UC student gets hands-on experience with global design firm

Populous’ signature designs have been front and center recently as the firm worked on nearly half of the 16 venues that hosted matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The list includes some of the most recognizable sports venues in the world:

• Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
• Reliant Stadium in Houston, the first NFL stadium with a retractable roof.
• Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico, designed in partnership with VFO.
• Gillette Stadium outside of Boston.
• Arrowhead Stadium renovations in Kansas City, Missouri.
• Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, renovated by Populous for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the only stadium to host three World Cups.
• Levi’s Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area, which recently underwent a $200 million upgrade led by Populous.

Behind these global landmarks is a firm with deep ties to UC, not only through alumni leadership but through a lasting connection to the people and experiences that shaped its graduates.

For Miller, those connections endure long after graduation. He recently reunited with a group of college friends in Pittsburgh, a reminder of the relationships forged during those formative years.

“A group of us got together a few months ago in Pittsburgh. No matter how much time passes, it doesn’t matter. We pick up where we left off.”

That same commitment to staying connected extends to UC. Miller gives back to his alma mater with students receiving mentorship from Populous through long-running cooperative education (co-op) pipeline helping students gain experience while bringing fresh perspectives into the firm.

“Populous views the co-op and internship program as an investment in the future of design,” says Alex Ogata, senior principal at Populous. “Our long-standing relationship with the University of Cincinnati has helped us identify exceptional talent while giving students hands-on experience in global design. Through our Design Lab, students like Layne gain exposure to the creative process behind some of the most complex design challenges.”

Working at the design firm also introduced Wagner to the complexity behind significant stadium and venue design, where no single discipline works in isolation.

“I learned how much of a collaborative nature it requires to design venue work on such a large scale,” she says. “People were chosen  to work together on these big stadiums.”

For Wagner, that meant joining forces across architecture, design and experiential teams working on projects that ultimately serve millions of visitors.

“From an organizational perspective, I was working on servers and OneDrive folders. It was very confusing at first,” she says. “It was my first co-op, and I didn’t understand why I needed to be on a server to save things.”

But the learning curve extended beyond tools to include understanding workplace culture, communication and creative voice which Layne would soon become more than proficient. And people noticed. 

In his recommendation letter for Wagner, Jeremy Williams, a principal at Populous, praised  Wagner for her creativity, professionalism, and willingness to learn during her Spring 2026 internship with the Populous Design Lab. He highlighted her ability to embrace feedback, collaborate across disciplines and contribute reliably in a fast-paced design environment.

Layne’s work spanned graphic design, illustration and exhibit design, including projects for Unseen magazine, the Baltimore Orioles and the College Baseball Hall of Fame. Williams noted that her combination of creativity, collaboration and adaptability positions her well for continued success in the design field.

“DAAP has really helped my confidence in being able to advocate for myself,” Wagner remarks. “You really don’t know what’s out there until you put yourself out there.”

For UC, the connection between Populous and its students reflects corporate innovation and a broader co-op model that continues to place students in globally significant industries.

“We welcome UC co-ops who want to try something new and bring varied experience. We also learn from the new technology younger hires bring with them,” says Miller.

Populous’ alumni ties to UC underscore that pipeline at the global leadership level, while co-op placements ensure students are gaining hands-on experience at a firm shaping major cultural moments.

His own co-op experience helped shape this philosophy. Working across small, large and independent design practices exposed Miller to different approaches to the profession and broadened his understanding of what is possible.

Wagner says her experience at Populous ultimately changed how she sees her own place in the design world.

“I came out a lot more confident in my design skills,” she says. “It makes me excited to continue on this path and keep growing.”

And for students considering similar opportunities, she offers direct advice:

“Never sell yourself short in what you’re capable of doing,” Wagner suggests. “The co-op process is about learning and growing. Just throw yourself into the deep end and be forced to learn and figure things out.”

Miller couldn’t agree more. He sees that same value in giving UC students opportunities to explore, experiment, and learn throughout the process and credits the co-op program with allowing Populous to benefit from the energy, technology, and perspectives of the next generation of Bearcats.