Media Design
The Graduate Media Design Program seeks individuals who want to use design to understand and change the world. We are looking for risk-takers with diverse interests, self-starters who can integrate innovative design with intellectual investigation, who can synthesize theory and practice, and who can research personal interests with depth, intelligence, empathy and passion. Applicants must have earned, or be in the process of completing a bachelor's degree.
Graduate Media Design offers two tracks: Media Design Projects (MDP) and Media Design Matters (MDM).
In the Media Design Projects track, students work in a studio context, using design to pose questions through applied and speculative projects that engage with emerging communication technologies and cultural practices.
In the Media Design Matters track, students work in a real-world context where social justice, public policy, media infrastructure, and communication technology intersect. The track is run in collaboration with Designmatters, Art Center’s social impact department.
For either track, students can apply for either a 2-year or 3-year course of study. The 2-year path is for experienced designers; the 3-year path is for burgeoning designers who have limited experience working with a broad range of communication media.
Students are placed by the application review committee into one of the two paths based upon their resume, design portfolio, personal statement and stated preferences on the Media Design Supplemental Application Form.
For the 2-year path, we look for applicants with exceptional training and experience in the visual, spatial, interactive and graphic design fields who can realize high-level concepts with skill in visual communication and interactive design.
For the 3-year path, we accept both accomplished and burgeoning designers from a broad range of backgrounds. Applicants with degrees in fields such as philosophy, computer science, or biology—to name just a few—bring valuable perspectives to the practice of design. We welcome applicants from all domains.
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A completed admission application.
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A nonrefundable application fee.
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Official transcripts from all colleges attended.
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A TOEFL score of 100 or better.
Graduate applicants whose bachelor's degree was achieved in a language other than English must score at least 100 on the Internet Based TOEFL (iBT) to be considered for admission.
In addition, the College may require the following minimum scores on each section of the test: Writing: 25; Speaking: 25; Reading: 26; Listening: 24.
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Your resume.
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Your portfolio.
The design portfolio is the cornerstone of the application. The portfolio should present a body of work that demonstrates the applicant's expertise in the conception and creation of sophisticated design and other relevant works (e.g. creative or critical writing, business plans, software, curriculum, research, grants, etc.).
The portfolio must demonstrate experience and talent working with graphic, visual, interactive, or experiential media (typography, film, photography, animation, architecture, information architecture, user experience, computational design, interaction design). We encourage applicants from other fields but projects from outside of media design must demonstrate the applicant's ability to cross boundaries and think about issues in the realm of communication and media. Projects can be professional, self-initiated, and/or class assignments.
The portfolio should be edited to highlight the applicant's best and most relevant work. Brief written descriptions of the projects should accompany each piece. Collaborative or commercial pieces should clearly state the applicant's contribution or role.
All projects in the portfolio should be presented through Slideroom. No physical portfolios will be accepted. Graduate Media Design prefers all portfolios in the form of either a PDF or a website. The PDF or website should include stills, screen shots, or photo documentation for all projects including print, interactive, motion, or video. Where possible, dynamic media projects should be accompanied by links to working examples to ensure the full depth of the project is experienced. This content can be on a personal website or third-party service such as Vimeo, or Youtube.
Upload a PDF or URL to Slideroom at https://artcenter.slideroom.com. A nominal fee will be charged by Slideroom for this service. Full instructions are listed on their site.
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Statement of intent.
Applications must include a personal statement of intent. The essay should outline the applicant's motivation for pursuing graduate study in the Media Design Program at Art Center, discuss personal goals for the future, and outline any specific areas of interest or relevant experience within the field. The personal statement should be clear and concise, between 500-1500 words in length.
Applicants to the Media Design Projects track should discuss the kinds of design questions and research explorations that focused experimentation in the studio will allow them to pursue.
Applicants to the Media Design Matters track should discuss the kinds of design questions and research explorations that community engagement in the field will allow them to pursue.
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Letters of recommendation.
Letters of recommendation (one to three) from academic and professional references are strongly encouraged.
References should be from people who are familiar with the applicant's work and experience, and should speak to an ability to conceptualize, execute and communicate design.
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Admissions Contact Information
626.396.2373
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