COV E R TO COV E R From studying in Motown, to making their mark on the entertainment industry, CCS alumni are the star of the show. Transportation Design alumnas drive the future of car design. It’s “Game On!” for these alums who have worked on some of the most popular games in the industry. A Craft & Material Studies alum takes the Next Step with his business. An Art Practice alum tackles the complexities of race within his work. And Photography alums get down to the defining second with these picture-perfect moments.
THESE ARE CCS ALUMNI. ONE DAY, YOU WILL BE ONE OF THEM.
COLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIES offers 13 undergraduate majors and a Visual Arts Teacher Certification program, but as you’ll see, the possibilities are limitless.
Jak Wonderly ’99, Industrial Design, Freelance Photographer. “Caught by Cats,” First Place in the prestigious BigPicture: Natural World Photography Competition. “This project was one I was proud to be a part of,” said Wonderly. “I took that on because it was the most ridiculous creative challenge anyone had thrown at me as a photographer — ‘We have more than 200 frozen dead animals and we need a really great photo of them.’ It was a challenge to envision something somber, dignified, truthful and not causing revulsion.”
1.
FRANK SYNOWICZ
’06, Entertainment Arts, CG Supervisor at Ghost VFX, created some of the VFX for Lady Gaga’s surrealist music video, “911.” Later that year, Gaga dominated at the 2020 Video Music Awards, where she took home five awards, including the inaugural Tricon Award.
🤩❤
Lady Gaga’s “911” video
ROCK STARS
D OZ E N S O F M U S I C I A N S G OT T H E I R STA RT,
W E L L- K N OW N STA R S TO DAY — CC S A LU M N I A R E M A K I N G A M A R K I N T H E E N T E RTA I N M E N T I N D U ST RY.
Gwen Stefani’s jewelry line
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2.
‘95, Photography, Staff Photographer, Getty Images Sport and owner of Gregory Shamus Photography, captured the Super Bowl LVI halftime show featuring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent. GREGORY SHAMUS
3.
SAMANTHA BANKLE SCHEFMAN
‘09, Craft & Material Studies, began her career immediately following graduation designing jewelry for Gwen Stefani’s line, “Harajuku Lovers.”
😎😎😎 Royce da 5’9” Lil Uzi Vert
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6.
JENNY RISHER ’97, Photography, Freelance Photographer and CCS adjunct faculty, has captured some of the most influential music artists and DJs that range from of Detroit’s Motown and hip-hop scene to international rock legends.
JAKE KELLER
’09, Entertainment Arts, was the online editor for the three-part documentary series Supervillain: The Making of Tekashi 6ix9ine.
TO C R E AT I N G FO R S O M E O F T H E M O ST
🔥🔥🔥
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Diplo at Coachella 2019
5.
F R O M ST U DY I N G I N M OTOW N , W H E R E
Super Bowl LVI halftime show
4.
’14, Entertainment Arts, is the Founder and Creative Director of M99 Studios in Los Angeles, California. Mauro has led the creative direction including, lighting, video, set design, pyrotechnics and interactive elements for some of the music industry’s top names, such as Megan Thee Stallion, Dua Lipa, Diplo, SZA, Erykah Badu, ASAP Rocky, Joey Bada$$ and Lil Uzi Vert. MICHAEL MAURO
7.
DAVE CHOW
’87, Illustration, creates art for two of Detroit’s most popular exports – cars and music. Just one of his notable music memories was creating storyboards for Eminem’s music video, “8 Mile.”
SHIFTING GEARS:
use of autonomous technology, vehicles
the female faculty and mentors. She
for rideshare or shared ownership, to
even joined the Automotive Women’s
low-cost electric vehicles.
Alliance, a nonprofit set on empowering
Before making it to the market, the manufacturing, logistics, delivery,
“My goal in my position, as well as
materials and other factors have to
future positions, is to keep progressing
be considered as they pertain to the
and inspiring brands and vehicles to
effects on the environment.
explore new areas of mobility with an
“We have to look at not only how
How Women Are Driving the Future of Movement
women in the automotive industry.
emphasis on efficiency and sustainabili-
it actively affects the environment,
ty,” Nowicki said. “I also look to inspire
but also how it is produced, and how
others, especially women, to get
industries related to the product affect
involved in the industry. I want other
the environment, such as mining for
women to see me and know my story
cobalt, installing new infrastructure
and goals to hopefully inspire them.”
for charging stations, the disposal and
Still, in the early stages of their
reuse of components and products, and
professional careers, they’ve learned
the expected longevity and lifespan of
a lot in the past few years:
the product,” said LEXIE NOWICKI
“Throughout my professional career,
(‘20, Transportation Design), Creative
I’ve learned that design is not just about
Designer at General Motors. “Our job
what it looks and feels like,” Suh said.
focuses on so many more things than
“Design is about how it works and
just styling the car.”
involves the user’s desirability and
Although Nowicki is a few years out from reveals and releases of what she
technology possibilities.” “Being on these teams, I have worked
has been working on, she can say that
not only as a designer sketching on
she’s part of two advanced teams
multiple programs,” Nowicki said, “but
exploring ways to make proposals
also strategizing for brand identity, brand
more sustainable through powertrain,
progression, sustainability, customer
efficiency, size, aerodynamics and
and marketing progression, and so many
consumer/industry demands.
other subjects outside of just sketching.”
