Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Graphic Design Schools
- Thread starter BD2010
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Don't go to the International Academy of Design and Technology!! It's awful... I speak from the experience of wasting 3 years and $40,000 there. I'm going back to school in September to a real college (for graphic design). The IADT here in Toronto is shutting down and I doubt it'll be the only one.
Might I suggest checking out liberal arts colleges that have a design program? [ If you are from California- they are an incredible deal ]
They may not be as specialized as the tier A or B schools listed (nor the enormous fees accompanying them), but I felt incredibly privileged to have gained an overall education and not one that was centered solely in design. In the real world you will have to deal with much more than just techniques of art and design (duh).. and gaining a broad spectrum in your education not only helps you out day to day, but it offered a great amount of 'outside' material to play with in my designs and creative endeavors. Another plus (this may be limited to the california state university system)- is the open campus policy. I was able to heavily infiltrate the sculpture, printmaking, recording arts, physics, etc- departments without the need of declaring myself as that particular major. As many have told me and I will pass along, your portfolio and personality are what will really matter in the end.
[ of course the design networks built and aided by the top schools will be of great help.. much will depend on the previous PP ]
Hope that helps your search!
They may not be as specialized as the tier A or B schools listed (nor the enormous fees accompanying them), but I felt incredibly privileged to have gained an overall education and not one that was centered solely in design. In the real world you will have to deal with much more than just techniques of art and design (duh).. and gaining a broad spectrum in your education not only helps you out day to day, but it offered a great amount of 'outside' material to play with in my designs and creative endeavors. Another plus (this may be limited to the california state university system)- is the open campus policy. I was able to heavily infiltrate the sculpture, printmaking, recording arts, physics, etc- departments without the need of declaring myself as that particular major. As many have told me and I will pass along, your portfolio and personality are what will really matter in the end.
[ of course the design networks built and aided by the top schools will be of great help.. much will depend on the previous PP ]
Hope that helps your search!
Yeah, I had a buddy go there (from Nashville) He's now out in CA. working as an Art Dirctor....I haven't talked to him in a few years, but I know it got him into the field...I can't personally quantify the quality of the education, but he seemed to like it.
I think anything can be good.
If anyone wants my opinion, it's like this: Read, study, practice, copy, look, learn, accept criticism but don't internalize it, be diligent, on time, courteous and with clear intention. With all this in your actions - you're well on your way to a better life... and that's the best revenge we're all looking for, now isn't it? ;-)
I'd like to throw my vote in as an alumni of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. It is a great school (a bit pricey) but well worth it. Plus Pittsburgh is a very artistic town in itself which helps in the experience. I think any of the AI's would be nice. Pittsburgh just had so much more history behind it and was the closest to my location at the time.
Sorry I'm a bit late to chime in but put another vote in for SCAD. You can even pick Savannah or Atlanta campus now. The program is great there. I did a double major or graphic design and illustration and had no problem getting a job in NYC after graduating. I'm making pretty good money and love what I do.
SCAD is a pretty good school. I didn't go there, but plenty from 'round these parts did. They all seem to have liked it.
Plus, there's nothing quite like living in the lowcountry of South Carolina/Georgia.
It's a lifestyle that you can't find in many other places of the US.
Plus, there's nothing quite like living in the lowcountry of South Carolina/Georgia.
It's a lifestyle that you can't find in many other places of the US.
Montserrrat in MA looked like a good school and I had a friend go there that loved it. I attended a liberal arts school in FL and took advantage of their Design program. I had a fantastic professor who has done just about everything there is to do in the design world and had almost too much knowledge. At the end of the day, where you went doesn't matter as much as who teaches you. You may go to a top tier school but have some jackass TA giving you classes and wasting your time. You and your own drive are your own best teacher.
if anybody...
if anybody even mentions Full Sail in a positive way for a GD school you need to be shot in the face. i say this being a full sail grad of the "digital media" program. they hype you up with all this "job placement" garbage at the open house before u actually start to help wow your parents. it's more or less a lie. they have a placement department, but they might as well not. they have yet to help me get a job, and i graduated in 2001. all my jobs i got myself, and honestly probably could have gotten them without the full sail stamp.
i'm not going to say i didn't learn anything there, but it is not a replacement for a real design school. basically u touch a lot of bases there and get a pretty well rounded idea of a lot of different digital mediums, but there's not enough time to really concentrate on any of them. i guess you're supposed to do that on your own time. it's more or less a bunch of one month seminars on several different subjects. you do learn a lot of things, but it's not enough of any one of them to make you any kind of expert.
