Empowering Creative Futures: Highlights from Montserrat’s Career Design Studio 

At Montserrat College of Art, artistic creation and professional success are seamless partners. We equip our students with practical skills, commercial experience, and expansive professional networks so they can build thriving, sustainable lives in the creative economy.

The latest report from the Center for Career Design highlights remarkable growth across campus employment, early graduate hiring, and student-run business revenue. Here is an in-depth look at how Montserrat is empowering the next generation of creative professionals.

Accelerating Post-Grad Success

Our holistic approach to career preparation is delivering tangible results for our graduating classes:

• 50% Hired Prior to Graduation: Half of the Class of 2026 secured post-graduation employment before walking across the stage—a 52% jump in hiring velocity compared to the previous year.
• 86% Employed Within 3 Months: 86% of 2025 graduates reported being employed within three months of receiving their diploma.
• 88% Creative Professions: 88% of employed Class of 2026 grads work directly in creative roles.
• 96% Active Art Makers: 96% of graduates continue actively making art alongside their professional roles.

“Having a campus job feels like it’s preparing me for the real world, working in a game development team and making important decisions for the future of the team.”— Montserrat Student Employee, Class of ’26

The Creative Employment Initiative 

Montserrat faculty took a historic step this past year by approving the Creative Employment Initiative (CEI). Starting with the Class of 2030, Montserrat is replacing its traditional single-semester internship model with an 8-semester integrated career pathway.

Under this new framework:

• Campus Jobs: Every incoming student is matched with a paid, career-focused position on campus.
• Exceeding Growth Expectations: While the original 5-year goal was to grow campus employment from 15% to 30%, Montserrat surpassed expectations by reaching nearly 60% student participation on campus in just 3 years.
• Leadership Compensation: Student Managers earn a higher salary and gain real-world experience in hiring, scheduling, budget management, and space operations.
• Skill Development: 82% of student employees report gaining key skills in independence, while 67% report developing skills in management.

“I have gained a wide variety of skills in areas I never expected. Working on campus allows you to immerse yourself in the community and make the most of the resources available to you!” — Montserrat Student Employee

Student Businesses in Action

Operating out of The Bower, Montserrat’s Creative Enterprises division operates five student-run businesses, engaging 20+ student employees in hands-on operations:

• Conifer Design Studio: Montserrat’s student graphic design agency earned $5,708 in client revenue in just 9 months. 
• The Underground: A campus venue space that hosted 36 community events in just 5 months.
• Handmade Montserrat: Student-run artisan shop that crafted and sold 48 hand-sewn plushies across two campus events.
• Zone 5: A commercial photography and fine art digital printing studio.
• Pixel Phantom: An independent student game studio developing original video games.

Mentorship, Coaching & Campus Engagement

Career readiness at Montserrat is driven by personalized 1-on-1 guidance and industry connections:

• 1,842 Total Attendees: The Career Design Studio hosted 62 workshops, events, and classroom visits during the academic year.
• 367 Coaching Sessions: CDS staff conducted 367 one-on-one coaching appointments, directly assisting 152 individual students with resumes, portfolios, and interview strategies.
• 250+ Mentorship Matches: Montserrat’s Alumni Mentorship Program has connected over 250 mentor/mentee pairs since launching in 2022.
• Industry Masterclasses: Students participated in specialized pitch workshops with industry leaders like John Warden (toy designer for Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Pokémon).

Real-World Placements 

Montserrat students are applying their skills in top organizations regionally and internationally:

Internship examples

• Katie Capobianco (’26): Ninjago MiniFig Design Internship at LEGO Headquarters in Denmark.
• Erin Survilas (’26): Salem Artist in Residence running her studio/shop on Salem’s Artist’s Row.
• Shayna Halleran (’26): Green Metal Foundry in Maine (casting bronze sculptures).
• Additional placements at Historic Beverly, North Shore Glass School, Flatbed Center for Contemporary Printmaking, and Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium.

“I love being able to engage with both the Montserrat and Beverly communities. I have grown far more comfortable approaching and interacting with people in both a professional and personal capacity.” — Montserrat Student Employee

Explore Your Creative Future

• Discover Our BFA Programs: Visit montserrat.edu/admissions to schedule a tour or learn more about the Creative Employment Initiative.
• Partner With Us: Employers looking to hire Montserrat talent or post positions on MontserratWorks can connect with us at montserrat.edu/academics/career-design-studio