Alumni Stories

Tym Tyler lives on an old farm outside Granville, Ohio. His studio, formerly a chicken hatchery, is, fittingly, dedicated to two seemingly disparate worlds: painting and cycling. Since graduate school, Tyler has been a promoter—in his 20s and 30s, he promoted music concerts, professional cycling events, running events, and triathlons. As he got older, he honed his focus to fitness events (concert promotion is “a young man’s game,” he says).

Back when he was a student at Columbus College of Art & Design, Josh Hara (Illustration, 1996) made his mark on illustration board. These days, Hara, now Creative Director at IBM iX in Columbus (formerly Resource Interactive) has chosen a new canvas for his self-expression.

Photographer Jiahao Peng (MFA, 2019) chose CCAD for its diverse opportunities. The MFA program developed his skills and artistic voice through critiques and interdisciplinary projects.

As a project manager at WD Partners, a branding agency in Columbus, Courtney Patton wears many hats. In addition to helping designers on her teams with everything from idea mapping to prototype rendering, she also has to seamlessly juggle multidisciplinary team schedules, client expectations, keeping her desk’s popular candy jar fully loaded, and so much more.

Carol Snyder (Fine Arts, 1985) lives and makes art in central Ohio, but her ceramics practice has taken her around the world.

As a Resident Artist at Goodwill Art Studio and Gallery, Cody F. Miller (Illustration,1995) guides artists with disabilities, helping them land exhibitions at galleries across the city.

Congratulations to Sugandh Agrawal (Industrial Design, 2005), winner of the Best Retail Handbag Award at the 2018 Independent Handbag Designer Awards. The award, presented by Macy’s, recognized a handbag “designed with the Macy’s customer in mind” and included 1,500 entries from around the world.

Tony West, a Disney animator, influenced CCAD artists. His career spanned Disney's golden age, from "The Rescuers Down Under" to "Lilo and Stitch". He fosters talent, embraces change, and sees animation's limitless future in imagination.

Elijah Funk (Fine Arts, 2012) embraces being "weird." At CCAD, he thrived with faculty support. Now, he co-owns Online Ceramics, designing sought-after T-shirts with Alix Ross.

High Bank Distillery Co. opens soon, offering craft cocktails, organic vodka, and custom whiskey. Co-founder Adam Hines credits CCAD for his entrepreneurial success and passion for creativity.

Before she found her calling as an artist and arts administrator, Linda Diec (MFA, 2013) thought she wanted to be a doctor. To that end, she started her undergraduate career as a pre-med biochemistry student. “But then I had a revelation,” she said. She changed her major first to architecture, then to art history, then to art

Before Kelli Williams started at CCAD, she was a photographer. Now Williams (Master of Fine Arts, 2017), blends experimental animation, photography, and installation — along with a hefty dose of wit — to as she creates art exploring social media’s impact on society.