Rhode IslandSchool of Design

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C O NTE NT S

MAKING, DOING, LEARNING 11

STUDIO IMMERSION 31

DEGREE PROGR AMS 41

STUDENT WORK 75

EXCEPTIONAL RESOURCES 91

LIVING AT RISD 105

APPLY 117

VIS IT 120

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RISD is just the beginning

of exploring new worlds

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of looking closely and seeing differently

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“When I came to RISD, for the very first time in my life I felt accepted. For the very first time, I felt liberated and celebrated for who I am.” Affandi Setiawan Photography major

of colorful, creative individuals

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of questions and unexpected answers

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of working with your mind,your hands, your heart

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of making meaningful connections

“RISD is a place where paradigms are continually stretched and challenged—where shock and beauty flourish side by side.” Rosanne Somerson RISD’s President / BFA 76 ID

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of living a creative way of life.

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Welcome to RISD.

“Attend an art school, join a family.”Ebae Kim  Illustration major

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RISD offers something timeless — something that doesn’t become obsolete. But there’s not going to be this book that

we’re going to hand you with all the answers. We’re going to challenge you.

Kyna Leski  Professor of Architecture

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MakingDoing

Learning

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S T U D E N T S W H O C O M E TO R I S D K N O W

at a gut level that they want to live and work creatively—as artists and designers, and as innovators, makers, problem solvers. They know that learning to bring ideas to life in the studio leads to amazing breakthroughs.

It also leads to remarkable growth in the students who come here—an interesting mix of people who choose art school because they crave creative immersion.

If you’re one of them, you’ll discover that even though you’re already good at art and design, you’ll get better—and often in media that are new to you. Working closely with faculty who really care about your creative growth, you’ll learn to trust your instincts, push your own limits and develop a solid sense of confidence that lasts a lifetime.

RISD asks you to open up, work hard, listen intently —

and be yourself.

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AT R I S D P R O F E S S O R S W I L L A S S I G N projects that compel you to question everything—your assumptions, tried-and-true ways of working, motivation, underlying concepts. You’ll learn to frame questions in a way that allows you to follow your curiosity and find unexpected answers. In the process, you’ll study theory, talk

about concepts, factor in social and historical contexts and, after a lot of research and experimentation, learn to pull it all together through meaningful work. In the end, you’ll absorb a way of thinking and approaching problems that’s incredibly valuable no matter what you do after RISD.

The experience revolves around critical thinking and making, imagination and innovation.

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“You have to come to RISD with an open mind that’s ready to be challenged in every way. If you think you’re a great artist, you’ll quickly discover that there’s a vast amount you have to learn. You have to be willing to work really hard —in terms of work-load and also in adjusting the way you think.”Leah Artwick   Illustration major

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The community values a culture of critique, support and respect.

I N S I X- H O U R “ S T U D I O S ” W I T H FAC U LT Y— and working on your own and with your friends outside class—you’ll learn to adopt your own way of working and approaching various stages of the creative process. Individual and group critiques (crits) with your faculty, peers and visiting professionals in relevant fields will give you valuable

feedback every step of the way, helping you to better realize your ideas. Students also regularly help each other—because everyone is striving to create the best work possible. Ultimately, you’ll gain the skills, craftsmanship and clarity to make compelling professional work that’s distinctly your own.

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R I SD T U R N E D OU T T O BE E V E N BET T E R than I expected. There are so many different people from different places all doing what they love. In high school, I was always the “most creative or artistic,” but when you get to RISD you realize that everyone else here was also that person in high school, so it challenges you to put your ego aside.

The most incredible thing about RISD is that although we concentrate on specific majors, we’re encouraged to be creative

Esther FellJewelry + Metalsmithing

about how we use our education. I had never considered that creative people are not limited to just the art and design world but are, in fact, vital in all types of workforces.

I’ve completely grown up and matured at RISD. My work has taken a totally different turn and I found my voice for aesthetics, even though I know it will change as I continue to grow. RISD has taught me to humble myself and learn from everyone and everything.

RISD has taught me to learn from everyone and everything, and to be creative about how I use my education.

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TH E ACCO M PLI S H E D ARTI STS , D ES I G N E R S and scholars who teach at RISD are commit-ted to helping you make a life and a living through what you love to do. Given the caliber of most students, professors are as excited about teaching as they are about creating their own work.

“There’s a very close connection between students and faculty in the process of learning. It’s really quite unique in the way that we’re joined in a kind of research — in spirit and also in process.”Ken Horii  Professor of Experimental & Foundation Studies

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Both students and faculty value the close relationships they’re able to develop at RISD. Thanks to small class sizes (17 is average) and a low student-to-faculty ratio (9:1), professors and students form strong personal bonds. The inspiring mix of knowledge, experience and perspectives faculty contri- bute fully energizes the entire community.

Many of RISD’s 150 full-time and 395 adjunct faculty members are studio artists who regularly exhibit all over the world. Others are architects or designers with successful practices. Most are recognized authorities in their field, whether they’re creating new work, curating or reviewing exhibitions or presenting their findings on social and environmental issues. And whether they live in Providence, Boston or New York — or as far away as Poland and Australia — as scholars, teachers and makers, they’re here for you.

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The extraordinary professors here are invested in your creative growth.

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G I V E N T H E I R I R R E P R E S S I B L E C U R I O S I T Y,

RISD students crave both studio-based learning and a nuanced understanding of the world, which is why they take a full third of their classes in the liberal arts. RISD stands out among art schools for its emphasis on the liberal arts, a rich and essential area of inquiry that spans subjects such as archaeology, anthropology, art

The Fleet Library at RISD (see pages 96 – 97) offers a rich resource for research in art, design and liberal arts areas. In addition, RISD students make use of Brown’s vast library holdings just up the hill. With its 91,000 works of art from around the world, the RISD Museum supports in-depth study of visual art and culture. And students turn to peer support in the Writing Center when working on academic papers, artist state-ments, cover letters, presentation notes — any type of writing. Tutors assist with brainstorming, drafts and revisions, helping you to refine your ability to commu-nicate with efficacy and eloquence.

The exploration of both studio and liberal arts makes

for a powerful experience.

history, creative writing, history, literature, math, natural sciences, philosophy, psycho- logy, religion and sociology.

RISD’s wide range of liberal arts offerings invites you to open your mind to exciting new areas of study and hone your abilities as an articulate critical maker with a grounded understanding of larger social and ethical questions.

R E L ATE D R E S O U RC E S

RISD’s outstanding liberal arts faculty includes award-winning poets and novelists, musicologists, art historians, visual and literary critics, anthropologists, sociologists, philosophers and specialists in many other areas. These scholars push the boundaries of their own fields and share a strong sense of discovery and creative collabora-tion with colleagues in studio disciplines.

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LI B E R A L A R T S D E PA R TM E NT S + C O N C E NTR ATI O N S

L I T E R A R Y A R T S + S T U D I E S

Literary arts at RISD emphasize the funda-mental interrelationships not only between writing and reading, but also between creative and critical processes. In particular, the curriculum aims to promote under- standing of the relationship between literary and other forms of cultural production and to promote diversity and global awareness by exposing you to a range of cultures — past and present, local and global, mainstream and marginalized — through literature.

H I S TO R Y O F A R T + V I S UA L C U LT U R E

Understanding the history of art, architec-ture, design and visual culture has been integral to a RISD education since the college was founded in 1877. Research and teaching among HAVC faculty members emphasize critical theories of art and archaeology, art criticism, museum studies and art histori- ography. In addition, a global orientation is built into the entire program, with professors specializing in areas ranging from ancient China to contemporary Africa.

H I S TO R Y, P H I LO S O P H Y +

T H E S O C I A L S C I E N C E S The multidisciplinary curriculum in HPSS offers the opportunity to explore diverse scholarly approaches to human experience — past and present — and to foster the knowledge of self and of others that is the hallmark of liberal arts learning. HPSS offers introductory and advanced courses in anthropology, archaeology, history, philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology and religion. Other classes explore interdisciplinary issues and topics aligned to contemporary art and design practices, such as aesthetics and sustainability.

L I B E R A L A R T S C O N C E N T R AT I O N S While working towards a bachelor’s degree in a studio major, you can also add a “concentration” in any of the three liberal arts departments. By opting to take eight or nine additional courses in any of these areas, you’ll have the opportunity to further explore subjects of particular interest to you.

