DAAP students network with elite designers in New York City
On Sept. 26, these Bearcats took the next step forward: networking one-on-one with many of the Big Apple’s top designers.
DAAP organized a design crawl for UC’s co-op students in New York City, giving them an opportunity to learn from industry leaders while potentially finding job leads. UC is known for its exceptional arts and design programs, so prominent businesses were excited to connect with the next generation of Bearcat talent.
Three of the world’s leading creative companies were represented during the DAAP design crawl. Attendees were able to tour the offices of:
- Gensler: The world’s largest architecture firm by revenue and number of architects
- Ralph Lauren: Fashion company known for its namesake luxury label Polo along with the Lauren and Chaps brands
- SPARC Group: Fashion business that owns Aeropostale, Eddie Bauer, Forever 21, Nautica and Reebok, plus additional brands
Bearcat designers spent an hour in each office, receiving a tour and connecting with talent on each team. Spending face-to-face time with industry titans could lead DAAP students to future co-op positions and even lucrative job opportunities when they graduate from UC.
Following the design crawl, students attended a networking reception open to corporate partners and DAAP graduates now living in New York. Once again, Bearcats earned valuable advice from those currently working in the design space — and, in some cases, they also found mentors.
The [design crawl] event fosters valuable networking opportunities, which can lead to future collaborations, mentorship or job placements.
Shelby Schaffer Assistant professor of fashion design co-op, CCPS
Shelby Schaffer, assistant professor of fashion design co-op at UC’s College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies (CCPS), said the DAAP design crawl “serves to immerse students in the professional design world, enabling them to understand industry standards, expectations and work ethics firsthand.”
Just as importantly for DAAP’s aspiring designers, Schaffer said “the event fosters valuable networking opportunities, which can lead to future collaborations, mentorship or job placements.”
UC students receive unique opportunities to connect with top employers due to the school’s innovative approach to co-ops. U.S. News & World Report ranked the school fifth overall for co-op and internship programs due mainly to its ambitious students, inventive mindset and vast connections to the business world.
DAAP students during the New York City design crawl. Photo/Amanda Smith
UC’s exceptional design programs, robust co-op connections and tight-knit alumni network often lead to invaluable connections. For instance, the tours of Ralph Lauren and SPARC Group were led by Bearcat graduates who now work at some of the fashion industry’s largest companies.
Back in Cincinnati, UC’s 1819 Innovation Hub connects student talent with high-profile businesses like Procter & Gamble, Kroger, Fifth Third Bank and Kao — all of which have offices in the building. Elite companies are attracted to Bearcat talent for students’ job readiness, largely because they’ve already participated in co-ops throughout their college careers.
The university’s heightened emphasis on innovation also plays a role in UC’s desirability among leading companies. As businesses strive to increase quality and efficiency, they often enjoy hiring students who’ve used makerspaces before, understand proper business functions and sit on the leading edge of technology.
The DAAP design crawl gave co-op students unmatched access to elite talent and showed that UC students are in demand. Companies like Gensler, Ralph Lauren and the SPARC Group are looking to Bearcats for new talent, revealing the immense power of a UC degree.
Featured image at top: DAAP students network during the design crawl. Photo/Amanda Smith
Become a Bearcat
Have aspirations to showcase your creativity at DAAP one day? Whether you’re a first-generation student or from a family of Bearcats, UC is proud to support you at every step along your journey. We want to make sure you succeed — and feel right at home. Apply today.
Latest UC News
- UC Clermont women’s soccer team wins back-to-back national championshipsThe UC Clermont women’s soccer team has claimed the 2024 Small College Division II National Championship for the United States Collegiate Athletic Association. Led by head coach Kemar Jackson and assistant coach Brett Black, the win marks back-to-back titles and the fourth trophy for the program in six years.
- CCM hosts Moveable Feast gala fundraiser on Jan. 24, 2025UC College-Conservatory of Music hosts its Moveable Feast fundraising gala live and in-person on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. Presented by CCMpower, a dedicated volunteer group of friends, advocates and alumni, Moveable Feast 2025: A Tempo generates essential support for the next generation of performing and media artists at CCM.
- UC graduates strike gold as leaders of precious metals companyBowen and Finn Alexy found their University of Cincinnati education worth its weight in gold as they’ve become angel investors, entrepreneurs and leaders of a precious metals firm.
- Beyond the Classroom: Perspectives on Long-Term Study AbroadMore than 1300 UC students studied abroad in 2023-24. Most students tend to sway towards the most popular option of faculty-led programs, because of its shorter duration and high level of faculty support. But some UC students strike out on their own, choosing to fly solo for a semester to a year with long-term study abroad programs.
- Family honors late Cincinnatian with transformative investment in cancer researchA family with Cincinnati ties wants patients and their families grappling with a pancreatic cancer diagnosis to experience the gift of time.
- Celebrate the holiday season with upcoming CCM concertsCCM's collegiate and preparatory ensembles celebrate the winter holidays with a variety of upcoming performances!
