Portfolio Prep

Interested in applying to ArtCenter’s degree programs? ACX is the perfect entry point to experience ArtCenter’s diverse range of art and design possibilities, and to develop and strengthen your art and design portfolio for admissions.

Why ACX? Unlock Your Creative Potential

• ACX is the most intensive, direct way to prepare your portfolio for admissions
• Up to 40 percent of students accepted into ArtCenter's degree programs prepared their portfolios with ACX
• ACX courses are taught by ArtCenter faculty who consider admissions requirements when creating classes
• Certain ACX courses are eligible for transfer to the ArtCenter’s degree program

Courses to Prepare Your Portfolio

Depending on your program of interest, we've developed a sequence of ACX courses to hone your skills and develop your portfolio. Additionally, ArtCenter Admissions Counselors or ACX Advisors are here to offer individualized support with course selections and to chart a path that’s right for you.

Creative Direction

• Intro to Creative Direction
• Design 1 for Graphic Design/Illustration/Advertising*
• Intro to Graphic Design
• Crashvertising
• Bookcamp

Additional courses to supplement your development:

• Digital Design 1
• Intro to Figure Drawing
• Sketching for Designers
• Typography 1
• Mastering Color for Artists and Designers
• Mastering Composition and Design

* Eligible for transfer credit to select majors with grade of B or better. Not applicable to current ArtCenter degree students. See Transferable Courses for additional details.

Graphic Design

• Intro to Graphic Design
• Mastering Color for Artists and Designers
• Mastering Composition and Design
    OR Design 1 for Graphic Design/Illustration/Advertising*
• Narrative Sketching*
• Typography 1
    OR Essential Typography
• Intermediate Graphic Design
• Intro to Package Design

Additional courses to supplement your development:

• Creative Sketchbook
• Basics of Digital Photography
• Letterpress courses
• Digital Design 1
• Courses in Photoshop and InDesign

* Eligible for transfer credit to select majors with grade of B or better. Not applicable to current ArtCenter degree students. See Transferable Courses for additional details.

Entertainment Design/Concept Design

• Intro to Figure Drawing
• Perspective
• Intro to Concept Design
• Intro to Product and Transportation Design
    OR Intro to Transportation Design
• Drawing Fundamentals for Animation
• Transpor-Tainment
• Visual Communication and Form Development

Additional courses to supplement your development:

• Intro to Spatial Experience Design
• Basics of Interplanetary Flight
• Courses in Photoshop and Illustrator

Film

• Intro to Filmmaking
• Storyboarding
• Screenwriting 101

Additional courses to supplement your development:

• Basics of Digital Photography
• Sound Design Workshop
• History of Cinema
• Art of the Movie Trailer

Fine Art

• Collage/Mixed Media
• Making Objects
• Printmaking Studio
• Abstract Painting & Composition
• Color and Light in Painting
  Design 1 for Photo/Fine Art*

Additional courses to supplement your development:

• Materials and Modeling
• Intro to Figure Drawing
• Composition and Drawing
• Introduction to Modernism*

* Eligible for transfer credit to select majors with grade of B or better. Not applicable to current ArtCenter degree students. See Transferable Courses for additional details.

Illustration

• Intro to Figure Drawing
• Intro to Illustration
• Composition and Drawing*
• Intro to Painting
• Design 1 for Graphic Design/Illustration/ Advertising*
    OR Mastering Color for Artists and Designers 
    AND Mastering Composition and Design
• Head and Hands*

Additional courses to supplement your development:

• Perspective*
• Digital Design 1
• Head Painting
• Creative Sketchbook
• Materials and Modeling

* Eligible for transfer credit to select majors with grade of B or better. Not applicable to current ArtCenter degree students. See Transferable Courses for additional details.

Interaction Design

• Intro to Interaction Design*
• Intro to Graphic Design
• Intro to Communication Sketching
    OR Sketching for Designers
• Product Design: Basics
• Product Design: Process

Additional courses to supplement your development:

• Storyboarding
• UX/UI for Games

* Eligible for transfer credit to select majors with grade of B or better. Not applicable to current ArtCenter degree students. See Transferable Courses for additional details.

Photography and Imaging

• Basics of Photography or Basics of Digital Photography
• Exploring Light Fundamentals
• Intermediate Photo Methods
• Concept* or Composition*

Additional courses to supplement your development:

• Design 1 for Photo/Fine Art*
• Courses in Photoshop or Illustrator

* Eligible for transfer credit to select majors with grade of B or better. Not applicable to current ArtCenter degree students. See Transferable Courses for additional details.

Product Design

• Intro to Product and Transportation Design
    OR Product Design: Basics 
    AND Product Design: Process
• Sketching for Designers
• Materials and Modeling
• Product Design: Intermediate

Additional courses to supplement your development:

• Perspective
• Blender for Designers
• Gravity Sketch for Designers

Spatial Experience Design

• Intro to Spatial Experience Design
• Intermediate Spatial Experience Design
• Branded Environments
• Furniture Design
• Lighting Design
• Materials and Modeling

Additional courses to supplement your development:

• Courses in Photoshop, Illustrator and Rhino 3D

Transportation Design

• Intro to Product and Transportation Design OR Intro to Transportation Design
• Intro to Communication Sketching
• Visual Communication and Form Development
• Transpor-Tainment
• Intermediate Transportation Design
• Electrical Vehicle Design Concepts

Additional courses to supplement your development:

• VisComm 1 (TRAN)*
• Design Process 1 (TRAN)*
• Blender for Designers
• Perspective
• Materials + Modeling

* Eligible for transfer credit to select majors with grade of B or better. Not applicable to current ArtCenter degree students. See Transferable Courses for additional details.