Otis College Alumni Share Advice on Choosing a Major, Networking, and Landing a Job

 “I get to hang out with Olympic athletes and design something that hopefully is going to live on in the design world. I studied the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics at Otis, and now I’ve gotten to the point where I’m working on designs that hopefully someone will be studying at Otis in 30 years.”

Otis College’s Creative Futures panels connect art and design students with alumni working across the creative economy. In a recent discussion, several alums shared how they picked their majors and landed internships and jobs. They also offered tips for networking and advice for current students.

The Spring 2026 Panelists Included:

• Erin Bond (’25 BFA Fashion Design), associate designer RTW at Good American
• Hope Mackey (’22 BFA Toy Design), associate hardlines designer at Sanrio
• Phuong Pham (’20 BFA Product Design), associate designer for Adidas licensee Agron Inc.
• Charlie Utter (’23 BFA Communication Arts, Graphic Design), senior brand designer at the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games 
• Nhi Vo (’13 BFA Digital Media, Motion Design), senior motion designer/animator at Apple

How I Decided on My Major

Hope Mackey

“I loved drawing and creating, but I wasn’t sure exactly where I would fit in. I fell in love with toy design because it’s not just drawing, it’s also 3D modeling and package design. You’re wearing a lot of hats and aren’t pigeonholed into one area.”

Nhi Vo

“I studied graphic design in Vietnam and was asked to create an animated piece for a TV show. I had to learn how to make graphics move, and the more I learned about it, the more I felt it was something I wanted to do. But there was no school in Vietnam for motion graphics, so I decided to study abroad and go to Otis.”

Erin Bond 

“I was working in product management when COVID happened and I was laid off. I had always been creative but never had the opportunity to actually pursue it. I started taking community college classes and eventually went to Otis for Fashion Design. It’s been the best experience of my life.”

How I Landed My Current Job

Charlie Utter

“My hiring manager, who is now my boss, said I was hired because my portfolio was such a Swiss army knife, in terms of the types of design it showed I could do—physical and digital. That was exactly what they were looking for.”

Phuong Pham 

“I got an internship with Agron at Otis’s internship fair. I remember I dressed up for the part. I showed up in Adidas sneakers. I brought a bag that I had made to hold my portfolio because I knew they designed bags. It scored points because they were looking for someone who could help them prototype ideas.”

Nhi Vo

“I got a junior position from the Otis internship fair, and then something came up for a project that was not in my comfort zone. I went out of my shell and asked questions to deliver the project in a better way. I was able to do more collaborations with a bigger team and it went from there. How you show up and bring your work ethic and build trust along the way really matters.”

Hope Mackey

“A big part of me getting my job was the interview process, which I learned a lot about at Otis, such as professional speaking and how interviews go. There was a whole course on interviewing in my Toy Design program, and we had a lot of practice interviews.”

Tips for Networking

Charlie Utter

“It’s surprising how much of networking is a vibes check. No matter how high up you get in this industry, people are people. They love being asked questions. They love talking about themselves. They enjoy humor. They just want to see you as a person.”

Nhi Vo

“Don’t just think of networking as you trying to impress people; think of it more as building a real connection with someone. Be curious and show your interest in someone else’s path. You don't need to be the loudest person in the room; sometimes just having an honest conversation with someone is enough.”

Favorite Projects

Erin Bond

“I’m doing outerwear for holiday season, and I just got all the new samples and the look books in. These designs are going to be all over the website and wherever Good American advertises. I’m just so excited that I’m finally getting to see my work.”

Phuong Pham

“I worked on an adaptive sock. It looks super basic, but that was the point. In product design we talk about universal design, which means the product benefits the most range of people possible. It was heartwarming to hear a story of someone who was born with half a limb that said they were able to put on socks ‘by myself for the first time in my life.’”

Charlie Utter

“I get to hang out with Olympic athletes and design something that hopefully is going to live on in the design world. I studied the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics when I was at Otis, and now I’ve gotten to the point where I’m working on designs that hopefully someone will be studying at Otis in 30 years.”

Advice for Art and Design Students 

Nhi Vo

“Spend time understanding what you’re good at and stop chasing whatever exciting thing other people around you are doing. Over time your path will get stronger because you are a unique person. Know your strengths and that you are valuable.”

Charlie Utter

“Have fun. You didn’t pick this career to be miserable. The minute you stop having fun is when you stop succeeding in this industry, because so much of it is based on whimsy and having strange ideas and blue-sky thinking.” 

Phuong Pham

“Utilize Otis completely. Everybody is there to support you. Take all the criticism and use all the tools at your disposal. You will get a job. And once you have that job, continue to fill your well by doing art outside of work. The more you explore yourself creatively, the more it’s going to show up in your own work. You won’t get burned out as quickly, either.”

Explore Otis College Admissions events. 

Creative Futures panels are sponsored by Target.

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