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.

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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

Wednesday, September 2
3:30–4:30 p.m.
Virtual (Zoom)
Register on Handshake
Warner Bros. Animation has brought some of television's most recognizable animated series to life. This session offers an inside look at the creative work behind them. Join Emmy Award-winning writer Matt Price as he shares his career journey through the entertainment industry and the many paths that can lead to a career in animation.
Drawing from more than 15 years of experience writing and producing animated series, Matt will discuss the writer's role in television production, the creative process behind developing an animated show, and the wide range of careers that contribute to bringing stories to the screen. Along the way, he'll offer practical advice for students and alums interested in pursuing careers in entertainment, emphasizing that there is no single path to success.
About the speaker:
Matt Price is an Emmy Award-winning writer from Evanston, Illinois. Over the past 15 years, he has written and produced animated series including Final Space (Adult Swim), Close Enough (HBO Max), and Regular Show (Cartoon Network). He wrote for all eight seasons of Regular Show, earning six Emmy Award nominations and winning one for Outstanding Short Format Animated Program. He is currently the head writer for Regular Show: The Lost Tapes, which premiered on HBO Max in June 2026.
Wednesday, September 23
3:00–5:00 p.m.
MacLean Ballroom
Register on Handshake
Get to know Chicago's vibrant art scene! Join us for a fair featuring more than 60 artist-run spaces and arts organizations from across the city.
Meet the artists, curators, and organizers behind these spaces, learn about their missions and current projects, and discover opportunities to exhibit, collaborate, volunteer, and get involved. Explore a wide range of artistic practices while connecting with fellow students, artists, and creative professionals who are shaping Chicago's creative community.
This event is presented in partnership with SITE Galleries and Alumni Engagement.
Monday, September 28
3:30–4:30 p.m.
Sharp, Room 327
Register on Handshake
The way you present yourself can be just as important as the work you create. Join Tim Bruce, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of LOWERCASE, Inc. and lecturer at SAIC, for a practical conversation about developing a professional reputation that reflects your creative identity and helps you stand out in today's competitive job market.
Rather than focusing solely on logos or visual identity, this session explores how your work, communication, online presence, and professional relationships shape others' perception of you. You'll learn actionable strategies for defining your personal brand, building credibility, communicating your strengths, and creating a professional presence that supports internships, freelance opportunities, and full-time careers.
SAIC student and AIGA Co-President Reya Mukhtar will join the conversation, offering a current student perspective and helping connect these ideas to the realities of launching a creative career.
This event is part of CAPX's How It Works series, which offers a set of concentrated, skills-oriented sessions that present critical components of creative careers as applicable methods for students and alums. Sessions offer practical strategies and expert guidance anchored in current professional standards.
This event is presented in partnership with SAIC AIGA.
Wednesday, September 30
3:30–4:30 p.m.
Virtual (Zoom)
Register on Handshake
What does it take to transform emerging cultural trends into products that connect with millions of people? This Career Talk offers an inside look at the creative strategy behind today's retail industry through the perspective of SAIC alum Kara Fenoglietto (BFA 2013), Trend Manager at Dick's Sporting Goods.
Drawing from her experience in trend forecasting, concept development, and fashion design, Kara will share her career journey from SAIC to leading creative work for one of the nation's largest retailers. She'll walk through how a single idea evolves into a finished product, following the creative process from identifying macro trends and building mood boards to developing color palettes, product collections, and marketing campaigns. Along the way, she'll discuss what her day-to-day work looks like, how creative teams collaborate across disciplines, and the skills that have helped her build a career at the intersection of sport, fashion, and contemporary culture.
Kara will also offer practical advice on breaking into the retail industry, navigating career transitions, and interviewing for creative roles, with insights for students and alums interested in fashion, product development, trend forecasting, branding, and creative strategy.
About the speaker:
Kara Fenoglietto (BFA 2013) is a Trend Manager at Dick's Sporting Goods, where she develops seasonal concepts that shape color direction, print design, and product collections across retail brands. Her work bridges sport, fashion, and contemporary culture, translating emerging ideas into meaningful products and consumer experiences. Before joining Dick's Sporting Goods, Kara held creative roles at Nordstrom, White House Black Market, and Anthropologie. Alongside her work in the retail industry, she maintains an installation-based studio art practice exploring the intersection of fashion, sculpture, and the body.

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

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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