At Drexel University Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, students learn to understand and respond to the pressing issues of our times. We are proud to highlight the accomplishments of three such students and how they are excelling not just in spite of, but because of the pandemic.
Photography student Hannah Beier (‘20) pivoted her senior project from in-person sessions to virtual photoshoots, which landed her work, “Time Apart”, on the cover of TIME Magazine. In the search for photography for their Generation Pandemic issue, TIME director of photography, Katherine Pomerantz and her team found Beier’s work after reaching out to photography programs and colleges in the US. Thanks to Drexel’s Photography program, Beier has already begun to accomplish her professional photography goals!
Amanda Forastieri (‘20) debuted her runway collection, Utopia, in September and won the 2020 Supima Design Competition. Her vibrant, bold work was a response to the current times and a call for hope. Forastieri’s collection portrays the story of a near future post-COVID in which humans unite to build a new system, one that stems with love and respect for the planet and, most importantly, each other. In addition to her win, the Drexel University Fashion Design graduate received a $10,000 prize to help kickstart her design career.
Current Interior Architecture & Design student Pooja Kalavagunta placed second in the international 2020 COVID Response Design Competition. Kalavagunta and an architectural colleague created “The Bubble”, which is “a spatial nexus that facilitates smooth transitioning into the new normal and offers a safe space to reconnect with nature.” Their work was chosen from over 600 design entries that would cater to health and safety responses for public, commercial, or hospitality workers and adapt to a post-pandemic world.
These standout students are just a few of the success stories at the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design at Drexel University. Learn more about how Drexel can help you excel beyond the pandemic.
