SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
CCAD GRADS MAKE COLUMBUS A PLACE THE WORLD WATCHES Throughout Central Ohio, Columbus College of Art & Design alumni are making the world a more interesting place to live, work and play. Below are just a few examples of CCAD graduates who are shaping Columbus in surprising ways. “At CCAD, I learned time management skills, and that there is more than one way of doing everything–so be open! CCAD grads are everywhere, and we are applying creative problem-solving to your daily life.” — Jen Burton, owner/partner, Seventh Son Brewing Co. (Fine Arts, 2000)
“Creative problem-solving has been the most beneficial skill I learned at CCAD. The feedback provided by my instructors and peers helped me view my work more objectively. It taught me the value of learning through the act of creating, and the importance of evolving my ideas along the way. Through that process, the end result was so much greater than my preconceived idea. Now, I view dialogue and feedback as essential to project management, whether you’re making business decisions or creating a piece of art.” — Lauren Conrath, director of operations, 400 Square (Fine Arts, 2004)
“While drawing was my major area of study, my main takeaway from my time at CCAD was just learning to be critical with my mind. CCAD pushed me to think about what makes something work (or not) and why. Those of us who are motivated by our strong sensitivity to our senses can learn to shape someone else’s experience through aesthetic properties. Understanding what influence color, light, pattern and textiles have in a space is just as important as the space’s functionality or flow. Employers should know that creativity could mean everything for their business. One CCAD graduate could change the way we see the city by creating long-lasting, strong brands.” — Bobby Silver, co-owner, Yellow Brick Pizza (Fine Arts, 1999)
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“I was drawn to CCAD because I loved the idea of being a creative in a thriving city like Columbus. CCAD attracts passionate creatives and prepares them to tackle creative challenges without getting discouraged. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for time spent with caring and dedicated professors there. My time at CCAD prepared me to be ready to think on my feet and think creatively about problems and solutions, which has been an invaluable skill while running a business.” — Emily Kellett, co-owner, STUMP (Industrial Design, 2016) “CCAD prepared me to put in the extra thought, time and effort toward all projects—not just the ones that I knew how to do well or felt comfortable with the medium. In co-founding STUMP with Emily, we had a very limited understanding of what we were getting ourselves into. Business is difficult; growing and maintaining a team is very difficult. Being able to confront learning new skills as a positive and exciting challenge is similar to what I learned to do at CCAD.” — Brian Kellett, co-owner, STUMP (Media Studies StillBased, 2007)
“During my time at CCAD, I learned the importance of self-responsibility and having a strong work ethic. CCAD’s critique process really set me up well to take constructive criticism, which is important for continual improvement in any career. I also learned the value of creative problemsolving, and how it needs to be applied in all areas of business. Someone with a BFA doesn’t need to find an art-focused career. Those skills go way beyond art and design.” — Joel Limes, co-founder and chief brand officer, COhatch (Industrial Design, 1994)