Beauty is often associated with polished metal, luminous stones, and flawless surfaces. Soa Kim (B.F.A. jewelry) finds it in transformation — and the traces time leaves behind.
 
"My senior collection views life and death as a continuous flow and a quiet form of beauty," Kim says. "People often perceive death, decay, and dissolution negatively. I want to understand them not as separate concepts, but as parts of a connected process."
 
For Traces of Life, she reimagines a poetic cycle expressed through skeletal structures, shifting silhouettes, and surfaces shaped by time. Kim defined a clear evolution from the early stages of the collection material research into final form, pairing keywords like erosion, stillness, renewal, silence, and rebirth with imagery of fractured surfaces and deep crimson stones.
 
"I focused on structures that appear eroded or growing, allowing the form itself to suggest a process of change," she explains.

Soa Kim's "Traces of Life" collection | Photography by Lexi Moore

What makes Traces of Life especially compelling is the rigor of Kim's making process. The collection moves through a highly refined technical workflow that includes wax carving, Rhino modeling, 3D printing, spruing, casting, polishing, and hand fabrication, allowing concept and craftsmanship to evolve in tandem. Kim translated fluid, organic sketches into structural prototypes, resin prints, cast forms, and eventually polished metal pieces.
 
The ear cuff, bracelet, and earrings all echo branching, bone-like frameworks that seem to grow across the body rather than rest upon it. Ruby, garnet, and Swarovski crystals, with select gemstones donated by David Yurman, emerge like living cores within darkened silver structures, creating a striking tension between fragility and permanence. The contrast between matte black oxidation and polished silver gives each piece a sense of movement, between disappearance and renewal.

The ear cuff is one of the collection's most sculptural statements, carefully balancing expressive structure with wearability. Its asymmetrical branching form follows the line of the ear with an almost anatomical precision, while suspended gemstone details introduce movement and a pulse of color.

"It represents both a technical challenge and a point where my concept became clearer," she says.

Soa Kim's "Traces of Life" collection | Photography by Lexi Moore

Alongside her studies at SCAD, Kim completed internships with Seoul-based brands LEWKIN and Nonnon, where she gained experience across accessories, branding, and product development. Coursework, critique, and experimentation helped shape her design voice, while interviews with Swatch and TAG Heuer reinforced the value of initiative, preparation, and timing. "Opportunities are created when you move toward them and challenge yourself," she says.
 
Kim hopes to pursue a career in fine and luxury jewelry design. If Traces of Life is any indication, her work reflects qualities that align with the language of modern luxury: intellectually rich, technically rigorous, and in forms that stay with us long after first glance.
 
"I see jewelry as something that forms a direct relationship with the body. Jewelry is only fully realized when it is worn."

Connect with Soa Kim on LinkedIn.

See work for purchase at the SCAD Jewelry Trunk Show this Thursday and Friday, May 14-15 in Poetter Hall.

Two hundred and seventy-one years after George Washington led his redcoats through the soggy outskirts of Ohio, illustration professor Mike Wimmer is sitting on a sunny Sunday in Haymans Hall, Savannah. A stunning painting leans against his desk.

"This shows a young Washington in the French and Indian War, a war that he may have started," Wimmer says, nodding at his canvas depicting the future first President leading on horseback. "The real focus of the painting is the men slogging through the mud. Ken Burns described them as third sons and prisoners and slaves hoping to gain their freedom, landless men. All for a hope."  

Originally painted by Wimmer for George (Simon & Schuster, 2012), a book coauthored with former Oklahoma governor Frank Keating, “Colonel Washington Pushing His Men Through the Rain During the French and Indian War” is featured along with another Wimmer painting, “General Washington Watching the Siege of Yorktown” in the new PBS documentary series, The American Revolution.

"It’s an honor to have my artwork included in a project of this significance and to contribute to this powerful exploration of America’s founding story," Wimmer says. The six-part, 12-hour series by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt is now streaming on PBS.org and the PBS app.

