Art Center College of Design
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Photo of Art Center during the night. |
Art Center College of Design (commonly referred to as
Art Center) is a
private college located in
Pasadena,
California. It is one of the leading
graphic and
industrial design colleges in the world. The school logo is an orange circle, also known as the Art Center "Dot", which has been a part of the school identity since its beginning. The Art Center is particularly known for its Transportation (
Automobile) Design program. It also has notable
photography, graphic design,
illustration,
fine art and
film programs among others. The school maintains two campuses in Pasadena, both are considered architecturally notable.
Art Center built its reputation as a
vocational school, essentially, preparing returning GIs for work in the commercial arts fields. It has traditionally maintained a strong "real-world" focus, emphasizing craftsmanship, technique, and professionalism while somewhat de-emphasizing theory. Instructors are working professionals, for the most part, and projects are intended to map to real-life assignments.
The challenge for schools like Art Center is maintaining the balance between talent and revenues. Tuition in 2006 is over $13,000 per term (3 terms per year - trimester), plus room and board, plus the not inconsiderable costs of supplies.
That said, the tuition is on par with other private and/or fine art institutions. As indicated above, the college operates on a trimester system. Students can obtain their degree in about 2 trimesters (completing 8 terms) -- graduating with a four-year degree in just over two and a half years. (Though most students take a term off for independent study or to take formal internships in industry.) The accelerated learning environment stems from the college's trade school roots. Administrators and faculty wanted to mimic as much as possible the "real world" where there is no such thing as a summer vacation. Graduates are in the work force earlier than their counterparts at other colleges or universities. So, students may be paying as much or a bit more for supplies, etc. but they're ostensibly able to pay off their education earlier too.
The Art Center has been long accredited by the
Western Association of Schools and Collegeshttp://www.wascsenior.org/wasc/MI_Directory.htm#A accreditation. As a result, their Liberal Arts course offerings are quite extensive while having an art and design bent. Additionally, research methodologies and design theory have increasing importance alongside the aforementioned craftsmanship, technique and professionalism. One other aspect of art and design is finding prominence at the college. That's the social and humanitarian aspects, as evidenced by the college's affiliation with the United Nations.
Art Center was founded in
1930 in
downtown Los Angeles as the Art Center School. During and after
World War II, the Art Center ran a technical illustration program in conjunction with the
California Institute of Technology. In
1947, the post-war boom in students caused the school to expand to a larger location in building of the former Cumnock School for Girls in the
Hancock Park neighborhood, while still maintaining a presence at its original downtown location. The school began granting
Bachelor's and
Master's degrees in arts in
1949, and was fully accredited by the
Western Association of Schools and Colleges in
1955. In
1965, the school changed its name to the Art Center College of Design. The school expanded is programs, including a film program in
1973. The school moved to its trademark Hillside Campus in Pasadena in
1976. The school operated the Art Center Europe in
Vevey, Switzerland for ten years starting in
1986. In
2003, the Art Center was granted
Non-Governmental Organization status by the UN Department of Public Information. After mulling locations in Pasadena and downtown Los Angeles, the Art Center openned the South Campus in Pasadena in
2004.
The Art Center College of Design maintains two campuses in Pasadena: Hillside Campus and South Campus.
Hillside Campus
Designed by noted
modernist architect
Craig Ellwood, the Hillside Campus broke ground in November
1974. The trademark "
bridge building" dramatically spanned an
arroyo and roadway on 175 wooded acres in the hills above Pasadena. Openning in 1976, the building was expanded with the south wing, also designed by Ellwood, which was constructed between 1989-91.
South Campus
The South Campus opened in 2004 in a former aircraft-testing facility. Redesigned by the firm Daly, Genik, it houses the graduate programs as well as a unique 16,000 square foot exhibition space known as the Wind Tunnel. Although the building contains graceful lines and fine design, students and faculty report significant difficulties in day to day use of the building due to the lack of adequate soundproofing.
*
Jim Auckland*
Roger Avary: Academy Award-winning co-writer of
Pulp Fiction*
Chris Bangle*
Andrew D. Bernstein*
Justin Brandstater*
Gordon Buehrig*
Michael Bay*
Stefan G. Bucher*
Ryan Church*
Bruce Claypool*
Christian Clayton*
Rob Clayton*
William Cone*
Betsy Davis*
Henrik Fisker*
Chip Foose*
Phil Hays*
Joe Hahn: DJ for
nu metal band,
Linkin Park*
Jason Holley*
Michael Hussar*
Richard Keyes*
Thomas Kinkade*
Stan Kong*
Tia W. Kratter*
Daniel Lim*
Saul Lieberman*
Matt Mahurin*
J Mays*
Ralph McQuarrie*
Syd Mead*
Gary Meyer*
Craig Mullins*
Frank Nuovo: Chief of Design at
Nokia*
Nathan Ota*
Neville Page*
Scott Robertson*
Mark Ryden*
Stan Sakai*
Sami Hayek Designer and brother of
Salma Hayek*
Souther Salazar*
Mike Shinoda: MC of
nu metal band
Linkin Park and mastermind of hip hop group
Fort Minor*
Aaron Smith*
Jeff Soto*
Barron Storey*
Drew Struzan*
Hiroshi Sugimoto*
Tarsem*
Freeman Thomas*
David Townsend: Design lead Motorola MobileME (Accessories)
*
Glenn Vilppu*
Michael Whelan*
Pae White*
Feng Zhu*
Ansel Adams*
Jay Chapman*
Carla Figeroa*
Leah Hoffmitz*
Burne Hogarth*
Simon Johnston*
Rachel Lachowicz*
Gary Meyer*
Norm Schureman*
Petrula Vrontikis*
Kent Williams*
Doyald Young*
Roland Young*
Andrea Zittel*
List of colleges and universities in California*
Art Center College of DesignBold text
