Back in May, I had the honor of delivering the Commencement Speech for NC State’s College of Design Class of 2026. Honestly, it was an intimidating assignment: what kind of advice would resonate with 300 “fresh-faced” young people, embarking on their career journey and the rest of their lives?  The day came and went, with all the proper pomp and circumstance… and hopefully, I did okay (I did have a few parents come up to me afterwards, to thank me and let me know that my speech brought a few tears!)

As I have begun my own gradual transition to retirement and move away from roles and responsibilities that I’ve held for years, I’ve found myself pausing to reflect on my own journey. I’ve also had several folks recently ask me for advice on building their own career.

To that end, I’ve been encouraged to share the full Commencement address, with the hope that others might gain a nugget of inspiration or some small piece of advice that resonates with them.

“Designing a Happy Life”

Dean Hoversten, thanks so much for the introduction—and greetings to faculty, families, friends, and of course, our new graduates. I’m truly honored to be here today, celebrating the Class of 2026. Congratulations. You’ve worked hard, you’ve grown tremendously—and today is the start of a whole new chapter.

Before I started putting these remarks together, I did what a lot of you probably would’ve done: I asked AI for tips on writing a commencement speech. It actually had some pretty solid advice—avoid the classic cliches like “The world is your oyster” or “Reach for the stars.” And yes, there was some good advice to pass on like: Say thank you to the people who helped along the way”. But what surprised me is what it didn’t mention—the one question that might matter most, especially for all of you right now: “How do I build a happy life?”

If we’re being honest, happiness doesn’t get a lot of airtime these days—especially with global conflict, constant change, and all the cultural, economic, and technological shifts that have basically rewired our brains and shortened our attention spans. Technology has given us amazing efficiency and instant connection, but it’s also made it harder to slow down and figure out what actually feels meaningful. TikTok and Instagram can turn life into a nonstop comparison game—and that almost never makes people happier. You’re part of the first generation of digital natives. Most of you don’t remember life before all of this was baked into everything you do—the real advantages, and also the mind-numbing firehose of information. So how do you cut through the noise and find a path that creates happiness and meaning in your own life?

Some of you may be familiar with Arthur C. Brooks. He’s a prolific writer, has a regular column in The Atlantic magazine and is professor at Harvard Business School. Since 2019, Arthur has been teaching one of Harvard’s most popular classes, called “The Happiness Project.” He also recently released a book titled The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in the Age of Emptiness. Since he’s a recognized happiness expert, I’m going to shamelessly borrow a few of his ideas today…along with this one: choosing to spend your life pursuing design excellence is a pretty great way to start building a meaningful life.

For Harvard’s “Happiness” class, Brooks teaches three big ideas.  First: happiness depends on meaningful relationships. As designers, you’ll collaborate, mentor, and inspire—so don’t underestimate how much a strong, supportive and diverse community matters. The friends you make and the partnerships you build early in your career can end up shaping everything. Keep widening your circle and keep making room at the table for new people.

Second: happiness grows out of purpose. Meaning is the thing that turns a quick hit of pleasure into something that actually lasts. The work you do can be more than a job—it can be a calling, a way to leave a real mark. When you know, deep down, why you’re doing what you’re doing—and how it might help other people—that sense of purpose fuels your efforts and makes the day-to-day feel a lot more worth it.

And third: happiness comes from gratitude. Take time to notice what’s going well, who helped you get here, and how far you’ve come. You’ve been given a pretty incredible opportunity by being in this place at this time (and let’s be clear—you worked hard to earn it). You’re leaving the College of Design with a foundation that can open doors for a long time. When you practice gratitude—both for the big gifts and the small everyday wins—you train yourself to look for the good in your life, in yourself, and in other people. That mindset helps in just about any situation.

Brooks also makes the point that happiness isn’t just a feeling—it’s a practice. It’s something you build, the same way you’ve built your skills in design. “Happiness is not something that happens; it is something you create, day by day, through the choices you make.” And honestly, the idea of designing a life on purpose fits perfectly here. You, as designers, are uniquely prepared for that. Your education has given you tools to shape environments, solve human problems, and bring beauty to the everyday.

Of course, the challenges you’re stepping into are real. The world right now is handing you some big, complicated problems. The pace of change—and the constant pull on your attention—can make it hard to even know where to start, or where your skills can make the most difference. Sometimes it feels like everything is moving too fast, and at the same time, nothing is moving fast enough. But here’s the good news: this moment, as you step into what’s next, is a great time to just jump in. Find a need and try to fill it. Find something you care about fixing and take one step—then the next. Those steps can turn into a path that could help tackle some of the wicked problems the world is facing today.

And that path is yours to shape. Ask yourself: what’s going to make your work feel meaningful? Not just what looks like success from the outside, but what gives you purpose and a real sense of fulfillment. As someone who’s closer to the end of my career than the beginning, I will tell you this: awards and recognition can feel great for a minute, but the deeper meaning I’ve found has come from mentoring, leading teams that design beautiful, functional buildings, and—most importantly—trying to be a good mother to my twin daughters. You’ve heard it before, and it’s still true: it’s not just about making a living; it’s about making a life.

Design thinking may be your greatest superpower. You’ve built a skill set that helps you imagine solutions, test ideas, iterate, refine and actually bring things into the world. Those skills will serve you well when you hit big decision points, face setbacks, or weigh opportunities.

To design, you fundamentally have to be optimistic. You make something from nothing, you wrestle with a hard problem, you see an idea finally click—that’s a very real kind of joy. And when your work helps other people, it goes even deeper. That sense of purpose helps you move through the valleys, and it makes the peaks even more meaningful. And that’s true in the day-to-day, and it’s true over the decades that will shape your career and your life.

I know we’re all hearing about the AI revolution and trying to figure out what it means for our profession. It’s a powerful tool, and like every major tool before it, it’s going to change how we work. But here’s another way to look at it: tools that make design more accessible can also increase demand for great designers. Machine learning can generate content, but it still struggles with what humans actually need from design—how spaces feel, how graphics connect emotionally, how people experience media, how a landscape wakes up our senses, or what it feels like to use a product you created. Our opportunity is to bring design thinking and human intuition to the table and use every resource we have to do our best work for the greater good.

You’re going to encounter challenges—messy constraints, tough feedback, big decisions, and the occasional imposter-syndrome moment. That’s normal. You’re more ready than you think. Your design education has taught you how to navigate all of this. Trust what you’ve learned, stay curious, lean on each other, and keep showing up.

So, some final words as you leave NC State: stay grateful, stay connected, and keep looking for work that feels meaningful—not just impressive. Keep building relationships. Keep learning. And don’t just design buildings, products, and experiences—design a life that feels full and true to you.

Thank you for letting me be part of this day and congratulations once again. Take a breath, soak in this moment, and then go do what you do best—question, create and make things better. You’ve got this… and go Pack!

Photo courtesy of Max Cohen, NC State College of Design