Mike Wimmer, “Colonel Washington Pushing His Men Through the Rain During the French and Indian War.”

2012, oil on canvas.

Mike Wimmer:

As a painter, I'm a realist. I want to communicate with people in a common language. I want to speak to the masses. One of my heroes, Howard Pyle (1853-1911), who's known as the godfather of illustration, said, "If I can't feel the calluses on the hands of my subject, I'm not doing my job right." I try to put myself in the position of the people I'm painting.

The British looked down upon the American militia, like they're not real soldiers, they're citizen soldiers, cannon fodder. I want you to see the action and the line of movement of Washington and his men. They're moving in the same direction with fierce determination. It's like you can hear the mud and feel the rain as they pull the cannon through the muck.

Everything in the paintings is as historically accurate as possible. I was in the early sketching stages and I bought a number of uniforms and a Brown Bess musket, that's how I know what that looks like. And it does help to go where it happened. I went to Fort Loudoun, Tennessee, for Fort Loudoun Day when all these reenactors come. I was there to take pictures and make sketches. They shoot the cannon off and I say, "Can you do it again?" [laughs]

 Mike Wimmer, "General Washington Watching the Siege of Yorktown," 2012, oil on canvas.

The Battle of Yorktown painting shows them pitching their lines, moving their trenches closer and closer. These redouts were made of woven baskets full of stone. They're bombing Yorktown into submission. The French have Chesapeake Bay closed up so the British can't leave and eventually have to surrender. Cornwallis can't believe this rabble did it!

Ken Burns and his team wanted to use these two paintings of mine because of the way they depict George Washington as a narrative character. The painting of Washington at Yorktown, when they were wrapping up the Revolutionary War, is now part of the Mount Vernon permanent collection.

I love the way they used the paintings in the documentary, adding sound effects, lingering on details and on the faces of the men. As Ken Burns says, "It's not my place to judge a whether person is good or bad. That's for history to do." And that's what I'm doing with my paintings: reporting history.

Muskogee, Oklahoma native Mike Wimmer has taught at SCAD since 2017.

Wimmer's paintings will also feature in the new season of the Paramount Plus hit TV show Tulsa Kings.

Visit him at mikewimmer.com.

"To receive an honor that carries André Leon Talley's name, his presence, his light, is something I'll never take lightly," said Pharrell Williams from the stage of SCADShow in Atlanta. "SCAD meant so much to André, and this is a place that not only celebrates creativity but protects it, and it teaches artists to build careers from imagination. That makes this moment even more meaningful to me."
 
It was an epic evening covered by everyone from Vogue to Vibe, as SCAD unveiled André Leon Talley: Style Is Forever at SCAD FASH, the landmark exhibition celebrating the life and achievements of André Leon Talley, the visionary creative director, style legend, and beloved friend of the university. Events included a preview reception for museum members and the presentation of the André Leon Talley Award to Pharrell in recognition of his impact on the global fashion industry.
 
"André! The name conjures a man of wonder, wisdom, glamour, influence, and the warmth of a sun that burns brightly and will for the ages. With a caftan as his cape and words as his wand, André Leon Talley reigned as fashion's most winsome oracle, a beloved cultural titan, cherished friend, and mentor to SCAD Bees across the world," said SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. "This landmark exhibition, along with a book of the same name by SCAD University Press, unveils André's private collection, a sartorial sanctuary he called his ‘armor' and his ‘tabernacle.' André dearly wanted these personal objects and artifacts to live on at SCAD in perpetuity, benefiting students and lovers of all things beautiful."
 
Made possible by Talley's extraordinary bequest of personal garments, accessories, photographs, and ephemera to the SCAD Permanent Collection, the exhibition honors the 10th anniversary of SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film, an institution deeply influenced and shaped by Talley, who played a vital role in its establishment.
 
