October 28, 2026
ArtCenter College of Design to Honor Creative Trailblazers at the 2026 ArtCenter Awards
Acclaimed filmmaker Zack Snyder, Apple design pioneer Clement Mok, KPop Demon Hunters artist Celine DaHyeu Kim and creative leader Katie Sprague to be honored November 7
Special award presentations by Oscar-winning director Chris Appelhans, comedian and Oscar-nominated producer Tig Notaro, design and technology pioneer Tom Suiter and advertising luminary Julian Ryder
The evening also celebrates the 15th anniversary of the Denhart Family Sustainability Scholarship Prize
PASADENA, CA — ArtCenter College of Design will celebrate four distinguished alumni whose creative visions have influenced industries, broken boundaries and inspired new generations of artists and designers at the 2026 ArtCenter Awards, taking place Saturday, November 7, 2026 at the College's iconic Hillside Campus in Pasadena.
From the pioneering digital design work of Clement Mok and Celine DaHyeu Kim's contributions to the animated phenomenon KPop Demon Hunters to the bold cinematic vision of Zack Snyder and the creative leadership and service of Katie Sprague, this year's honorees demonstrate the remarkable breadth and impact of an ArtCenter education.
“ArtCenter prepares its students to be creative leaders, and the ArtCenter Awards celebrate the remarkable ways our alumni put that education into practice,” said ArtCenter President Karen Hofmann. “This year’s honorees have all made significant contributions, and their achievements reflect the lasting impact our graduates have on the creative industries and communities they serve.”
The annual celebration will recognize achievements across design, technology, animation, filmmaking and creative leadership. Each honoree will be joined by special presenters with a personal or professional connection to their work, offering an opportunity to reflect on their creative journeys and distinctive accomplishments.
The evening will also mark the 15th anniversary of the Denhart Family Sustainability Scholarship Prize, recognizing the family's philanthropic legacy and the students whose work is advancing sustainable design.
The 2026 ArtCenter Awards Honorees:
Lifetime Achievement Alumni Award
Clement Mok (BFA 80)
Presented by Tom Suiter (BFA 77)
A pioneer at the intersection of design and technology, Clement Mok has spent his career transforming how people experience and interact with the world. From his groundbreaking work at Apple to his leadership and advocacy in digital design, Mok has helped define the role of design in the modern era. The Lifetime Achievement Alumni Award celebrates his decades of innovation, influence and enduring contributions to the creative community.
Presenting Mok's award is Tom Suiter, a visionary creative leader whose career has included work with Apple, Pixar, United Airlines, Nike, Pebble Beach, Caterpillar and Stanford Medicine. A fellow ArtCenter alumnus, Suiter brings a shared history of pushing design forward.
Young Innovator Award
Celine DaHyeu Kim (BFA 16)
Presented by Chris Appelhans (BFA 02)
Celine DaHyeu Kim is at the forefront of a new generation of artists reshaping visual storytelling. As environment art director on the Oscar-winning, global phenomenon KPop Demon Hunters, Kim helped bring the film’s vibrant visual world to life. Her work exemplifies the imagination and artistry driving today's animation industry. The Young Innovator Award recognizes her exceptional talent, emerging influence and the exciting possibilities that lie ahead for her.
Kim's award will be presented by Chris Appelhans, an Academy Award-winning director and fellow ArtCenter alumnus, whose credits include KPop Demon Hunters and Wish Dragon. Together, their work reflects the continued evolution and global influence of contemporary animation.
Outstanding Service Award
Katie Sprague (BFA 91)
Presented by Julian Ryder (BFA 72)
An accomplished design leader and dedicated champion of ArtCenter, Katie Sprague has spent her career building connections between creative practice, education and industry. With three decades at Callison RTKL (now Arcadis) and a longstanding commitment to mentorship and alumni engagement, Sprague exemplifies the power of giving back. The Outstanding Service Award recognizes her professional leadership and extraordinary dedication to the ArtCenter community.
