Ripple Studio Recap
If you haven’t heard the story by now, here’s the short version:
At the end of 2022, a meeting I had with Natalia Bishop about the Ripple Effect turned into a long-time dream of mine being realized. I literally dropped everything else for 2 days to write a plan. We started strategizing about how we could turn this free branding program into an internship model under the Health Equity Innovation Hub’s Engage Program. As someone who knows the importance of an undergraduate internship and vehemently opposes the structures of privilege that remain intact through unpaid internships, this program brilliantly fills the gap.
Design in particular is a field that I believe is best learned on the job.
When I graduated, as great as my program at WKU was, I felt like I was slapped in the face repeatedly by the soft skills you can’t possibly teach in a classroom, the pace, and the nuances of doing real design work with a real client.
It felt like the perfect fit, and an absolute dream project that I didn’t know was possible. We plotted for 5 businesses to come on, all in need of a rebrand, and 5 students, pairing them for a one-on-one experience. When the Hite Institute got involved, we found it fit perfectly into their curriculum. This meant that students not only got an internship, with actual client experience, and work-study pay; they also got class credit for participation. I spent the next 9 months getting through the red tape, interviewing students and founders, and building the program.
I walked in the first day to a hilariously large (for 6 people) classroom.
Do you remember that weird first-day feeling of walking into a new school, not knowing what to expect? I had that.
After a sudden realization that I was the one leading this whole thing and I simply couldn’t sit quietly in the back, feeling it all out, I put on my best false-confidence and led the first class. Then I got a parking ticket, but that’s just a small sidenote.
Over the next 4 months, every Monday and Wednesday, the six of us met in that too-big classroom and worked through the program together. I got to witness firsthand some lightbulb moments, the nerves that can comes before a client meeting, and the relief when something you’ve worked so hard on gets the stamp of approval. These are all experiences that I know intimately, but seeing it happen for the first time with students just hits different.
The Ripple Studio let me leverage creativity in an entirely new way. I realized halfway through the design process that everyone was flatlining - feeling stuck. We’d talked about this upfront and I think it’s something every designer goes through when they’re working on a long-term or important project. I brought in my 3-year-old’s art supplies and turned on music, and everyone drew with crayons and markers for an hour. I had to think about how to explain the work I’ve been doing for 5 years to someone who knew nothing about it - and then teach them how to do it themselves. We had critiques, pivoted where we needed to, talked about the stress of graduating in less than a year, and forged ahead together. I laughed with my husband that no compliment registers quite like one from a 21-year-old.
We wrapped up the semester in a whirlwind, just in time for the showcase where students and founders had a chance to show off their hard work. Though it’s worth mentioning that while my influence was naturally present, each student created, led, and executed their brand through their own creativity and expertise.
I’m remarkably proud of all the students have accomplished. Watching each of them grow and learn has been an absolute honor and any company would be lucky to have them come May’s graduation. If Brackish were large enough, I’d snag ‘em all for myself.
On the other hand, the businesses were all amazing participants - being game for a long-haul branding project, working with me and their student designer to communicate and come to meetings.
I’m thrilled to say that every single student and business pairing is planning to continue working together next semester. As a freelance designer, continued work or referrals is the biggest compliment to your work. And as the facilitator of the program, this is my biggest marker of success. But in case it wasn’t enough, the feedback we’ve gotten has been incredible - from founders, students, the Hite institute, and the Hub.
Thanks to Natalia Bishop, Hannah Estes, and Ben Reno-Weber at the Health Equity Innovation Hub - and Humana and UofL - for allowing the program to happen. And to Trysh Wahlig and Chris Reitz for making it a part of the Hite Institute.
And of course, my lovely students: Landon Bloodworth, Noah Verstynen, Haley Hartley, Reagan Barrett, and Kez Blair; and founders: Chris Reddington, Amber Fields, Savon Gray, Robbie Dobbs, Ryan Nazar, and Natalie Calhoun. You all made it a success!
If you’re interested in being a part of the next Ripple Studio or have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out!