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• A Bloody Mess: The Critical Value of Horror Films• Architecture of Utopia• Buddhist Art• Caribbean Literatures• Ecology: Microbes to Manatees• Evolutionary Biology• Identity in Flux• Insect Morphology and Ecology• Jazz in America• Magical Realism and the South• Mind, Brain and Behavior• Philosophy of Food• Psychology of Evil• Refugees, Migrants + Displaced People• Savage Iconographies: Art, Race + Public Space• Science and Sociology of Climate Change• Synagogues, Churches, Mosques• The Arthurian Thing• Theorizing the Anthropocene• Thingamajigirl: Objects, Humans, Femininity• Transtextualism• Urban Ecology• Visual Culture in Freud’s Vienna• Visualizing the Natural Sciences

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“RISD’s broad liberal arts curriculum cultivates the often unexpected ways that scholarly and professional inquiry can animate one another. How can gender theory influence architecture? Can printmaking shape philosophy? What is the connection between postcolonial literature and textiles? The possibilities are limited only by motivation and imagination.” Daniel Cavicchi  Dean of Liberal Arts

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I N A D D I T I O N TO T H E D E E P I M M E R S I O N

of our studio majors, RISD offers interdisci-plinary courses that integrate various approaches—bringing together people with different skills, methodologies and perspec-tives. The college is also leading a global initiative to add art to the current emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education, with students and faculty

increasingly drawn to the fertile ground between art and science.

Funding from the National Science Founda-tion to a consortium of colleges—including RISD—has focused growing attention on the exciting intersection of art, science, design, technology and math. Among the many offshoots of this is a uniquely design-

oriented science curriculum that enables students to explore topics ranging from insect morphology to physics to cognitive neuroscience. In addition, a new interdisci-plinary concentration encourages students to pursue these interests in tandem with studio work (see below).

You’ll find cross-overs, connections and contagious inspiration.

N ATU R E – C U LTU R E – S U S TA I N A B I LIT Y S TU D I E S ( N C S S)

Built on a popular pilot program, a new 21-credit interdisciplinary concentration (RISD’s equivalent of a minor) invites students to shape individualized courses of study centered on environmental humanities. NCSS concentrators explore issues related to biomimicry, global warming, emerging technologies, hybridity and more, exploring how art and design can contribute to a more just and sustainable future.

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A L L R I S D A N D B R O W N U N I V E R S I T Y students can cross-register for classes at the neighboring institution at no extra cost. At Brown you can take a wide range of foreign language, math, computer and lab science courses, or find a huge range of liberal arts options. All RISD students also have ready access to Brown’s libraries and athletic facilities. And the many lectures, concerts, performances and special events on the campus next door extend RISD’s own rich sources of inspiration and opportunities for socializing.

RISD and Brown also offer a dual degree program for students who want to integrate a broad range of academic and artistic interests. This undergraduate program combines the rigorous programs and unique resources of each campus, enabling exceptionally motivated students to earn both a Bachelor of Arts (AB) degree from Brown and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree from RISD in five years.

Plus an incredible synergy between RISD and Brown.

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You’ll engage with real-world problems and work with

community-based organizations.

A S G R O W I N G N U M B E R S O F B U S I N E S S E S , nonprofits and governmental agencies recognize the strategic importance of design thinking and the humanistic value of art, RISD is forging new connections to enable these organizations to work with our creative community. By addressing specific design challenges and considering practical applications, students get a new appreciation for where — and just how much—their work can make a difference.

In recent years, students have learned and made connections through partnerships with ESPN, Gap, Hasbro, Memorial Sloan- Kettering Cancer Center, NASA, Progres-sive, Swarovski, Target, Toshiba and Unilever, among others. And government officials such as US House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and RI Congressman David Cicilline visit RISD studios to discuss the connection between creativity, innovation and the economy.

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M A H A R A M S TE A M F E LLOWS H I P

Among the hundreds of summer internships RISD students pursue each year are those supported by the Maharam STEAM Fellow-ship in Applied Art and Design. Students propose specific projects and compete to earn stipends to bring creative critical thinking and problem solving to a wide range of government agencies and nonprof-its. RISD students have contributed their energy and ideas to the Smithsonian, NPR Science, the Marine Biological Lab, Plan International, the Mayo Clinic, SaveLife Foundation, the USGS, the World Economic Forum and Tubigon Multipurpose Weavers Collaborative (above), among others.

E X PA N D I N G LE G O ’ S R E AC H

In a partership with LEGO Education, students explored the role of play in early education and shed light on how rapidly evolving digital and analogue tools can work together in a constructivist learning environment. Building on theoretical research conducted during a Wintersession seminar, students in a spring semester studio were given free rein to engage in blue-sky thinking, while also benefitting from reality checks from teachers and early education specialists. Students worked individually and in teams, designing a wide range of tools and related curricula, and ultimately presenting their work to designers and educators from the Danish company.

W ITN E S S I N G H I S TO RY

Several years ago, faculty member Dale Broholm learned that the National Park Service (NPS) routinely cuts down ailing trees that have been growing since the 19th century. Since many of these grand old hardwoods have “witnessed” major events in America’s history, RISD now partners with the NPS in a studio called The Witness Tree Project. Students explore the historical context of a specific felled tree while

“making objects that are both beautiful and steeped in layered meaning,” Broholm notes. In combining studio work with historical studies, they also expand their thinking to consider more complex questions about time, place, nature and culture.

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Find what you need to make a living on your own terms..

B E YO N D T H E S T U D I O , YO U ’ L L F I N D

career counselors at RISD who will talk with you about what you want to do and steer you towards relevant resources. RISD’s Career Center offers everything from online tools to workshops, seminars and personal portfolio reviews with recruiters from top-tier creative companies.

RISD actively supports entrepreneurship through workshops and events such as Mindshare, where students hear from alumni and other professionals about what it takes to run a successful creative business. Partnerships with companies created to fuel

creative start-ups—including Etsy, Kick-starter and the online portfolio platform Behance—help you better understand the tools and resources available to promote your own work and ideas.

Whether you ultimately run your own business or work for someone else, one of the most important bits of advice you’ll hear from both your professors and counselors in the Career Center is: Do an internship to complement your degree program andget practical experience. At RISD roughly70 percent of each graduating class has interned, and more than half have done

two or more internships, working at ArtForum or Pixar during Wintersession, assisting muralists in creating urban streetscapes or helping with curatorial projects at museums in major cities.

Finding your path in life takes creativity and persistence, but working one-on-one with RISD’s career counselors, you’ll be able to envision the life you want to lead and use the connections you make here to help you get there.

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After RISD you may end up creating your own startup or working with fellow alumni at…Adobe. Airbnb. Apple. Calvin Klein. Chronicle

Books. CityArts. Coach. Converse. Cooper Hewitt. Creative Mornings. Curious Pictures.

Design for America. Discovery Education. Dreamworks. Facebook. Gensler. Google.

Harmonix. Hasbro. IDEO. Kate Spade. Kohler. Kohn Pedersen Fox. LAIKA. Library of

Congress. littleBits. Madam Tussauds. Maya Lin Studio. NASA. New York Times. Nike.

Payette. Pentagram. Pixar. Reebok. Scientific American. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.

Sony Music. Stanford. Tellart. The Simpsons. Whitney Museum. Williams Sonoma. Ximedica.

Yale. YouTube. ZGF Architects. Zyloware. Zynga….

1,550+ opportunitiesposted

56%

paid510+ completed

I NTE R N S H I P S

1,700+ advising sessions held

4,600+ opportunitiesposted

50+ workshops offered

R I S D CA R E E R C E NTE R

200+ employersvisited RISD

750+ studentspresented portfolios

3,720+ interviews face-to-face

P O R TFO LI O R E V I E WS

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“It’s an environment where you can learn a lot from people around you — whether students or faculty — but you have to really push yourself to get what you can out of it.It’s not going to get handed to you.”Rita Rosenfeld Furniture Design major

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RISD gives you the space to create.

FRO M WO O D AN D M E TAL S H O P S TO G L AS S furnaces, computerized looms, glaze rooms and editing studios, RISD offers a lot of space to make art—and personal break- throughs. Each of the 16 studio departments offers “home spaces” for majors, along with the specialized facilities and high-end equipment, software and peripherals used in various professions. Working in the studio with other students, departmental techni-cians and faculty—all ready and willing to help when you hit a snag—is key to develop-ing your skills as a creative artist/craftsman.

Whether you use digital or manual tools (or a combination of both), your professors will emphasize the conceptual and visual principles behind your work—the prin- ciples that will remain relatively constant regardless of how technologies change over time. And once you hone your production skills, it is these principles that will enable you to make meaningful work for the rest of your life.

