Twenty-five Ringling College of Art and Design alumni will return to Sarasota this month to speak to current students about their professional success as part of the college’s annual FutureProof conference.
FutureProof ’23 will be held on campus Feb. 27 through March 3. The event, which is hosted by the Motion Design department, includes industry presentations, workshops, and activities for students studying at Ringling College to ensure they have a seamless transition from the classroom into their future careers. The goal of the event is to prepare the next generation of visual communicators through education, inspiration, and connection.
The speakers and panelists include 25 alumni who work at a range of companies across the United States, including Apple+, BUCK, Cravings by Chrissy Teigen, Dash, FutureDeluxe, Google, Hue+Cry, IBM, JibJab, LinkedIn, Microsoft, NBC News, Nickelodeon, Noodle, Pixel Park, Robinhood, Scholar, TikTok, We Are Royal, WIN Reality, WWE, and YouTube.
Each night of the conference will feature a panel of alumni who will share their work, insights, and experiences from their various career paths. Topics will include working in broadcast/streaming, social media, production management, technology, motion design studios, and freelancing.
“Having alumni share their wide range of experiences will be informative, but more importantly, inspiring,” said Ringling College Motion Design Department Head Ed Cheetham. “Students will see industry professionals that, just a few years earlier, sat exactly where they are now. This alumni connection provides support, encouragement, and motivation to strive for the same level of professional success. We are proud of the supportive and caring community our graduates, students, and staff have created.”
The event was created for Motion Design students and alumni — but all Ringling College students are welcome to attend. Representatives from Career Services will also be available throughout the event to provide students with workshops on topics such as resume building, networking, and interviewing skills.
“These workshops are just one of the many ways we help prepare them for their careers,” said Alejandra Lance-Henterly, the director of Career Services at Ringling College. “We provide a multitude of opportunities for students to perfect their professionalism skills, whether it is through the classroom, our career counseling, or events like this.”
FutureProof ’23 is sponsored in-part by BUCK, Dash, Promax, and Nickelodeon.
Ringling College’s Department of Motion Design has been ranked #1 in the U.S. and #2 in the world for Best Motion Graphics Schools as ranked by The Rookies. The Department has received numerous national and international awards, including National Gold ADDY Awards, D&AD Pencil Award, Art Directors Club Awards, Communication Arts Award, and our alumni have won numerous EMMY Awards.