This past year has felt like a whirlwind—in the best way. Between co-ops, cross-country travel, client work, and a TEDx stage, I’ve felt both in flow and slightly on fire (again, in the best way).
Here’s what happened, in order, as I continued trying to “grow my T” and own my chaos:
JAN–APRIL: Co-Op at Factory 360 (New York City)
I started the year in Manhattan, working full-time at Factory 360, an experiential design agency. If you’re not familiar with experiential design, think of it as the intersection of branding, architecture, installation art, and social media bait. It’s about building immersive, physical experiences that connect brands to people in memorable ways.
Two projects really shaped my experience there:
- L.L. Bean Pop-Up: Factory designed a pop-up shop that launched in LA and NYC for the L.L. Bean Japan line—yes, the one Hypebeast posted about. I helped concept and visualize the space, merchandise layout, and interaction points.
- Instax Dome Tour: I contributed to the design of a custom inflatable dome (yes, an actual inflatable pink dome) for Fujifilm Instax. It’s currently traveling across the country, packed with interactive rooms that highlight different Instax camera lines—one room feels like a scrapbook exploded, another is a selfie tunnel. I learned a lot about material constraints, airflow, and Instagrammability.
MARCH: Hello Sunday x Sephora (NIS Project Sprint)
While juggling co-op, I joined a fast-paced NIS project to develop a concept for Hello Sunday, a skincare brand in collaboration with Sephora. Our team focused on how user-generated content (UGC) could live in the world, specifically on UC’s campus.
I only had about three weeks on the backend of the project, but I dove headfirst into producing a CGI video that blended real NYC footage with FOOH (Fake Out-of-Home) style animation. Picture black and white striped Sephora balloons floating through the skyline, dropping pastel Hello Sunday SPF bottles on parachutes. It might get picked up by Sephora’s 22-million-follower Instagram account, so fingers crossed.
SPRING: TEDx Talk — The Art of Owning Your Chaos
Then came one of the most nerve-wracking and rewarding things I’ve ever done. What started as a frantic “design manifesto” scribbled on a plane ride became a TEDxUC talk called The Art of Owning Your Chaos: Deep Expertise Meets Wide Vision (they ended up shortening the title... a shame).
In it, I talked about T-shaped thinking—balancing deep expertise with interdisciplinary curiosity—and the value of generalists in an increasingly complex world. I touched on my rejection from the ID program, my path through Fine Arts, and my belief that “zooming out” can lead to surprising, resonant work.
SUMMER: Sandbox & Capstone Beginnings
Right now, I’m in the thick of my second-to-last semester, prepping for a final capstone project next spring. I’m exploring a conceptual furniture collection made from high-end materials like sheet metal—think brutalist meets couture. It’s still in early ideation, but I’m chasing something sculptural, functional, and materially ambitious.
Alongside that, I was selected for the NIS Sandbox, a leadership development program within NIS. I’m co-leading two groups this summer:
One with incoming NIS Cohort 5 students, where we’re reading The Ten Faces of Innovation and introducing them to NIS culture before their first semester.
The other is a book club for current NIS members reading Designing Your Life, a reflective and interactive workbook-style text on crafting intentional, fulfilling careers.
Both roles have been a great reminder that leadership doesn’t always look like giving answers—it can look like making space for others to explore.
LOOKING AHEAD: Silicon Valley & Final Co-Op
Before heading back to NYC for my final co-op (most likely at Factory 360 again), NIS is taking the Sandbox leaders to San Francisco for an immersive experience. We’ll be doing a two-part training with Jump Associates and meeting with other leaders in Silicon Valley to discuss design, innovation, and future-forward thinking. I’m thrilled for this trip—it feels like a culmination of everything I’ve been building toward.
Final Thoughts
This year was packed with moments that stretched me—technically, creatively, and personally. I’ve learned that “owning your chaos” doesn’t mean cleaning it up—it means leaning into the things that make you weird, interdisciplinary, and passionate. I’m not trying to “figure it all out.” I’m just trying to follow the dots and connect them as I go.
Here’s to more dots next year.
– Grant Kilgard
