Using cutting-edge technology to design lifelike prosthetics, create user-friendly digital experiences, and program complex machines may sound like tasks for engineers or business graduates, but they are actually the work of artists—graduates of Temple University’s Tyler School of Art and Architecture.
Many art students, like Erin Lees, TYL ’23see their education in Tyler as a ticket to a career that combines art with science, technology, engineering or medicine. Lees dreamed of a career in medicine where she could apply her painting and 3D printing skills. Today, she’s doing just that. As an anaplastologist at Columbia University, Lees creates prosthetics for ears, eyes and other parts of the face.
It’s just one example of the career opportunities Tyler offers from the art school into STEM careers. Two Tyler programs, Metal/Jewelry/CAD-CAM (MJCC) and Design and Illustration (DES), are classified as STEM programs under Department of Education and Department of Homeland Security guidelines. The classification highlights not only the STEM competencies included in their curricula, but also their success in producing graduates ready for STEM careers.
Meet some graduates of these programs who have found a home in STEM subjects.
Erin Lees, BFA, Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM, 2023
Junior Dental Technician and Anaplastologist, Columbia University Dental School, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
As a junior dental technician and anaplastologist, Erin Lees designs and creates intraoral and extraoral prosthetics (prosthetics that are both inside and outside the mouth). These prosthetics include ears, eyes, noses, dentures, and dental crowns, and each device requires a different workflow. Some require plaster molds and wax models that are later painted with silicone. Others, like ear prosthetics and dental crowns, require 3D printing.
How Tyler prepared her for a STEM career
“My dream has always been to combine painting and 3D design in a medical profession. Without the MJCC program, I wouldn’t know how to make prosthetics or how to make molds, which are an essential part of my work today. In Tyler, I gained the knowledge and skills needed to problem solve with 3D objects. I also learned to look at life through the eyes of an artist. I am grateful to Professor Mallory Weston and program director Doug Bucci for always encouraging me to think outside the box.”
Nick Olshefski, BFA, Graphic and Interactive Design, 2019
Lead User Experience Designer, Vanguard
As a UX designer, Nick Olshefski is responsible for creating websites and apps that are accessible, intuitive, and easy to use. To ensure that Vanguard’s products meet both user needs and business goals, Olshefski creates basic sketches and early mockups of websites and apps, conducts usability testing, and works closely with cross-functional teams to help with research and support engineers as they develop the products. He also works to ensure that Vanguard’s designs use existing components and patterns and implement the established rules laid out in its design system.
How Tyler prepared him for a STEM career
“My experiences in the GAID program while at Tyler were critical in preparing me for my work. Not only did it give me a solid understanding of visual design principles and how to apply them to digital experiences, but Tyler’s diverse culture and inclusive community helped emphasize the importance of designing for all types of users, regardless of gender, age, race, disability, etc.”
Ellen Sisti, MFA, Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM, 2021
Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Programmer and Operator, Loubier Design
Loubier Design is a design, build and cabinetry studio in Philadelphia. As a CNC programmer and operator, Ellen Sisti creates custom cabinets and furniture using CNC machines that automate the control of tools such as drills, routers and grinders. She uses computer-aided design (CAD) to design the furniture and layout files to be cut with the CNC. She also writes computer programs for the cuts, which requires selecting the right drill bit, revolutions per minute and cut path to ensure the CNC runs as smoothly and effectively as possible.
Prior to joining Loubier, Sisti spent three years using her CAD skills to help build a unique digital dental lab at Temple University’s Kornberg School of Dentistry in collaboration with the Golden Ceramic Lab.
How Tyler prepared her for a STEM career
“Tyler’s interdisciplinary approach to education has allowed me to find many different ways to use the technology that I find so fascinating. It has also allowed me to be comfortable in many different spaces and work with many different types of people. This has allowed me to carve out a unique niche for myself not only as an artist but also as a leader in the STEM field.”
Neha Agarwal, MFA, Graphic and Interactive Design, 2006
Manager, Design, Think Company
Think Company is a consultancy specializing in digital product and service design. Its clients come from industries such as healthcare, finance, and telecommunications. As a manager, Neha Agarwal’s work includes people management, company culture, and recruiting and hiring. She leads a team of eight to twelve designers and ensures they receive the coaching and support they need to succeed on their various client projects. She leads the company’s internal training program, which helps team members develop and grow their skills. She also serves as a senior advisor on client projects, providing advice, information, and contacts when needed.
How Tyler prepared her for a STEM career
“I graduated from Tyler’s MFA program a year before the first iPhone was released, right when our relationship with digital technology began to rapidly change. No one knew what was in store for us, but Tyler taught me fundamentals that I still rely on in my design career. I learned to use research to really understand an audience and its context. I learned how to visually present a lot of information and complexity. I learned the importance of continuous feedback, critique, and discourse. I learned to explore different media and applications to see their possibilities and limitations. And I learned to use design exploration and hands-on prototyping to solve problems and push my creativity forward. These are timeless fundamentals that underlie design in today’s technology industry.”