Women in the industry aren’t only
“Transportation design has so many
working toward solutions for the future
facets. It is an extremely complex
of the environment, but are also
industry, and that is one reason it is
navigating a field dominated by men.
so exciting to be a part of it,” Ross said.
“Transportation design... is an extremely complex industry, and that is one reason it is so exciting to be a part of it.”— Eva Ross
According to Zippia, men represent
C H A N G I N G T H E WAY W E M OV E ,
about 70% of designers in the industry, In the past, mobility was seen as taking
is to create sustainable solutions for
a person from point A to B. The future
a range of vehicles, like urban delivery
needs to hold a shifted focus of
vehicles (UDV), mobility scooters and
women in class on her first day at CCS,
T I V E I N D U ST RY, I S I M P E R AT I V E
sustainability, connectivity and a
drones through modular design.
but found comfort and community in
TO H E L P R E D U C E O U R C A R B O N
ence, according to automotive Designer
carbon emissions with quick battery
HYEYOUNG “JESSICA” SUH
change, and parts of the truck being
FO OT P R I N T A N D L E S S E N T H E
(‘18, Transportation Design). Suh works
shipped in knock-down kits that can
for IDEENION Design AG, a design and
be assembled in local micro-factories.
development company that explores
The mobility scooter was designed to
solutions for the future of mobility,
assist aging populations in remaining
located in Gaimersheim, Germany.
active and independent as they age.
S P EC I F I C A L LY I N T H E AU TO M O -
L AST I N G E F F EC TS O F C L I M AT E C H A N G E . T H E WO M E N CO M I N G O U T O F CC S’S T R A N S P O RTAT I O N
personalized transportation experi-
Suh designed the exterior of the
The UDV was aimed at reducing
From her internships with Tesla and
Apollo EVision S and presented the
Uber ATG, to her current position as
DESIGN PROGRAM ARE LEADING
design concepts in November 2021.
Strategic Interior Designer at Ford,
She says that the EVision S takes the
EVA ROSS (‘18 Transportation
T H AT C H A N G E .
first step for Apollo vehicles toward
Design and Product Design) has aimed
an electrified future. Suh also had her
to lower the barrier for sustainable
hand in the development of Universal
mobility through the vehicles that she
Mobility Electrified (UME). UME’s goal
works on. The vehicles vary from the
4
while women represent 25%. Nowicki recalls being one of the only
Opposite: Nowicki’s designs for a 2030 Chevrolet 2 + 1 Electric Sport Coupe. This page (above): Ford Motor Company’s all-electric 2022 Mustang Mach-E. Below, clockwise: Suh’s renderings for UME’s Urban Delivery Vehicle, which was awarded the “Best of Best” in the “Commercial” category in the Automotive Brand Contest 2021 in Germany; EVision S concept, a premium electric sports coupe.
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GLAZED AND EXTRUDED
CCS: How did you get to this
CCS: Can you talk about a
point in your career — owner
project that helped catapult
of a major studio and gallery,
your career?
exhibiting your work all over
KS: I did a big job for Mercedes-
the country?
Benz. I was up against five other
KS: I started working with clay
artists, and we all wrote proposals
in eighth grade, and I fell in love
and they chose mine. The CEO
with it in high school. I didn’t
wanted something for their
T H E E VO LU T I O N O F
come to CCS as soon as I
headquarters in Stuttgart,
CCS: Have you mentored
graduated. I worked for a few
Germany, and I was allowed total
any promising artists?
A DY N A M I C C A R E E R
years, put together a portfolio,
creative freedom. It was huge,
KS: That’s why I call the studio
applied and got in. The
the installation had 200 pieces.
“Next Step Studio & Gallery”
IN CERAMICS
opportunity to go to CCS was
I don’t push the commission
instead of my first and last name,
something that I’d never thought
thing, but if it’s worth it, I’ll do it.
because everyone has their first
I’d be able to do or afford. Going
step in whatever they want to
When you walk into Next Step Studio & Gallery
there was one of the best things
do. I’ve even taken a few CCS
for the first time, it’s immediately evident that it is
I’ve done. Now, I’m working on a
students under my wing and
operated with an extreme sense of pride — from the
scholarship fund in my name.
promoted their careers here.
meticulous curation of work, to the alluring gardens —
There was one student that I
there is intention behind every detail of this important
took in as soon as he graduated,
community space owned and operated by CCS alumnus
and I sold a ton of his work — I
Kaiser Suidan. And this sense of pride is a shining example
even took him to national shows
that this successful career as an entrepreneur and
in Chicago. I took in people that
ceramicist didn’t happen overnight.
