Turning Transit into Art: How Two Myers Students Left Their Mark on Akron
What if your internship didn’t just go in your portfolio but became part of the city?
That’s exactly what happened for University of Akron students Kadin Chin and Sage Bishop, who spent summer 2025 as public art interns with Metro RTA through the Akron Community Internship Program. Managed by UA’s EX[L] Center for Community Engaged Learning, the program connects students with local organizations for paid, project-based internships that create real community impact.
For Kadin and Sage, that impact is now on display across Akron.
Designing Art You Can Ride
A graphic design student in the Myers School of Art, Kadin Chin was tasked with creating artwork for the Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center. His project became a series of illustrated banners and even more unexpectedly, a fully wrapped Metro bus featuring his designs.
Kadin’s illustrations spotlight animals native to Summit County as they ride public transit, humorously navigating the kinds of challenges both new and experienced riders face. The playful, educational visuals bring a fresh personality to everyday transportation.
The biggest surprise? At the project’s final reception, Metro RTA revealed that his designs would be turned into a full bus wrap, transforming his internship work into rolling public art seen by thousands of riders.
Kadin Chin (right) with Dr. Nidda Makki in front of the METRO bus at the EX[L] Center's 10th Anniversary celebration.
After graduation, Kadin hopes to pursue a career in video game graphic design, and this experience gave him firsthand insight into how storytelling, design, and community can intersect.
Reimagining a Bus Stop
For Sage Bishop, an art student planning to graduate in 2027, the internship offered a chance to think beyond the canvas. Sage was challenged to redesign a bus shelter using graphic design and 3D elements and took the concept in a bold direction.
Their finished design transformed a standard shelter into a whimsical, larger-than-life orange cake, inspired by oranges, cream, and dessert textures. The result is both functional and joyful, inviting riders to experience public space in a completely new way.
Sage Bishop poses in the METRO bus shelter they redesigned.
In addition to their studies, Sage works with students at NIHF STEM Middle School and enjoys making jewelry, painting, and printmaking. They plan to pursue a career in art education, and this project reflects their passion for creativity that’s accessible and engaging for all ages.
Art That Builds Community
Metro RTA’s Director of Public Relations & Marketing and the students’ supervisor, Molly Becker, recently highlighted their work at a Creative Placemaking conference, sharing how the agency’s Art in Transit program brings creativity directly into public spaces. Metro has already expressed strong interest in continuing the partnership with UA, with plans for even more student-designed art at bus stops and on vehicles in the future.
Through the Akron Community Internship Program, Kadin and Sage didn’t just gain professional experience, they helped shape how people experience their city.
From banners in the Transit Center to a bus you can ride and a shelter that looks like dessert, their work proves that when students step into the community, creativity can go anywhere.