college-news
April 23, 2026
By Mike Winder
Trusting Instincts and Embracing Mistakes
Renowned Designer Jason Wu Inspires ArtCenter Students During Two-day Campus Visit
World-renowned designer Jason Wu recently visited ArtCenter for a special two-day engagement with students, faculty and the broader College community.
The visit included “An Evening with Jason Wu,” a special event for students and the ArtCenter community held in the Ahmanson Auditorium at Hillside Campus. The evening featured a panel discussion between Wu, President Karen Hofmann and faculty member and Aeolab technologist Elise Co, who were later joined by artist, faculty member and alum Ben Borden (BS 18).
The conversation explored Wu’s design career and creative practice, his longstanding commitment to craft and heritage, and his advice to students, including the importance of embracing mistakes. “Some of my most successful things are things I failed at the most, and I actually am okay with that [because] that failure led to something successful.” Wu told the audience. “I trust my instincts as a creative and I embrace my mistakes because I don't think they're mistakes. I think it's a journey."
Wu discussed his recent groundbreaking collaboration with the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation for “COLLAGE,” his Spring 2026 ready-to-wear collection. He also spoke at length on his collaboration with Co and Borden on his 2024 New York Fashion Week runway show for “INK,” his Spring 2025 ready-to-wear collection celebrating his collaboration with Tong Yang-Tze, a Chinese artist renowned for her monumental calligraphy.
For the "INK" runway show, held in the public square at Manhattan's Hudson Yards, MADWORKSHOP—a nonprofit architecture and design firm founded by ArtCenter trustee David C. Martin, and his wife, Mary Martin—sponsored the design of a centerpiece sculpture. Co, a fellow affiliated with MADWORKSHOP, worked in collaboration with Borden to design the centerpiece—a 21-foot-high structure made from precision cut-steel and mounted with a scaffolding frame. Creating the bespoke installation, which the runway models walked around and through, involved meticulously sampling and re-composing a graphical silhouette of dispersing ink into the sculpture.
“The one single rule for me is that I will only work with the best in class,” said Wu of the construction of the installation and how he had to leave the engineering details to those with the expertise. “You have to surrender yourself to the process and just trust that you made the right choices in the people.”
Wu also spoke to the importance of artists and designers documenting their work in order to show it to the largest audience possible. “If it’s not on film, it didn’t happen,” said Wu, noting that his “INK” runway show was livestreamed, an option that didn’t exist when he first started working in fashion in 2007. “But you also get a better version of it on film actually—you get the bird’s-eye view. The film is going to be a lasting memory for us all. So [filming] was really important because it’s about something that stands the test of time.”
Wu first rose to international prominence at the age of 26 when former First Lady Michelle Obama selected his gown for the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Ball—a design now part of the Smithsonian’s permanent collection. Today, Wu remains a prominent presence at New York Fashion Week, where he shapes contemporary fashion with his distinctive aesthetic.
The next day, Wu met with ArtCenter upper-term students interested in fashion or brand development, discussing their work and offering feedback. Throughout the visit, Wu emphasized the importance of technical rigor and creative risk-taking. For the students, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from one of the world’s leading designers.
Jason Wu’s visit to ArtCenter was made possible by ArtCenter Trustee David C. Martin, his wife Mary Martin and their nonprofit MADWORKSHOP.
