Graphic Design Students Attend The National Student Show & Conference (NSSC) 2026 in Dallas

NSSC 2026: Third year of Excellence, Growth, Building Community, and Winning!

This year, 15 Baylor Graphic Design students, chaperoned by Assistant Professor Genaro Solis Rivero, attended The National Student Show and Conference (NSSC) 2026, held in Dallas. Our students joined more than 200 students, educators, and industry professionals for an immersive experience. The National Student Show & Conference is a nationally recognized three-day event celebrating student excellence in design through a competitive exhibition, keynote speakers, portfolio reviews, workshops, studio tours, and meaningful opportunities to connect across creative disciplines and institutions. 

Day One: Studio Visits and Industry Immersion

The conference began with a full day of studio tours across Dallas, offering students direct exposure to professional agency and design studio environments. This year’s visits included Clampitt Paper, TRG, Matchbox, Infinite Agency, Brodnax 21C Printers, Tractorbeam, Caliber Creative, SMU Guildhall, White Unicorn Agency, and Johnson & Sekin. Students engaged with designers, creative directors, and production specialists, gaining insight into workflows, studio culture, and the realities of professional practice. These visits reinforced the idea that design is both collaborative and deeply rooted in process and communication—an essential takeaway for emerging creatives preparing to enter the field.

Day Two: Portfolio Reviews, Keynotes, and Awards

The second day centered on portfolio reviews, workshops, and keynote presentations, providing students with valuable feedback and inspiration from leading voices in the international design world.

This year’s keynote speakers included:

• Kelli Anderson, designer, author, and lecturer
• Matt George, executive creative director at Landor
• Talia Cotton, designer, coder, educator, and specialist in branding and technology
• Rich Tu, partner and executive Creative Director of Sunday Afternoon

Throughout the day, students reflected on insights shared by speakers, including reminders such as “talent is overrated—do your homework,” “branding is not about people identifying your brand, but about people identifying with your brand,” and the idea that meaningful design “takes several iterations, time, and dedication to get it right.”

That same evening, our Baylor Bears in graphic design were recognized at the NSSC Awards Ceremony, where two of our

 Baylor students received two Special Awards and two   $500 scholarships:

• CJ Kaltwasser (center), a graduating senior, earned the Best of Branding Award for Outdoor Elements, a branding system developed for the Identity Design course taught by Assistant Professor Genaro Solis Rivero (left).
• Karen Koyama (right) received the Best of Illustration Award for After the Long Rung, an oil painting created in her oil painting course with Associate Professor Winter Rusiloski.

In addition to the Special Awards, finalist recognition was given to Baylor students whose work stood out from a national pool of submissions:

• Keelan Thomas, How the Brain Perceives Beauty, magazine spreads from his Publishing course with Associate Professor Virginia Green
• CJ Kaltwasser, Buckridge Casino logo, from the Identity Design course with Assistant Professor Genaro Solis Rivero
• Allyson Estes, Bumbu Branding System, also from Identity Design, with Assistant Professor Genaro Solis Rivero

Day Three: Reflection, Learning, and Community

The final day featured additional workshops and panels that reinforced professional best practices and encouraged students to envision their future roles in the creative industry.

Beyond the formal programming, camaraderie defined the NSSC experience. Baylor students shared meals, reflected together after long days, and celebrated with a group dinner at Benihana—complete with laughter, singing, and a spontaneous birthday celebration for Kaitlyn Rodriguez. These moments of connection underscored the importance of community, mentorship, and shared experience in creative education and illustrated the true spirit of Baylor’s education. 

Big Takeaways

Attending NSSC 2026 reaffirmed several essential lessons for Baylor’s graphic design students:

1. Preparation and curiosity matter more than raw talent.
2. Strong concepts drive memorable and effective design.
3. Branding succeeds when audiences identify with a message, not just recognize it.
4. Design is iterative and demands time, discipline, and dedication.
5. Community, collaboration, and networking are foundational to successful creative careers.
6. Learning does not equal growth.
7. It’s all about the friends you meet and cultivate along the way.

This year’s experience was made possible through the support of the Dallas Society of Visual Communications (DSVC), NSSC organizers, volunteers, industry professionals, and judges, as well as the continued encouragement of Baylor University’s Department of Art & Art History and the support of Baylor University’s Office of Engaged Learning through their URSA Grant. 

The graphic design students and professors remain grateful to Department Chair Heidi J. Hornik, Ph.D., for her leadership and unconditional support, and for the opportunity to provide students with experiences that help bridge academic learning and professional practice.

NSSC 2026 was not only a celebration of student achievement but a reminder that design education thrives at the intersection of mentorship and industry engagement.

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