CAPX: Career and Professional Experience | Creative Career Resources

Building Creative Careers

Ready to build your creative future? Whether you’re launching a freelance gig, exploring what’s next, or shaping your career path, we’re your partners in navigating the professional side of your practice—with advising, workshops, and opportunities that move you forward.

At SAIC, career readiness is built into everything you do. Every project, critique, and collaboration helps you build the NACE Career Readiness Competencies—eight essential skills for creative success: career and self-development, communication, critical thinking, equity and inclusion, leadership, professionalism, teamwork, and technology. CAPX helps you strengthen these skills through advising, programs, and internships that turn your creative practice into professional confidence.

Career Outcomes

97% of 2025 graduates were employed or continuing their education within six months of graduation.

97%

Our Alumni

Launching Creative Careers

With employers prioritizing essential skills like critical thinking and communication in their industries, it is no wonder that SAIC students go on to do some pretty incredible things. Check out what a few of our alums are up to right now.

A portrait of a woman in front of a modern office space

Amy Lawson Smeed

As head of animation at Walt Disney Studios, Lawson Smeed’s work can be seen in films like Tangled, Moana, and Frozen.

Minh-Tam Nguyen

Nguyen is a senior face designer at Mattel, becoming an advocate for diverse representation in toy design with her Barbie creations.

Angelique Power

As current president and CEO of The Skillman Foundation, Power (MFA 1998, HON 2022) understands the importance of intergenerational community and collaboration.

A portrait of a man in glasses and a leather coat

Zach Weiss

With a Master's in Designed Objects, Weiss has turned his lifelong fascination with watches into a thriving business that spans publishing, retail, and global events.

Cynthia Pelayo

From horror novels to fantastical short story collections, Bram Stoker Award–winning author Pelayo (MFA 2010) writes widely.

Emily Pilloton

With an MFA in Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Designed Objects, Pilloton founded Girls Garage, the country’s first-ever design construction school for female identifying youth.

Gabriel Bump

Chicago native Bump is a professor and award-winning author of the book Everywhere You Don’t Belong.

Chris Naka

Naka is Atlas Obscura's director of creative development, overseeing everything from podcasts to film production.

Amanda Ross-Ho

Ross-Ho is a visual artist whose work has been featured in solo shows worldwide and in the 2008 Whitney Biennial.

Connect Online

Handshake is SAIC’s online career platform where you can discover opportunities, connect with employers, and stay informed about CAPX programs and events. Through Handshake, you can:

• Search and apply for thousands of creative jobs and internships
• Schedule appointments with CAPX advisors
• Register for workshops, info sessions, and career fairs
• Build your profile to showcase your skills and portfolio

For SAIC Alums
Alums have lifelong access to Handshake and all CAPX services. To request access email handshake-support@saic.edu with your name, graduation year, and SAIC ID number (if available).

For Employers
Interested in hiring SAIC talent or participating in an event? Visit our For Employers page to learn more about connecting with students and alums.

College students of varying ethnicities and genders gather around a table.

Career Readiness Programming

CAPX programs connect your creative practice with real-world opportunities. Join career fairs, employer talks, skill-building workshops, and panels that spotlight creative paths in art, design, and beyond. Meet artists, alums, and industry pros to share ideas, build your network, and prepare for what’s next.

Students and alums: Log in to Handshake and click the “Events” tab for full event information and registration.

Some CAPX events are recorded and available for current students to view on Panopto.

Setting You Up for Success

According to an IBM survey of 1,500 executives and public sector leaders, creativity is the most important quality for success across all industries. At SAIC, students master this skill through a rigorous curriculum that prepares them to solve complex problems in any field.

