When Ethan Donaldson first came to NuVu, he was a typical high schooler—creative, curious, but unsure of his direction. “I was starting to get into trouble halfway through high school,” he says. “My parents realized the traditional path wasn’t working for me. They knew I was drawn to art and design, so when my mom found NuVu, they basically said, ‘You’re going.’”

At first, Ethan was skeptical. “I thought I’d miss out on the classic high school experience. NuVu was so small, I didn’t know anyone who went there,” he remembers. “But after a few months, I realized—this is where I should’ve been all along.”

Finding Agency Through Design

At NuVu, Ethan discovered the power of learning through projects. “Working on long-term design challenges helped me think more critically,” he says. “Before, I’d just make something and call it done.

At NuVu, I learned to plan, prototype, and refine. That process of trial and error gave me confidence—to push ideas further and trust my creative instincts.”

That mindset carried with him beyond high school. “When I got to MassArt (Massachusetts College of Art), I realized how much that experience set me apart,” Ethan says. “I already knew how to structure projects, manage my time, and take feedback. Even after college, that confidence helped me take on freelance work—creating budgets, timelines, and delivering projects professionally.”

A Passion for Fashion and Collaboration

At MassArt, Ethan majored in fashion design, and today is building his own brand while working as an independent designer in the Boston fashion scene. “I’ve done freelance gigs since graduation and had an event with December Thieves in late October,” he says. “Right now I’m focusing on commission work and collaborations—with a goal of designing custom pieces for musicians, performers, and creatives.”

His work often merges fashion, tech, and art. “That’s what NuVu gave me—the confidence to blend disciplines and see design as an evolving process. I never run out of things to learn.”

Ethan hopes to continue working independently while deepening his connections in the creative community. “It’s a competitive market right now, and AI is changing a lot of design jobs,” he says. “But I have my own studio and ideas that keep me motivated. I’d rather focus on what I can make happen myself.”

Advice for Future Students

For students feeling stuck and unsure of their path, Ethan offers this: “The world’s changing fast—if you have even a spark of passion, take it somewhere it can grow. That’s what NuVu did for me. You don’t have to know everything when you start; you just have to start.”

Follow Ethan’s work on Instagram at @eeeebeeeeee

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