Curated by Rafael Brauer Gomes, creative director of SCAD FASH museums, André Leon Talley: Style Is Forever presents an evocative collection of couture and bespoke pieces from Talley's personal wardrobe — each reflecting the artistry and vision of celebrated designers such as Tom Ford for Gucci, Miuccia Prada, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Gianni Versace, Nicolas Ghesquière for Balenciaga, John Galliano for Dior, Chado Ralph Rucci, Ricardo Tisci for Givenchy, and Isabel Toledo
 
"André Leon Talley didn't just shape fashion, he shaped people," said Gomes. "His legacy endures in garments and publications and in the lives he uplifted, the voices he amplified, and the doors he held open for others. This exhibition is our love letter to a legend who carved a place in history with style and conviction."
 
For more than two decades, Talley was a generous steward of SCAD and a passionate mentor to SCAD students from every academic discipline. With President Wallace, Talley was pivotal in establishing the university's fashion exhibitions program, lending his vision to acclaimed shows that strengthened the university's influence on design curation and education within global culture. Talley's enthusiasm for the university led to his longtime service on the SCAD Board of Trustees (2002–2014). He delivered the SCAD Commencement address in 2008, receiving an honorary doctorate of humane letters and becoming the first recipient of the SCAD Lifetime Achievement Award in Fashion, an accolade now known as the André Leon Talley Award.
 
André Leon Talley: Style Is Forever is on view at the SCAD Museum of Art in Savannah through Jan. 11, 2026, and at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta, Oct. 15, 2025–March 1, 2026. An accompanying exhibition catalogue, published by SCAD University Press and Rizzoli Electa, offers a further exploration of Talley's legacy.

Stylin': President Wallace and Pharrell Williams celebrate ALT at SCAD FASH.

For more information, visit scadfash.org.

Ready to get good and scared? SCADFILM in Atlanta presents IN FOCUS: Horror on Friday, October 10. The one-day-only scare-scraper spotlights the popularity of horror in television, film, and streaming. All events to be held at SCADshow, the university's state-of-the-art theater complex in Midtown Atlanta, leading up to and including an exclusive, chilling screening of Black Phone 2, with star Arianna Rivas in attendace.
 
'Paired perfectly with the spooky season, SCADFILM presents an incredible line-up of sessions featuring top talent from the best in horror entertainment," says SCADFILM diredcor Mollie Brock, director of SCADFILM. 'Audiences will get to see an exclusive clip from the new HBO show It: Welcome to Derry and watch an advance screening of Black Phone 2!"
 
For nearly a century, imaginative tales of terror and the supernatural have kept viewers on the edge of their theater seats, foisting their iconic villains on eager audiences and into pop culture legend. SCADFILM In Focus: Horror welcomes the spooky and scary to SCADshow for a thrilling one-day celebration of fear, suspense, and the art of horror storytelling.

As part of the dynamic SCADFILM In Focus series, the event will bring creators, industry experts, and fans together for a full day of curated panel discussions, exclusive screenings, and behind-the-scenes insights into this beloved medium. Whether you're drawn to psychological thrillers, jump scares, or boundary-pushing horror cinema and gaming, SCADFILM In Focus: Horror promises a deep dive into the genre's most chilling and innovative techniques.

Programming includes:

Terror by Design: Crafting HBO's It: Welcome to Derry, 2:00 p.m. Main Stage: Step behind the red balloons and into the creative heart of HBO's highly anticipated series It: Welcome to Derry, a chilling prequel to Stephen King's It. Join key artisans from the costume, prosthetic design, and visual effects teams as they reveal how they brought the unsettling world of Derry, Maine, to life. From haunting set pieces to Pennywise-inspired details, discover how these masters of atmosphere build tension and terror long before the cameras roll. Luis Sequeira, costume designer and Sean Sansom, prosthetic makeup effects designer and supervisor will be in conversation with Daryl Sawchuk, VFX supervisor.
 
