Susane Moua (B.F.A., architecture, 2018) keeps lighting it up.

As Visualization Specialist with ME Engineers, Moua has worked on some of the most significant design challenges for some of today's most impressive, tech-forward arenas. ME Engineers' scope includes mechanical, electrical, plumbing, architectural and sports lighting, energy modeling, and technology design, delivering state-of-the-art systems for venues including Sun Trust Park, US Bank Stadium, Miami Beach Convention Center, and Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.

"For Climate Pledge Arena, I worked with our architectural lighting design studio, Illume, to verify the lighting design, and to help portray and relay that design to the clients and the architects," Moua says. Built on the site of the 1962 World's Fair, the home of the Seattle Kraken of the NHL and the WNBA's Seattle Storm "is a historical structure, which presented unique engineering challenges."

Image courtesy: ME Engineers.

Moua utilized visualization software Autodesk 3ds Max, Adobe Photoshop, and Enscape to provide more realistic and accurate representations of the proposed design, enabling "clients and architects to have a clearer understanding of expectations and how to work through these complexities." ME Engineers reworked building systems to take advantage of Seattle's hydro-powered electric grid and make Climate Pledge Arena the world's first certified net-zero sports complex of its kind. The firm received a National Recognition Award—the industry equivalent of an Academy Award—from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC).

Climate Pledge Arena, Players Tunnel. Image courtesy: ME Engineers.

"I am very impressed and not at all surprised to see Susane doing particularly well in her career," says SCAD professor of architecture Huy Ngo. "When she was my student, we had rigorous discussions about critical thinking, and the process of delivering architecture design ideas in construction. She is a committed, passionate designer and I'm so pleased to see that our SCAD architecture program has helped her blossom in the field."

Now in her fifth year at ME Engineers, Moua works at the firm's flagship office in Denver, Colorado. ME pledges per its company credo to "empower our teams to work proactively with clients and collaboratively with all disciplines." Moua repeatedly keys in on how their work is "highly collaborative."

Drawn to architecture from childhood, Moua was a "very shy" kid of Hmong heritage who knew she "needed to break out." (The greater Denver native is the first member of her family to attend college.) Susane acknowledges her childhood friend Brittany Schellin (B.F.A., dramatic writing, 2018) for leading the way to Savannah, and says: "SCAD was the perfect place for me to experience the historical richness of architectural culture and to become immersed in a creative environment." 

Moua's skill set encompasses project documentation, architectural lighting coordination, cutting-edge software fluency, and a focused, good-natured professionalism. With her high-level aptitude for learning, teaching, and using advanced design software, she believes that real-time visualization tools like Unreal Engine and Twinmotion will transform what ME Engineers can accomplish.

"I love my workplace. We work on complex projects with big visions, and create unique solutions," she says. "It's very, very satisfying."

Connect with Susane Moua.

Banner image: Climate Pledge Arena, Lighting Study Render. Image courtesy: ME Engineers.

Inspiration has a new destination, and SCAD is proud to announce the new classroom building at 641 Indian St. in Savannah has a meaningful name: the Graham Scott. 

Named for dedicated, long-standing staff members James Graham and Trá Scott, the Graham Scott welcomed students this fall as home to the university's top-ranked photography degree program. The new facility has classrooms, studio spaces, and art galleries to enhance the learning experience. 

“James Graham and Trá Scott are deeply devoted and brilliantly talented individuals," announced President Paula Wallace. “Their indefatigable contributions and inspiring positivity have helped create life-changing experiences for generations of SCAD Bees. The entire built environment of SCAD bears the imprint of their expertise and care, and it is wholly fitting to recognize their decades of transformative work with a SCAD building named in their honor."

Graham and Scott have been a special part of the SCAD family for 34 and 35 years, respectively. They are both lifelong Savannahians. 

Graham grew up in the Brickyard community in West Savannah and attended Johnson High School. He joined SCAD in 1990 and is the university's Support Service Supervisor. Graham manages the setup for SCAD signature events including the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, Sidewalk Arts Festival, and SCAD Fashion Show. 

“I am grateful to President Wallace and everyone at SCAD for this honor," Graham said. “This shows how much they pay attention and care about the hard work we do. The thing I love most about working at SCAD is being part of the student experience and watching them grow. The students are the ones who encouraged me to get my degree." Graham graduated from SCAD in 2010 with a B.F.A. in film and television.

Trá Scott grew up in the Hudson Hill neighborhood and attended Groves High School. He joined the university in 1989 and serves as the Facilities Manager. 