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M A K I N G A R T I S M E S SY A N D T I M E - consuming (even all-consuming at times). Your fingernails get black with charcoal, your pants flecked with paint, glaze, solder; sawdust sticks in your hair. You’ll probably spend as much time working on the floor as at an easel or a desk. But no matter what medium or materials you work with,

you’ll inevitably spend a lot of time in the studio—where the boundaries between work and play, studio and social life tend to blur. RISD students are known for putting in more hours on school work than most of their peers at liberal arts colleges, but then again, if you’re doing what you love, it doesn’t necessarily feel like work.

You’ll get your hands dirty, your ideas challenged,

your sleep needs tested — and you’ll make friends for life.

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T H E F I R ST T I M E I T R I E D A P P LY I NG T O R I SD as a transfer student I got rejected. I had done a design program at a community college and had gotten work as a graphic designer really easily.

But the more I worked—at a couple of different jobs in Seattle—the more I felt like I was missing something. I didn’t exactly know what, but I started thinking maybe I should go back to school. I’d found out that some of the people I admired most in the design world had graduated from RISD. And once I researched it more, I knew RISD was

what I wanted—meaning I was unbelievably disappointed when I got turned down.

But a couple of years later I applied again—and to two other schools at the same time, thinking I’d have the satisfaction of turning RISD down if I got accepted somewhere else. When I got into all three, there was no doubt in my mind. I knew that at RISD I would get to focus on the essence of design, not just on how to use Photoshop or to design a perfect logo. Being at RISD has allowed me to focus on the journey—on the process, not just the product.

Being at RISD has allowed me to focus on the journey—on the process, not just the product.

Micah BarrettGraphic Design

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What differentiates RISD from other places is that it’s a kind of hothouse atmosphere, and one in which you will be working with

professionals — artists and designers who are world-famous and who are teaching here because

they care about your development.Charlie Cannon Associate Professor of Industrial Design

StudioImmersion

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“RISD’s conservatory approach is essential. The school’s artistic immersion—especially during freshman year—has you continually thinking about art/making art. I produced more work in just a year here than I ever did before.”Simeon Kondev Film /Animation /Video major

EFS offers a full-year immersion in research-driven studio work. In September you join a section of 20

first-year students who work together in three studios: Drawing, Design and Spatial Dynamics. In response to challenging assignments, you’ll use logic, intuition and critical analysis to frame new questions, tap into relevant contexts and create conceptual links between studio and liberal arts

studies. As you gain new insights and confidence in your work, you’ll discover how your personal

sensibilities influence your creative decisions and processes as you begin to find your own voice.

Experimental & Foundation Studies

EFS CORE STUDIOS

Drawing

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“The EFS drawing studio is about exploring new techniques and being ambitious. It’s about creative thinking and analyzing, and critique, and explora-tion. I’m really impressed with the level of our students. By the end of the semester they’re produc-ing drawings that look incredibly confident.” Elinore Hollinshead Professor of Experimental & Foundation Studies

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I N T H I S W E E K LY F U L L- DAY S T U D I O , you’ll learn that drawing is both a powerful way to investigate the world and an essen-tial activity intrinsic to making all works of art and design. A series of challenging assignments encourage you to explore the languages of line, value and direct

mark-making as you use perception, abstraction, performance, space and time to investigate subjects. As you develop your work, you’ll learn to value the unpredictable intersection of process, idea and media.

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EFS CORE STUDIOS

Design

THIS MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDIO OFFERS an opportunity to experiment with a range of media and processes as you explore the organization of visual and other sensory elements. By bursting beyond conventional

boundaries of both emerging and estab-lished technologies, you will gain a deeper understanding of stages of representation, abstraction and symbolic interpretation.

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EFS CORE STUDIOS

Spatial Dynamics

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WORKING THREE- DIMENSIONALLY, YOU ’ LL focus on issues of time, space and the effects of force and gravity on structures. The use of transformative and ephemeral processes will help you to synthesize materials, methods and formal elements in

each piece. As you learn to combine the use of hand and power tools along with new fabrication technologies, you’ll make meaningful work that readily conveys motion, stability and materiality.

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Degree Programs

RISD OFFERS A CHOICE OF 16 UNDERGRADUATE majors—along with 18 master’s degree programs—as part of its strong tradition of providing a deep, immersive, discipline-based education. Each program focuses on different

materials, techniques and processes, but all demand proficiency in the areas of research: conceptual development, individual expres-sion and craftsmanship.

Apparel Design. Architecture. Ceramics. Film / Animation / Video.

Furniture Design. Glass. Graphic Design.

Illustration. Industrial Design.

Interior Architecture. Jewelry + Metalsmithing.

Painting. Photography. Printmaking.

Sculpture. Textiles.

Apparel DesignBFA

“I spent months working to transform endless yards of white cotton into fully colored and embel-lished gowns, but I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Working on this project allowed me to really push the boundaries—and now I’m just bursting with new ideas.”Morgan Selin BFA 13 AP Supima Design Competition grand prize winner

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IN THIS MAJOR , PROFES SORS CHALLENGE you to develop a strong conceptual vision through studio projects that help build the technical skills needed to express your ideas.

You’ll learn pattern drafting, draping and construction, along with how to use high-end industry software for designing and rendering apparel. And you’ll actually create everything from wearables made from recycled (non-fabric) materials to beautifully designed and constructed clothing for people of all ages and lifestyles.

Each spring a jury of professionals in the field visits RISD to select the best student work for a popular runway show. The annual Collection event provides essential experi-ence in working with models to present your work to the public. As a senior, you’ll also get a real feel for working in the industry through a six-week internship at a New York fashion house or design studio matched to your own sensibilities and interests.

If you’re drawn to clothing as a means of individual expression,

you may want to consider Apparel Design.

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“The past two years working on the Solar Decathlon Europe project has been an incredible experience. At age 21 I’ve already been able to design, project manage and build the home of my dreams with a group of amazing people who made this collaborative learning project one I’ll never forget.”Kim Dupont-Madinier BArch 15 student project coordinator, Solar Decathlon Europe

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ArchitectureBArch / MArch

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As part of an art college, RISD’s Architecture department differs from comparable programs at

universities or technical colleges.

A R T I S T I C S E N S I B I L I T Y, M AT E R I A L reasoning, spatial cognition, critical thinking, symbiotic meaning/making and imagination prosper here. By studying architecture, you will hone your abilities to think visually, articulate your ideas and design through a process of inquiry, reflection and inven-tion. You’ll learn to understand the technical demands of building through hands-on construction and to be socially, sustainably and ethically responsible in your work.

While history, theory and technical metrics are integral to our program, Architecture at RISD emphasizes the creative process as a means of discovering your passions and gaining the essential nutrients to become an autonomous thinker and doer, poised to make a difference in the world.

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CeramicsBFA / MFA

“The biggest thing I’ll take away from my RISD experience is how to engage with the world—with everything around me. I’ve learned that finishing something is not always the goal. It’s more about exploration—getting from point A to point B— and letting that experience drive your engagement with the material.”Yves-Olivier Mandereau senior

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IT’S A RIGOROUS, HANDS-ON INVESTIGATION

of clay and its histories, along with an exploration of contemporary practices and ideas. As a small department, Ceramics at RISD allows for substantial one-on-one work with faculty and interaction between undergraduate and graduate students, complemented by critiques, lectures, demonstrations and field trips.

Working in both private and communal spaces, you’ll have access to specialized tools and equipment, including workstations for

handling digital images, glaze formulation and remote kiln firing. You’ll also experiment with many variables—throwing, building, molding, glazing, firing and developing techniques that are totally your own.

Ultimately, you’ll learn to master the medium and become an original and highly skilled artist capable of using your creative talents and spatial design skills in a variety of meaningful ways—from teaching to making studio art to designing and creating products, prototypes and other 3D objects.

Studying Ceramics is about much more than learning to throw

the perfect pot.

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Film / Animation / VideoBFA

“The most important skill I learned at RISD was the ability to create a film from start to finish. I really learned how to become a filmmaker and think about all parts of the process — storytelling, animation, sound, how to be my own producer. This gave me a big advantage once I started working in the animation industry.” Michael Dante DiMartino BFA 96 FAV

co-creator / executive producer, Legend of  Korra

M O R E O N LI N E : R I S D . E D U/ FAV

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“The most important skill I learned at RISD was the ability to create a film from start to finish. I really learned how to become a filmmaker and think about all parts of the process — storytelling, animation, sound, how to be my own producer. This gave me a big advantage once I started working in the animation industry.” Michael Dante DiMartino BFA 96 FAV

co-creator / executive producer, Legend of  Korra

P R O F E S S O R S W I L L G U I D E YO U I N

formulating the technical, aesthetic and conceptual questions central to creating strong content with a unique voice. They’ll also provide critical feedback, regular interaction with visiting artists and specialists, and access to professional development opportunities.

