SCAD’s 2025 Salutatorian Speaks her Mind on Collaboration
Written by Autumn Griswold. Graphic by Autumn Griswold.
For SCAD graduate Lea Bagi, it is all about execution.
An end goal mindset is an interesting perspective to have for someone who once studied concept art in Illustration, a concentration solely dedicated to the conceptual. But even before then, Bagi always knew the visual arts were her true calling. Enrolling at SCAD with a fine arts background, Illustration seemed the obvious choice for someone of her talents. She was content in her studies until she felt as if she was missing something crucial in her curriculum.
“I was interested in storytelling, and I loved the stories that non-verbal illustration or visuals can tell without any other context needed,” Bagi told me, as we sat down for an interview. “… however, as I progressed with my journey … I just found myself wondering, what else is out there?”
Bagi desired a more “group-oriented workflow,” as she put it. She had always been interested in branding, and specifically, how brands tell stories, ever since she was a girl. So, she set out on an expedition outside her major. The result? She discovered the world of advertising. Even better, she fell in love with SCAD all over again.
Adding a second major, Advertising and Branding, seemed a simple choice to others. However, it was a decision that came after much contemplation. “I made the decision to… stay a year longer at SCAD than anticipated,” She said.
Among Bagi’s careful considerations of double-majoring was planning her time management. It is important to manage your schedule when taking on double the course load, especially when both majors require vastly different things. As she explained, it often feels like you are left alone in the more independent, illustrative process. For advertising, this could not be further from the truth.
“Even though the storytelling is similar, when it comes to executing the campaigns, from idea to execution, it is indeed a different journey for illustration and advertising,” Bagi explained. “In addition to being present for every aspect of the campaign, whether that be the photography, the filming or creating the assets of it … it is just a bit more complex, or a bit more places to be with advertising campaigns.”
However, these were not the only parts of the collaborative process that Bagi found to be difficult.
“I am an only child. In the best and worst way,” Lea said, laughing at herself. “That kind of taught me to be independent, no matter what … and I do understand that we all have different expectations of ourselves … and for me, the hardest thing to do understand was that not everyone has the project’s interest first in mind, even though I do think of myself as a project first kind of person when it comes to professional settings.”
It is a difficult conundrum. For someone like Bagi, leadership comes easily. While studying at SCAD, she had the opportunity to take on several leadership roles for projects. These were opportunities she never took lightly. However, for one project in particular, boundaries were not established, which led to roadblocks.
“So, I found myself in a situation where I was still trying to respond to my project title, or to my role, and take on all the responsibilities that I had,” Bagi said. “However, because those boundaries weren’t put down early on in the project … that led to a disjointed project.”
Bagi believes that boundaries should always be respected. Elements like empathy, open-mindedness and curiosity are all essential for collaborators to possess, or else everything falls apart. With slumped shoulders, Bagi explained that it is hard for her to let go of projects, especially when they are collaborative. But she knows it is crucial for a healthy work environment. As one person on a project, you cannot take on more than you can chew, lest you overwork yourself.
What does Bagi do when things do not go exactly to plan in a collaboration? As she put it, it is important not to let the mistakes get to you and to try to understand different ideas that your partners are putting forward. Bagi’s willingness to listen is what made her the perfect choice for so many leadership positions at SCAD.
“Being a leader is not just about being an exceptional leader,” she said with a smile. “It is also about being an exceptional listener.
Furthermore, it is no surprise these qualities made her the perfect applicant for MAC Cosmetics. After earning her B.F.A.s in both Illustration and Advertising and Branding, and accepting the honor of being the Salutatorian for her graduating class of 2025, she moved into working for the company in a full-time position.
Bagi emphasized how much she learned from SCAD about collaboration. Specifically, she learned so much about how to lead campaigns effectively, a skillset she has brought into her professional work. Collaborative projects were not always easy for Bagi, but she would not have it any other way. “It was absolutely worth it. Because I am fulfilling and rounding out my knowledge.”
