A one-term course in which students meet twice weekly and will be introduced to the visual language of drawing. Explore how the parts of the drawing relate to each other and to the composition as a whole while striving to develop skills using traditional black-and-white media. One-half of the course places primary emphasis on depicting the human form; the other half places emphasis on depicting objects in space.

Dynamics is a problem-solving course in which the student investigates the dynamic visual forces involved in composing on a two-dimensional plane. Explores the interrelationships of composition, process, perception, and intention. Color and light are also explored as a visual phenomenon, as a perceptual occurrence, as pigment with specific mixing properties, and as an element with powerful expressive and symbolic potential. Time, the fourth dimension, is investigated through problems dealing with simultaneity and sequentiality. The range of tools includes traditional materials/mediums and digital imaging. The course broadens the student’s skill level in idea development, research strategies, and technique through the exploration of the visual language in both a historical and contemporary context. Approximately one-half of the semester is spent working in a digital environment.

A theme-based introductory course in which students conduct research and engage in a creative process that leads to a body of visual work. Each section of RPC is devoted to a particular idea, process, or approach. Students develop concepts, translate ideas, and apply methods as they make their work. Students explore their work and thinking within a historical, cultural, and personal context. This is reinforced through critical dialogue during stages of ideation, production, completion, and evaluation. At the end of the semester, students are required to present their final research in a digital presentation. These presentations should demonstrate visual evidence of work completed throughout the semester as well as the ability to analyze their progress and learning in a public format.

Introduction to image/content creation, manipulation, editing and management through Adobe Suite programs. Learn proper file management and workflow techniques, along with proper digital documentation and presentation of work. Students employ digital terminology across a wide range of disciplines and practices while also recognizing the cultural implications of digital creation, appropriation and distribution. MIAD # [FYE150].

FYE studio courses immerse students in making in two, three, and four dimensions. Blends contemporary and traditional technologies in courses and work. Engaged in conversations and critique, while connecting experiences with skills and knowledge. See MIAD course catalog for specific course descriptions.

Explores 2D digital animation tool sets, while practicing how animation principles, timing and sound design can create believable, relatable, innovative and evocative short films and spots. Students are exposed to digital 2D animation processes that can be applied to motion graphics, character animation and special effects. Students continue applying ideation and visualization techniques learned in Visual Development & Storytelling to create engaging and clear sequential narratives.

Practice techniques for modeling, surfacing, lighting, animation, rendering and 3D printing. Students are exposed to 3D tool sets with applications in animated films, interactive games, printed toys and more. Emphasis is placed on designing appealing objects and characters with strong silhouettes that hold visual interest from all angles. Students continue applying ideation and visualization techniques learned in Visual Development & Storytelling to create engaging and clear designs for use in 3D.

Innovates with new media tools to create dynamic, interactive, dimensional and experiential animation projects. Through workshops and projects, students explore how new media such as virtual reality, projection mapping, motion capture and programming can be applied to commercial assignments within advertising and entertainment markets. This foundational technical knowledge and hands-on experience allow students to develop innovative projects that do not fit within the traditional animation paradigm. Topics are updated annually to reflect cutting-edge technologies and trends within the animation industry.

Typography I is an introductory course that focuses on the history and practice of using typography in design. Familiarizes students with several methods for structuring type so that they might gain an understanding of how typographic variables and the principles of legibility and readability affect visual communication. Each student is encouraged to develop their own personal awareness of and appreciation for typography; so that they will become equipped with the terminology, theory and practice necessary for making design decisions that facilitate understanding among their intended audience.

Provides students with an understanding of the integral use of typography in the overall design concept. Type as a communicative and creative element is explored. Students become familiar with the organizational skills necessary for clear communication as well as the formative aspects of typographic symbols and arrangement. Students are encouraged to continue to develop the personal awareness necessary for making design decisions that facilitate understanding among their intended audience.

Provides students with the foundational knowledge and skills within a specific area or discipline of focus. Emphasis on tools, materials, techniques and formal visual principles structure a sequence of assignments and exercises. Students engage in a process of creation, construction and experimentation. Awareness of traditional and contemporary precedents promotes development of skills, personal vision and distinct expression. Through analysis and critique of their own and each other’s work, the class will establish the language of analytic and intuitive problem-solving.

Embraces the ‘new’ in artmaking since the reproducible photograph – exploring performance art, video, audio, social practice, digital practices, timebased forms and more. The emphasis is on creating experiences between artist and audience. We’ll look at the history of new genre while making a case for creating new histories. Various methods, techniques and demos will provide students with skills to create work that lives in the spaces between traditional boundaries, makes new spaces outside those boundaries, or sidesteps boundaries altogether. This is a studio class with occasional readings, discussions, in-class activities and critiques.