Film/Animation/Video (or FAV, as it’s known at RISD) invites you to explore the time-based art of

the moving image by making live action or animated films — or a hybrid of the two.

As an FAV major, you’ll have the option of producing works in a wide range of genres—documentary, experimental or narrative film, for instance—and using diverse outlets, including installation and interactive media. Faculty will help you to hone your creative vision and master the skills and working methods needed to produce meaningful films and prepare you for a lifetime of making in the art world, the entertainment industry and beyond.

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Furniture DesignBFA / MFA

“Being in the furniture department is kind of the ultimate design-meets-hands-on experience. There’s no disconnect. It’s a very involved process — and I think that’s true of most of RISD.”Joseph Guerra junior

S E E AN D H E AR M O R E : R I S D . E D U/ V I D E O S

5 4

T H I S E N A B L E S YO U TO I N V E S T I GAT E T H E most important questions facing designers today—including how to take advantage of changing technologies and new materials while considering variable economic conditions and evolving lifestyles.

Professors will encourage you to experi- ment using a wide range of materials and approaches, integrating theory and conceptual thinking with hands-on making. As your skills develop, you’ll focus on the human factors of furniture and object design and learn to understand the social value and meaning of good design and responsible citizenship.

Furniture Design majors often work with sponsored research partners—from both the commercial and nonprofit worlds— and have opportunities to showcase their work at professional design venues and exhibitions around the world. Graduates go on to become thinker/makers who work as industry designers, studio artists, teachers, entrepreneurs and more.

As one of the few programs of its kind in the country, Furniture Design offers an intensive immersion

in furniture, objects, research and materials (or FORM).

M O R E O N LI N E : R I S D . E D U/ F U R N I T U R E - D E S I G N

5 5

GlassBFA / MFA

M O R E O N LI N E : R I S D . E D U/G L A S S

“One of the things about Glass people at RISD is that they’re insanely hardcore. When I got here, I had never even imagined the possibility of glass as a medium. But it’s amazing—the most philosophical material on the planet.”Tavares Strachan BFA 03 GL / studio artist

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A S A G L A S S M A J O R , YO U ’ L L W O R K

with professors and visiting artists in the Hot Shop and other studios to develop your skills in glass blowing, mold making, casting and cold working. This allows you to explore how material and concept inform one another, laying the foundation for a well- rounded professional studio practice.

A small department, Glass fosters close interactions among undergraduate and

graduate students and faculty. Studio work, critiques, seminars and both group and individual projects fuel ongoing dialogue about contemporary art, sculpture, craft and design. A vibrant series of presentations by visiting artists, critics and curators allows you to interact directly with an amazing range of professionals in the field, offering an ideal way to learn about contemporary art, glass and professional practice.

Glass is a dynamic medium with limitless possibilities and a surprising amount of impact

on the worlds of art and design.

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“One of the things I like about graphic design is that it’s very verbal. And I’m really learning from my peers, who all approach problems differently. I’ve also learned a lot about how I work and how to work better so I don’t burn out. I’m a stronger designer as a result — and a stronger thinker.” Claire Neiderberger junior

M O R E O N LI N E : R I S D . E D U/G R A P H I C - D E S I G N

Graphic DesignBFA / MFA

5 8

D E S I G N E R S C R E AT E T H E M O S T E F F EC T I V E ads, apps, websites, posters, street signs, books, magazines, package labels and other visual information we engage with every day.

In Graphic Design you’ll take studios in everything from traditional book arts to interactive texts and digital media. Professors will challenge you to develop

As a Graphic Design major, you’ll explore, interpret and contribute

to today’s information-rich world.

your own visual language as you create strong layouts and typographic solutions to assigned projects. You’ll graduate prepared to work in almost any field imaginable— from education to entertainment, publishing, retail and more. With the ability to think critically, you’ll leave RISD understanding how to convey even the most complex information as powerfully as possible.

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IllustrationBFA

A F T E R A L L , I L LU S T R ATO R S M A K E U S E

of the same materials, tools and techniques used by painters, printmakers, photogra-phers, graphic designers, digital artists, animators and more. But they’re illustrators because of a storytelling component and the purposeful application of their work — in newspapers and magazines, websites, picture books, graphic novels, textbooks, comic books and more.

At every stage of the program, professors will help you to achieve clarity of thinking backed by keen observation and strong manual skills. By mastering the ability to draw and paint meaningful images, you’ll be ready to write and illustrate books, create surface designs for products, work in web or game design, become an animator or character designer, and communicate concepts through one of the many other creative paths open to Illustration majors.

At RISD, the approach to illustration is defined by intention,

not media.

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“I loved the assignments I got at RISD — they were so open-ended. Now, whenever I’m stuck as I create one of my books, I still hear the voices of my teachers in the back of my head reminding me to return to the process.”David Wiesner BFA 78 IL, author / illustrator

three-time Caldecott Medal winner

M O R E O N LI N E : R I S D . E D U/ I L LU S T R AT I O N

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Industrial DesignBFA / MID

I T I N VO LV E S LO O K I N G AT I N N OVAT I V E

ways to use creative thinking and the design process itself to make our everyday lives better. As an ID major, you might design a lighter bicycle, create a tactile toy to teach blind kids about geography or develop an airlock for keeping moon dust from entering a lunar lander. You might also devise a better way to purify waste water or deliver health care.

Through hands-on studio projects, you’ll learn to work with a wide range of materials and become fluent in the use of spatial language. You’ll design objects, products, systems and experiences from start to finish—from sketches and developmental drawings, to 3D mock-ups and models, to working prototypes. Professors will guide you throughout the process, helping you to consider important technical and aesthetic issues, along with the long-term environ-mental and societal impact of your work.

Industrial Design reaches well beyond researching and

developing products.

M O R E O N LI N E : R I S D . E D U/ I D

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“We encourage students to look at the world with a pure, inventive spirit. Designing isn’t just about making improved versions of what already exists, it’s about imagining a future in which people live better lives because of the innovations you develop.”Leslie Fontana Professor

S E E AN D H E AR M O R E : R I S D . E D U/ V I D E O S

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Interior ArchitectureBFA / MA / MDes

“Adaptive reuse calls for a different approach to conservation than the traditional understanding of ‘historic preservation.’ We ask students to explore the relationship between preservation and design — to bring in new design elements that establish an enhanced relationship between old and new.” Markus Berger Associate Professor

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MORE ONLINE: R I S D. E DU/I NTE R I O R-ARCH ITECTU R E

T H I S M A J O R C E N T E R S O N R E T H I N K I N G

the life of existing buildings—through design alterations, renovations and adaptive reuse.

Given a growing interest in green living, interior architects with the vision and skills to give old buildings new life are in increas-ingly high demand. After all, recycling buildings is a lot better for the environment than demolishing them and building new structures.

While interior design focuses largelyon aesthetics, interior architecture

is a separate field of its own.

In Interior Studies—as RISD’s undergraduate program is known—you’ll take advanced design studios that allow for specializations in adaptive reuse along with theater, exhibition or retail design. Professors will introduce you to practices and procedures in the building industry and beyond, while encouraging your growth as a socially and environmentally responsible professional.

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Jewelry + MetalsmithingBFA / MFA

WHETHER YOU ’RE DRAWN TO TRADITIONAL goldsmithing or to experimentation, RISD’s J+M program offers the individual attention, guided support and well-equipped studios needed to fine-tune your own artistic voice.

You’ll learn to execute your ideas with skill and ingenuity while working with processes and materials ranging from traditional metalworking methods to CAD CAM technologies and 3D printing.

The high ratio of faculty to students fosters close relationships between undergraduates,

professors and graduate student mentors. In addition, targeted readings, critical analysis, visiting artists and lively group discussions help you to create work with meaning and conceptual depth. As a J+M major, you’ll graduate with a strong grasp of your own creative power and a solid foundation on which to build a career as a jewelry artist, production designer, metalsmith, teacher, gallery owner— or to pursue a passion for designing and making in whatever way you choose.

Jewelry + Metalsmithing invites you to explore the relationship

of jewelry to the body.

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“I love my department for the community and support I receive from my peers and faculty. They’re all such amazing and inspiring people. At critiques we lay out the semester’s work and have an open and honest discussion about it with notable guest critics.”Esther Fell senior

M O R E O N LI N E : R I S D . E D U/J E W E L RY

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PaintingBFA / MFA

“In many ways life at RISD is a utopian ideal where I can paint whatever pleases me— separate from the financial realities of a working artist. This is the time to experiment, grow and be passionate about ideas floating inside me.”Yao Cheng sophomore

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Painting at RISD encourages respect for tradition but also the freedom to break disciplinary boundaries.

