Alex Geldzahler, Contributing Photographer

Design at Yale, also known as DAY, took to Cross Campus to showcase their student artists and promote involvement in visual arts at Yale. 

On Sunday, DAY held a three-hour “DAY Store” on campus to allow students to sell and purchase art they are interested in. The event brought in many students to view and buy the unique and student-made prints and meet the artists responsible. With several different students from different artistic backgrounds and organizations at Yale, the DAY Store served as the beginning of a new year of expression and community for visual arts groups. 

 “Our mission has always been to make design more joyful and accessible no matter what your familiarity level is with design,” said Gabby Uy ’25, one of the co-presidents of DAY. 

Design at Yale is an organization dedicated to fostering and creating a community of students interested in design. Comprising undergraduates from various disciplines, skill levels and ages, the community showcased Sunday allowed students to purchase art and meet the leaders and artists in charge. 

“I’ve acquired a lot of skills and learned a lot creatively,” Uy reflected on her time as a part of DAY. She also reflected on the community aspect of the organization, saying design is “so often a solo pursuit. You get to meet other people who are doing the same thing.”

According to the students, DAY is a tight community, open to anyone, regardless of familiarity with design or art. The group is dedicated to fostering an environment of artistic exploration and expression within Yale. 

Johan Zongo ’27, a student selling prints during the afternoon, considers the goal of DAY to “create a space at Yale where artists can come and get to know each other.”

Design at Yale is unique in that it is a space primarily dedicated to design rather than a general visual arts collective. 

Design, as defined by student artist Lily Lin ’27, is about “a sense of aesthetics and what looks good together while combining different elements.” She continued by explaining an essential facet of what makes design unique. “For art, it’s mostly expression, but this is designing for someone else’s eyes.” 

The event was a means for prospective students interested in design or visual arts to connect with upperclassmen artists and a chance for everyone, regardless of artistic background or ability, to become more familiar with the arts at Yale.

“The creative energy is bursting at the seams,” said Elias Shaw-Rothberg ’28, who stopped by the event this weekend. 

Design at Yale is open and seeking new creative students and ideas to join their collective. 

DAY has beginner-friendly workshops, speaker events and events like DAY Store which are open to the whole Yale community. Uy described them as “a great way to meet other creative people and experience design without necessarily taking a class.”

The event captivated many students interested in the unique pieces on display on the grass of Cross Campus. Throughout the three hours, the small stations, with a variety of prints and posters laid out along the walkway, were busy with students eager to take a piece of Yale-made art back. 

Some students even have the opportunity to get more seriously involved with DAY. 

“If you’re looking for something a little higher-commitment, DAY Studio collaborates on self-initiated projects in addition to client work — Studio is a great way to build your design portfolio, get a taste of what it’s like to work as a professional designer, and mostly just have fun making things together,” Uy said.

Additionally, DAY has a website and an Instagram page that students can visit to learn more about the organization.

Design at Yale applications are open until Sept. 20.