UC donors made a DAAP education possible for student

Marcus Djuhadi, DAAP ’23, has known since high school that he wanted his career path to include problem-solving that was both creative and technical. “I didn’t want to sacrifice working through hard problems from an analytical point of view,” he says, “but I also didn’t want to have a boring and rigid job where there’s no room to be creative.”

Marcus found the sweet spot after joining his high school’s yearbook program. Through design, he discovered, one could tell stories in a beautiful way while also connecting with students and creating a meaningful artifact for the school. His epiphany led him to UC’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, where he is excelling as a Communication Design major.

Marcus was raised in suburban Philadelphia and describes his ethnic heritage as Indonesian-American. He has relished UC’s diversity and has found students and faculty to be socially conscious and open to mature conversation. His UC education is supported by several scholarships, including the Dean Robert Probst Scholarship. Marcus says the financial support is “a really big deal” because it enables him “to give back through my work, through volunteering.”

Marcus is grateful for the role UC donors have played as he pursues a career using visual or product design to create a positive impact on people’s lives. “I would like to thank donors for their generosity,” he says. “Their donations make a really big impact, especially for students who are underserved or have other barriers or obstacles to their academic and professional success. Donors’ contributions create a better path for others, and I think that’s the most exciting opportunity that you could give to someone.”

Marcus has completed three co-op rotations, two in Chicago and one in Portland, Ore. His educational goals include learning to “imbue empathy and perspective” into visual and interactive design.

“The co-op experience has been the most integral part of my education,” he says. “The curriculum is amazing, but it’s even more important to apply those skills in the real world. In the workplace you learn nuances that can’t be taught in a classroom — like how to communicate effectively with coworkers, and how to have a really critical eye when you’re designing to a professional standard.”

Within a large university, Marcus has also benefited from one-on-one attention from dedicated professors. He recalls the time he was struggling with a typography assignment and needed help. “My professor carved out a separate time to work with me and sketch out different ideas to help me think about it differently. Getting that focused attention made me feel like I was seen.”

Outside the classroom, Marcus is part of Design for America, which brings together students in different majors to provide a human-centered design solution to a local problem. One project involved helping Cincinnati’s Metro bus system increase student ridership rates. “It was so fulfilling to work with so many different students and to use their knowledge to help better the community around us,” Marcus says.

To help support Marcus and other DAAP students like him, please visit the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning's giving website.