“This just shows hard work and determination can get you places you never dreamed possible," said Scott. “SCAD is the only place I have ever worked. The faculty and staff are like my family and this university is my love story."

A formal dedication of the building took place on the morning of Saturday, October 14. SCAD friends and family celebrated James Graham and Trá Scott's enduring legacy of positivity, expertise, and care, and their nearly 70 years of combined stewardship at SCAD.

As President Wallace said: “Trá and James, my deepest appreciation goes to you for your many contributions to SCAD. Your love and loyalty are woven into the fabric of our university. You truly embody our student-centered mission and exemplify our SCAD values. May the Graham Scott long remind us all of your brilliant legacies."

Banner image: Trá Scott (left) and James Graham outside their namesake building.

Rev up your Unreal Engine, it's time for SCAD AnimationFest!

The highly anticipated festival returns this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Sept. 28-30, 2023, as the first major event to be held at the new 700-seat SCADshow theater in Atlanta. SCADFILM's signature festival for digital media will feature sessions with top executives and creatives from Netflix, Gearbox, Cartoon Network Studios, FOX, Viva Kids, Animal Repair Shop, Crafty Apes, Artie, and FuseFX, as well as SCAD faculty and alumni at the forefront of animation, motion media design, and visual effects. This year, SCAD AnimationFest programming expands to include gaming and virtual production, industries that have intertwined to create a new transmedia entertainment world.

"As the nation's biggest and best festival celebrating student animators and industry trends, SCAD AnimationFest shines in three-dimensional wonder—especially true this year, as SCAD unveils our state-of-the art theater in the heart of Midtown, where the screen is as colossal as SCAD's student talent," said President Paula Wallace. "It's the perfect stage for the world premiere of The Last Dungeon, the latest triumph from SCAD Animation Studios and a collaborative marvel from more than forty SCAD Bees. Truly a masterpiece in motion!"

SCADFILM is honored to recognize Adam Muto as the 2023 Spotlight Award recipient for his innovative contributions to animation and entertainment. Muto will be presented with his award on Friday during a special screening event for his new Max series Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake, followed by a Q&A to share insights about his incredible journey in animation.

SCAD will also honor keynote speaker Theodore "Ted" Ty with the Outstanding Achievement in Animation Award. The global head of character animation at DNEG Animation, Ty will present a behind the scenes look at the popular Netflix movie Nimona, based on the acclaimed 2015 graphic novel by ND Stevenson.

On Saturday night, FOX will host an exclusive screening of the comedy Krapopolis, with members of the production team on hand to give attendees a behind-the-scenes look at the new animated series. Several sessions at SCAD AnimationFest feature work from students and faculty, including a preview of the new animated film Inspector Sun and the Curse of the Black Widow, which is followed by a Q&A with producer and film professor Jason Kaminsky and screenwriter Rocco Pucillo.

The Last Dungeon: a true SCAD collaboration.

SCAD Animation Studios, the world's only animation studio at a university, is excited to host the premiere screening of The Last Dungeon, the first student animated film to be created using Unreal Engine. A true SCAD collaboration, students from many different degree programs worked together on the production, including animation, visual effects, acting, and sound design students, to build a cohesive, harmonious score and riveting soundtrack that pulls the film together.

"This year, SCAD AnimationFest explores how technology is evolving beyond traditional definitions of animation to develop new and innovative transmedia storytelling," said Leigh Seaman, senior executive director of SCADFILM. "As a top-ranked university in animation, interactive design and game development, visual effects, motion media design, illustration, and more, SCAD is uniquely qualified to host the best in the industry as presenters and mentors."

To purchase passes and view the full schedule, visit scad.edu/animationfest.

"What if you could not touch the ones you love?" asks 2023 Rookie Award-winner Bradley Scott Wagman (B.F.A., industrial design).

In a world where 100 million people need prosthetics, and an estimated 80% of amputees cannot afford prostheses, the means to change is now literally within reach, thanks to Wagman's 3D-printed bionic arm.

"I want to make bionic limbs that help people," he says. "My mission is to reduce material while maintaining strength to help with costs, and to make the arm affordable for the individual in need. Let's use technology and material knowledge to change human lives in a positive way."

Prototyped in ABS filament, the Wagman-designed "prosthetech" arm is light, durable, and inexpensive. "I modeled the arm in Fusion 360, then used generative design, which is an AI tool, to simulate force loads on the arm. I ran a simulation to strip down the material. I was inspired by the Voronoi tessellation, and wanted to use the minimal amount of material needed while maintaining the strength of the arm."

