For five weeks during the summer break, 20 students had the opportunity to study abroad in London, gaining real-world experience through the Graphic Design course GD 308: Sustainable Design. The course, offered since 2012 and led by Design Professor Eric Chimenti, allows students to partner with real companies and collaborate on design campaigns. This year, the course’s client was international engineering and designing consultants Buro Happold, with the objective of improving their brand identity and highlighting their climate resilience services.
Before arriving in London, students began the course on campus, where they researched the client’s goals, brainstormed creative concepts, and developed initial ideas for Buro Happold. They sent weekly progress reports to the company. Once their conceptual ideas were approved, the class moved abroad and organized into smaller teams that focused on specific deliverables such as website design, social media strategy, and other visual communication materials, all working together on a common brand identity, which they titled “The Navigator.”
Katherine Moreno (‘27 Design; Creative and Cultural Industries minor), who was studying abroad, explains, “To meet the client’s needs, our class worked together every Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., using each day to research, brainstorm, design, and refine our work… Every Friday, we presented our progress to the client, received feedback, and used their comments to guide the next stage of the project.”
The culmination of the students’ work involved a final presentation for Buro Happold, during which their work was commended and they received last-minute feedback. Much of it was positive, especially regarding their visual and verbal presentation skills.
Of the many things the students learned on the trip, some of the biggest were collaboration, contributing to the assignment’s greater goal, and being flexible as the project changed to meet their client’s needs. As Moreno puts it, “One of the biggest lessons I learned was to trust my creative abilities and feel more confident sharing my ideas with others. Working with a real client taught me that design is an ongoing process that involves collaboration, communication, and adapting to feedback.”
Of course, not all of the trip was work-related. In addition to their work with Buro Happold, the students had the opportunity to explore the country. Students visited museums, watched live shows at the West End Theater and Royal Albert Hall, and learned about London’s rich history.
Moreno attended a Harry Styles concert, the Trooping the Colour military parade, and watched several West End musicals. One of the most significant highlights of her trip was spending the weekend at Silverstone Circuit for the Formula 1 British Grand Prix. “…I watched my favorite driver, Lando Norris, race in front of his home crowd,” she recalled, “I was even lucky enough to walk on the track after the race, making it a truly unforgettable experience.”
In short, the students in GD 308 had an invaluable opportunity to live abroad, gaining practical work experience while also enjoying the many sights Europe has to offer. And though the work was intense and they ran into unexpected obstacles like hot weather, interrupted practice presentations, and an unexpected tube closure, their hard work paid off, and there was fun to be had in between. As Moreno summarizes it, “Instead of simply being a tourist, I had the opportunity to… become more independent, adaptable, and confident while balancing work with living in a new environment.”
(Pictured in header: Katherine Moreno (‘27 Design; Creative and Cultural Industries minor). Photo courtesy of Moreno.)
