Build Your Career

Build your brand, learn on the job, and network with art and design thought leaders. Here at CCAD, your practice goes pro.

Our Creative Careers team will support you at every step of your professional journey, from exploring career paths and writing your resume, to job searching and interview preparation. We're here to empower you -- through 1:1 coaching, workshops, internships, networking events, and real-world projects -- to confidently launch your creative career.

Being confident in myself as a student, my skill level, [and] being open-minded and curious led me to many opportunities I was not expecting."

Ayuka Shichinohe Product Design, 2025
Ayuka Shichinohe Headshot

For Students & Alumni

CCAD students and alumni have access to a variety of tools, resources, and professional development opportunities.

Career Readiness

Hands-on learning and networking abound! From job fairs to real-world projects, you’ll get plenty of opportunities to create your unique career path at CCAD.

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Practice interviewing skills with a career coach and your peers.
Career Fair 05
Meet potential employers at networking events like the Career Fair.
CCAD_Graduate_Students
Display your art and design work for prospective employers.
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Practice showing and selling your work before graduation.
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Get real-world experience through internships or other opportunities.
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Collaborate with organizations on projects that make a difference.

Connections & Career Development

88%
of BFA graduates are employed or continuing their education one year post-graduation.
100%
of students said their internship helped prepare them for their career.
630+
organizations and companies collaborated with CCAD to provide internship, co-op, and project opportunities for students.
226,907
hours of real-world experience through internships, co-ops, and partnered projects since 2019.

Power skills: rocket fuel for your career and life

CCAD gives you the tools you need to succeed. Expect to graduate with these super powers.

Collaboration

Working with others in a way that allows everyone’s ideas and contributions to be heard is a highly valuable skill. Don’t take our word for it. Nearly 80% of employers list teamwork as a top skill they want in their employees.

Creating connections

Making professional connections is the best way to find job opportunities. With real-world projects in the classroom and networking events like the Career Fair and Art Fair, you'll have many opportunities to meet potential employers and collaborators while you're a student. 

Critical thinking

Learning how to think through a problem from start to finish is a must-have skill not only for your career but also in your personal life. Hint: start by asking questions. Then ask some more.

Receiving feedback

Hearing both praise and constructive criticism helps you develop as a strong, resilient and confident creative. And confident creatives create better ideas.

Communication

Sharing your thoughts clearly and with confidence helps others get behind your ideas. Strong communication skills also give you the ability to manage disagreements more easily and effectively.

Adaptability

Being a creative is like having a passport to any field of work – every industry needs creative people to help tell their stories, build their products or services, and get them into the hands of their customers. In doing so, you’ll work with a lot of different roles. Knowing how to interact with all parts of a business is a critical skill.

Where You Can Find Our Alumni

Our alumni shape the future of culture and commerce at organizations based in Columbus, for companies all across the nation, and with globally recognized brands. They also publish books, own galleries, and launch companies! Here are just a few examples of where you’ll find CCAD alumni:

  • Abercrombie & Fitch
  • American Greetings
  • Bath & Body Works
  • Columbus Crew Soccer Club
  • Columbus Museum of Art
  • Dockers
  • JP Morgan Chase
  • Meow Wolf
  • Nationwide
  • Netflix
  • Ohio Division of Wildlife
  • OhioHealth
  • Old Navy
  • Owens Corning
  • Pixar Animation Studios
  • St. Louis Cardinals
  • U.S. Air Force
  • The Walt Disney Company