Art Center College of Design

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Image:Accdp1.jpg Art Center College of Design is located in Pasadena, California and is commonly referred to as Art Center. 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". The Art Center is particularly known for its Transportation (Automobile) Design program. It also has notable photography, graphic design, illustration, and film programs among others.

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. More recently, the school has been attempting to build a stronger fine arts curriculum as well.

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. The full cost of a four-year degree from Art Center is therefore well over $150,000, significantly more for a film student.

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 eight trimesters -- 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.

Sometime in the late 1960s Art Center became an accredited university. 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.