Shift Happens: Lessons learned through client projects and unexpected outcomes

About this video

Description

In today's fast-changing design world, the path from classroom to creative practice is rarely linear. Design education often emphasizes polished outcomes, but real client work is unpredictable with tight deadlines, vague feedback, revisions and tricky dynamics can overwhelm even experienced designers.
Student-run studios, guided by faculty but led by students, are redefining how designers prepare for professional practice. They immerse students in real client work with high stakes, evolving challenges and collaborative problem-solving, while also fostering leadership, adaptability and entrepreneurial thinking far beyond a typical classroom project.
This session shares candid stories from a faculty-mentored, student-run studio where chaos is embraced as a learning tool. From miscommunications to scope creep, students learn that failure isn't just inevitable, it's essential to the process. Along the way, they gain hands-on experience with contracts, pricing and client relationships, while thoughtfully integrating new tools into their workflow to create meaningful, effective solutions.
Through peer-led workshops, debriefs and emotional check-ins, the studio builds a culture of resilience, collaboration and agency, ensuring students grow not just as designers but as leaders.
Tangible takeaways for attendees:
- Strategies to bridge academic theory with real-world practice
- Frameworks for peer-led support and leadership growth
- Approaches for balancing client needs with creative integrity
- Actionable ideas to launch or refine student-run design studios

Tag

• Education