Ninety-five leading design firms - representing a wide range of disciplines - were on campus for four days last week (with more to come in April) to conduct informal interviews and give feedback on student portfolios in the Furniture, Graphic and Industrial Design and Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Interior Architecture departments. More than 400 students took advantage of the opportunity to present their portfolios and receive advice on how to gain a competitive edge in a challenging world.

Creative directors, designers, principals and presidents got a first-hand look at RISD’s talented students - and the students benefited from meeting over 50 alumni, who returned to campus to participate in the reviews. RISD alumni obviously understand the RISD experience, know what it’s like to be a student here, and how to transition from the studio to the real world. It could take weeks, and even months, to schedule interviews with the number of companies that the students saw in a matter of four hours. RISD’s Career Services Office calls it “the career equivalent to speed dating” - with many relationships lasting well beyond the 15-minute interview.

Thanks to RISD CSO for organizing this incredible event, to the students who participated and to the alumni who came back to Providence to lend their expertise to the program.

Among the companies in attendance were: Chermayeff & Geismar, Landor, Pentagram, Ogilvy, Modernista!, Wolff Olins, Helmut Lang, Urban Outfitters, Target, Altitude, Essential, frog, Continuum, Hasbro, Invivia, Reebok,West Elm, Nemo, Moshe Safdie, Sasaki, Elkus Manfredi and Tro, Jung Brannen.