This month’s Alumni Spotlight is Cindy Hwang. This 26-year-old graduate student has gone on to do amazing things in the world of art and design. We’re proud to have such robust arts programs at Summit where students can really explore their interests as well as connect them to real career possibilities in the future. We’re also lucky to count Cindy among the Summit family as she has been so gracious to help us with the design of the new IDEA Lab logo! We’re so proud of her and are excited for you to meet her as well.
When did you attend Summit School?
I attended Summit School from 2004 to 2006, for sixth and seventh grade.
Tell us about what you did after you left Summit.
I attended Phoenix Country Day School and then Yale College, where I studied political science and graphic design. After graduating, I spent a year working for the Office of the University Printer, where I helped oversee Yale’s visual identity. Afterward, I moved to Brooklyn to join Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, where I was a member of the design team. I ended up staying in New York, working as a designer for The New York Times before moving back to New Haven to pursue an MFA in graphic design at the Yale School of Art.
How did Summit School prepare you for your advanced education and current career?
Mrs. Kupper’s Vitruvius Program opened my eyes to art and design that was abstract and imaginative, as opposed to figurative and mimetic. It helped foster a deep appreciation for the visual arts that influenced my decision to pursue graphic design as a profession and discipline of study.
What’s your best memory of your time at Summit?
I have many good memories, but one of them would have to be Mrs. Kupper’s after-school art classes. They were the perfect way to unwind after a hectic school day, and there was always some new material, method, or artist to learn about.
What would you say to parents who are considering Summit as an option for their student(s)?
The resources available at Summit are pretty remarkable, especially when it comes to the arts. I was exposed to all sorts of things that I would never have gotten to experience otherwise, such as pottery, fused glass (Summit has not only a pottery kiln, but also a glass kiln), and architectural model-making.
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