M O R E O N LI N E : R I S D . E D U/ PA I N T I N G

A S A M E A N S O F H U M A N E X P R E S S I O N that pre-dates history, painting remains as inspiring and relevant today as it was during the Renaissance or the Impressionist era or the Pop Art period in the 1960s.

By majoring in Painting, you’ll develop the purpose, direction, confidence and technical skills needed to express your ideas as an artist. Professors encourage both the freedom and discipline essential to this process by embracing a wide

range of aesthetic attitudes and offering flexible programs, along with a place where ideas rooted in the tradition of painting are openly questioned, explored and refined.

All of these elements, combined with an active community of both undergraduate and graduate Painting majors, create a stimulating atmosphere conducive to your own creative experimentation and growth.

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PhotographyBFA / MFA

“RISD was a life-saver for me. It was the first time I met people interested in the same things as me and the first time I realized I didn’t have to feel like a pariah.” Justin Kimball BFA 85 PH

fine artist and photography professor

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I T TA K E S A N A R T I S T I C E Y E , A C E R TA I N passion and well-honed technical skills to develop into a professional.

As a Photography major, you’ll push the boundaries of the discipline and learn to see differently as you explore how photographic images are made, presented and interpreted. Beginning with film processing and dark-room printing, you’ll move on to experiment-ing with digital imaging in various forms — ranging from high-end printing at medium and large scales, to web, installation, book and video projects.

As you strengthen your expressive and technical skills in response to both studio assignments and personal projects, professors will also challenge you to really think through and articulate your ideas. Whether you go on to specialize in commer-cial or editorial photography, teach, pursue a fine arts career, start your own business or combine several options, you’ll leave RISD fully able to express your own unique way of seeing.

There’s a big difference between knowing how to take a picture and

being a photographer.

M O R E O N LI N E : R I S D . E D U/ P H O T O G R A P H Y

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PrintmakingBFA / MFA

“RISD critiques really taught me to ask why I make what I do and to think about the point of any particular piece. That was something Printmaking professors always challenged us on. Now I’ve landed in a place where I’m using art as a tool to help generate awareness and environmental protection.”Jane Kim  BFA 03 PR environmental artist/activist

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In Printmaking you’ll explore both traditional and experimental techniques for reproducing your own

images using inks and paper.

C A R V I N G O R E TC H I N G A D E S I G N O N TO almost anything allows you to transfer print multiples onto paper or another surface, and vary each reproduction as you like.

Working in a dedicated building full of specialized presses, you’ll learn to master the nuances of using intaglio, lithography, screen- print, relief, digital and alternative print methods—all of which are available as a means of fueling your artistic development.

As a Printmaking major, you’ll study original prints and other world-class works of art behind the scenes at the RISD Museum of Art, which offers a valuable resource for both undergraduate and graduate students in the program. Critical insights from faculty, visiting artists and other print-world professionals will help you to develop mature work that both expresses your personal vision and is responsive to the issues defining this dynamic field.

M O R E O N LI N E : R I S D . E D U/ P R I N T M A K I N G

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SculptureBFA / MFA

“I felt very empowered at RISD to be involved in a trial and error process—with everything, includ-ing my thinking. There’s a lot of discipline needed to make it through freshman year, but in Sculpture there’s a lot of freedom. So you have this kind of mix between freedom and discipline.”Noah Fischer BFA 99 SC

S E E AN D H E AR M O R E : R I S D . E D U/ V I D E O S

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I N S C U L P T U R E S T U D E N T S W O R K W I T H

every material imaginable—including metal, wood, plastics, computer chips and more — to develop a true understanding of historical and contemporary sculptural issues.

Through intense, hands-on work, you’ll gain the technical command needed to express your ideas with confidence. Visiting artists and critics, workshops and seminars offer

exposure to a wide range of approaches, philosophies and outcomes. The exchange of ideas among students also provides important context and inspiration.

At each stage of the program, professors will guide and challenge you to push beyond obvious solutions, to think independently and critically, and to grow as an artist.

Even though we experience the world three-dimensionally, learning to think and make

3D objects is a fascinating challenge.

M O R E O N LI N E : R I S D . E D U/S C U L P T U R E

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TextilesBFA / MFA

A S A T E X T I L E S M A J O R , YO U ’ L L H AV E the opportunity to work with breakthrough technologies as you design and make fabric, work with fiber and pattern, and get a strong grounding in global artistic, social and cultural concerns.

You’ll work with the high-end equipment used in the field—multiharness handlooms, computer-interfaced looms and an electronic

jacquard loom—in the process of learning to master advanced weaving techniques. Both hand-operated and electronic knitting machines allow for exploration of knitted fabrics. The department also offers a digital textile printer, a fully equipped dye lab, silkscreen studios and a CAD lab with the latest industry software used by profes-sional textile designers and fiber artists.

As practicing professionals themselves, professors support your development as an artist and designer who will energize the field through your personal vision — whether you’re designing work intended for industrial production or creating one-of-a-kind fine art pieces.

A field in constant flux, textiles involves much more than

weaving on a traditional loom.

M O R E O N LI N E : R I S D . E D U/ T E X T I L E S

7 6

“I’m really interested in materials innovation and wanted to be in a field that would allow me to explore that further, so Textiles has been the perfect place to be. For me it’s about how the fabric will function and move.” Dailing Chen senior

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RISD’s immersive education is based on the notion that making fosters a critical kind of intelligence,

which advances thinking in multiple ways. Every studio major does this by embracing

a range of techniques, tools and technologies — from the ancient to the emerging.

Rosanne Somerson RISD’s President / BFA 76 ID

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StudentWork

A Tae Eun Ah / Sculpture

B Will Jackson / Furniture Design

C Catreen Yoon / Illustration

D Vani Alana Winick / Glass

E Juri Akiyama / Painting

B

C

D E

A Olivia Chin Mueller / Illustration

B Erica Tazberik / Ceramics

C Justine Chang / Photography

D Saad Mosajee / Graphic Design

E John Sant / Painting

F Zachary Caro / Textiles

G Amanda Swain / Interior Architecture

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B

C

C

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Extension of Single Narrow (rooftop) units & sca�olding Saint Ouen, France. Paul Chemetov

AMANDA SWAIN

RISING MEASURES

RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN

Materials:

Section cut

New “Single Narrow” rooftop unit with skylight and garden access.

Extension of Single Narrow (rooftop) units & sca�olding Saint Ouen, France. Paul Chemetov

AMANDA SWAIN

RISING MEASURES

RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN

Materials:

Section cut

New “Single Narrow” rooftop unit with skylight and garden access.

Extension of Single Narrow (rooftop) units & sca�olding Saint Ouen, France. Paul Chemetov

AMANDA SWAIN

RISING MEASURES

RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN

Materials:

Section cut

New “Single Narrow” rooftop unit with skylight and garden access.

Extension of Single Narrow (rooftop) units & sca�olding Saint Ouen, France. Paul Chemetov

AMANDA SWAIN

RISING MEASURES

RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN

Materials:

Section cut

New “Single Narrow” rooftop unit with skylight and garden access.

G

D

F

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A Jenny Kim / Painting

B Andrea Rugarli / Painting

C Zoe Clark / Textiles

D Lorenz Mager / Jewelry + Metalsmithing

E Wesley McClain / Printmaking

F Kyung Won Moon / Sculpture

B

C

A

C

E

F

D

A Jacqueline Lung / Jewelry + Metalsmithing

B Nangyeong Gloria Lee / Graphic Design

C Elliot Worth / Film / Animation / Video

D Nichole Buchanan / Photography

E Yidan Zang / Glass

F Jenna Heibert / Ceramics

G Natalia Gemma / Textiles

C

A

B

FAV

A Jacqueline Lung / Jewelry + Metalsmithing

B Nangyeong Gloria Lee / Graphic Design

C Elliot Worth / Film / Animation / Video

D Nichole Buchanan / Photography

E Yidan Zang / Glass

F Jenna Heibert / Ceramics

G Natalia Gemma / Textiles

E

F

D

G

AA

A Catherine Lee / Jewelry + Metalsmithing

B Brandon Kento Saisho / Furniture Design

C Phillis Ming Hai / Illustration

D Matthew Bohne / Architecture

E Lillian Krieger / Industrial Design

C

B

E

D

A Amanda Swain / Interior Architecture

B Matthew Bohne / Architecture

C Joyce Lin / Furniture Design

D Noah Pica / Apparel Design

E Stacy Lee / Illustration

F Jackson Hallberg / Photography

G Joshua Linder-Haber / Industrial Design

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B

C

D

D

E

F

F

G

A Aliya Zafar / Glass

B Jed Cohen / Furniture Design

C Grace Rivera / Photography

D Alessandra Hogan / Printmaking

E Iris Xia / Industrial Design

F Alice Taranto / Graphic Design

G Joanne Lin / FIlm / Animation / Video

H Nicholai Go / Architecture

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C

B

D

E

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G

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A

B

D

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A Jamal Osterhorn / Apparel Design

B Caroline Ray / Printimaking

C Patrick Hulse / Illustration

D Ruby Dorchester / Glass

E Nafis White / Sculpture

F Elio Icaza Milson / Industrial Design

E

F

Alternative Materials Lab. Artists’ Books Collection.Co-works. Foundry. Hot Shop. Jacquard Loom. Loeb Design Science

Collection. Micropolis. Moss Collection of Pop-up Books. Nearly Nanoville. Robotics Lab. Shared Technologies Initiative. Tiny Town. Type

Shop. Upholstery Lab. Writing Center.

