Exploring Careers in Creative Design is a collaborative series developed by the Center for Careers and Internships and Middlebury in DC with content contributions from members of the Middlebury Professional Network and Middlebury students.
Design is all around us—from the clothes we wear to the apps we use; from the cars we drive to the chairs we sit on. As a designer, you have the power to shape the world. With the global market for design services projected to reach nearly $250 billion, this series provides valuable insights from professionals who have crafted diverse careers in creative design, sharing their pathways from Middlebury to their current roles and advice for students entering this field.
Watch the videos below, or visit our YouTube channel to view the full playlist, binge this series, and explore other MIDDVantage collections.
- Guest: Chrissy Ritter ‘16, Project Manager and Senior Designer at Charlotte Moss LLC
- Interviewer: Megan Mahoney ‘22
- Overview: Chrissy shares her career progression at Charlotte Moss LLC, from Design Associate to Project Manager, alongside her experiences in Middlebury’s lacrosse team.
- Watch Time: 22 minutes
- Guest:Katie Rominger ‘14, Design Director at Jones Knowles Ritchie
- Interviewer: Clara Wolcott ‘22
- Overview: Katie, based in NYC, develops iconic brand identities as a Design Director, drawing from her graphic design background and experience with major brands at Pentagram.
- Watch Time: 27 minutes
- Guest:Lindsay Winstead ‘10, Program Manager – Global Workplace Design, Adobe
- Interviewer: Sanjana Roy ‘22
- Overview: Lindsay manages Adobe’s global workplace design projects, from digitizing space guidelines to implementing Adobe’s Dynamic Work Program for the Future of Work.
- Watch Time: 28 minutes
- Guest: Leah Welch ‘11, Data Visualization Designer, Bottomline Technologies
- Interviewer: Sol Manuel Garza ‘22
- Overview: Leah, a designer blending art and data science, shares her expertise in creating interactive, data-driven visual experiences across graphic design, storytelling, and front-end development.
- Watch Time: 28 minutes
- Guest:James Schonzeit ‘10, Manager Design with Block
- Interviewer: Masud Tyree Lewis ‘22
- Overview: James leads the product design team for Block’s Restaurants Team, adapting to rapid industry changes like QR codes and handheld ordering to meet evolving customer needs.
- Watch Time: 34 minutes
- Guest:Yina Smith-Danenhower ‘09, Head of Product Design at XAPP AI
- Interviewer: Kexin Tang ‘23
- Overview: Yina discusses her journey from dancer and architectural designer to leading product design at XAPP AI, where she crafts cohesive chatbot solutions through collaboration and creative direction.
- Watch Time: 32 minutes