UC design student spins a dream co-op
Student gains hands-on experience at Columbia Records, learns to shape artists’ brands
For Nicholas Namyar, summer 2025 was the highlight of his academic career. He spent three months in New York City with Columbia Records, a division of Sony.
“To work in the music industry has always been my goal,” Namyar says. “To earn an internship with Sony felt like a real milestone.”
Namyar, a master’s degree design student in the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, interned for Columbia Records, an American flagship recording label that operates under Sony Music Entertainment.
UC graduate student Nicholas Namyar standing in front of the Columbia Records lobo in New York City. Photo provided by Namyar.
He’s incredibly talented, creative and organized.
Jill Kaplan Vice president, video production at Columbia Records
Nicholas Namyar spent his summer in New York City with a co-op at Columbia Records. Photo/provided
Working alongside Columbia’s video production team, Namyar was mentored by two video commissioners and a video coordinator and contributed to every step of the production process. His responsibilities ranged from editing content and compiling trend reports to joining the team on set for music videos.
Namyar also created behind-the-scenes photography and video clips, with some of his work published directly to artists’ official accounts.
“I’ve been able to shadow producers, speak with directors and meet artists from the label, like rapper 24kGoldn,” Namyar says. “Not only is it exciting to be interning at the label of my favorite artists like Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus and Harry Styles, but also being able to build the emerging artists’ brands and learning about the music business and legal side.”
“It was an absolute pleasure having Nicholas intern with us this summer,” says Jill Kaplan, vice president, video production at Columbia Records. “He’s incredibly talented, creative, organized and easy to work with.”
Nicholas Namyar presenting at Columbia Records. Photo provided by Namyar.
As a UC co-op ambassador, Namyar also took part in networking events while in New York City, including The Recording Academy gatherings through GRAMMY U, a professional development and networking arm of the academy designed specifically for students.
Outside of his day-to-day role, he connected with fellow interns and even collaborated on creative projects. “I met so many new friends, and people even called me the ‘intern president’ because I liked organizing meetups for the intern cohort. It was such a valuable experience.”
The biggest benefit of co-op at UC, he says, is the opportunity to experience the workforce before graduation and develop skills beyond the classroom, “working with real clients in my desired field,” he says.
UC co-op fast facts
- $94 million+ in collective self-reported earnings
- 8,300-plus students from disciplines across the university participate
- $11,220 average co-op salary per student per semester
- 1,700-plus employer partners participate in co-op
- Top 5 program in the nation (U.S. News & World Report)
Namyar “has that special ‘it’ factor that can’t be manufactured,” Kaplan says. “He made a huge impression on the whole staff. He puts so much work and heart into everything he does. The world is truly a better and more interesting place when Nick is around.”
Toward the end of the term, Namyar was one of 10 Sony interns invited to present at the company’s final showcase. His talk, “Music Videos Are Not Dead,” explored how the format continues to evolve and how production budgets can be maximized for impact.
“It almost felt like home by the end,” he said of his summer in Manhattan.
Namyar’s success reflects UC’s long-standing tradition of cooperative education. Founded at UC in 1906, the co-op model continues to be a cornerstone of experiential learning. Today, UC’s program is ranked among the No. 4 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
This was truly a dream internship come true.
Nicholas Namyar UC graduate student
Back on campus, Namyar’s now turning those insights into his thesis, “Designing Fan-Driven Visual Branding Systems for Emerging Musicians,” which engages fellow design students in developing branding systems for local artists.
“The program has taught me how to approach design with strategy and research,” Namyar says. “My goal is to be a creative director — someone who can guide artists in shaping their visual brands through design, videography and storytelling.”
Set to graduate in May 2026, Namyar is already positioning himself for the next step — and credits UC’s co-op system for making opportunities like Columbia Records possible.
“This was truly a dream internship come true,” he says.
Featured photo at top provided by Nicholas Namyar.
Your career is next
Through one of the nation’s most robust, top-ranked co-op programs, UC students don’t just learn about their future — they live it, alternating classroom study with real, career-shaping experience in industries around the world.
Students: Earn while you learn at UC.
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