ExceptionalResources

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W I T H A N I M P R E S S I V E C O L L E C T I O N of 91,000 objects—from ancient to contemporary art—the RISD Museum is the kind of resource that can’t be matched by a Google search. Working directly with curators of various collec-tions, you get inside access to incredible works of art and design—meaning you can research and study pieces that aren’t even on view in the public galleries. Few other art and design schools can match the size, scope, quality and educa- tional programming of the RISD Museum, which is also a popular destination for the regional public.

Work up close with world masterpieces.

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W H AT ’ S AT TH E M U S E U M?

• Frequently changing special and traveling exhibitions

• Opening parties, workshops, music and other special events

• Special collections of 20th-century design, Impressionist paintings and Latin American art

• Six curatorial departments: Ancient Art, Contemporary Art, Costume + Textiles, Decorative Arts + Design, Painting + Sculpture, Prints, Drawings + Photographs

• Classes to orient first-year students to the collections

• Internship opportunities• Millennia of human creativity and making

M O R E O N LI N E : R I S D M U S E U M . O R G

“It’s kind of therapeutic to be surrounded by such priceless artwork and to be able to take your time with it.” Holly Broussard Graphic Design major Museum Conservation intern

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Explore a rich array of multimedia resources.

M O R E O N LI N E : L I B R A RY. R I S D . E D U

9 8

T H E F L E E T L I B R A R Y AT R I S D P R O B A B LY isn’t much like the libraries you’re used to. From the minute you walk in, you’re likely to recognize that it’s an award-winning example of adaptive reuse—a grand banking hall on the National Register of Historic Places that has been artfully transformed

by a RISD alumnus into a comfortable, contemporary center for research in art and design. Most importantly, the appealing space houses fascinating collections of resource materials and is designed to encourage browsing and individual and small group studying.

W H AT ’ S I N TH E LI B R A RY?

• Circulating collection of more than 100,000 books in open stacks made for browsing • Subscriptions to more than 340 international art, design and cultural magazines and 1,200 e-journals • Archives + Special Collections (rare books, files, artifacts, along with 1,500 artists’ books, objects and zines)• Material Resource Center with more than 20,000 samples

• Picture Collection (half a million printed images, including “clippings”—in manilla folders!—filed by subject) • “Living room” space for reading, chatting, gathering—especially for the 500 students living in the residence hall above• Small stage for readings and performances • Specialized databases • Ready access to librarians and classes on research methodologies

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I C A M E T O R I SD F ROM I N DI A E X P E CT I NG a lot of creativity, with a touch of crazy. I found that, but am also surprised by the commitment people here have towards their majors and their vision for each project. That’s what makes the learning process so incredible.

My major is known for its hands-on approach to problem solving and has some great shop facilities to allow for that exploration. But the other side to Industrial Design is research — to understand the user and the market, especially with designers

now entering the fields of design strategy, service design and interface design.

Personally I’ve become less afraid of not knowing all the answers and not rushing the process. Allowing it to guide you seems like the hardest thing when you’re working towards deadlines, with little sleep. But it’s important to let it inform you and let each project grow organically.

And I never thought art school would teach me a stellar work ethic. But RISD kids are really prepared for every work environment.

I’ve become less afraid of not knowing all the answers and not rushing the process.

Karuna HarishankerIndustrial Design

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A R T I S T S A N D S C I E N T I S T S S H A R E

many things—including intense curiosity, belief in the power of observation and a need to understand how things work. From Foundation year on, you’ll have ready access to the Edna W. Lawrence Nature Lab, where you can watch how a turtle moves, analyze the structure of a mineral, sketch a rare specimen and use

a compound microscope to literally see the world of wonder in a raindrop. By looking closely at the intricate dynamics of the natural world, you’ll experience the true power of observation, better understand the meaning of symbiotic relationships and learn to make new connections in your own work.

W H AT ’ S AT TH E N ATU R E L A B?

• Collection of 80,000 live and preserved animals, including insects, birds, fish, reptiles and mammals • Skeletons • Shells, minerals, plants, seed pods • Hands-on access and borrowing rights to specimens • Dissecting and compound microscopes for exploring microorganisms and cell structure• Tanks full of aquatic life • Models of hundreds of polyhedra and two-dimensional patterns

Learn why nature is the best designer.

M O R E O N LI N E : N AT U R E L A B . R I S D . E D U

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W I NTE R S E S S I O N

Students look forward to RISD’s midwinter refresher between fall and spring semesters— a five-week change of pace designed to encourage open exploration. Some spend Wintersession investigating a nascent interest through a highly focused studio or liberal arts class, while others intern in New York, Paris, Los Angeles or closer to campus. Small groups also travel abroad to various destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. But whatever you choose to do each Wintersession, it’s likely to provide just the sort of creative renewal you need between semesters.

E H P A N D E XC H A N G E PRO G R A M S

Juniors and seniors are invited to apply for RISD’s European Honors Program, a 21-week residency experience in Rome offering a self-directed immersion in the art and architectural wonders of this ancient capital of world culture. RISD’s International Exchange Program also offers opportunities to study at any of 50 leading art and design schools in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and the Pacific Rim. Here in North America, our Mobility Program gives you the option of studying at schools that are members of the Association of Indepen-dent Colleges of Art and Design.

F U LB R I G HT O PP O R TU N ITI E S

In recent years, RISD has emerged as a top producer of students who earn Fulbright grants, according to the US government’s leading sponsor of international exchanges. With one of every three RISD applicants winning grants, Fulbright has recognized RISD for being a more prolific producer of scholars than any other art school, placing it at the top of its list of Specialized Institu-tions. Thanks to the program, new graduates have been able to pursue creative research in countries as far afield as Cambodia, Japan, India, Bangladesh, Greenland, Australia, Trinidad/Tobago and more.

Expand your outlook as you connect with the world.

E AC H YE AR MANY O F TH E WO RLD ’ S M O ST interesting and accomplished creative leaders—including Dutch designer Theo Jansen (far left), Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang and NEA Chair Jane Chung—come to RISD to share their ideas and interact with our creative community. We invite visiting artists, designers, critics and curators, along with actors, directors, scientists, poets, musicians, social activists, scholars and innovators who defy categorization. And as much as the world comes to RISD, students also readily venture out into it to gain global perspective in a variety of other ways, too.

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E V E R YO N E W H O H A S H A D T H E P R I V I L E G E of studying at RISD will tell you the experi-ence totally changed their lives—and in more ways than they could have imagined. The 25,000 alumni currently living and working around the world show the real value and versatility of a RISD education, whether they’re designing incubators from old car parts or features for Facebook, writing and illustrating bestselling books, winning MacArthur “genius” awards or pursuing rewarding careers in a wide range of creative fields.

RISD alumni are active, engaged and eager to stay connected with each other after graduation. And many remain so committed to the place that they return here to teach, come back regularly for crits or as visiting speakers, and/or hire RISD interns and fellow graduates. Once you become part of the RISD community, you’ll discover that you make connections you’ll naturally choose to keep for life.

Find your tribe — for life.

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TH E F I N E A R T O F F I N D I N G H O M E

When Do Ho Suh BFA 94 PT left Korea to study at RISD, he didn’t initially realize the experience would inspire an ongoing body of work focused on questions of cultural and personal identity. Now, the artist divides his time between New York, London and Seoul, creating profound site-specific installations that are in high demand through- out the world. His work is also included in almost every major museum collection, from the Whitney, the Guggenheim and MoMA in New York City to the Tate Modern in London to Artsonje Center in Seoul and the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo.