"Bradley's robotic arm concept was entirely his own vision, and I'm excited to see how far he can take it," says professor Patricia Bell, who taught Wagman in Manufacturing and Assembly of Innovative Materials (INDUS 314). "He is extremely self-motivated, easy-to-teach, and his interest in pushing material and technological possibilities is really inspiring."

Wagman praises his classroom experience in turn: "Every week we had checkpoints of ideation and professor Bell gave me detailed personal feedback. It makes a difference that she's a mechanical engineer herself and has done the work."

Some Bradley backstory: Wagman grew up in Chalfont, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. He began working as a tattoo artist while still in high school, then spent four years in the Army as an airborne engineer. "I thought I would be either an artist or an engineer."

In Fall 2020, the then-22-year-old freshman started at SCAD ("I was still in the Army on active duty") and discovered industrial design, a discipline that allows him to pursue conjoined interests. Three years later, the arm he designed—mounted on display in Gulfstream Center for Design—greets visitors to SCAD's humming industrial design building.

Wagman points out the arm's key features, from motor assembly to finger linkages and "the abutment that connects to a ball-bearing quick release and a spring." Wait a minute—a quick-release arm? "I got that idea from drift cars, which have quick releases for steering wheels. Right now, prosthetic arms are basically suction cups. I thought, let me remodel this with bearings and springs."

This fall, Wagman will participate in a ten-week SCADpro project for the Mayo Clinic led by professor Nick Dine. This will be Wagman's third SCADpro course. The first, for Snap-On ("We helped redesign pruning shears for viticulture"), earned him a formal internship with the company, while the second—a Google UI phone security project—deepened his UI/UX skills. "SCADpro classes are my favorite," he says. "I find them to be high intensity compared to normal classes. That makes them fun."

Meanwhile, senior studio courses will allow Wagman the opportuntiy to refine and produce a new version of the prosthetic arm.

Fall back, Tony Stark. Bradley Scott is here.

Connect with Bradley Scott Wagman on LinkedIn, and visit his new Etsy shop, OAMS Studio.

"Live your life in an introspective way, and express your story through your work," says Tal Shenholz (B.F.A., animation, 2021).

Originally from Tel Aviv, Israel, New York City-based Tal works as a technical director for satirical hit TV show South Park, creating characters and backgrounds, rigging characters, and setting up and framing shots. He has worked on two longform South Park specials streaming on Paramount+ and all episodes of seasons 25 and 26 of the show that stream on HBO Max.

Tal Shenholz:

Since I was a little kid, I loved drawing. When I was in high school, I found so much curiosity and love for cinema. I remember watching films of Bergman and Kieślowski. The different approaches and possibilities of cinema blew me away. Later, I learned to treat animation as a form of cinema. Animation is an art form combining two things I am passionate about: drawing and cinema. I knew that I had to pursue it as a career.

My position as a technical director is challenging because it combines technical skills with creative, artistic, and cinematic principles. I will get a rough storyboard, which I have to turn into a fully rendered shot on the software for the show. The characters and backgrounds must have the right South Park-y look, and the framing, scaling, and proportions all have to be correct. Part of my growth as an artist and a director is identifying a given shot's purpose and directing it according to that purpose. Our South Park team is surprisingly small, which makes me that much prouder to be a part of a team that has won multiple Emmy awards.

The range of topics and characters in the show is incredible. Each episode offers something new, which keeps things interesting. I absolutely loved working on the episode "Pajama Day." I created the girl with the pajama, while also setting up and framing the shot. The pajama is super over-the-top and imaginative, while also being functional as far as the rigging and animation. In the episode "City People," I created the entire background, while setting up and framing the shot. When creating the door for the background, I had to make nine different door positions that make sense so that frame-by-frame it looks like the door opens and closes. Another thing to consider is that the characters move toward the camera, meaning that they scale up in size. The framing has to make sense throughout the whole duration of the shot.

The programs and professors at the animation department in SCAD are unbelievable. As someone who works for a company that recently signed a $900 million deal, I can assure you that during my time at SCAD, I learned the newest industry-standard techniques. It is also the interactions with your peers, the group projects, the presentations, the critiques, and the way you think about art and animation. Only now do I truly understand how relevant and valuable these skills are in the animation industry.

Connect with Tal Shenholz.

