{"id":34357,"date":"2025-09-18T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/mad-tech\/2025\/09\/18\/a-creative-compass-how-ben-marsigli-brings-collegiate-spirit-into-the-apparel-market\/"},"modified":"2026-03-11T13:14:42","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T17:14:42","slug":"a-creative-compass-how-ben-marsigli-brings-collegiate-spirit-into-the-apparel-market","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/mad-tech\/2025\/09\/18\/a-creative-compass-how-ben-marsigli-brings-collegiate-spirit-into-the-apparel-market\/","title":{"rendered":"A Creative Compass: How Ben Marsigli Brings Collegiate Spirit into the Apparel Market"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

Ben Marsigli has made a successful career designing apparel for the brand Rhoback. But it wasn\u2019t always a straightforward path. Before finding himself at a company he loves, he started as a business major at NC State. Now, that experience is helping him strengthen a growing brand of active lifestyle wear and allowing grads like himself to show their love for NC State. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Growing up with a mother who was a vocational artist, Ben was always drawn to arts and crafts as a child, even selling commissioned artwork as early as middle school. \u201cI was always doing artwork and freelance work,\u201d he says. \u201cSo early on, whether it was drawing pictures of people\u2019s cars or houses or dogs, I learned to work with clients and enjoy the business aspect of design.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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As an undergraduate student at NC State, Ben pursued business for his first two years before realizing that he wanted a career with more creativity. He quickly landed on the Design Studies major, which provides a broad overview of design in a non-studio setting. \u201cIt felt like an interdisciplinary degree where I could forge my own path, while still having the College of Design degree on my resume, with the weight that holds,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, his years as a business student helped him tap into the entrepreneurial spirit that drives the founders of Rhoback. But it\u2019s his time as a design student that truly prepared him for his role. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of his first lessons post-graduation was how much is learned on the job. Ben worked hard during the first few years of his career to earn the respect of his peers. \u201cI graduated without actually having studied apparel design, so I did question whether I could make a career as a designer,\u201d he admits. \u201cWith business, I saw that traditional pathway, but I wanted to pivot into something more creative. It wasn\u2019t until I joined Rhoback  that I really felt I could carve out a career for myself in design, where I have a lot of creative freedom and can impact the brand\u2019s trajectory and feel that I\u2019m bringing value to the company.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He formed key skills as a design student that stuck with him throughout his career: working with other creatives, understanding the value of research, and learning how to refine his creative thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking a gamble with a smaller company like Rhoback gave him the potential to grow into a career that he loves. Over the past 3.5 years, Ben has moved from apparel designer to his current role, creative director of product. \u201cIt\u2019s a small and nimble team that prides itself on community, creativity and the ability to tell a story that consumers want to be a part of,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He describes the company as pushing outside of what they know works while also honing in on who exactly they want to be – not chasing trends, but providing products that meet their consumers\u2019 needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That attention to detail has made collaborating with NC State to develop collegiate apparel<\/a> a strong partnership. \u201cWhen we design product, we want to make sure it all works together – from not only a merchandising and outfitting perspective, but also from a brand standpoint. We strive to tell a brand story through clothing that\u2019s relatable and familiar while also being fresh,\u201d Ben says.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The company is working with 58 colleges and universities this fall and plans to add 30 more in the next year. \u201cIt\u2019s exciting and fulfilling to see something you\u2019re so closely related to, that so many of your peers get excited about, come to fruition,\u201d he adds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having alumni and fans purchase from the collection gives back to the university in ways they might not be aware of. NC State allocates 95% of net revenues generated by its trademark licensing program to support student scholarships<\/a> across campus. <\/p>\n\n\n