Caine College Of the Arts Students Explore Design, Community, Opportunity in New York City

LOGAN, Utah — Utah State University’s Caine College of the Arts had an eventful year full of meaningful accomplishments — one being a trip that brought design students from Logan to New York City. Through an immersive, alumni-centered trip, students saw firsthand what it means to turn passion into profession.

The itinerary included a visit to internationally renowned fashion designer and USU alum Bibhu Mohapatra’s studio and fashion show, along with a full day hosted by commercial art alumnus Paul Weibel, who has found entrepreneurial success in packaging and advertising.

By connecting students with successful alumni working in competitive and fast-paced creative industries, the trip highlighted USU’s commitment to access, excellence and real-world opportunity.

Costume design student Natalie Pulsipher recalled the whirlwind of events backstage at New York Fashion Week.

“In my head, I had imagined it would have been like an hour long,” she said. “But you get there and its utter chaos for about 40 minutes. Then you have the show — which is about 15 minutes long — and you see all these looks, the models go fast, and then it’s another 40 minutes of chaos.”

From this experience, she took inspiration that translated directly into her own design work.

“I took a couple designs home and sketched them out,” Pulsipher said. “I did some other designs based off the looks that I saw in the show because I liked them so much.”

Interior architecture and landscape architecture student Joseph Kendell was particularly struck by how Bibhu’s show, titled Pilgrimage, told a cohesive sensory story rooted in cultural heritage.

“He talked about how music influences the story, and he had a custom scent pumped into the space,” Kendell said. “The wristbands were jasmine flowers imported from India to match the story. It was interesting to see how you can tell stories through different senses.”

According to the students, the chance to experience the scale and detail of a professional production was eye-opening.

“We talk about teamwork in class,” Kendell said, “but you don’t really understand the real scope until you see it in action. He worked for six months on his show that lasted 15 minutes.”

While on the trip, the students also spent a day with Paul Weibel, a 1977 commercial art design graduate from USU who welcomed them into his professional and personal world. From touring his Pennsylvania packaging company to viewing his home collection of rare Tiffany pieces, the visit showed students how creativity and business can evolve together over a lifetime.

“I think the students in the arts need to bend and bleed into business,” Weibel said. “You’ve got to find the low-hanging apple that allows you to follow your dream and build a foundation.”

Kendell noted the lessons he took away from his interactions with Weibel.

“Paul was awesome. Just to see how he progressed from his original major and how that unlocked new doors for him — it really showed me that if you follow your passion and keep working hard, it’s going to open doors.”

For the Caine College of the Arts, these connections are part of a larger mission to prepare students for meaningful, impactful lives after graduation.

“This trip was about opportunity,” said Dane Graham, director of advancement at the college. “It was a way for students to connect with alumni like Bibhu and Paul and understand how their education can translate into real careers, real influence, and real impact.”

The visit to New York helped Kendell see what might be possible for his future.

“Before the trip, I had been applying for local internships,” Kendell said. “I talked with Associate Dean Susie Tibbitts, and she encouraged me to take a chance. I ended up applying for an internship in New York, and I got the offer. That was something I would not have done if I had not been encouraged to take chances.”

These students gained new ambitions and a deeper understanding of how their work can reach beyond the classroom. For more information about student opportunities and resources at the Caine College of the Arts, visit its website.