GX Graphic design department
happening now
Happening now
  • 12.31.2020 → anytime
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  • About
    • Welcome

      What drives you to learn about our program? Are you a Succeeder, driven to master your creative leadership skills? Are you a Reformer, determined to make a difference in the world through your creative voice? Are you an Explorer, seeking to create new experiences for yourself and for others?

      You might find you relate to one of these descriptions, or maybe to all of the above. Either way, we’ve created this space for you to meet current students and recent graduates who represent each of these different motivations in their own words and through their featured work.

      Whatever fuels your interest in our Transmedia Graphic Design program, we know you are driven. And so are we.

      Welcome home.

      Nik Hafermaas,
      Chair, Graphic Design

      PS: What is Transmedia?
      We asked some of our students to explain..

    • Undergraduate Gx

      In our Undergraduate Graphic Design Program we foster the highest standards of creativity and critical thinking, visual and cultural literacy, craftsmanship, professionalism and collaboration, leadership and ethical purpose, and a readiness to be lifelong learners.

      The creative industry is demanding a new generation of graphic designers who can readily stretch their skills across a wide range of analog and digital media to create communication design that successfully cuts through the white noise of our convoluted visual environment.

      Our curriculum consists of multiple areas of emphasis that reflect the scope of professional opportunities: print and branding, packaging and environmental graphic design, motion and visual interaction design, as well as transmedia design.

      Transmedia Fluency is the term we use to describe our approach to teaching graphic design: a discipline that has transcended its role as commercial art practice to that of an essential and universal tool for communicating the multi-dimensional experience of a place, product, service or personality in every imaginable context.

      Transmedia Fluency means working across all media. All of the above is deeply rooted and united in typographic excellence that spans across all activities of our program.

      Our curriculum accommodates two different kinds of students and creative personalities: generalists, who want to produce work across the entire scope of communication design, and individuals who are passionate for a very specific media format.

      For both student types, our program offers a nourishing environment for creative discovery with effective student advisement tools, that help each individual to establish his or her own learning path. We facilitate such a self-curated curriculum through intensive mentorship readily accessible to students. Dedicated faculty directors curate, oversee and mentor each of our graphic design areas of emphasis.

      Immersed in such a culture, our highly motivated students expand the boundaries of graphic design, thriving in an exploration-centered environment that boldly envisions the future. Consequently, the graduates from our program are highly sought after by the most exciting and disruptive global brands like Uber, Tesla, Google, Facebook, Nike, and creative agencies like IDEO, R/GA, Local Projects and other future-forward organizations.

    • FAQ

      Q: What is Gx?
      A: Gx is the abbreviation for the Graphic Design program at ArtCenter. “G” is for Graphic Design. Think of the “x” as a variable, a container for the five areas-of-emphasis within Graphic Design. Those areas are Print, Packaging Design, Visual Interaction, Motion and Transmedia.

       

      Q: What is Transmedia Design?
      A: We asked some of our students to explain in this video.

       

      Q: Who’s the educational leadership?
      A: Chair: Nik Hafermaas.  Managing Director: Steve Kim.  Nik has been leading the department and Steve has been coaching our students for over 10 years now.  We also have Faculty Directors for each area-of-emphasis within Gx. We have one of the strongest core of full-time faculty and one of the largest part-time faculty teams. We are all working as creative professionals.

       

      Q: How big is the department?
      A: Gx has the second largest student body at ArtCenter. Despite our size, we take great pride in providing the most robust one-on-one advising to guide you through the curriculum.

       

      Q: Do I have to take “foundational” classes within Gx?
      A: At ArtCenter we don’t offer a generic foundation program. Instead, you enter directly into the Gx program. Our foundational classes are specific to Graphic Design and are the basis of your success. Students learn the basic tenets of concept, composition, layout, typography, use of imagery, etc. in the foundational terms. Once those skills have been attained, our students have the freedom and independence to focus on the areas-of-emphasis that interest them the most in their advanced terms.

