RISD Trek Connects Students with Art and Design Professionals in New York City

Fifteen enterprising RISD students ventured to New York City this summer via RISD Trek for a jam-packed week of events designed to connect students with art and design professionals, industry leaders, alumni, and mentors.

“At the core of what we try to do with Trek is expose students to life after RISD and how to translate what they’ve learned at RISD into the workforce,” says Elena Mendez Lewis of Alumni & Family Relations, the office within Institutional Advancement that leads the program. “The questions they were asking were so thoughtful, and they really came prepared for the visits.” 

On the itinerary was a trip to West Elm and Williams Sonoma, where students got an exclusive look at the companies’ 2027 and 2028 collections. For rising senior Ava Maghsoodlou 27 ID, the visits offered a glimpse into post-grad life. “Trek gives students the rare opportunity to go out into the field and experience a city from the industry perspective, rather than just visiting as a tourist or passing through,” she says. 

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Later that day, students attended a panel discussion with a group of RISD alums including Julian O’Donnell 22 ID, Vir Naidu MID 24, Graciela Batista 25 IL, and Mariyam Kherodawala 23 IA. Students asked what led the alums to RISD, how to find joy within the hustle culture, and what character traits feel most important in this new chapter of life.

“Programs like Trek are very beneficial because they break down a lot of the fear students have about transitioning into being working artists,” Batista explains. “Forming real connections with people who are willing to help can feel like a big, tangible thing that can really aid the transition. I felt delighted to be part of a conversation that I remember helped me a lot when I was in that position.”

The group also met with alum Lindsey Adelman 96 ID/P 26 to get an inside look at her lighting studio and practice. “Our alumni are so generous in developing deep supportive relationships with current RISD students,” says Kevin Jankowski 88 IL, director of RISD Careers. “Lindsey blends fine art, a sculptural mindset, and design in her practice, using skills dating back to her first-year Experimental and Foundation Studies experience.”

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Other activities included visiting branding agency Huge where they heard from Executive Creative Director Cavan Huang MFA 05 GD, and Design Director Yolanda Lam MFA 17 DM, who walked students through several projects so they could see various iterations, how client feedback was incorporated, and how the alums thinks through design problems. 

“For the first time, I experienced RISD's tight-knit alumni community,” says Katie Kim 28 FD, “and there was a real comfort in knowing that after I graduate and leave Providence, the creativity and love of RISD will never be too far away.” 

RISD Trek is a privately funded program that provides RISD students opportunities to engage with art and design professionals and network with industry leaders, alumni, and mentors. This year’s funding was provided by Santander Bank, who gifted $50,000 to the Trek Fund in support of professional development and networking. In addition to supporting Trek, Santander has generously provided $465,000 of need-based scholarship funding for RISD students.

Kaylee Pugliese
September 17, 2026