Watson
Open Studio
Step inside the creative process.
What It Is
Watson Open Studio is a monthly virtual program for college students and recent graduates within one year of graduation. Each 60-minute session is led as a conversation between Matt Watson, Greg Needham, and selected guests from Watson, partner agencies, clients, or the broader creative community. Topics will vary by month, but each session is designed to give students a practical look at design thinking, creative process, agency life, career paths, and the real decisions behind the work. The program is free to apply for and participate in, pending approval and completion of a required NDA and confidentiality agreement.
Why We Created It
Open Studio grew out of Watson’s relationship with Oregon State University and our support for design thinking education. Watson helped establish a design thinking endowment at Oregon State in honor of Andrea Marks, whose work has helped advance design thinking and design management within OSU. We have a soft spot for Oregon Staters, but this program is open to students and recent graduates everywhere.
Who It Is For
Open Studio is for college students and recent graduates within one year of graduation who are interested in creative careers. Students from anywhere in the world may apply. Sessions are hosted virtually on Pacific Time.
What You’ll Experience
Monthly conversations on the first Friday of each month at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time, excluding holidays. Matt and guests in every session, with topics shaped around the creative field and the realities of agency work. Real creative topics, including strategy, design thinking, branding, writing, client presentations, project management, UX, digital marketing, motion, production, and career development. Selected job shadow opportunities when confidentiality, fit, and client approval allow. Industry connections to agencies, clients, partners, and programs offering internships or junior roles.
How It Works
Apply through the form. Watson reviews your submission monthly. If accepted, you receive an NDA and confidentiality agreement. After signing, you are added to the invitation list. You receive email invitations to upcoming Open Studio webinars. Additional job shadow opportunities may be shared when appropriate.
Confidentiality
Watson works with real clients, real strategy, and real business challenges. For that reason, participation requires discretion. Students must sign an NDA and confidentiality agreement before attending. Some sessions may be limited. Some client work cannot be shared. Any invitation to internal or client-facing meetings depends on the nature of the work, client approval, and the student’s area of interest. Confidentiality is not just a legal step. It is part of learning how trust works in the creative field.
FAQ
What is Watson Open Studio?
Watson Open Studio is a monthly virtual job shadow program for college students and recent graduates entering the creative field. It gives emerging creatives a closer look at how agency work happens, including design thinking, strategy, branding, writing, digital work, marketing, client presentations, project management, and creative decision-making.
Who can apply to Watson Open Studio?
College students and recent graduates within one year of graduation may apply. The program began through Watson’s work with Oregon State University, but it is open to students and recent graduates from any university, anywhere in the world.
Is Watson Open Studio only for Oregon State University students?
No. Watson has a strong relationship with Oregon State University and a soft spot for Oregon Staters, but Watson Open Studio is open to students and recent graduates from any school, program, country, or time zone.
Is Watson Open Studio an internship?
No. Watson Open Studio is not an internship, hiring program, or recruiting pipeline. It is a virtual job shadow and mentorship program designed to help students understand the creative industry, learn from working professionals, and connect with broader opportunities when possible.
What happens during each Open Studio session?
Each session is a 60-minute virtual conversation with Matt Watson, Greg Needham, and selected guests from Watson, partner agencies, clients, or the broader creative community. Topics may include design thinking, brand strategy, creative process, agency life, writing, UX/UI, digital marketing, project management, motion, production, career paths, and client work.
When does Watson Open Studio meet?
Watson Open Studio meets virtually on the first Friday of each month at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time, excluding holidays. Students from outside the Pacific Time zone are welcome to apply and should confirm that the timing generally works for them.
Is Watson Open Studio free?
Yes. The program is free to apply for and free to attend. Participation is subject to application review, acceptance, and completion of a required NDA and confidentiality agreement.
Why do students need to sign an NDA?
Watson works with real clients, real strategy, and real business challenges. Students must sign an NDA and confidentiality agreement before participating because some conversations may involve sensitive creative, strategic, or client-related information. Learning how confidentiality works is part of learning how professional creative work happens.
Will students get to attend real agency or client meetings?
Possibly. After joining the program, selected students may be invited to observe appropriate internal workshops, reviews, pitch-backs, or client-facing meetings when confidentiality, fit, and client approval allow. These opportunities are not guaranteed and depend on the nature of the work.
Can Watson Open Studio help students find internships or junior creative roles?
Watson Open Studio is not a placement program, but Watson may help connect students with agencies, brands, clients, partners, and programs that offer internships or junior roles. The goal is to help emerging creatives build context, confidence, and connections across the broader creative industry.