I thought deserved an audience. I’ve also taught at CCS and at the
KAISER SUIDAN (‘93, Craft & Material Studies),
Birmingham Art Association.
owner of Next Step Studio & Gallery and internationally acclaimed ceramicist, has celebrated a long and successful career as an entrepreneur, studio artist,
CCS: What is it like running a
instructor and mentor. His journey began early,
gallery?
experimenting with clay at a young age and, eventually,
KS: It’s a lot of work. You have to
earning a full scholarship to CCS where he created
set up, make sure that the work
award-winning work, graduated with honors and
is represented correctly, make
CCS: Any advice for students
was discovered during his final Student Exhibition
sure that the walls are painted,
thinking about becoming
Opening at CCS.
make sure that you don’t have
art practitioners?
too much work out. Every gallery
KS: Stick with your passion.
is different, so sometimes you’ll
That might be too general, but
go in and it’s a mix of things — you
it’s kind of true. Whether you’re
can’t see anything that way, so
a writer or a musician, you have
the work here fits my aesthetic.
to give 200%. The entire time
Some advice I’d give to someone
I was at CCS, I didn’t have a life.
aspiring to open a gallery would
I was in class all day, waiting
be to realize how expensive rent
tables and doing art fairs. It all
can be, and that you learn as you
comes down to determination.
Join us as we walk through Suidan’s illustrious career …
go as well as make mistakes CCS: How did you come to owning your own business? KS: I was renting a space with two other artists for about 10 years, and I was just driving around and saw this building [Next Step Studio & Gallery] and my heart dropped. I had to have it. It was just a garage then, so the entire place has been renovated.
along the way.
A LWAYS WA N T ED TO C R EAT E A RT T H AT TO L D STO R I E S THROUGH REALISM, AND H E D O E S T H AT T H R O U G H 22”x30” (below), all works by Taurus Burns.
canvas, 24”x24” (far right); “Self Portrait as a Panther” ink and gouache on paper,
“The Graduate,” oil on canvas, 48”x48” (right); “Brother in a Cornfield” oil on
Influence of race, Politics & History
TAU R U S B U R N S H AS
H I S D I S C U S S I O N S O F B L AC K H I STO RY I N H I S W O R K . After an elementary school teacher called attention to and encouraged his budding talent, TAURUS BURNS (‘02, Art Practice) knew that he wanted to be an artist when he grew up. An “Army brat” whose father was in the military, he had lived in four different states and two countries by the time he was 13 years old. Along the way, he took to drawing as a form of self-expression and to record his experiences. “Growing up, I yearned to make art about my upbringing in a way that felt deeply personal, yet of the moment,” he recalled. After graduating from CCS, Burns stayed in Detroit and became active in the local arts scene. Over the next decade,
said elephant in the room. His next exhibit, “Racism
organizing shows with the exhibition committee at a popular
Sweet Racism,” was held at the Elijah Wheat Showroom
gallery, painting murals, and other public art projects — all
in Brooklyn, New York. It featured portraits of Black and
while regularly exhibiting his art throughout Metro Detroit.
Trans women killed by law enforcement, as well as
In 2012, he began a series that eventually grew to be 300 urban landscape paintings inspired by the city. “Even though I had lived here for 10 years, I still felt like an
paintings that examined his ideas about a relationship between patriotism and institutional racism. During the next couple of years, he continued to
outsider,” Burns said. “I wanted to feel like a part of this city,
make art that touched on these subjects. And then, in
to understand what it meant to be a Detroiter. I started going
2020, George Floyd was murdered, sparking an outrage
out to explore the landscape, and got to learn more about the
that swept across the nation and around the world.
city through the people I met at my art shows.” As he continued to build a life in Detroit, events around the
Floyd was a Black man who a Minneapolis store clerk suspected of using a counterfeit $20 bill. Shortly
country began weighing heavily on him. Stories and videos of
thereafter, he was arrested by police and died after an
Black people being killed by law enforcement had been surfacing
officer kneeled on his neck for more than nine minutes.
for years. With the murder of Philando Castile, Burns says,
Burns later attended a protest with his stepson, and
“Something in me broke.” Castile, a 32-year-old Black man, was
couldn’t stop thinking about the effect that seeing the
shot and killed at a traffic stop in Minneapolis. His last moments
video of Los Angeles Police Department officers
were caught on camera by his girlfriend beside him in the car.
beating Rodney King had on him in 1991, at 17 years old,
This event caused a shift in Burns’ work toward confronting
and that his stepson was experiencing George Floyd’s
America’s ongoing problems with race.
murder at that same age now.