oh and did i mention how insanely in debt it left me? yeah i thought it would be no problem to run out and get some killer job when i graduated to pay for all these loans i had to take out, but that never happened. i'm actually probably going to go back to school at a real university, but sadly, none of the full sail credits will transfer anywhere. and it's not like i was the retard in class either, as my average was a 96 and i never failed a single class, and very rarely missed a day. i kinda feel like a jack of all trades that no real job exists for since i can't really say that i specialize in any of them.
don't waste your money. go to a real school. and then maybe your credit won't be shot like mine is from going to full $ail
if anybody even mentions Full Sail in a positive way for a GD school you need to be shot in the face. i say this being a full sail grad of the "digital media" program. they hype you up with all this "job placement" garbage at the open house before u actually start to help wow your parents. it's more or less a lie. they have a placement department, but they might as well not. they have yet to help me get a job, and i graduated in 2001. all my jobs i got myself, and honestly probably could have gotten them without the full sail stamp.
i'm not going to say i didn't learn anything there, but it is not a replacement for a real design school. basically u touch a lot of bases there and get a pretty well rounded idea of a lot of different digital mediums, but there's not enough time to really concentrate on any of them. i guess you're supposed to do that on your own time. it's more or less a bunch of one month seminars on several different subjects. you do learn a lot of things, but it's not enough of any one of them to make you any kind of expert.
oh and did i mention how insanely in debt it left me? yeah i thought it would be no problem to run out and get some killer job when i graduated to pay for all these loans i had to take out, but that never happened. i'm actually probably going to go back to school at a real university, but sadly, none of the full sail credits will transfer anywhere. and it's not like i was the retard in class either, as my average was a 96 and i never failed a single class, and very rarely missed a day. i kinda feel like a jack of all trades that no real job exists for since i can't really say that i specialize in any of them.
don't waste your money. go to a real school. and then maybe your credit won't be shot like mine is from going to full $ail
What about
What about studying outside USA? For as far as i know, the best school is ECal. But, saying oh i want to study graphic design is like saying oh i want a car... You kinda need to say a little bit about what you wanna end up doing!
What about studying outside USA? For as far as i know, the best school is ECal. But, saying oh i want to study graphic design is like saying oh i want a car... You kinda need to say a little bit about what you wanna end up doing!
I currently go to Drexel, I'm entering my Sophomore year and I have to say although Drexel is expensive its an awesome school that combines work and social life. Not to mention that every student that attends Drexel must go on Co-Op, which pretty much allows each student to get real world experience from employers.
I've been to SAIC and a friend recently graduated from there, it isn't a great school in design anymore although it's name still carries some due respect. It is hoever great in painting and many more areas of arts.
Look into RISD and of course, cooper Union if you believe you can get in.
Look into RISD and of course, cooper Union if you believe you can get in.
i went to Ringling for 4 years (Illustration major) and then another 3 years at Otis College of Art and Design (Toy Design major). yes i am in an assload of debt from student loans now. anyways, my 4 years at Ringling was amazing. they are expensive, but are just as expensive as all the other top art schools. It was well worth the money though, and I would not have passed up that experience for anything. i know people that went to RISD and i hear it's not so much a graphic design based school, but more of a fine arts school. i suggest taking a tour of any school you go to and asking to see student work, AS WELL AS TEACHER WORK. that is very important.
if you are interested in seeing what i got out of going to 7 years of art school then go to http://www.wonderingart.com
from personal experience of being there, Ringling has some of the best programs in the country, especially Illustration, Computer Animation, and Graphic Design.
I looked at many of these "design schools" people are pointing out, (SCAD, etc.) but personally I wasn't into the 'art school' atmosphere.
I chose Ohio State.
Don't laugh -- their graphic design program accepts 17 students a year based on a rigorous portfolio review and entrance exam, and so far (I'll be a Junior on the fall) I could not have asked for more out of this program. I know that my design skills have increased exponentially and that I am learning things I will use for the rest of my career (my income from freelance has already doubled, I believe soley because of the increase in my quality of work).
You get the atmosphere of a large four year university (which I love, Go Bucks!) AND the education of a small (read: tiny) design school. In state tuition is around $8k + room/board, out of state around $18k.
It's a steal. A++++ would buy from again.
I chose Ohio State.
Don't laugh -- their graphic design program accepts 17 students a year based on a rigorous portfolio review and entrance exam, and so far (I'll be a Junior on the fall) I could not have asked for more out of this program. I know that my design skills have increased exponentially and that I am learning things I will use for the rest of my career (my income from freelance has already doubled, I believe soley because of the increase in my quality of work).
You get the atmosphere of a large four year university (which I love, Go Bucks!) AND the education of a small (read: tiny) design school. In state tuition is around $8k + room/board, out of state around $18k.
It's a steal. A++++ would buy from again.