Presenting Sprague's award is Julian Ryder, ArtCenter alumnus, author, educator and founder of the education and training firm, The Right Brain Project. Ryder’s work champions creativity and the transformative potential of design education.
Distinguished Mid-Career Alumni Award
Zack Snyder (BFA 89)
Presented by Tig Notaro
Few filmmakers have a visual signature as instantly recognizable as Zack Snyder's. From Dawn of the Dead, 300 and Watchmen to Man of Steel, Zack Snyder’s Justice League and Army of the Dead, Snyder has built a career on fearless storytelling, ambitious world-building and cinematic spectacle. The Distinguished Mid-Career Alumni Award honors his creative leadership, singular vision and continuing impact on contemporary filmmaking.
Snyder's award will be presented by Tig Notaro, the acclaimed comedian, actor and producer who starred in his film Army of the Dead. Their creative collaboration and shared appetite for unconventional storytelling make Notaro a fitting choice to celebrate Snyder's bold approach to filmmaking.
Celebrating 15 Years of the Denhart Family Sustainability Scholarship Prize
The 2026 ArtCenter Awards will also mark 15 years of the Denhart Family Sustainability Scholarship Prize, celebrating the Denhart family's longstanding commitment to sustainability education and student innovation. Established in 2011 by Gun and Christian Denhart (BS 10), in memory of Thomas Denhart (BPA 63), the Prize carries forward Thomas’ legacy by recognizing undergraduate students whose work advances environmental, social and economic sustainability. Since its founding, it has awarded more than $442,000 in scholarship support. The anniversary celebration will also honor Heidrun Mumper-Drumm, ArtCenter's director of sustainability initiatives, who has stewarded the Denhart Prize these past 15 years, and whose leadership, teaching and mentorship have deepened the College’s commitment to responsible design practices and education.
The 2025 Denhart Prize recipients include first-prize winners Sophia Metzger, Mary Nersesyan and Xinru (Ruby) Yuan for GATHER ALTADENA, a community-led recovery model for neighborhoods affected by the Altadena fires. Brandon Shimoda received second prize for FLAT-PACK, Jessica Susilo received third prize for ANYAMAN RESORT and Arpi Hakhverdyan and Austen Henry-Biskup received special recognition. Their projects demonstrate the potential of art and design to address environmental and social challenges.
For more information, visit the Denhart Family Sustainability Scholarship Prize page on ArtCenter’s website.
More than a celebration of individual achievement, the 2026 ArtCenter Awards will bring together generations of creative talent and the broader ArtCenter community for an evening of inspiration and connection. Through personal stories, special presentations and shared experiences, the event will shine a spotlight on the remarkable paths ArtCenter alumni have forged and the possibilities they continue to create for those following in their footsteps.
The evening also reinforces ArtCenter's commitment to its alumni, whose creativity, leadership and engagement continue to strengthen the College and inspire the next generation of artists and designers.
Event Information:
2026 ARTCENTER AWARDS
Saturday, November 7, 2026
6–10 p.m.
ArtCenter College of Design, Hillside Campus
1700 Lida Street
Pasadena, CA 91103
Tables and tickets are now on sale.
For more information and sponsorship opportunities, please visit: https://www.artcenter.edu/connect/events/2026-artcenter-awards.html
About ArtCenter College of Design
Founded in 1930 and located in Pasadena, California, ArtCenter College of Design is a global leader in art and design education. With a mission to educate, inspire and empower creative and design leadership, the College is renowned for its undergraduate and graduate degree programs spanning industrial design, media and technology, as well as visual and applied arts. With deep industry relationships, state-of-the-art facilities and a strong faculty roster, ArtCenter provides real-world experience aligned with industry needs. Through rigorous, hands-on, practitioner-led instruction, the College prepares students for meaningful creative careers. For nearly 100 years, ArtCenter alumni and faculty have shaped many of the world’s most iconic products, vehicles, campaigns and creative works, leaving a lasting impact across art, design and culture.
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