
Pratt Career Night on Wednesday, Apr. 21 was held virtually via Zoom. MFA and BFA Interior Design students presented their portfolios, all available for public viewing online at https://prattshows.pratt.edu/2021/schools/school-of-design.
Attendees:
130 Interior Design Students
10 Design Firms
20 Designers and Architects


“I believe what we’ve tried to do is provide a positive opportunity during a time in which the pandemic has made our industry impoverished for graduates seeking employment. This event is about hope and about preparing the students by giving them a chance to meet with professionals from some of the top firms in the world of design. It is inspirational, and also a occasion for firms to give back, and to see what great talent and intelligence is available when we turn around,” said Professor Jon Otis, Founder Pratt Career Night and Principal of Object Agency. “We were so pleased with the student turnout during this difficult year. The students are really hungry to have personal contact with professional designers as it’s been a very challenging time without the ability to get internships, visit showrooms, and attend events in person. This event proves that there is a need and desire to reconnect in our industry.
“Having an incredible design-forward company like Vitra sponsor Pratt Career Night this year was fantastic – while we wish it could have been live in their beautiful new showroom, their support and the amazing efforts by Vitra SVP Diane Barnes were critical in making this event a reality. Pratt Interior Design Chair David Foley and Assistant Chair Tania Branquinho were also instrumental for all their help in creating the seamless Zoom experience with dedicated Chat Rooms for the students and professionals. And we must extend a huge thank you to the design firms who volunteered to join us – their enthusiasm, time and energy helped to make the evening engaging and educational for the students.”


“It was a great opportunity for the students to summarize their personal introduction and go through the whole portfolio in a short time – like a quick interview. How to show the uniqueness of yourself and the character of your design method was the main point. It was a very helpful experience for us to know what we should improve in the future.” – Fangming Can, MFA Interior Design
“It was an incredible opportunity to connect with multiple industry professionals, share my work, and get valuable advice on finding a job. Hearing Edward Woodill talk about his career journey was inspiring.” – Anashwara Mandalay, MFA Interior Design
“The PCN was wonderfully organized. The faculty, guests, and ushers all did a wonderful job making sure that me and my peers were able to connect with professionals despite the virtual world we are in. I gained valuable insight from the professionals and came out of it with a sense of calm and excitement for the journey I am about to take post-graduation. I especially liked the quote from Edward Woodill, who encouraged us to “find your passion, follow your passion, and allow it to guide you”. The tips and insights from the professionals were an invaluable resource during this time of uncertainty and I thank Pratt and Vitra for pulling together such a nice event.” – Kelli McGrath, BFA Interior Design
“Pratt Institute’s Interior Design Career Night gave me the incredible opportunity to network and get feedback from professionals in the field, as my studies come to an end. It was a great experience to meet with amazing firms and have the chance to share the work I’ve done over the past few years.” – Veronica Pantin, BFA Interior Design
“The whole experience felt surreal: it’s not everyday that you get to meet and interview with representatives of some of the biggest design firms in the country. If not for Pratt Career Night, I would have never had the opportunity to get my foot in the door with these organizations and understand the different criteria firms are looking for when hiring.” – Leo Yang, MFA Interior Design
“It was my 18th year to attend Pratt Career Night and it was an extraordinary event this year. The Zoom experience was incredible, with the creation of Chat Rooms for each design firm to meet with graduating interior design students for five minutes each. We reviewed their portfolios, heard about their career goals, their vision to work as professional designers , and to discuss possible future employment opportunities. It was a wonderful evening and I’m looking forward to attending next year.” – Ej Lee – Principal, Design Director, Gensler