed. Sui took the time to speak with and write a personalized inscription to each. It was truly SCADstyle magic.

Thank you, Anna Sui!

"Design can't be at the sidelines anymore, it has to be integrated into business solutions," said Feifei Sun (B.F.A., advertising, 2008), igniting a conversational thread during Hive Mind: SCAD Grads Creating Buzz at SCADstyle on Tuesday.

Hosted by professor of business of beauty and fragrance Wendy Ogden (B.F.A., graphic design, 1994), the event brought Sun and fellow alumni Meghan Preiss B.F.A., industrial design, 2017; B.F.A., service design, 2017) and Hannah Harris (B.F.A., business of beauty and fragrance, 2022) back to SCAD to discuss their creative careers.

"It's incredible to see the growing resources that students have access to," remarked Preiss, mentioning both SCADamp and the new XR stage/LED volume. The motto "Once a Bee, always a Bee" took on renewed resonance in the SCAD MOA Theater as the alumni shared their experiences.

Sun, who works as executive editor of brand communications at McKinsey & Company, said: "I studied advertising at SCAD, and one of the most impactful things was how many real-world projects we got to experience. Senior year we participated in a contest to create a campaign for Coke that was judged by Coke executives—and we won. When I got into the real world, that engagement with companies while I was at SCAD proved immediately applicable."

"I got my first internship from SCADstyle," said Harris, the visionary creator of Brown Girls Hands, and currently brand marketing coordinator at Summer Fridays. "Freshman year, I interviewed one of the guests [Stacie Brockman of Métier Creative] for SCAD Manor. She was hiring interns and I got to go to New York for the summer and I ended up interning with one of their clients, MERIT Beauty. I've found one opportunity always leads to the next."

Guided by Ogden, the panel touched on topics including sustainability at the corporate level, the enduring relevance of Photoshop, and the meaning of an Instagram "nail budget." All three alumni seemed to wear their successes lightly, yet each revealed how they have reassessed their personality types (the words "extremely shy" and "total alpha" were used) to grow in the professional world. This relatability enhanced the panel's power.

Preiss, manager of CX integration design strategy, Delta Air Lines, encouraged students to realize "our superpower as designers": "Think about all the workshops and ideation you do where people disagree, and how you bring them all together. Having that superpower maybe doesn't feel important while you're in art school where everybody has it, but when you go into the business world and get a finance [person], a policy[maker] and an engineer to align on a sustainability issue, you are a hero."

"If you can translate creativity into their language, that helps a lot," agreed Harris.

As Sun said: "One real value of being at SCAD is learning how to think and solve problems, because that's where versatility comes from."

As the rapt capacity audience — including President Paula Wallace — applauded in agreement, everyone felt inspired to keep on stylin'.