More than 4,000 miles away from Madison, Wisconsin on Griffin Claes’ desk is a miniature yellow sunburst chair. The full-size versions are iconic furnishings at the UW–Madison Memorial Union Terrace, where students gather to enjoy the warm weather and Lake Mendota views. On a chilly winter night in Nuremberg, Germany, Claes’ keepsake chair serves as a cherished reminder of his memories as a School of Human Ecology student.
Months after graduating from the Textiles & Fashion Design program in 2019, Claes moved across the world for a role at Adidas — a dream job that his 7-year-old self would high five him for. As the senior designer of licensed apparel, Claes creates and pitches jersey designs to boardrooms full of elite football (known as soccer in the U.S.) club executives, including David Beckham.
Confidence is imperative to succeed in this role. Fortunately, Claes developed a design and entrepreneurial mindset in the classes and studios of Nancy Nicholas Hall.
“I was a studio rat doing hands-on printing and indigo dyeing, and then, with indigo-dyed hands, learning about the science and history of textiles in my next class within the School of Human Ecology’s Center for Design and Material Culture,” Claes said. “It gave me an edge. When I’m in those boardrooms, I am prepared. I know what I’m talking about, and I am ready for any question that may arise.”
Merging sports and art
As a hyperactive kid, Claes poured his physical energy into soccer and his mental energy into art. And, perhaps DNA had a role to play in his creative pursuits — with both parents as interior designers and older brothers working as a pastry chef and an art dealer.
Claes grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and wanted to soak up every opportunity the nearby city had to offer. In high school, he worked at RSVP Gallery. The retail space and art gallery that combines luxury goods, streetwear and art was co-founded by the late Virgil Abloh, a UW–Madison alum, fashion designer and entrepreneur.
“I walked into RSVP Gallery for the first time and immediately thought: ‘This is my world — this is where I want to be,’” Claes said.
This realization solidified when Claes worked with Chicago artists on a collaboration with Nike. His passion for sports and art collided when he designed graphics to revamp basketball courts on the southside of Chicago.
“The fusion of sports, art and giving back to the community — that’s the trifecta for me,” Claes said.
Designing and dreaming big
In the Textiles & Fashion Design program, Claes was encouraged to explore and examine all aspects of his many interests. Claes’ buzzing, inspired energy that he embraced since childhood was reflected in peers and faculty members.
“At the School of Human Ecology, I could feel all of the thoughts and ideas flowing through people’s heads and into the halls,” Claes said. “There were so many experiences I could try my hand at. My classes made me a well-rounded designer who sees how objects, culture and human nature collide.”
During his junior and senior years, Claes helped extend UW–Madison’s long-standing winning streak in the prestigious national fashion industry competition sponsored by Fashion Scholarship Fund. Each year, students from more than a dozen colleges enter the competition to creatively solve a retail challenge.
Claes’ scholarship-winning project involved more than 100 hours of work completed outside of class. He was supported by guidance and feedback from Human Ecology faculty members, particularly Holly Easland, associate lecturer in Design Studies. In his project, Claes proposed new retail strategies and designed collections to express innovative ideas in how brands like Hermes and Palace Skateboarding can continue to innovate and improve in the modern retail landscape.
The Fashion Scholarship Fund competition required Claes to dream big within parameters that fit a business case. Today, in his role at Adidas, that strategic approach is vital.
“Before my designs get anywhere outside of Adidas, I need to sell it to my bosses,” Claes said. “In my role, I have to be able to think on my feet, especially when working with football clubs that are expecting cutting-edge and innovative designs. Human Ecology is where I learned the importance of research, honed my creativity and refined my design skills — all of which have made me into a Swiss Army knife with the tools to take on anything.”
Although an ocean now separates Claes and the School Human Ecology, his Badger pride defies distance.
“To me, it’s very special to be part of the School of Human Ecology,” Claes said. “The beautiful part about being a human ecologist is I get to add a verse to the long history of people who are trying to pave a new direction and evolve humanity through culture.”
Griffin Claes received scholarships from the School of Human Ecology to attend the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City for his senior year. This support from donors enabled him to gain the life-changing experience of learning, working and living in the U.S. hub for textile and fashion trade.