B U I LD I N G O N A B R I G HT I D E A

Since Brian Chesky 04 ID and Joe Gebbia 05 GD/ID teamed up to get their fledgling idea for a startup off the ground in 2008, Airbnb has become something of a global phenomenon now worth billions. As it continues to grow, more than 40 million people in 190 countries around the world make use of the platform to both list and book accommodations. Airbnb has “revolu-tionized the way people think about travel [and] displaced the hospitality industry’s established players,” noted Inc. magazine in naming it its 2014 Company of the Year.

U R BA N R E N E WA L R E V I S ITE D

Architect Hildegard Vásquez BArch 94 stands out for her extraordinary work in helping to revitalize the historic Old Quarter of Panama City through a thoughtful approach to urban renewal. When she first opened her architecture studio Hache Uve in 1998, her friends wouldn’t visit because the neighborhood was too dangerous and its once beautiful buildings were crumbling. But after decades of work to restore historic sites and create educational opportunities and jobs for local residents, Vásquez is now earning major recognition for her work. “I love making buildings,” she says, “but I love helping people even more.”

M O R E O N LI N E : R I S D . E D U/ X Y Z

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S E E AN D H E AR M O R E : R I S D . E D U/ V I D E O S

For me, being at RISD is being at home. I don’t think there’s been a day when

I haven’t found a little sunbeam of joy at RISD — because I think this is a blessed place.

Mike Fink Professor of Literary Arts + Studies

Living atRISD

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“Coming to RISD from a society that is very conservative was a big change, but for the good. I felt I could explore so much that I hadn’t before. The independence is a fresh feeling—almost a new world. RISD has introduced me to people from different backgrounds and experiences, and helped me realize that my unique qualities can add to that experience.”Rakhshaan Qazi Architecture major

The beauty of RISD is in its variety — and its intensity.

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M O R E O N LI N E : R I S D . E D U/ D I V E R S I T Y

R I S D S T U D E N T S C O M E F R O M A L L OV E R the United States and more than 50 countries around the world. They’re motivated and smart, with high grade point averages and good SAT scores. They’re also curious, intuitive, open, engaged— full of qualities that can’t be measured by tests or grades. But no matter what language they speak, what music they listen to or what makes them laugh, they’re driven to make art and communicate visually. You’ll immediately feel how much this shared interest unites RISD’s diverse community of students, faculty and alumni.

In addition to the 1,975 undergraduates here, roughly 430 graduate students work in the studios, too, enriching the dialogue on campus. When creatively motivated students and faculty from completely different backgrounds engage with each other—on multiple levels, both in the studio and more casually—the inspiration level increases almost geometrically. You’ll feel it—an energy that’s contagious.

S U PP O R TI N G M U LTI PLE PE R S PE C TI V E S

Students of color and from abroad account for almost 40% of the student population and both RISD and Brown have engaged LGBTQ communities. The following are among the support services and programs that help foster an inclusive and engaged community:

• Intercultural Student Engagement• International Student Services • Queer Student Association• residencies that bring artists, activists and educators to campus • human rights events + activities• cultural heritage events• Martin Luther King, Jr. events• Kirloskar Visiting Scholar program

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T H O U G H S T U D E N T S A R E I N C R E D I B LY committed to studio work, they also like to hang out with each other —whether it’s for playful events like the Zombie Walk, the Artists’ Ball and the Halloween bash, or for more thought-provoking exchange through the Student Alliance, special interest clubs, on- and off-campus service efforts and special “big idea” or “artrepre-neurial” initiatives. RISD’s Center for Student Involvement helps students explore activities beyond the studio, from student government to event programming, team sports or any of the dozens of clubs and initiatives individuals are motivated to organize.

Students also make time to unwind in whatever ways work best for them. Some make music together, others get involved in theater, curate exhibitions or do off- campus volunteer work. Students do yoga, meditate or pursue other spiritual interests. For fitness options, you can take dance, pilates, spinning, tai chi —or use the weight equipment—at RISD’s Catanzaro Student Fitness Center and at the nearby Brown athletic complex, where you also have access to a swimming pool, an ice skating rink, indoor and outdoor tracks and courts for tennis, squash, racquetball and basket-ball. RISD even has quite a few sports teams, including RISD Cycling, Rhode Kill (running), The Nads (“Go, Nads!” —men’s ice hockey), The Balls (men’s basketball), The Pricks (fencing) and The Seamen (sailing).

Making time to relax and play.

S E LE C TE D S TU D E NT O RGA N I Z ATI O N S

• Adventurer’s Guild• Anime Club• BAAD (Black Artists and Designers) • Cheese Society • Christian Fellowship• Design Guild• E’Ship • Midnight Soccer• Oral Fixation• Pigeon Club• Queer Student Association • RISD Exhibitionists• RISD Global Initiative• RISD Needles• RISD Quickies• 2nd Life Center• Wild Club

M O R E O N LI N E : C S I . R I S D . E D U

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M Y F I R ST Y E A R AT R I SD A L L OW E D M E T O explore my interest in industrial design through seemingly unrelated avenues like painting, graphic design, etc. And it helped me get to know students who are interested in all sorts of different things and to value their opinions.

Overall, I feel like RISD is teaching us how to adapt and be flexible with our craft. Like the rest of the world, it requires you to be more than what you might have thought you signed up for — to try to bring new ideas to whatever field you hope to join.

I realized early on in my Foundation year that the skills expressed in my Admissions portfolio are no longer sufficient. But I push myself — and my professors guide me.

My peers are also very inspiring because they don’t think like me. Everyone at RISD has a point of view that challenges your own. And in a community like ours, there’s a lot to learn outside the studio, too. I’ve already gotten involved in all sorts of interesting things.

In a community like ours, there’s a lot to learn outside the studio, too.

Michael CooleyExperimental & Foundation Studies

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SANDWICHED BETWEEN BROWN UNIVERSITY at the crest of College Hill and Providence’s downtown commercial district across the river, RISD’s quirky campus reflects what you get in the studios—a mix of intellectual stimulation and exposure to professional practice. With 41 buildings added over time, RISD hugs a steep hill on the east side of the city, spans the Providence River, reaches into downtown and is intersected by quaint colonial streets with names like Benefit, Prospect, Angell and Steeple. A few RISD buildings are contemporary, but most are historic—and beautifully repurposed

from previous lives as banks, churches and private homes.

At the heart of campus, the mixed-use Chace Center serves as a crossroads for the community, offering a welcoming front door to the RISD Museum, along with student galleries, curatorial departments and Experi- mental & Foundation Studies studios (with great views). RISD WORKS, a shop featuring artwork and design products by RISD faculty and alumni, is housed on the first floor, along with an inviting auditorium for small lectures, concerts and presentations.

While RISD WORKS showcases finished works of art and design, the risd:store stocks a wide range of 2D materials and the risd:store 3D offers a great source for Plexiglas, plywood, stone, clay, metals, glazes, exotic woods and more. At both venues you’ll find knowledgeable people ready to advise you about the best materials for your project and how to work with each safely.

RISD’s campus has a lot of character — and is a perfect fit for Providence.

“Providence is a wonderful and unusual place, filled with weird twists and turns, underground tunnels, random unknown dive bars and an amazing food culture.” Emily Edelman Graphic Design major

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• It’s got three colleges within a one-mile radius (RISD, Brown and Johnson & Wales) and five in total, so it’s very student-centric.

• Brown and RISD are right next to each other, making it easy to cross-register for classes and take advantage of things happening on each campus.

• The scale feels right—small but urban, comfortable and easy to get around, with a riverfront walkway/park that runs through the heart of campus.

• You can walk to the train or bus stations and get to Boston in an hour or New York in just over three hours.

• There’s a strong arts community, with many RISD alumni choosing to stay in the area.

• You’ll find plenty of architectural variety,

ethnic neighborhoods, mills, artist’s lofts and good restaurants.

• You can get to a beach—not just the jam-packed boardwalk type, but the kind with white sand, dunes and long vistas.

• Providence is not yet totally homogenized by national chains, meaning you can find family-run hardware stores, good thrift shops, comfortable cafés and interesting galleries.

• As in most cities, you’ll find a good mix of concerts and clubs, theater and dance, films and festivals—from mainstream to avant-garde.

W H AT ’ S S O PE R F E C T A B O UT PROV I D E N C E?

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W O R K I N G I N S H A R E D D E PA R T M E N TA L spaces, students in the same program get to know each other exceptionally well as they share ideas, tools, food, fun—and the frenzy of producing serious amounts of work. But you can also mix it up with faculty, grad students and majors from other departments at exhibition openings and other campus-wide events. Weekly open-ings of student work shown at Woods-Gerry Gallery and the Sol Koffler Graduate Student Gallery are popular meeting spots, as is the central patch of grass fondly known as

“the RISD Beach” and the dozen depart- mental galleries on campus.