Crafting Terror: The Art of Modern Horror Storytelling, 5:00 p.m., Main Stage: Join leading writers and directors for an in-conversation on the craft of modern horror. From shaping chilling stories to bringing unforgettable characters to life, these creative voices reveal how they build fear, tension, and atmosphere on screen—and why the genre continues to thrill audiences around the world.
 
Black Phone 2 Premiere with Special Guest Arianna Rivas, 7:00 p.m., Main Stage: The chilling sequel to the Saturn Award-winning The Black Phone is here. Co-written by Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill and directed by Derrickson, the sequel follows siblings Finn and Gwen as they confront the vengeful spirit of the Grabber and uncover a dark family connection. Featuring Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Ethan Hawke, Demián Bichir, Black Phone 2 deepens the eerie mythology of the 2022 horror phenomenon with new twists, relentless suspense, and a sense of dread that lingers long after the credits roll. Stick around after the film for a special conversation with actor Arianna Rivas.

Tickets are free for SCAD students, faculty, alumni and staff, and $10 for the general public.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit SCADshow.

"I'm fascinated by the light in between the trees," artist Michi Meko said from the stage of the SCAD Museum of Art. "That light is where I find inspiration."

To enter Meko's new SCAD MOA exhibition, So Black and So Blue, gallery-goers walk into a light that at first seems like darkness, through freighted wrought iron gates, into the cool interior of the gallery. There, his paintings project astonishing, pelagic power.

"For me, the entryway creates space for the viewers," Meko explained during his packed-house artist talk with chief curator Dr. Daniel S. Palmer.  "I was thinking about the Door of No Return in Ghana, where they took the ancestors. This museum space creates a point of return, a moment of calm. It's not the start of an arduous journey. I'm instantly trying to put you at peace."

Black thought: entering Meko's show. Photo: Apollo Hamwey.

Alabama-born, Atlanta-based Meko is a former/forever graffiti writer known for activating spray paint and found objects to create layered compositions. For So Black and So Blue, the recipient of the Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant drew inspiration from Louis Armstrong's jazz classic “(What Did I Do to Be So) Black and Blue,” author Imani Perry’s vivid 2025 book Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People, and the late great Wu-Tang rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard ("there's no father to his style").

"I try to push my paint. If there is a mark that needs to be made, I just make the mark," Meko said.

To be sure, the paintings are big. Their grandeur suits their gilded frames. What's extraordinary is the amount of light contained within the darkness of the gallery, and the darker tones of the paint itself.

"These colors relate to Black culture and they always existed within Black culture and we did not know or self-consciously we did," Meko said. "I grew up in a bedroom that was this baby blue. Think about your Southern porch, the haint blue painted on top comes out of African culture. So, I set restrictions upon myself and within those restrictions, that confinement, it forces you to understand your palette."

The energy from the artist talk came from Meko and Palmer's exchange of ideas, and it came from the painting and art history and graphic design students who filled the auditorium and who challenged Meko with questions about selling out and the symbolism of fishing. The artist basked: "I can still take that rebel punk rock side of myself and put it in a museum. I'm bombing the wall. This is my way to smudge Savannah."

Michi came across like a loosey goosey dude in a monster truck tee, flipped-brim cap and Vans with no socks. But make no mistake: this is a vital artist who has worked hard to become, as Palmer put it, "a leading voice in contemporary painting."

As he walked off the SCAD MOA stage, Meko slowed and emphatically turned toward the students. He addressed them directly: "Please take advantage of your professors. Please take advantage of your facilities. Please miss the biggest party of the year to go to your studio. The way that you work now will determine the way that you work as a professional. Please work on your discipline now."

Michi Meko, So Black and So Blue, on view through Jan. 4, 2026.

SCAD is proud to announce the introduction of a new Bachelor of Design in Applied AI to the university's robust program offerings for the 2025–26 academic year. This new degree is designed for students to gain the skills to imagine, prototype, and direct how AI functions — and how people interact with AI.
 