"There's nothing that embodies the cycle of life and death as well as composting," says CompostNow Chief Impact Officer David Paull (B.F.A., interior design, 2013). "That rotting banana peel in your hand is going to become nutrient rich soil to grow another delicious banana."

Having founded Compostwheels as a SCAD Atlanta student in 2012, Paull merged his business with CompostNow in 2017. CompostNow has grown rapidly to become the preeminent compost company in the southeast U.S. with clients including State Farm Arena, Chipotle, Starbucks, and Chick-fil-A. Offering easy, affordable services for homes and businesses in Raleigh-Durham, Asheville, Atlanta, Charleston, and Cincinnati, CompostNow has received backing from the SCADpro Fund.

"CompostNow is at the forefront of a paradigm shift in organic agriculture," says SCADpro Fund managing director Ray Crowell. "Their commitment to an ethical model is something SCAD students prioritize as they enter the business world. David Paull is a beacon to look to in terms of creative entrepreneurship."

Much like the composting process itself, Paull is willing to dig into the rich loam of his backstory.

"At SCAD I started simply by standing at a farmers' market with a sandwich-board sign that said DO YOU COMPOST? and asking people if they composted, and if they would be interested in having someone do it for them," he says. "It wasn't until I got further into it that I realized there was a real need in the community and in the world for this.

"Consumers were looking for another way to support organic agriculture, and one of the biggest needs those farms have is soil health. You need a lot of nutrients in the soil to get a high yield in a small space. Composting became a very important part of that conversation. Meanwhile, communities and companies were really starting to think about sustainability. All of this converged in rapid-fire growth around consumer sentiment towards sustainability, our climate crisis, politics, policy, and investment."

Studying interior design at SCAD was "really fun" Paull says—and relevant to his current work.

"Interior design is all about the human experience through the built environment, and leading people through a space so that they can understand it, and what your intent is for them. We've applied that to composting. There were a lot of early tours for our community to come through the composting facilities to see it happening. To this day we have folks that come out at all age levels and see the process and get emotional about it."

At SCAD, the Viroqua, Wisconsin native played tennis and ran cross country—a full plate considering he was also going to "four to six farmers' markets a week, and to schools, universities, church groups, HOA meetings—anywhere anyone was interested in talking about sustainability, we were there to talk with them."

Paull now sees the composting movement leaping from homes and offices to city-wide services. "We are starting to get municipal contracts. That brings composting to everyone, not just those that can afford to do it in a boutique way."

And he is enthusiastic to have the backing of the SCADpro Fund, adding nutrients to the soil. "Composting is something that's life-giving, through the daily act of recycling food waste back into our food system," Paull concludes. "Composting attracts creative people."

Learn more about David and the team at CompostNow!

SCAD is proud to announce Alex Delotch Davis as Executive Director for SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta and Lacoste, France. A SCAD alum with an M.A. in luxury & fashion management, Delotch Davis brings over fifteen years of experience as a leading arts marketer, strategist, and connector in Atlanta's vibrant arts and cultural scene.

As Executive Director, Delotch Davis will lead exhibition development, marketing, fundraising, and overall forward-thinking strategic vision and direction for SCAD FASH, SCAD FASH Lacoste, and SCAD Atlanta exhibitions. Additionally, Delotch Davis will serve as a university ambassador to the local arts community, museum patrons, and fashion and film industries. Delotch Davis's efforts will support SCAD FASH's mission to serve as a creative resource for students of all ages, providing inspiration to visitors through expertly curated museum exhibitions, films, and programming.

"I'm excited and humbled by the opportunity to be part of this diverse and innovative organization," said Delotch Davis. "I'm energized by what is on the horizon for SCAD FASH. The museum is a treasure for the community and it is an honor to amplify the outstanding exhibitions and programming. As an alum of SCAD Atlanta, I'm also thrilled to be part of an institution that supports the development of artists and cultivates opportunities in creative industries, which aligns very much with my personal and professional values."

Delotch Davis is a highly regarded communications and arts strategy expert, most previously overseeing marketing and partnership strategy for Atlanta's High Museum of Art, managing all special initiatives for the museum as well as directing the museum's digital, print, broadcast and social media campaigns.

Kari Herrin, SCAD Senior Vice President of Brand Experience said: "Alex Delotch Davis is an incredibly talented force in Atlanta's dynamic arts and cultural scene. Her keen sense of creative strategy, vision, and a connective spirit to champion love and appreciation for artists and designers throughout the community will be a tremendous asset to SCAD FASH. We are fortunate to have her leading SCAD FASH forward with inspiring exhibitions, programming and activations to enhance the bond between the university and the community, as well as reinforcing the museum's renown on an international scale."

