Photo by Lauren Thomas / Hudson Valley One
Ally Bell ’12
Ally Bell ’12 was the subject of a recent feature story in Hudson Valley One, which details the opening of her business, We Did It Boys Studios, in a suite of rooms in the Medusa Antiques building on New Paltz's Main Street.
According to the article, after Bell left her position as director of operations at Unison Arts & Learning Center last year, she opened We Did It Boys Studios—a "cheeky" reference to an inside joke with her friends—to establish a commercial space where she and other artists can create, collaborate, and host pop-up shows.
“I want it to be more of a group space, with around 10 to 15 members to drop in," Bell told Frances Marion Platt of Hudson Valley One. "You get wall space, you can host events, you get chances to sell your work or do a workshop.”
Read the full story on Hudson Valley One's website.
Jazmyne Daily-Simpson ’25
Jazmyne Daily-Simpson ’25, a graphic design major and art history minor, presented her Honors Program thesis, "ArtSci: Kits for Curious Minds," at the Honors Center on May 8. Daily-Simpson completed her thesis project—which combined design, science, and art history—under the faculty advisement of Associate Professor of Theatre Arts Andrea Varga and Associate Professor of Art History Keely Heuer. She also presented this project at the 2025 Design Show on May 2, to the delight of several young visitors to the final exhibition.
"For this project I created a branded series of boxes that teach kids chemistry concepts through art," says Daily-Simpson, who was also named a 2025 recipient of the President's Award for Student Excellence. "One of the big elements of this process was a hands on lesson that I did with a first grade class. It focused on abstract art and molecules, and this experience helped me get feedback, but it also allowed me to implement some of my project in real life."
Additionally, we wish Daily-Simpson the best of luck as she heads into a new position as a summer internship paper conservation intern at the National Musuem of African American History and Culture. She was granted the opportunity through the Mellon Opportunity for Diversity in Conservation, a program run through the Getty Musuem and UCLA.
Design Students Attend Adobe Retreat
On April 17 and 18, six seniors in the Graphic Design program attended the Adobe Creative Retreat in Times Square, which consisted of two days of networking, career readiness discussions, portfolio reviews and wellness activities.
The faculty-nominated students—Olivia Hansen ’25, Johnny DiMaio ’25, Cleo Goldman ’25, Kaylah Phillips ’25, Emely Moncion ’25, and Elizabeth Blasco ’25—were selected amongst 75 students and recent graduates from the New York tri-state area selected to attend the retreat.
“It was an incredibly inspiring, insightful and energizing experience for emerging graphic designers like myself,” says DiMaio. “From workshops and panels to connecting with truly talented creatives and industry professionals, I’m feeling more inspired than ever to keep pushing forward in my design journey.”
Seniors Present Work at Design Show
After a Wooster power outage forced a last-minute relocation to the South Classroom Building, the 2025 Design Show went on as planned on Friday, May 2, and was by all measures a wild success. This major culminating event, which featured the graduating thesis projects of 29 students in the graphic design BFA and digital design and fabrication MA programs, drew hundreds of guests, including family and friends from out of state, alumni, local professionals, and the campus community.
Congratulations to the students who presented their work at the show: Caleigh Addis ’25, Cotye Allen ’25, Elizabeth Blasco ’25, Quinn Bonney ’25, Danielle Bunn ’25, V Close ’25, Jazmyne Daily-Simpson ’25, Rowan Davidson ’25, Melina Devine ’25, Alyssa DiBartolo ’25, Myrkos Diaz ’25, John DiMaio ’25, Cleo Goldman ’25, Olivia Hansen ’25, Kat Humphrey ’25, Leigh Joiner ’25, Nate Martinez ’25, Emely Moncion ’25, Arianna Moore ’25, Allie O’Connor ’25, Jake Pennisi ’25g, Kaylah Phillips ’25, Daniella Rivera ’25, Celina Sciuto ’25, Jess Soledad ’25, Caia Sullivan ’25, Madison Tripi ’25, Olivia Wilson ’25, and Dylan Yu ’25.
Caia Sullivan ’25
Caia Sullivan ’25 presented her Honors Program thesis, "Why TV Matters: Exploring the Complexities and Nuance in Character Stereotypes and Representation in TV," at the Honors Center on Friday, May 9. Sullivan completed the project under the faculty advisement of Assistant Professor Asilia Franklin-Phipps in Educational Studies and Leadership and Associate Professor of Design Amy Papaelias.
Sullivan also presented this project at the 2025 Design Show on May 2 in South Classroom Building with her fellow Graphic Design BFA seniors.
Design Lab students Showcase Pro-Bono Work
Design students named Outstanding Graduates
Several Department of Design students were named Outstanding Graduates by the President's Office for the 2024-25 academic year.
“This group has not only accomplished the completion of the expectations, but have excelled in critical areas,” said President Darrell P. Wheeler. “You are to be applauded for the accomplishments that you’ve made in your discipline, for the impression that you’ve made on your faculty and staff and your colleagues and for the impact that you stand prepared to make as you go forward beyond your time as an undergraduate.”
Congratulations to all our outstanding grads from Design: Jazmyne Daily-Simpson, Anya Lucas, Sarah Himme, Danielle Bunn, and Olivia Hansen.