Sections of this course are intended to delve deeply into how a specific subject or mode has been addressed by artists over time. Each thematic subsection addresses manifestations of these subjects (see examples below) in multiple media, in subsequent eras and towards different purposes, studied in the context of students’ continuing engagement with their individuated studio practices. All subsections are meant to be expansive in approach, and to consider all modes and media as represented in historical and current art as equally valid subjects of inquiry and examples for studio practice. Instructors lead research into the chosen subject areas and prompt students with studio projects designed for direct, hands-on exploration of thematic subjects. Students employ media familiar to them, and are encouraged to experiment with new media, to expand their artistic exploration and to build manual and oral/written vocabulary for operating within a multidisciplinary environment. Fee paid to MIAD. MIAD # [NSP220/NSP221]

Topically engages appropriation as defined by a range of artistic practices and critical interventions. Establishes a range of current tendencies, then traces them back to their historical lineages. Recognizing the complicated history within appropriation and questions of authorship, students engage relationships between past and present. Through lecture, discussion and critique, these relationships become central in the art making process. Although this is a studio class, students encounter a number of critical texts. By way of reading and class dialogue, students become aware of the role theory and history can play in the art making process. This in turn allows students to develop a discerning way in which to approach their respective practices. Approaches to appropriation engages an expanded notion of appropriation by acknowledging a range of artistic approaches. Students are encouraged to conceive of their projects via media best suited to effectively communicate their artistic pursuits. Fee paid to MIAD. MIAD #[NSP221].

Furthers student understanding of essential software and hardware commonly used by designers and artists through intensive and thorough exploration, students will expand upon existing skill sets using programs largely from Adobe's Creative Cloud applications. An understanding of the technical aspects within a design project's lifecycle as well the distinction between digital and print output requirements will be covered.

An introduction to the fundamental workings of the tools and functions inherent in the current version of Adobe Photoshop. Additional challenges include interfacing between QuarkXPress, Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop to create more complex documents, and advanced aspects of the digital pre-press.

Furthers student understanding of UX/UI solutions through the creation of websites built to meet the needs of distinct audiences. Students draw upon existing technology skill sets and learn new tools and methods used by professional web designers to provide unique and memorable user experiences. Introduces tools such as Adobe's Anmate, Greenstock and GIT. Gain in-depth understanding of HTML, CSS, JavaScript and SVG.

Fundamentals of communication design are introduced to the student with theoretical and applied studies in design, problem solving, communication, and verbal and visual presentation.

Fundamentals of communication design are introduced to the student with theoretical and applied studies in design, problem solving, communication, and verbal and visual presentation.

Elective topics in Fine Arts.

Students are taught to effectively and efficiently find and assimilate information, and then to interpret and understand what they have gathered. Challenged to complete projects that have been designed to familiarize them with a specific type of information design. Students gain process-based experience pertinent to the development of their own personal problem-solving methods, which they might then use to design diagrams, charts, interfaces, instructions, maps and schedules.

Create an engaging and professional portfolio design system to best display work in both physical and digital formats. Studies anticipated career paths and the transition from student to working professional.

Designed to familiarize the student with art direction within an advertising agency. Students learn the fundamentals of advertising, from a history of advertising, to lectures and seminars on marketing, research, account service, copyrighting, illustration, photography and self promotion. Focuses on the role of an art director or designer within an agency environment.

An introduction to self-directed learning designed to further one’s growth as an artist. Individual artistic investigations centers on self-determined modes of making. Students may choose to concentrate on one discipline or they may work across several disciplines. That choice is guided by the instructor and by advanced student mentors in the class. Guidance is also offered as the student defines broad themes for artistic inquiry. Successful self-determined inquiry requires the students to reflect on the trajectory of their work and it further requires them to nurture a dialog with their work. Artistic inquiry is guided through readings, critiques, visits to exhibitions and through frequent consultation with the instructor and with other students. Development of an ePortfolio provides further opportunities for reflection on the student’s artistic evolution and it provides a convenient means for sharing work beyond the class. Because the focus is on studio practice, students are expected to be working during class. To the extent possible, class time is devoted to studio work and to critique, but expect to start every class with a discussion. Discussions provide an opportunity to explore common ideas, to seek advice, to share discoveries and to provide support for the class community.

Allows students to refine their personal artistic inquiry by building on their Open Studio Experience.

Offers students the opportunity to research, plan and run an art event from the ground up. There is both an arts management and a studio component to this course. During the semester, the class will host and organize a week-long Monoprint Workshop, bringing twelve acclaimed international and national artists to MIAD's campus to produce prints in collaboration with the students. The workshop will culminate in an art sale event to benefit MIAD scholarship funds. [MIAD #FA307]

Elective topics in Fine Arts.

Faculty-supervised, independent study/research of a specific area or topic in Fine Art.