Prior to joining the High Museum of Art, Delotch Davis led experiential marketing programs and branded activations for Cadillac throughout the southeast, expanding the luxury car brand's footprint at leading global arts events including Art Basel Miami. Delotch Davis also held senior marketing and public relations roles at Bloomingdales, Bill Lowe Gallery, and the City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs. Delotch Davis currently serves on the board of Atlanta Celebrates Photography and was recently appointed to Mayor Andre Dickens' Atlanta Arts Advisory Committee.

SCAD is recognized as the global leader in higher education for arts and design. SCAD FASH is a vital part of Atlanta's arts and cultural footprint, offering expertly curated exhibitions, films, special events, and performances that engage the university's academic disciplines, encompassing over 100 top-ranked degree programs. Current exhibitions on view at SCAD FASH include Ellen von Unwerth: This Side of Paradise for legendary fashion photographer and director Ellen von Unwerth, and Madame Grès: The Art of Draping. SCAD FASH is also thrilled to present Christian Lacroix Habille Peer Gynt pour la Comédie-Française at SCAD FASH Lacoste in Provence, France, opening July 1.

Learn more about SCAD FASH.

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.

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!

SCAD is thrilled to announce the exhibition Julien Fournié: Haute Couture, un point c’est tout! at SCAD FASH Lacoste. The exhibition opens April 3, 2023 at the university’s international location in Provence, France, with a special opening reception with the designer on Saturday, April 1, hosted by SCAD President Paula Wallace.

Set in SCAD FASH Lacoste’s wondrously preserved medieval caves, Haute Couture, un point c’est tout! is the first museum exhibition for grand couturier Julien Fournié and highlights an expertly curated selection of 20 of the designer’s most iconic and exquisite creations. It showcases the skill and craftsmanship that earned Fournié the exclusive prestige of haute couture.

“Julien Fournié is one of French fashion’s greatest masters and truly epitomizes the ideals and expert craftsmanship of haute couture in his work,” said SCAD FASH creative director and curator Rafael Gomes. “He is fearless in his approach to new technology and techniques, and such an inspiration to our students. We are delighted to present Julien Fournié: Haute Couture, un point c’est tout! and recognize his incredible artistry and contributions to France’s fashion industry.”

Fournié is celebrated for his masterful technique and artistry in the traditional French savoir-faire of haute couture. He was elected by his peers as an official member of the prestigious Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in 2017, an exclusive status granted to only 16 luxury brands throughout the world. Fournié’s thematic and fanciful collections, made to measure with precision in his Paris atelier, are composed of the finest materials, rendering elegant works of art that accentuate the female form.

Fournié is beloved by an international clientele for his passion, discipline, and innovative approach to design as art. He embraces technology’s fusion with fashion, often incorporating new digital techniques within the French haute couture tradition. As he expands his artistry into the metaverse, Fournié has established his place at the future of fashion.

While pursuing a medical degree, Fournié developed an anatomical understanding of the body, a skill that informs his accomplishments as a fashion designer. Graduating from the Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne in 2000 with a master’s degree in fashion design, Fournié joined the atelier of several haute couture houses including Christian Dior during the John Galliano era, Givenchy under Alexander McQueen, and eventually Jean Paul Gaultier. In 2003, Fournié was named creative director of Torrente Haute Couture. Fournié launched his eponymous label in 2009, instantly becoming one of the industry’s most talented designers.

“It is a true honor to be in a museum in one’s lifetime, and I am excited to share my pieces and magical textile constructions in a more intimate light than on the runway,” said Fournié. “Each and every seam was made in our Paris atelier, and we are proud of the masterful needlework techniques used to create my collections. In collaboration with SCAD FASH Lacoste and creative director Rafael Gomes, this exhibition shows that Haute Couture still shines in the 21st century.”

In celebration of Julien Fournié: Haute Couture, un point c’est tout! at SCAD FASH Lacoste, SCAD President Paula Wallace will host an opening reception with the designer, Saturday, April 1. Students from many top degree programs—including fashion, fibers, animation, illustration, painting, and art history—will have the exclusive opportunity to admire and study Fournié’s creations while engaging with the designer through conversations, master classes, and other programming.

Julien Fournié: Haute Couture, un point c’est tout! is on view April 3 through June 11, 2023.

photo: Delphine Royer