Applied AI coursework spans interaction design, computational thinking, storytelling, and systems modeling, all essential for working with agentic technologies in creative industries. As part of real-world partnerships and professional studio work, students in the degree program craft intuitive experiences, shape and choreograph machine behavior, and design with intent.
 
"Since 1978, SCAD has consistently adopted technologies to ensure students have the tools necessary to launch their creative professions," said SCAD chief academic officer Jason Fox. "AI, an invention that augments and amplifies human productivity, is the next chapter in SCAD's legacy of curricular innovation. Our programs will continue to evolve, ensuring SCAD students are prepared with the advanced knowledge and skills necessary for the future of their creative fields."

To expand access to this rapidly evolving field, SCAD will also offer a minor in Applied AI, available to all students across majors — equipping creative professionals in every discipline with the tools to integrate intelligent systems into their future careers.
 
"AI workflow is evolving at a tremendous speed, and it is imperative that all of our students are ready to employ these groundbreaking tools to enhance, not replace, their creative talent and succeed in their future careers," said SuAnne Fu, Dean, SCAD School of Creative Technology.
  
SCAD's unmatched creative ecosystem empow- ers students across disciplines — including architecture, advertising, fashion, user expe- rience (UX) design, animation, and more — to design intelligent, human-centered systems that fuse innovation with cultural insight and AI with imagination.
 
Potential professions this degree program will prepare students for include:
•      AI product developer
•      Real-time content developer
•      Autonomous agent designer
•      AI design strategist
•      Machine behavior designer
•      Creative technologist
•      Conversational interface designer
•      AI story engineer
•      Ethical design strategist
•      AI systems designer

SCAD is a global leader in creative AI education, hosting annual summits that bring together top voices and powerhouses in business, entertainment, design, and tech, including Google, Meta, Adobe, Deloitte, Maison Meta, ServiceNow, Gensler, NVIDIA, and Netflix. These events offer SCAD students a front-row seat to explore emergent trends and the future of intelligent systems, connecting them directly with major employers in the AI space who are pioneering what's next. The 2026 SCADask AI Summit will be hosted in January at SCAD Atlanta.
 
In addition to hosting the annual AI Summit, SCADask — the university's applied research arm at the intersection of commerce, creativity, and culture — publishes the AI Insights report. Now in its second year, SCAD AI Insights 2025 captures the latest applications of AI in creative practice and design education, highlighting insights from industry leaders, SCAD faculty, and student projects. The report emphasizes that meaningful design in the age of AI depends on cultivating timeless creative fundamentals — curiosity, critical thinking, empathy, and taste — which enable designers to guide and elevate AI rather than be led by it. Learn more about the new Applied AI degree program.

This image began with an illustration by SCAD associate chair of architecture Mike Hill, which was then recreated in Adobe Illustrator. ChatGPT generated the prompt for image creation in Adobe Firefly.

On a sweltering evening in July, a group of students gathered in Daffin Park on bicycles, ready for a seven-mile southbound pedal of the Truman Linear Trail to Lake Mayer. "Remember, this is a multi-use trail, not a bicycle superhighway," said architecture professor Ryan Madson. "It's intended for all mobilities, open to everyone."

Roll call: SCAD SERVE students pedal Savannah's Truman Linear Trail.

The ride was a form of research, and the righteous rollout for a SCAD SERVE summer course. Eleven students from degree programs including architecture, interior design, graphic design, and illustration collaborated to create a package of signage honoring local Savannah history and optimizing the experience of the Tide to Town Trail. "What we're doing is real, not theoretical, and our emphasis is on using design for good," said Paiten Prescott (B.F.A., graphic design).

Weeks of research and ideation produced diagrammatic vector sketches and designs for pole wraps. There were discussions of how CNC-cut metal signs could affix to preexisting stanchions, and the potential for a mural beside Tapley's Antique Mall on Waters Ave. "More than designing signs, we are connecting a community corridor," pointed out Olivia Jurado (B.F.A., architecture).