Career Resources

Monday, November 2
3:30–4:30 p.m.
MacLean Ballroom + Zoom
Register on Handshake
What does it take to build a career in brand design at a global scale? Join Michelle Lin (BFA 2009), Art Director and Brand Designer, as she shares her journey from SAIC to leading creative work for internationally recognized brands. Through real-world examples from her career, Michelle will offer an inside look at designing cohesive visual identities across products, platforms, and audiences, and discuss how AI is changing designers' creative workflows today.
Drawing from her experience developing work for organizations including Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Meta, Nike, and Refinery29, Michelle will explore how brand systems are built, how creative teams collaborate across disciplines, and how designers adapt their practice as technology evolves. Along the way, she'll share practical advice on building a standout portfolio, finding internships, preparing for interviews, and navigating today's competitive job market.
About the speaker:
Michelle Lin (BFA 2009) is a New York City-based Art Director and Brand Designer at Amazon. Throughout her career, she has led international brand campaigns for product launches and brand moments while developing scalable visual identities, custom typefaces, illustrations, icons, and other design systems for global brands including Microsoft, Google, Meta, Nike, and Refinery29. Originally from Toronto, Michelle has lived and worked in cities including Munich, Utrecht, and London, drawing inspiration from travel, fashion, architecture, and emerging innovations, particularly AI, to push the boundaries of design.
Wednesday, November 4
3:30–4:30 p.m.
Virtual (Zoom)
Register on Handshake
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's Core Residency Program is one of the nation's leading post-graduate residency programs for artists and critics, offering participants the time, resources, mentorship, and community to develop a sustainable creative practice. Join Margo Handwerker, Director of the Glassell School of Art and Dean of the Core Residency Program, for an inside look at what makes the program unique and what residency selection committees look for in applicants.
Margo will discuss the structure of the Core Residency Program, the opportunities and support it provides, and how artists can determine if a residency is the right next step in their careers. She'll also share practical advice on preparing a competitive application, strengthening your portfolio, and navigating the residency application process.
About the speaker:
Margo Handwerker is Director of the Glassell School of Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and Dean of the Core Residency Program. Prior to joining the MFAH, she served as Curator and Director of the Texas State Galleries at Texas State University and lectured at UCLA in Critical Studies, Architecture, and Urban Design. She holds a PhD from Princeton University and an MA in Art History, Theory, and Criticism from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and is a member of the M12 Studio artist collective.
Monday, November 9
3:30–4:30 p.m.
MacLean Ballroom + Zoom
Register on Handshake
What does it take to design products used by millions of people? Join Sky White (BFA 2014), Staff Designer at Spotify, as he shares his journey from SAIC's Visual Communication Design program to a career spanning media, technology, and digital product design. Through examples from his work, Sky will offer an inside look at designing products at scale and the collaborative process behind creating meaningful user experiences.
Drawing from more than a decade of experience across organizations including Spotify, Disney/Lucasfilm, NBCUniversal, and Mass Appeal, Sky will discuss how designers collaborate across research, engineering, marketing, and other disciplines to bring ideas to life. He'll also explore how AI is shaping creative workflows and use Spotify Wrapped as a case study in storytelling, craft, and cross-functional collaboration. Along the way, he'll share practical advice on building a portfolio, finding internships, and launching a career in today's evolving design industry.
About the speaker:
Sky White (BFA 2014) is a Brooklyn-based designer with more than a decade of experience across media, technology, and education. His career spans graphic design, art direction, brand strategy, and digital product design, with work for Disney/Lucasfilm, NBCUniversal, Mass Appeal, and Spotify, where he is currently a Staff Designer creating digital experiences for hundreds of millions of listeners. He also teaches Framing User Experiences in the MFA Interaction Design program at the School of Visual Arts.
Monday, November 16
3:30–4:30 p.m.
MacLean Ballroom + Zoom
Register on Handshake
Luftwerk creates immersive installations that transform light, color, architecture, and data into powerful artistic experiences. Join the internationally recognized artistic duo of Petra Bachmaier (BFA 1999) and Sean Gallero (SAIC 1998) for a conversation about building a collaborative studio practice and creating large-scale public art worldwide.
Drawing on projects spanning museums, cultural institutions, and public spaces, Petra and Sean will share how they developed their interdisciplinary practice, the creative process behind site-specific installations, and what it takes to sustain a career producing ambitious work at the intersection of art, architecture, and technology. They'll discuss collaborating with architects, museums, and public agencies, translating research and environmental data into immersive installations, and navigating the realities of working as professional artists on an international scale.
Whether you're interested in installation art, public art, architecture, design, or interdisciplinary practice, this session will offer practical insights into developing a creative career, building long-term collaborations, and bringing ambitious artistic ideas to life.
About the speakers:
Luftwerk is the artistic duo of Petra Bachmaier (BFA 1999) and Sean Gallero (SAIC 1998). Their interdisciplinary practice explores color theory, the physics and experiential properties of light, and the historical narratives embedded within architectural spaces. Through immersive installations, they translate environmental data into chromatic experiences that illuminate the processes, phenomena, and histories shaping our perception of place.
Luftwerk's work has been exhibited at institutions including the Driehaus Museum, the Chicago Cultural Center, and the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich. The duo has created projects for architectural sites by Mies van der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Gehry Partners, completed large-scale public commissions internationally, and received honors from the Graham Foundation and the Illinois Arts Council. Their work is included in the Chicago and Atlanta Public Art collections and has been featured in Artforum and The New Yorker.