       

      Q: Can I transfer in credits from other schools?
      A: When you submit your portfolio and transcripts for studio and liberal arts (general education) transfer consideration, the Admissions Department works closely with our Chair to award transfer credit where appropriate. We want to place you in just the right level so that you’re challenged, but not overwhelmed. Your studio credit possibilities are based on your portfolio as well as your transcript, while your liberal arts credits are evaluated directly from your transcripts(s).

       

      Q: Are there scholarship opportunities?
      A: Yes. ArtCenter offers scholarship opportunities for your incoming term. You’ll hold those funds for your entire time here as long as you maintain an eligible GPA and continue to show financial need, if you are an U.S. student. International students can also apply. Afterwards, as long as you maintain a 3.0 GPA, you can participate every term in our scholarship portfolio review for a chance at additional funds.

       

      Q: What is my professional career outlook after I graduate?
      A: Students graduating from ArtCenter have exceptionally high rates of professional success. Graduates from Gx in particular are highly sought-after by the most innovative corporations — by leading creative offices and by global brands alike: from Google to Uber, from IDEO to the United Nations.

       

      Q: Can I visit your campus and the Graphic Design department?
      A: Yes by all means!  We have tours M-F at 2:00 and counseling appointments with our admissions staff M-F. Call 626-396-2373. We will also invite you in to look at some great portfolios each term as our Gx students present their work in their scholarship reviews.

       

      Q: Now I’m seriously interested — where do I go from here?
      A: Please check out the Admissions tab on this website for a comprehensive plan of action..

    • Contact

      Steve Kim, Managing Director
      Nik Hafermaas, Chair
      Danielle Ferrer, Coordinator

      626.396.2343
      infogx@artcenter.edu

    • Related Projects
    • TestLab Berlin
    • Transmedia Gx
    • Designmatters
    • Sponsored Projects
    • TEDxACCD
    • Typography Center
    • Graduate Program
  • GALLERY
    • Print
    • Motion
    • Packaging
    • Vis IxD
    • Transmedia
    • Recognitions
  • PEOPLE
    • Faculty
    • Alumni
    • Psychographics
    • Explore
    • Reform
    • Succeed
  • ADMISSIONS
    • Admissions

      We hope are inspired by what you’ve seen here and consider joining this remarkable creative community.  We’d like to introduce you to this program and help you access an ArtCenter education.

      Scheduling a visit to ArtCenter

      The best way to experience our program is through a visit. Call us for a tour of the campus or to meet with an Admissions Counselor for an individualized counseling session. If you can’t visit, we offer phone and Skype counseling as well.

      Call 626.396.2373

      – For campus tours at 2:00pm, Monday through Friday;

      – For individual counseling and Portfolio Advisement Sessions.

      Visit the Admissions section of the main ArtCenter website for full information on the application process and financial aid to the College.

      When you are ready to apply

      Visit the Admissions section of the main ArtCenter Website for full information on the application process and financial aid.

      – Applications are accepted for the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters;

      – There are no set deadlines, you can apply as long as we have room;

      – Watch the video, “Begin Here”, with information and inspiration about preparing your Graphic Design portfolio;

      – You can visit us anytime us for further advice on portfolio preparation;

      – Submit the application for admission on the main website;

      – Submit all high school and college transcripts along with any required test scores;

      – Submit your Graphic Design portfolio. 

      Affording the cost of education

      Financial aid and scholarships are available, and are based on merit and need. 

      U.S. students please complete the FAFSA and visit the Financial Aid section of the ArtCenter website for a link. 

      International students are also eligible to apply for scholarships, but do not need to submit financial documents.

    • Portfolio Tutorial

      Begin Here
      artcenter.edu/beginhere

  • Pei Liew
    Gx Student, ArtCenter
    Q & A
    Works
peiliew.com
Q & A:

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where did you grow up?

I grew up in the Bay Area, the backyard of all the tech giants.

Q: How did you get into design? Was it an opportunity for exploration and new experiences?

My dad is a graphic designer. He’s been running a small business in Mountain View for over 20 years, so I’ve always had his support and resources. Design has been and continues to be an opportunity to keep learning and exploring new things. That’s why it’s the best!

Q: Why did you choose to study at Art Center College of Design?

