Art Center College of Design
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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 2005 is over $12,000 per semester, 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. This seriously limits the pool of potential students, and while there's no reason rich kids can't be talented, it is a certainty that many of the most talented potential students are unable to obtain this kind of money. While scholarships and other financial aid are offered, nevertheless the character of the school has inevitably changed from blue collar to blue blood.
Notable graduates
- Roger Avary
- Chris Bangle
- Gordon Buehrig
- Michael Bay
- Joe Hahn
- J Mays
- Stan Sakai
- Mike Shinoda
- Drew Struzan
- Tim Teebken
- Michael Whelan
- Chip Foose
See also
External link
- Art Center College of Design (http://www.artcenter.edu)