Signs of the times: Professor Ryan Madson (left) with students Ethan Davis, Paiten Prescott, and Suksheetha Adulla.

At a mid-quarter meeting in Deloitte Foundry, students engaged with city reps including 4th District Alderman Nick Palumbo. "Our wayfinding packages are inspired by the Colors of Savannah by Sherwin-Williams, a SCADpro project," explained Ethan Davis (M.Arch). The alderman lit up when he saw how the 125-plus-year history of Montgomery Crossroads would be integrated into the signage. "You have captured what the Southside has been trying to say for a generation," Palumbo said.

Five weeks flew by. Summer began its slow fade. The group convened in Deloitte for a final presentation to local luminaries. Megan Rigsby (B.F.A., interior design) began: "Our focus this summer was on trailhead design, a wayfinding package, historical research, and overall branding for the Tide to Town initiative. Safety, connection, community — this is what Tide to Town is all about, and Montgomery Crossroads is an important link in this initiative."

Talk of the town: Megan Rigsby get the final presentation rolling.

The presentation focused on case study locals Henry, Taylor, and the Nguyen family, who all had different yet connected reasons to be on the trail. It was a masterclass in concision and storytelling.

Savannah-Chatham County Public School System Board of Education member Denise Grabowski observed, "Thirty of our schools are within a quarter to a half mile of the trail. What you've done here is give so many young people, families, and citizens of all ages a reason to get out onto the trail, and to enjoy being there."

What began on that first evening bike ride to Lake Mayer had succeeded. As City of Savannah transportation coordinator Harold Taylor said: "This is the future of Savannah."

School's in: Savannah-Chatham County Public School Board President Roger Moss discusses wayfinding with Suksheetha Adulla and Khue Tran.

Special thanks to everyone who attended the final presentation and those who offered advice and encouragement along the way. And to the superb students who took part in Design For Good 560: SCAD SERVE x TIDE TO TOWN SAVANNAH 2025:
 
Suksheetha Adulla (M.Arch)
Ethan Davis (M.Arch)
Sophia Haggerty (B.F.A. interior design)
Emily Hoedl (B.F.A. architecture)
Olivia Jurado (B.F.A. architecture)
Katie Luck (B.F.A. interior design)
Aranza Perez Ares Salas (B.F.A. interior design)
Paiten Prescott (B.F.A. graphic design)
Megan Rigsby (B.F.A. interior design)
Valeria Torres Parada (B.F.A. interior design)
Khue Tran (B.F.A. illustration)

"I aim to lift artists up," says Mark Biletnikoff (M.A., creative business leadership, 2014; M.A., preservation design, 2020). "Where there's a creative spark, that's my focus, and that means empowering people regardless of their status or fame."

Speaking with the painter, curator, and community organizer is a master class unto itself. Biletnikoff flows from discussing a ten-foot curvilinear abstract canvas he's just completed to reframing the popular notion of work-life balance as his own personal "work-art balance."

Currently, the Louisiana native is curating an open call for a show at the Manship Theatre at the Shaw Center for the Arts in Baton Rouge in 2026. Called One Light, the exhibition embraces artists across all disciplines and backgrounds, emphasizing an authentic definition of what inclusivity truly means.
 
Mark Biletnikoff:

"I live in Baton Rouge, where I run an artist studio complex called N the Art Space. In May, we celebrated 20 years for the space. For me, the dynamic of curating different people's artworks and seeing their evolution has led me to this portion of my journey. Providing support and encouragement are always major factors in what I do.

Recently, the Mall of Louisiana had an open storefront. It was a Forever 21 that had just closed. A massive two-level store with tons of windows, and instead of blacking it out or putting up advertising, they called me, asking 'Any chance you can fill this with art?' A week later I have 14 artists showing their work there, across all different types of media, including a tattoo artist. That's the kind of thing that makes me feel alive.

