Commencement student speaker Randle reflects on CIA experience

By Michael C. Butz

From the moment Violet Randle stepped foot on campus, she knew that the Cleveland Institute of Art was the right place for her to pursue her creative career.

But what the Pennsylvania native didn’t know—at least not yet—was what she’d learn, how she’d grow and what she’d accomplish during her four years at CIA. As it turns out, she’d do a lot of all of those things as she studied Graphic Design and Creative Writing.

Many at CIA noticed, and as a result of her impact and contributions to the CIA community, Randle was selected to serve as the student speaker during the 2025 Commencement ceremony May 10 at Cain Park’s Evans Amphitheater.

Prior to taking the stage, Randle took time to reflect on her CIA experience.

How does it feel to be selected as the student speaker at Commencement?

Not only is it an honor to have been nominated for this role, but to be selected has truly been an honor. For a while, I didn’t think I’d be able to have an impact here, but I realize now that I do have a voice and a work ethic to be proud of. This opportunity is one I will never forget, as it is helping me own the fact that I’m an important member of the CIA community for who I am and how I’ve been involved here. Definitely a confidence boost!

Where did you attend high school? And, how much do you feel you've grown since then (whether creatively, personally or both)?

I attended Sacred Heart Academy in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and I’m a long way from where I was! My four years at CIA have forced me to grow up in some of the best ways. While I’m no stranger to the independence that college offers, I’ve learned how to be more responsible for myself and my time. I’ve learned how to take what I’m taught and apply it outside of the classroom, instead of limiting what I know to use for assignments. I feel that’s the beauty of being around creative peers—there are some things I wouldn't have thought to do if I didn’t bounce my ideas off of someone else or see how they execute an idea. Outside of how college can mature you, aging from 18 to 22 years old has taught me a lot and I’ve had time to fall and get back up plenty of times. It’s impactful for me that when I did fall, I was able to pick myself back up, because I wouldn’t learn anything if I didn’t. I’m proud of that personal growth.

Why did you choose CIA?

I chose CIA because the minute I stepped on campus, it felt right. Everyone I saw was so interested in their craft and their eyes lit up when they’d talk about it, specifically the professors. The ultimate decision, though, came down to the fact that CIA had such a great design program and teachers that are still actively working in their field. I didn’t see that in any of the other schools I was applying to at the time, and thought it was pretty valuable toward my education. I also appreciated the fact that we get personal studios as sophomores, and that the school is small enough where we have individualized attention from our professors. CIA is the community I'm proud to be a part of.

What led you to major in Graphic Design and minor in Creative Writing? What interests you most about both?

I knew graphic design and the principles involved would take my career far. Even now as my career interests shift, I find that everything I’ve learned—like packaging, UX/UI design, typography design, etc.—has led me to pay attention to detail in ways that I wouldn’t have before. Graphic design is an art that solves creative problems; setting up files is reminiscent of a puzzle for me, and I love that I can contribute an art that serves multiple functions in the world.

Needless to say, I have a love for graphic design, and the added bonus is that graphic design will always be in demand; it’s living and breathing all around us. With that, writing has always been a part of me, and it’s one of the first ways I learned to express myself. I wanted to incorporate the minor in my studies to make sure I continue to nurture this beloved craft of mine, and start to own my identity as a writer. I’ve learned that I have a lot to say! It’s been so fun challenging myself with different forms and writing experiments that the teachers here facilitate. I’m so glad I got the chance to pursue both of these areas of study at CIA.

What would you consider some of the most important lessons you learned at CIA?

One of the most important lessons I learned at CIA is how to defend my work. When it comes to a creative project, a lot of people’s criticism is an educated opinion, which means I don’t have to completely change what I’m doing just to appease someone. However, I should be taking in what they say and giving it some thought, then from there figure out what’s best for the next version of the project. In conjunction with that, I’ve had to learn how to accept criticism and use discernment whenever critique is provided. It’s OK to hear that I have room to grow at a skill, even if I feel like I’m already good at it.

Was there particularly valuable advice that a faculty member shared? If so, who was the instructor and what was their advice?

One of my favorite professors of all time, Pam Spremulli, always told me to just have fun with whatever I’m doing. What’s the point of coming to art school if you can’t have a little fun, right? She reminded me to trust my gut with my work and taught me how to defend it. Anyone can see that she loves what she does as a teacher; she knows how high-pressure college can be, so she makes sure that her class is a lively and happy place to be. Not only did she instill the value of learning something and making use of those skills, but she taught me how to love what I do, how to find that spark I can run with.

What do you feel was your biggest accomplishment as a CIA student?

I feel that aside from the honor to speak at Commencement, my biggest accomplishment is being as involved in CIA as I can and becoming a familiar face. I feel that I’ve really left my mark by being a consistent Federal Work-Study student, volunteer for school events, an Orientation Leader, a Resident Assistant, and as most people say, I’m “just always around.” I take that as a huge compliment as that has been my goal after finding my footing here.

Have you been involved with any CIA student groups or CIA-related professional groups? If so, what did you gain from those experiences?

During my time here, I’ve been involved in the school’s Black Scholars and Artists (BSA) group as well as the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), Cleveland Chapter in my junior and senior year.

BSA was the club that helped me gain my sense of belonging here, when I was struggling to connect with the school in my freshman year. It helped me see and appreciate Black artists like myself that also needed a place of support that the club provided. That club helped reinforce my understanding that I belonged here and I could be inspired by my peers.

AIGA is a club that helped provide guidance about the industry outside of school, especially during guest panels and workshops. I had a lot of opportunities to network with professionals and flex my creative muscles outside of academic assignments.

What are your plans after graduating from CIA?

Post-graduation, I intend to take a year to work full time with City Year AmeriCorps, before moving on to pursue my MFA in Art Therapy and/or furthering my creative writing career. I also intend to fully nurture my hobbies such as ceramics, crocheting and playing the flute. Art will always be my life, and I can’t wait to make more creative strides in the world.