Students from Utah State University's Caine College of the Arts ventured from Logan to the fast-paced creative hub that is New York City, an excursion designed to bridge the gap between academic theories and professional realities. Encounters with alumni like fashion designer Bibhu Mohapatra, who took their aspirations and shaped them into careers, offered these students an invaluable peek into the industry. “In my head, I had imagined it would have been like an hour long,” costume design student Natalie Pulsipher described the backstage frenzy of a fashion show, as obtained by USU Today. Meanwhile, Joseph Kendell, an interior architecture and landscape architecture student, was moved by the multi-sensory storytelling at Bibhu's show, "Pilgrimage."
It wasn't just about witnessing the glamorous chaos; the trip underlined USU's commitment to access and excellence by connecting students with successful, creative professionals. The details, such as the custom scent and jasmine wristbands at Bibhu's show, revealed depths of the design world that are often uncharted in classroom discussions. Yet, the lessons derived from alumni extended beyond aesthetic appreciation, touching on intersections between creativity and commerce. Commercial art alumnus Paul Weibel welcomed the students to his world, showing that the pursuit of art can coexist with, and even benefit from, a solid business strategy. "I think the students in the arts need to bend and bleed into business,” Weibel shared, as detailed by USU Today.
The importance of teamwork, a concept frequently discussed in classrooms, was palpable in the high-stakes real-world environment of New York City's design scene. "You don’t really understand the real scope until you see it in action," explained Kendell about the dynamic collaboration he witnessed, as per USU Today.
