Sascha
Stephens.

I combined sheer gathered fabric, pearl embellishments, and layers of turquoise fabric to create a dress with an asymmetric, flowing silhouette.

I designed and constructed this dress during a summer fashion design course at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2026. I chose and purchased my materials and brought my own sewing machine to Chicago so I could continue working on the garment outside class hours.

I designed and assembled the dessert display for my brother's wedding. I used natural textures, varied heights, greenery, and warm lighting to make the individual elements feel like one environment.

My first idea was to display the cupcakes on a Ferris wheel. When I realized I could not make the mechanism work for this project, I changed the design without giving up the idea of movement. I used a purchased motorized photography display platform as the base, constructed a tiered cupcake tower above it, and added lighting and decorative elements.

I worked out much of the arrangement as I built it, adjusting the design as I went.

Each Halloween, my family transforms our working office into a theatrical environment. The space changes through layered fabric, props, textures, and dramatic colored lighting. I photographed the completed installation to show both the overall atmosphere and smaller details.

My mom and I work together to decide where the decorations go, often rearranging pieces until the space feels right. I took these photographs, paying attention to framing, color, and the relationship between the objects and the room.

This is a collaborative installation; the photographs are my individual work.

I crocheted this axolotl myself, combining my interest in making things by hand with digital design. I created the accompanying axolotl tutorial video during an online digital design course through the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). The project brings together two different creative skills: working with yarn and creating digital media to communicate a process.

My interests move between objects, environments, and images. Across these projects, I am drawn to making things that invite people to look more closely or experience a familiar space in a new way.