Stairwell Pitch

Every student should practice their elevator pitch—a persuasive speech about themselves they can deliver to a potential employer in the time it takes to move between floors. But networking can happen anywhere. This semester, a group of art & design students made a case for their work in the busy stairwell in one of Boston’s most vibrant artists’ communities.  

Midway Artist Studios is an affordable live-work community in Boston’s Fort Point neighborhood. It’s home to a wide range of artists, from poets and performers to painters and photographers, who form a dynamic artist-managed creative collective. Open Studios encourage the community to visit and interact with both artwork and artists. Meetings there can lead to collaborations—and commissions. 

Kristen Mallia, an assistant professor of art & design at Suffolk University who lives and creates at Midway, helps her students build the skills they need to be working artists. That means honing their crafts, of course, but also learning how to interact with other creatives and how to market their work. 

“As somebody who had a less than conventional path as an interdisciplinary artist and as a designer, I think about the things that were important to [building my career] in hindsight,” says Mallia. “Now, not every designer might be interested in having their work live in a gallery space, but [the Open Studios] is an opportunity to put work in front of an audience, and to engage with a different type of audience, to engage with space, and to build up your résumé.”

This semester, Mallia taught undergraduate and graduate sections of a conceptual typography course—a hands-on exploration of “how ideas can manifest in letters.” When she saw the quality of the work her students were producing, Mallia found an opportunity to bring their project to life by making it an integral part of the Midway Open Studios. 

The students were tasked with taking over the stairwells in the six-story building, providing artistic and functional design that would encourage attendees to travel from the top floor to the bottom. 

“I love texture and grit, so I knew I wanted that to be a big part of my work,” says Emily Theobald, a Class of 2026 graphic design major, who worked on the stairwell project. “With the exposed brick of the location, it became the perfect opportunity to make that texture an immersive experience.”

Theobald hopes to work in packaging design or advertising after she graduates. She took the course because she believes ”the wrong typographic setting can ruin a beautiful project.” And while she learned a lot about letterforms and design through the experience at Midway, Theobald also gained exposure for her work and met many fellow artists.

“I want to stay in Boston after I graduate, and building my network in college is a great way to get a good start once I’m out on my own,” says Theobald. 

Midway Artist Collective President Raber Umphenour was happy to welcome the Suffolk students into the studio community. 

“The student stairwell activations truly highlighted the power of collaboration—seeing so many creative voices and ideas come together in one place brought a unique energy to the event,” he said. “Working alongside Suffolk and their students allowed us to merge different perspectives, creating an immersive experience that was both memorable and inspiring. We look forward to more opportunities like this, where art and community can come together in fresh, dynamic ways to enrich our shared spaces.” 

To leave a lasting impression, the students designed postcards that attendees could take as they moved through the installation—complete with contact information and social media links.

Graphic design major Bella Kubitschek, also Class of 2026, says the project helped her learn more about how she wants to present herself as an artist. 

“I am always so grateful for the real-world experiences the art & design program at Suffolk gives its students,” says Kubitschek. “So far, I have done two installations during my time at Suffolk, and both have been a learning experience and process that I wouldn’t trade for the world.”

When Theobald finished installing her piece in the stairwell at Midway her fingers were sore from thumbtacking pieces to the wall. But moving through the studios later and seeing other artists experience her work, too, more than made up for the temporary discomfort. She says the process helped her realize and appreciate how much work goes into an exhibition. 

“Afterward, I had ideas of things I could have done instead and wanted to fix, so I will take those and improve my next installation.”