How We Prepare You

Professional Practice Experience

Required for all undergraduates, this course preps you for life after SAIC. Instructors from across all departments guide third-year students through an evolving curriculum of job prep, project development, and network building.

Students of varying ethnicities, ages, and genders work on laptops in a classroom.

360-Degree Advising

Career, faculty, and peer advisors work with students and alums, tailoring coaching to serve your individual needs while helping you to identify your strengths, values, skills, and experiences.

Job Search Strategies and Interview Training

CAPX offers on-demand virtual interview training for all experience levels. Internet access is all you need for 24/7 practice and valuable feedback from a dedicated team.

Students gathered in the MacLean ballroom during SAIC’s internship and career expo.

Internships

Internships give you the chance to test your ideas in real-world settings, collaborate with professionals across industries, and discover new ways to turn your creative curiosity into career momentum. Our team supports you in finding the perfect fit, whether you want to work with a local studio, nonprofit, or global brand.

Students meeting potential employers at CAPX's career fair

Career-Focused Events

CAPX hosts career-related events throughout the school year. Through panels, practical workshops, info sessions, and professional expos, students and alums have the opportunity to meet with industry leaders for career advice, creative critiques, and professional recruitment.

Career Readiness

Skill Development Through Art & Design Education

A recent nationwide study by the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project gathered insights from more than 2,500 art and design alums across 122 institutions to measure the real-world value of their degrees. The consensus? Greater than average creative career preparedness. Here is where art and design grads found the most development in their journeys:

Explore Career Resources

Creative Thinking and Problem Solving

88% of alums say going to an art and design school helped them develop valuable creative thinking and problem solving skills.

Four students wearing safety equipment and welding metal

Communication

86% of alums say they acquired critical communication skills through their art and design education.

A student pins a sculptural fashion design on a mannequin

Adaptability

84% of alums say that art and design school equipped them with the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

From Classroom to CTA: Lauren Nickels on Designing for Connection

Student Lauren Nickels’ internship with the Chicago Transit System (CTA) places her inside the systems she depends on as a rider. In her role, she applies research-driven, playful design to internal projects that support the people who keep Chicago moving.

Explore

Blue and white background with pink and blue train

Image courtesy of Lauren Nickels, graphic by Sophia Salganicoff

MEET LAUREN NICKELS

Read the Story

BUILDING CTA COMMUNITY

In her internship, Nickels focuses on design work rarely seen by the public but deeply felt by employees. Her projects range from internal graphics and printed materials to hands-on employee engagement events held at bus garages and rail terminals.

Learn More

Lauren Nickels sits in a meeting room smiling and holding up a peace sign, surrounded by coworkers

RESEARCH AND PLAY

Nickels brings lessons from SAIC directly into her internship, including a custom game inspired by her Heavy Cardboard board game design class. These experiences show how a design education rooted in adaptability translates into practical tools for collaboration, storytelling, and real-world problem solving.

See More of Lauren's Work