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The Daily Hub

A roundup of ideas and projects from around the Institute

  • Visiting Associate Professor in the Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment David Burney and Ghuncha Shaheed, MS Urban Placemaking and Management ’25, write in Common Edge about the street vendor crackdown. “For many immigrant communities, one of the most accessible pathways into the city’s formal economy has been through street vending,” they write. “These small-scale businesses have played a crucial role in sustaining the rich cultural fabric New Yorkers take pride in today. Yet this contribution is frequently overlooked, even suppressed.”

  • Mónica Santos Gil, BID ’15, was included in a round-up of Puerto Rican fashion designers for LATV for her brand Santos by Mónica. “Her designs use cactus-based leather alternatives, Eucalyptus Lyocell blends, and 100% TENCEL, proving that eco-conscious fashion can be cutting-edge.” 

  • Alumnus Duke Riley’s exhibition at MOCA in Virginia Beach was reviewed in Virginia Living. “My work addresses the tension between individual and collective behavior, independent spaces within all-encompassing societies, and the conflict with institutional power,” wrote Riley in a statement.

  • The New York Times ran a story titled “A Long Sunrise Walk to Start the School Year,”  highlighting Pratt’s commitment to cultivating creative citizens while subtly connecting its Brooklyn Bridge walk tradition to broader national conversations about the value of a creative education. Celebrating Orientation and the incoming first-year class, Pratt’s annual Brooklyn Bridge walk offers a glimpse of young creatives taking their first steps—both literally and symbolically—into the cultural fabric of New York. The article features quotes from President Frances Bronet, Vice President for Student Affairs Delmy Lendof, and student Jay Vargas-Garcia.
    A group of people, seen from behind, walking over the Brooklyn Bridge.
  • Julia Gamolina, visiting assistant professor of Graduate Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Design, shares her favorite parts of New York City, architectural and otherwise, for Archinect. The most underrated building in the city? “The General Society’s Library — the second oldest library in New York City! The library focuses on resources for those in manual, technical, craft, and creative occupations, and hosts the Artisan Lecture Series, which pays tribute to the art of craftsmanship by featuring master artisans who lecture about the intricacies of their specialized crafts.”

  • Garrett Benisch, continuing and professional studies lecturer, was interviewed by Martha Stewart for an article on the environmental harms of peat moss and what gardeners should use instead. Benisch is also the director of design development for Bioforcetech, a company that transforms waste into carbon-negative solutions.

More Pratt Institute News

A young woman stands in front of an exhibition booth featuring colorful posters and materials for an architecture and arts festival. She wears a black outfit and a yellow lanyard. Beside her, another image shows her outside a modern building with glass facade, waving at the camera. The scene includes people walking in the background and urban architecture.

Designing Her Way to Her Dream Job

Recent alumna Renata Dominguez always knew she wanted to work in design. Now, just one year post-grad, she’s thriving at one of the biggest international branding agencies.
A spacious, elegantly decorated room with ornate detailing and large windows. Several individuals are walking around, some looking at artworks while others take photos. A table with a floral centerpiece is in the middle, surrounded by chairs. Two large paintings hang on the walls, depicting portraits and a landscape. The ambiance is bright and showcases a classic interior design.

Seeing the City: Tours, Talks, and More

From Pratt Institute News

This fall in New York City, students went to the newly renovated Frick, explored innovative materials at a circular design brand, and heard from famed director Spike Lee.

Exploring the Role of Values in Art and Design Education

From Pratt Institute News

Hosted on Pratt’s Brooklyn campus, the 2025 AICAD Symposium featured sessions on climate literacy, community-based learning, and interdisciplinary collaboration.