Fall 2026 priority deadline for transfer and graduate studies is January 5.

Fall 2026 priority deadline for transfer and graduate studies is January 5.

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Fall 2026 priority deadline for transfer and graduate studies is January 5.

Program

Our vision

Curriculum →

Mission →

Community

Who we celebrate

Faculty →

Chair →

Staff →

Students →

Work

We strive for

Recent Work →

Ventures →

News →

FAQs →

Apply Now →

Search

Douglas Davis with a class photo

Douglas Davis' Million Dollar Talk

Douglas Davis' Million Dollar Talk

Credits

Victoria Holod

Date

By Steven Heller

By Victoria Holod
Douglas Davis must have known that our first years were approaching the end of their first semester as he was the creative reboot that the class needed to reach the finish line. He is a quadruple threat - designer, speaker, educator and author, whose book Creative Strategy & The Business of Design is a must-read for right brain-designers to understand left-brain business clients.

Right off the bat, Douglas shook hands with each of our first years, asking everyone for their names and what they wanted to do after they graduated. A dialogue began to form, proving Douglas’ point that “none of us are as smart as all of us.”
In his one million dollar talk, Douglas taught the students to learn how to run the business of yourself in the importance of translating what designers are listening to when talking about projects with clients. His talk was incredibly eye-opening.
The class remains speechless, still thinking about his talk.
Douglas, thank you. You have truly inspired twenty-three students.

Douglas Davis with a student holding poster



Douglas Davis' guest lecture



Douglas Davis guest lecture



Douglas Davis giving a talk



Douglas Davis giving guest lecture



Douglas Davis guest lecture



Douglas Davis guest lecture in front of a slide

Newsletter

Newsletter

Newsletter

310 East 22nd St - 5th Floor

New York, NY 10010

310 East 22nd St - 5th Floor

New York, NY 10010

310 East 22nd St - 5th Floor

New York, NY 10010

(212) 592-2600

mfadesign@sva.edu

(212) 592-2600

mfadesign@sva.edu

(212) 592-2600

mfadesign@sva.edu