(Watch Cary Sherburne’s inyerview with Cal Poly’s Colleen Twomey here.)

Students benefit from WhatTheyThink investment in their future, providing an opportunity to work in a real-world production and publishing environment while also experiencing the world’s largest printing trade show

WhatTheyThink, the leading global media organization serving the printing and publishing industries, today reported that it has teamed up with Cal Poly’s Graphic Communication Department to help underwrite the cost of sending six Cal Poly students to drupa, the world’s largest printing trade show scheduled for May 28 to June 7, 2024, in Düsseldorf, Germany.

“WhatTheyThink’s contribution to help Cal Poly students experience drupa is incredible,” said Colleen Twomey, Professor and Graphic Communication Department Chair at Cal Poly. “Our campaign has been supported by donations from our industry partners, alumni, and advisory board members; and the opportunity that WhatTheyThink is providing by having our students work at the show - producing material that will be published, and doing video interviews - is very similar to how we approach our curriculum; Learn by Doing!  It's also a fabulous opportunity to network with industry leaders and make important connections as they work their way to graduation. At drupa, our students will be able to share their experiences in real time on social media so their peers back home can benefit from what they are doing and learning. We are all so excited!"

Vessels noted that in addition to the students themselves gaining these experiences, it is expected that they will share their enthusiasm and learnings with other students when they return home to Cal Poly. Following the show, WhatTheyThink will publish a student perspective report that will both offer visibility to the participating students and inspire others to consider an industry career.

In addition to helping with publication of the drupa Daily, WhatTheyThink coverage and conducting and editing of video interviews, the students will also have an opportunity to attend press conferences, be interviewed on videos for publication, and benefit from meet-and-greet sessions with key industry executives and other industry VIPs.

“I just can’t get over how amazing WhatTheyThink’s contribution is to this whole adventure,” said Colleen Twomey, Professor and Graphic Communication Department Chair at Cal Poly. “It is really leveling up the immersion factor, enabling these students to really get to know the industry, the trends, but also increase their interpersonal interaction skills. Helping to produce material that will be published, working with video interviews, and the fabulous opportunity to network with industry leaders is a very unique and value opportunity for these students. By sharing their experiences in real time on social media, their colleagues back home will also be able to benefit from what they are doing and learning.”

Vessels concluded, “If you really believe in supporting the next generation of graphic communications professionals, we hope our sponsoring of this project will inspire you to do the same!”

Have you made your drupa plans yet? The time is now. Lodgings are filling up, as are flights, as the industry heads to Dusseldorf for drupa 2024. We hope to see you there; and if you are going, please contact us if you would like to visit with our experts, meet the students, and/or be interviewed about your drupa experience!

For more information, visit https://whattheythink.com/drupa. For information about sponsorship opportunities before and during the event, view our drupa Opportunities webinarhere.

About Cal Poly Graphic Communication

Founded in 1946, the Cal Poly Graphic Communication Department represents one of the best-known programs of its kind in the nation. The discipline includes media and mass communication involving the creation, production, management and distribution of advertising, marketing, web sites, books, magazines, newspapers, catalogs, packages and other media in printed and digital form.

About WhatTheyThink

WhatTheyThink is the global printing industry's go-to information source with both print and digital offerings, including WhatTheyThink.com, WhatTheyThink Email Newsletters, and the WhatTheyThink magazine. Our mission is to inform, educate, and inspire the industry. We provide cogent news and analysis about trends, technologies, operations, and events in all the markets that comprise today's printing and sign industries including commercial, in-plant, mailing, finishing, sign, display, textile, industrial, finishing, labels, packaging, marketing technology, software and workflow.

About drupa

As the world’s leading trade fair for printing technologies, drupa stands for inspiration, innovation, top-class knowledge transfer and intensive networking. With the motto “we create the future”, drupa will serve as the global meeting point, presenting the visions of the print and packaging industries along the entire value chain. The 2024 edition will specifically focus on the mega trends sustainability and digitalization, in addition to many more relevant trends in an inspiring setting. The exhibits will be complemented by an extensive ancillary program and five special forums: the drupa cube, drupa next age (dna) as well as touchpoints packaging, textile and sustainability.