While in New York recently, I visited with SCAD alumnus Colin Tunstall (B.F.A., graphic design and photography, 2003) at Saturdays Surf NYC, his celebrated surf shop in SoHo. A surf shop in New York City? This seemingly incongruous duo – surfing and the city – are right at home at Saturdays, where Colin and his two partners have created a paean to surfing’s rich cultural legacy in America. The space that Colin has curated is both sophisticated and welcoming. Once a cluttered and labyrinthine curiosities shop, the revitalized space now welcomes visitors with wide plank floors, hand-hewn shelves and 19th century rafters overhead – a pitch-perfect backdrop for Saturdays’ surfboards, apparel and accessories. I was delighted to see how far Colin’s ingenuity and uncompromising commitment have taken him: with J.Crew collaborations and Tokyo pop-up shops under way, Colin has become an arbiter of cool.

Although he has called New York home for more than half a decade, Colin was quite clear about the continued influence that SCAD has on his life: “So many of my SCAD friends moved to New York with me after graduation,” he said. “There’s a tight SCAD community here, and it has been a joy to see everyone’s work grow stronger.” In fact, Colin’s former SCAD roommate recently established a design studio just up the block from Saturdays. The two share a quick espresso from Saturdays’ much-vaunted coffee bar every morning.

My time with Colin confirmed what we at SCAD already know to be true: the SCAD spirit isn’t confined to any campus or city; it lives in the hearts, minds and incredible talents of the artists and designers who begin their journey at the world’s premier university for the arts: SCAD.