I studied painting at Southeastern Louisiana University, and after I finished undergrad, I knew I wanted to earn a master's degree at a high-caliber school where I'd make a difference. I chose to study arts administration at SCAD because, at the time, I was in the process of founding a state-run Cultural District here in Baton Rouge, which offers tax breaks and incentives for artists, and networking and educational opportunities. It fit perfectly.

Eventually, through SCADnow online, I earned my second master's degree, in preservation design. I tied my two SCAD degrees in with what I've done here in Baton Rouge over the past 20 years. Everything is coming together now as One Light.

One Light aims to promote accessibility for all creatives. The concept emphasizes that when we create, our creative energy is unified. From many individual expressions, we become "One Light." The title also underscores the idea that each artist is unique, with their own way of translating and sharing that light, fostering a sense of unity and diversity within the creative community.

We launched the open call for One Light on August 1st with an application fee of $45. The open call will go through December 31st, and then we'll review the submissions and make a final selection. One of the jurors is Denise Plauché (M.F.A., illustration, 2014), who's currently the model coordinator at SCAD Atlanta. I look forward to seeing how the jurors' selections will shape the final exhibition.

My SCAD experience remains a source of inspiration. I get stopped at gas stations and in parking lots because I have the SCAD alumni sticker in my window. I'm happy to put on my pompoms and speak highly of it as a place that supercharges creative aspirations. The clout that comes from a SCAD degree means a lot."

Learn more about One Light and connect with Mark Biletnikoff on LinkedIn.

In partnership with Villa Albertine Atlanta, SCAD Atlanta is bringing the very best of French cinema to SCAD FASH's cozy daytime film salon on two successive Saturdays in July. A double dose of Sixties classics from director Jacques Demy will create a très chic, très magnifique experience, and everyone's welcome to attend.
 
First, on Saturday, July 19 at noon, it's the exquisite opportunity to see a proper screening of Demy's 1967 masterpiece The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. The quintessential romantic musical of French fashion and charm stars one of the greatest actors of the 20th and 21st centuries, Catherine Deneuve, as an umbrella-shop owner's delicate daughter who falls for a handsome garage mechanic played by Nino Castelnuovo. When he is shipped off to fight in Algeria, the two lovers must grow up.
 
Exquisitely designed in a kaleidoscope of colors and told entirely through the lilting songs of the great composer Michel Legrand, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is one of the most revered and chicly unorthodox screen musicals of all time. Deneuve was launched to stardom by Demy's dazzling feature — and they were just getting started.
 
On Saturday, July 26 at noon, it's the SCAD FASH x Villa Albertine screening of The Young Girls of Rochefort, starring Catherine Deneuve and her real-life sister Françoise Dorléac. Charting missed connections and second chances, the vibrant musical delivers an effervescent confection of charm and charisma. Twins Delphine and Solange, a dance instructor and a music teacher played by Deneuve and Dorléac, long for big-city life. When a fair comes through their quiet port town, they are presented with the possibility of escape. With its jazzy Michel Legrand score, pastel paradise of costumes, and divine supporting cast (George Chakiris, Grover Dale, Danielle Darrieux, Michel Piccoli, and Gene Kelly!), The Young Girls of Rochefort is a tribute to Hollywood optimism from Sixties French cinema's preeminent dreamer.
 
SCAD FASH is pleased to partner with Villa Albertine for these special screening. Under the leadership of Cultural Counselor of France and Director Mohamed Bouabdallah, Villa Albertine crafts projects and programs aimed at making French language and culture accessible to US audiences and build partnerships between French and American higher education institutions. SCAD, with its renowned Lacoste campus in the heart of the Luberon Valley in France, continues its embrace of a global cultural embrace of community and inspiration.  
 