This led to a groundbreaking solo show, “Troublemaker,”
“It just solidified the importance of making work
where he challenged the general perception of Black people
about this issue. America’s continued distortion of Black
as troublemakers in society, while celebrating Black artists,
lives is disheartening, and it’s pushed me to continue
entertainers and leaders who had made an impact on identity
fighting against this systemic problem,” Burns stated.
and American culture. Of this exhibit, he says, “I have dealt
2
Since “Troublemaker,” Burns has continued to tackle
he could be found street painting at area art festivals,
Recent exhibits, “The Panther in Me” and “DEFEN-
with that negative perception throughout my life. With this
SIVE” continue the discussion of race in America.
exhibit I was trying to do two things at once: address the
Burns surmises, “Because I’m biracial, I feel like I grew
ongoing deadly incidents of police violence toward Black
up between two races, but it’s like my life was set up
men and also come to terms with my own experiences
for me to talk about race in this particular way. It’s not
of racism. That show was the first time I pushed back
always easy, but it feels incredibly rewarding to finally
against both.”
be able to make this art.”
C H AS I N G A DV E N T U R E THROUGH THEIR LENS These CCS Photography alumni set their focus on thrill-seeking, nature-loving adventurers, and the payoff is intense.
1.
PATRICK DALY
’09, Photography,
Freelance Advertising
and Editorial
Photographer. Daly works directly with brands like New Balance,
3.
GREGORY SHAMUS ‘95, Photography, Staff Photographer,
Getty Images Sport and owner of Gregory Shamus Photography.
Shamus has traveled all over the world covering some of the
most elite athletes, teams and events, including the Tokyo 2020
Summer Olympics. As one of the nation’s top sports photographers, Shamus covers high-profile events such as the NBA All-Star Game, Stanley Cup Finals,
Reebok, Velocio and Bern Helmets
Super Bowl and the World Series. His portrait and action photographs have
and says, “Adventure/outdoor
appeared on the pages of Sports Illustrated, ESPN Magazine, USA Today,
photography constantly pushes
The New York Times and several other publications around the world.
me beyond my comfort zone. It’s
When asked what’s next, Shamus said he’ll be covering the 2022 Masters
a privilege to even call this ‘work’.”
Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. “It’s a bucket-list event,” he said.
4.
CHRIS ARACE ’01, Communication Design,
Owner and Photographer, Arace Photographic.
As an avid outdoorsman, Arace has created
outdoor campaigns for brands including RAM,
Ford, HGTV, GM and Jeep. He’s also the photographer behind the award-winning “Pure Michigan” campaign.
5.
EMILY TROMBLY ‘20, Photography,
Freelance Adventure and Lifestyle Photographer.
After graduation, Trombly packed her whole
life into the back of her Subaru Forester in
order to pursue rock climbing photography — a sport she naturally loves. She spent every day climbing and hanging on a static line taking photographs. Her shots made it into Climbing Magazine and marketing for outdoor companies including Swiftwick Socks, Cypher Climbing, Beal and Singing Rock. Trombly also participated in the Eddie Adams Workshop, which gave her an opportunity to work with some of the best sports photographers and photojournalists in the world.
2.
JAK WONDERLY
’99, Industrial Design,
Freelance Photographer.
Wonderly admits,
“There are a lot of challenges to what I do, but I love the lifestyle.” Wonderly’s hard work and sharp eye have paid off. Whether he’s on assignment in the Himalayas photographing for the Snow Leopard Conservancy — which he says “was probably my favorite project ever” — to an orangutan research station on the Indonesian Borneo Island called Kalimantan, he’s seen, photographed and traveled to many remote areas of the world. His award-winning work has been featured in National Geographic, Smithsonian, The Today Show, LIFE, The Nature Conservancy, bioGraphic, Sunset and American Cowboy.
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COVER ARTWORK Michael Mauro (‘14, Entertainment Arts) leads the creative direction behind hip-hop’s most influential live concert performances. On the cover: Russ’ “I See You Part 2” tour, designed and produced by M99 Studios.
The College for Creative Studies is a nonprofit, private college authorized by the Michigan Education Department to grant bachelor’s and master’s degrees. CCS is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Documents regarding accreditation are available in the Executive Office upon formal request. The College for Creative Studies subscribes to the principle of equal opportunity in its employment, admissions, educational practices, scholarship and loan programs, and other schooladministered programs, and strives to provide an educational environment and workplace free from unlawful harassment or discrimination. Discrimination, including harassment, because of age, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, physical attributes, marital or familial status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law is strictly prohibited.