Before Art Center, I was at a state school near home taking general education requirements. It was a strange, dull, soul-searching couple of years. Art Center was the first thing that I was truly excited about and that seemed right.

Q: What was your experience at Art Center like when you started?

When I started, it was heaven in some ways and hell in others, as I’m sure is the case for most. The thing I remember being most excited about was being surrounded by talented, interesting and passionate people twenty-four hours a day.

Q: What was the most important challenge you faced? How did you overcome it?

This might sound tacky, but probably the biggest challenge for me has been trying to figure out myself. What kind of person do I want to be? What interests me? Being at Art Center definitely has pushed me to grow and change over the past few years. I love it.

Q: An important ritual at the end of each term is the final presentation for each class. Sometimes these presentations can be exhilarating. Is there any project that stands out?

Oh, finals. That word makes me shudder. I did a really fun project about a cult where everything went pretty smoothly and it ended up in the student gallery. The term after that, I did a project about motorcycles – also a really fun subject, but I was completely unfocused and struggled through all fourteen weeks. I came VERY close to failing. So during break after recuperating for a few days, I went back to school and finished up the project properly. I’m proud of both projects now, but it was more of a valuable learning experience to trip and fall rather than to sail through the term.

Q: Is there a school project that you felt particularly passionate about? Please explain why?

I get pretty emotionally invested into most, if not all, of my projects, which can be a good and a terrible thing. Having passion for a project is like being in love with a person, though it doesn’t always yield a wonderful and amazing result. Understanding your content and your voice—and having confidence in yourself—are also essential components to the relationship you have with your project. All of those things feed each other and contribute to the success of the project. And if one or some of those elements are missing, it’s harder to push yourself to excel.

Q: Pushing this idea further, how does transmedia thinking influence your creative process? Do you have an example?

Thinking about the past, present, and future in terms of the types of media and technology available to us is interesting. I hadn’t given it much thought until recently, but as designers it is our job to curate what we present and how we present it. Do I want to show this content in the most cutting edge way, loaded up with sensors and interactivity? Or do I want to carve it into stone? Every choice we make has value and meaning. What you’re saying can inform how you say it, and how you say something can change what you’re saying. Transmedia thinking is another channel, another way to create.

Q: On a personal level, what was for you the most important thing you’ve learned at Art Center?

It’s important you learn to be yourself and to trust your gut. Sometimes there will be too many cooks in the kitchen. While it’s good to value and respect input from instructors and peers, sometimes you need to just go for what you know is right. You’re the captain of your ship and that’s what makes you uniquely you. I’m still trying to learn that.

Q: What are you doing now?

I am enjoying the relative calmness of week two. I haven’t graduated yet.

Q: What are your goals for the future?

My goals for the future keep changing. I’m happy today and I want to be happy tomorrow.

Q: Anything else you want to add about your experience at Art Center College of Design?

It can be the happiest place on earth if you make it that!

peiliew.com
Project:

Moto

I bought a motorcycle, fell in love with it, and created a project around it.

The poster series promotes sponsored club-organized nights [WRENCH], group rides [RIDE], and the entire month’s worth of events [REPEAT].
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The book begins with the manifesto of Italian Futurism, which launches us through a century of innovation in the engineering and design of motorcyles, through the creation of culture and pop culture, and finally ends on the current nostalgia many motorcycle enthusiasts today feel for that golden age that existed before us.
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The installation is meant for the context of a motorcycle shop’s retail store display. It is an abstraction of an exploded diagram into 3D space, with simple animations to grab attention from the street.
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Music: Ghostwriter by RJD2

Project:

Crime in LA

An interactive visualization of crime in Los Angeles. My teammates Sean Wang, Damian Gill and I went in several circles trying to turn thousands and thousands of crime reports from the year into a visualization that would give users meaningful insights.

We hit obstacles from all angles at every point in the project – does this data set have enough usable information? How can we visually represent time in a way that makes sense? How can we show a very specific, micro view of the data, while still giving the user a sense of context and relative scale?

After several iterations, we landed on a system that gives the user multiple ways to navigate the data – by district, by crime type, or by time of the day or month of the year.

  • Explore
  • Reform
  • Succeed
MGx Graphic Design Graduate Department