Both film screenings are open to the public. Tickets are free to SCAD FASH members. For more information, and to secure tickets, visit the SCAD FASH events page.

One lobster. Two pairs of sneakers. Infinite impact.
 
Today, the fashion, seafood harvesting, and philanthropic worlds combine as SCAD Atlanta kicks off the Haddie Kicks Auction — a special event celebrating the viral fame of Haddie, the 1-in-100-million "cotton candy" lobster discovered off the coast of Portland, Maine by Get Maine Lobster in 2021.
 
The Haddie Kicks online auction features two exclusive pairs of student-designed sneakers unavailable anywhere else. The auction is now open to the public and closes on August 31, 2025. 
 
"The release of this project as SCADpro's first sneaker design creation is an excellent display of the creativity and innovation of the next generation of footwear designers," said professor of accessory design Q Williams. "I give major props to our students for their relentless hours of dedicating themselves to a goal that is bigger than themselves, one both functional and impactful."
 
Three SCAD students, Qinglong Zeng (B.F.A., industrial design, 2023), Rodrick Thomas (B.F.A., industrial design, 2023) and Ke Chen (B.F.A., fashion, 2024) took part in a 10-week studio course created by the university's innovative SCADpro program in partnership with Get Maine Lobster. Students and faculty worked to develop concepts for a unique sneaker and a comprehensive production pathway for the chosen design.

Kickin’ it: Professor Q Williams (seated) discusses sneaker design with student Qinglong Zeng.

Jesús Rojas Ache, vice-president of SCADpro and Innovation, said: "Haddie is one-of-a-kind and our SCAD students used that inspiration to create unique sneakers that combine innovative and sustainable designs. We are grateful to Get Maine Lobster for the opportunity to use our students' incredible talents to benefit the Captain Planet Foundation and future SCAD creatives."
 
Both pairs of the ultra-rare, Haddie-inspired sneakers being auctioned are as distinctive as the crustacean that sparked a global sensation on social media, reaching over 4 billion views worldwide. SCADpro is the collaborative design studio that connects current and future art and design professionals with business leaders to create solutions that wow the world — in this case, with an unforgettable experience curated to match the story behind the design.
 
"Haddie isn't just a rare lobster—she is a symbol and a reminder that beauty in nature is meant to inspire, not be exploited. That's why I created Haddie Kicks: to turn rarity into impact," said Mark Murrell, founder of Get Maine Lobster. (After being rescued by Get Maine Lobster in 2021, Haddie currently resides at the Seacoast Science Museum located in Rye, New Hampshire.) "Each pair supports marine conservation and scholarships for young creators. This isn't just merch—it's a movement."

On a roll: Professor Williams with students Qinglong Zeng and Ke Chen.

With a goal of raising $1 million, the campaign unites planet preservation and creative empowerment under a single mission: to make giving back, as sneakerheads say, "dope." 100% of proceeds will benefit the critical marine conservation efforts of Captain Planet Foundation, while funding scholarships for the next generation of designers and creatives at SCAD.
 
"Captain Planet is thrilled to work with SCAD and the Haddie Kicks effort to celebrate what is so special about our planet. Those funds will go to support the incredible youth working to ensure that we preserve and protect our world for future generations," said Leesa Carter-Jones, president and CEO of Captain Planet Foundation.
 
SCAD is the only university in the world to offer both a minor and M.F.A. in sneaker design, preparing students for the full spectrum of footwear possibilities in a booming, $80-billion global industry. SCAD SNKR+ students hone skills in sketching, rendering, concept development, digital prototyping, sourcing, and branding.
 
The Haddie Kicks Auction is a call to rethink how we give, consume, and create. By blending culture, conservation, and creativity, this initiative offers brands, bidders, and changemakers alike a chance to leave their mark on the planet and the next generation of designers. Haddie's story proves that even the rarest finds can spark the biggest waves.

Place your bid in the Haddie Kicks Auction now through August 31, 2025!