Class of 2026

The Class of 2026 represents a new generation of artists, designers, and makers stepping forward with curiosity, creativity, and purpose. Over the past years at NBCCD, these students have explored materials, challenged ideas, and built lasting connections through studio practice and community.

The following graduate features highlight just a few members of the Class of 2026 as they begin new creative journeys, launch careers, continue their studies, and shape the future of craft, art, and design.

Hayden Richardson – Telio Impact Award Winner

Hayden Richardson is a multidisciplinary queer artist living and working in Fredericton, NB. Since 2023, Hayden has been creating both textile arts and fashion garments for home and stage. Before becoming an artist, Hayden’s creative path started in community organizing, where his work with LGBTQIA+ community groups, human rights, and policy writing deepened his understanding of the ties between self expression and collective expression. His art explores themes of queer culture, storytelling, gender play, and theatricality.

Hayden’s collection PARLOUR explores how we “embody” the spaces we live in by envisioning vintage objects of childhood queer fascination (vintage wallpaper, curtain tassels, doilies, and floral upholstery) from my grandmothers home furnishings as theatrical and fantastical costumes.

Hayden Richardson (2025).

Josie Steeves – Building a Career in Visual Communication

Josie Steeves is a Graphic Design graduating student. Josie is the owner and creative entrepreneur behind Josie Allison Creative Studio, based on Canada’s East Coast. A multi-media artist, photographer, and designer, her practice spans both physical and digital mediums, with a strong focus on the full creative process from concept to production and publication.

A graduate of both the Foundation Visual Arts and Graphic Design programs at NBCCD, Josie has experience working across fine art, corporate design, tourism, and sports industries. Her multidisciplinary approach allows her to adapt to a wide range of illustrative, photographic, and design projects, both large and small.

During her studies, Josie began working with J.D. Irving, Limited as a summer student photographer and videographer. That role evolved into ongoing work with the organization’s Communications team, where she now continues to contribute while completing her diploma. Her experience has taken her across Atlantic Canada, capturing a range of environments, people, and industrial storytelling moments.

Following graduation in June, Josie will continue her work full-time with Irving in Dieppe, N.B., where she contributes to corporate communications through photography and video. Her path reflects how NBCCD students build applied, industry-connected careers while still in school, translating creative education into professional opportunity.

Josie Steeves (2025).

Natasha Martin-Mitchell – Designing Across Borders and Traditions

Natasha Martin-Mitchell is a Fashion Design graduating student whose recent experience in Milan through the European Institute of Innovation for Sustainability (EIIS) offered an opportunity to explore the global fashion industry firsthand. During the week-long experience, she visited several leading textile and fashion manufacturing companies, gaining insight into the craftsmanship, innovation, and technical expertise behind contemporary fashion production.

One of the most impactful aspects of the experience was recognizing the strong connection between the industry practices she observed in Milan and the education she received at NBCCD. While the scale of production in Italy was significantly larger, many of the foundational skills and processes felt familiar. Through her studies at NBCCD, Natasha developed skills in pattern drafting, garment construction, textile knowledge, sustainability, design development, and technical problem-solving.

Visiting internationally recognized fashion companies reinforced the value of those experiences and highlighted how closely NBCCD’s approach aligns with professional industry standards. Experiencing Milan, often considered one of the fashion capitals of the world, strengthened her confidence in the education and training she received at the College.

The experience deepened her appreciation for the role of creativity, craftsmanship, technical precision, and sustainability in the global fashion industry, and inspired her to continue growing her practice through Martin-Mitchell Designs. Following graduation, Natasha will relocate back home to Listuguj, where she will focus on personal projects, continue building her brand, design and sell for pow-wows, and further explore the intersection of Indigenous storytelling, fashion, and contemporary design while continuing to learn through EIIS.

Natasha Martin-Mitchell (2025). Photography by Ashton Bullen.

Kara Mabey – From NBCCD to STU

Kara Mabey is a Photography/Videography graduating student. She will attend St. Thomas University (STU) this fall.  She will pursue a Bachelor of Arts through STU’s Interdisciplinary Major in Humanities. This is one of NBCCD’s degree pathways.

During her time at NBCCD, Kara completed an internship with the College’s Marketing team, where she contributed to creative content production and storytelling initiatives. As part of this experience, she helped shoot and produce The Making of a Line, a documentary project highlighting the creative process behind the NBCCD Fashion Show.

Kara values the tight-knit community at NBCCD. She appreciated instructors who supported student expression and creative growth. She looks forward to joining another close-knit academic community at STU. She will continue building on her arts education there. She sees two years in fine arts and two years in liberal arts as an ideal balance for her BA.

Kara Mabey (2025). Photography by Kelly baker.

Alexandra Cochrane – Ceramics, Community, and Creative Entrepreneurship

Alexandra Cochrane is a newly retired hobby potter who came to NBCCD to deepen her understanding of ceramic science. After years of self-teaching through glaze books, she sought more consistent results and a stronger technical foundation in her practice. Over three years at NBCCD, she developed a solid grounding in ceramic science while expanding her studio work into raku, large-scale forms, and sculpture. With guidance from supportive instructors and hands-on studio experience, she built both technical skill and creative confidence, and now identifies fully as an artist.

Alongside her studio practice, Alexandra completed business courses that helped her understand the foundations of building a sustainable creative enterprise. She became part of the NBCCD creative community, where collaboration and experimentation played an important role in her development.

Currently living in the United Arab Emirates, Alexandra and her husband are planning to relocate to France within the next two to three years to establish an artist residency retreat. The residency will focus on ceramics while also supporting a range of disciplines through studio space and international residencies. This summer, they will travel to explore potential properties and begin planning renovations. The future space will offer private accommodations and communal meals to encourage connection, exchange, and a slower, more intentional way of working. Rooted in sustainability and traditional craft values, the residency aims to foster inclusivity, experimentation, and meaningful creative growth within the international craft community.

Alexandra Cochrane