Creative Mash-up Unites DAAP Students with Firms in Two-Day Recruiting Event Oct. 6-7

Creative types and dozens of firms seeking to hire them will get to know one another in a whole new way at the University of Cincinnati next week during a two-day gathering of College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) students and design industry professionals known as the Engaging Emerging Creatives (E2C) Symposium.

Hosted by UC’s Division of Experienced-Based Learning and Career Education and the DAAP Student Tribunal, the E2C Symposium runs Oct. 6 and Oct. 7 inside the new Nippert Stadium West Pavilion. 

Designed through the collaboration of co-op faculty and DAAP Student Tribunal leaders from UC’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, E2C will showcase the talents of students majoring in industrial design, communication design, fashion design, interior design, architecture, fine arts, urban planning and community planning. Organizers refer to the inaugural event as an “un-career fair” because students and dozens of potential employers will be meeting in a casual interactive environment instead of in the typical across-the-table interview atmosphere.

The event includes a four-hour design blitz the afternoon of Oct. 6 when more than 400 creative students and professionals will collaborate in interdisciplinary teams to help local nonprofits solve a variety of challenges and “create work that matters.” Students will get a chance to work alongside industry pros while also displaying how they think, work and perform under pressure. Meanwhile, nonprofits such as Cradle Cincinnati, United Way, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful and St. Vincent DePaul will end the day as the beneficiary of all the creative energy — not to mention they’ll leave with armloads of collateral materials.

“We want the relaxed designer interaction vibe to come across,” says Cindy Damschroder, associate professor and member of the event leadership team. “We have created this event to meet both students and employer requests.”

She points out that nearly 50 employers — including the likes of Dell, Adidas, Northlich and Procter & Gamble — registered for a chance to land DAAP co-op students for the Spring 2017 semester while also expanding their brand recognition on campus. For employers, the event is a chance to see students beyond just their portfolio and resume. For students, Damschroder says, it is a chance to get to know a wide variety of potential employers and their company’s story in a short amount of time.

Day two of E2C will be highlighted by one-on-one portfolio reviews and a series of presentations including “Front End Innovation,” “Craftsmanship & the Maker Movement,” and “Entrepreneurial Spirit.”

Find out more or register on the E2C Symposium website.