The Department of Design at The Ohio State University is proud to recognize Thomas Yurkin (BSID ’85, Visual Communication Design) as the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. The award was presented during the Department’s Spring Exhibition Reception, honoring Yurkin’s decades‑long career and lasting impact on the design profession.

Yurkin is a Senior Creative Director at Freeman, one of the world’s leading live event production companies, where he leads the creation of immersive brand experiences for major organizations across industries. His work blends storytelling, spatial design, and production expertise to transform ideas into meaningful, large‑scale live experiences.

Returning to Campus

As part of the recognition, Yurkin spent time on campus engaging with students and faculty. He delivered a guest lecture to Visual Communication Design students, offering an inside look at the live events industry and the creative process behind exhibitions and experiential design. Drawing from his own career path, Yurkin shared how a foundation in visual communication and industrial design can open doors to diverse and evolving professional opportunities.

Yurkin also joined Collab Studio for a Q+A session, where students asked candid questions about career trajectories, collaboration, and creative leadership. His advice emphasized curiosity, listening, and adaptability as essential skills for designers building long‑term careers.

Podcast Feature: Thinking Through Design

While on campus, Yurkin recorded an episode of the Department’s podcast, Thinking Through Design, titled “A Walk Through 40 Years of Exhibit Design.” In the episode, he reflects on the evolution of live events and exhibit design, the role of emerging technologies, and the importance of designing experiences around the attendee journey. The conversation traces his path from Ohio State student to creative director and highlights how design education translates into real‑world impact.

Honoring Alumni Impact

The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes graduates whose work exemplifies excellence, leadership, and service to the discipline of design. Through his professional achievements and commitment to mentoring students, Thomas Yurkin reflects the values and broad possibilities of an Ohio State design education.

The Department of Design congratulates Thomas Yurkin, BSID ’85, on being named the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient.