Cushing University

An interactive field trip experience that gets students out of the classroom and onto the shop floor.

See projects, meet production staff and see how creations on the computer screen become an amazing finished product.

Join Cushing University

Are you a student interested in design, print or marketing? A teacher or mentor who wants to make sure their students are getting the real-life experience they’ll need in the future? Have a group of kids who just want to learn more about the digital printing process?

Join us for a Cushing University Tour!

More Than Just a Tour

Participation in Cushing University is a valuable experience for any young person interested in design, marketing or printing. Whether you’re just looking to tour the Cushing shop, or are looking for a more engaging experience, we’re excited to host your group.

We’ve hosted panel discussions where our graphic design team answered questions about education, experience and how they started their careers to sessions on how graphic design factors into marketing. Ask your students to provide questions AHEAD of your tour, which we can share with our team and prior to your arrival.

We look forward to working with you to ensure your group gets the best out of your Cushing University experience!

Let’s Set a Date

Have a date in mind?

Let’s chat!

Our hours are 7AM – 6PM, but we are happy to work around your schedule to set up a tour.

Sarah Atlas of Marwen
“The students really loved Cushing University. Not only was it important context for their specific project, but it was also really great for them to see a creative space of working professionals and a peek into an industry not often seen in the context of Marwen studio programs. The Cushing staff were wonderful, going out of their way to make Marwen students feel welcome and appreciated as young artists.”
Marwen Group Photo After Cushing Visit
Chicago and Beyond

Located in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, we welcome students from the Chicago area, surrounding suburbs and beyond! We’ve hosted groups as close as Marwen (a block away from Cushing – read more about their experience here) to groups from Back of the Yards College Prep and Chicago Hope Academy.

Don’t Take It From Us

We’ll take students through the production process from placing an order, setting up files and shipping out a project to the client.

From learning how to set up a file for print to running a job on the Flatbed or Zund, there are so many opportunities to learn and engage during a Cushing University tour.

“Chicago Hope Academy's CEO class visited Cushing last week. Personally, I am pleased to say that we all had a blast on our tour. We saw orders from real customers being made right in front of our eyes. It was a once in a lifetime experience. I will definitely keep in touch with Cushing.”
Kayla Davis of Chicago Hope Academy
Back to School

The impact of Cushing University doesn’t end when the field trip wraps. Educators use the experience to engage students during lessons and project discussion (minus a pop quiz!).

Tours help young adults think about project goals, the right materials, and how creative brainstorms translate in a business setting.

“I am a high school teacher and brought my Digital Media Career Program students to Cushing and not only was the staff and trip amazing, but it gave the students a chance to talk with working professionals about real problems AND SOLUTIONS in their career path.  One of the most impactful pieces of the Cushing tour and variety of work we saw: it changed the creative process for my students forever and opened up a world of creative problem solving they had not yet experienced.”
Schedule Your Cushing University Experience

Have questions on how Cushing University fits into your curriculum? We’re so excited to hear from you! Let’s get in touch to schedule a Cushing University session for your group.

Let’s Talk Shop!