Between events at the RISD Museum, special films and lectures, music, readings and meetings—not to mention everything going on at Brown and in Providence—the options are rich and varied. Still, with the strong bonds you’ll make with students and faculty in your program, your experience here may be less about having a social life outside the studio than through and beyond it.

Plenty of culture is cooking on campus and beyond.

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“It can be difficult to balance studio life with personal life and needs. Spending all your time in studio doesn’t always make for the best work. So work hard, but also work smart and take good care of yourself — it will make you a better artist.” Elise Fachon Film / Animation / Video major

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Make yourself at home.

R E C O G N I Z I N G T H AT T H E B E S T C R E AT I V E work happens in an open, accommodating environment—and often emerges late at night—RISD offers ready access to studio, dining and transportation options that give you a combination of flexibility and safety.

Since studios and other campus buildings are sprinkled around College Hill, along the Providence River and downtown , housing options are equally well distributed in buildings that accommodate as few as 17 and as many as 500 students each. RISD housing offers a step up from basic dorm

living, with larger rooms, good work spaces for making messy projects and a range of living styles to meet the specific needs of art and design students. All freshmen live in the Quad, a cluster of four connected residence halls with a choice of single or shared rooms in either traditional or suite-style configurations. For upperclass and graduate students, the options range from the communal atmosphere of the historic Hill Houses (renovated homes from the 1800s), to the classic brick Benefit Street Apartment complex and the more urban feel of our riverfront living/learning center above the RISD library at 15 Westminster Street.

The Met, RISD’S central dining facility, is part of the Quad, but is open to the entire RISD community (including faculty and staff). Four other cafés—Portfolio, Watermark, The Jolly Roger and the student-run Carr Haus Café—are spread out around campus so that no matter where you live and spend most of your time working, you’ll be close to good places to eat.

M O R E O N LI N E : R I S D . E D U/ H O U S I N G

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A P P LI CATI O N R E Q U I R E M E NT S

Detailed application requirements are spelled out online, but in brief you’ll need to provide:

• An official high school and/or college transcript

• Two original drawing samples following specific parameters

• A portfolio with 12 – 20 examples of any type of two- or three-dimensional work you have completed recently

• One writing sample per our specifications• SAT or ACT scores• TOEFL or IELTS scores (if English is not

your native language)• 1 – 3 letters of recommendation (optional)

Apply

Begin your RISD application online at apply.risd.edu.

Prospective freshmen can apply for Early Decision by November 1 or use our Regular Decision deadline of February 1.

The application deadline for transfer students is March 15.*

M O R E O N LI N E : R I S D . E D U/A P P LY

B R OW N/R I S D D UA L D E G R E E P R O G R A M

If you’re applying for admission to the dual degree program, you need to complete the application process at both RISD and Brown by our respective deadlines: January 1 for Brown and February 1 for RISD. If you’re admitted to both institutions, a selection committee will then consider your candidacy for the dual degree program. The only additional credential needed in order to apply for this program is the Dual Degree Supplement. Look for details online.

C O S T S

T U I T I O N $45,530

H O U S I N G + D I N I N G $12,600*

E S T I M AT E D P E R S O N A L E X P E N S E S +

S U P P L I E S $6,200

* Essential RISD Experience rates

AC C R E D ITATI O N

New England Association of Schools & Colleges National Association of Schools of Art & Design American Society of Landscape Architects National Architectural Accrediting Board

P O LI C I E S + P R OV I S I O N S

N O N D I S C R I M I N AT I O N P O L I CY RISD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, national origin, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law in admission to, participation in or administra-tion of its educational programs and activities; in employment; or in its other programs and activities.

F O R P E O P L E W I T H D I S A B I L I T I E S RISD attempts to make its classes, programs, events and services physically accessible to everyone. Reasonable accommodations are made for people with disabilities or special needs who request assistance. RISD also adheres to all federal laws, including the Student Right to Know and the Campus Security Act of 1990 and the Family Educa- tional Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.

* In some instances, transfer students may also apply for a

spring semester start date (check online for details or

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Founded in 1877, RISD is a private, nonprofit college. Each year approximately 2,000

undergraduates and 435 graduate students pursue studies in the following degree programs:

Visit

P L A N TO V I S IT

Visiting RISD in person is the best way to get a real sense of our creative community. Prospective students and their families are encouraged to come to campus and participate in an information session and a student-guided tour. The energy level is highest in fall and spring when classes are in session, but you’re welcome to visit at any time of year. Seating is limited for the information sessions, so you’ll need to register in advance at risd.edu/visit.

SAT U R DAY I N FO R M ATI O N P R O G R A M S

1 pm, Chace Center 20 North Main Street Providence, RI 02903

September 19, 2015October 3, 2015October 17, 2015November 14, 2015November 21, 2015February 27, 2016March 5, 2016March 19, 2016April 23, 2016April 30, 2016

W E E K DAY I N FO R M ATI O N P R O G R A M S

1 pm, Admissions Office Woods-Gerry House 62 Prospect Street Providence, RI 02906J U LY + AU G U S T: every day (M – F)Y E A R - R O U N D : Wednesdays + FridaysO C TO B E R – JA N UA R Y : Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays

R I S D M U S E U M O F A R T If you can make time, be sure to stop by the RISD Museum when you visit campus. It’s open to the public Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm, with hours extended until 9 pm on Thursdays.

Apparel Design (BFA)Architecture (BArch, MArch 1)

Ceramics (BFA, MFA)Digital + Media (MFA)

Film/Animation/Video (BFA)Furniture Design (BFA, MFA)

Glass (BFA, MFA)Graphic Design (BFA, MFA)

Illustration (BFA)Industrial Design (BFA, MID)

M O R E O N LI N E : R I S D . E D U/ V I S I T

Interior Architecture (MA, MDes)Interior Studies (BFA)

Jewelry + Metalsmithing (BFA, MFA)Landscape Architecture (MLA)

Painting (BFA, MFA)Photography (BFA, MFA)Printmaking (BFA, MFA)

Sculpture (BFA, MFA)Teaching + Learning in Art + Design (MA, MAT)

Textiles (BFA, MFA)

C O NTAC T I N FO R M ATI O N

A D M I S S I O N S O F F I C E

E : admissions@risd.eduP : 401 454-6300 or 800 364-7473F : 401 454-6309B LO G : welcome.risd.eduFAC E B O O K : /groups/risdadmissionsT W IT TE R : /risd I N S TAG R A M : /risd1877

F I N A N C I A L A I D O F F I C E

E : financialaid@risd.eduP : 401 454-6661 F : 401 454-6412

M A I L I N G A D D R E S S Rhode Island School of DesignTwo College StreetProvidence, RI 02903-2784USA

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After RISD you’ll have the creative flexibility to choose future work in…

advertising, animation, app design, architecture, arts administration, art criticism, art therapy, automobile design, book design, branding,

cartooning, character design, children’s books, cinematography, communications, costume design, curating, documentary filmmaking,

editorial illustration, exhibition design, fabrication, fashion, furniture making, gaming, graphic design,

graphic novels, healthcare communications, hospitality design, info graphics, interactive

media, interior design, jewelry design, landscape design, lighting design, marketing, metalsmithing,

murals, music, package design, papermaking, performance art, photojournalism, pottery, print

design, product design, public art, public service, publishing, puppetmaking, robotics, set design,

sound design, special effects, studio art, surface design, sustainable design, systems design,

tableware, teaching, theater, toy design, type design, tv production, urban planning, user

interface design, weaving, web design, woodworking, writing, your heart’s desire.

See you soon.

A B O U T T H I S B O O K

This publication presents a general overview and summary of academic,

cultural and social life at RISD. It is not intended to be definitive or all-inclusive,

and all portions are subject to change without notice. More specific information

regarding the curriculum, credit requirements and other matters appears

in the college’s annual course announcement, available on risd.edu.

W R I T I N G / E D I T I N G Liisa Silander

D E S I G N + P R O D U C T I O N Micah Barrett BFA 12 GD

P H O T O G R A P H Y Tracy Aiguier; Micah Barrett BFA 12 GD; Richard Benjamin;

Stephanie Ewens; Peter Goldberg BFA 88 PH; Erik Gould, RISD Museum of Art;

John Horner; Bob Martus; Adam Mastoon; David O’Connor; Jo Sittenfeld MFA 08 PH;

Matthew Clowney MFA 08 PH

I N I T I A L C R E AT I V E D I R E C T I O N Michael Freimuth BFA 03 GD

P R I N T I N G Meridian Printing, East Greenwich, RI

The names of student artists are included wherever possible.

© 2015 Rhode Island School of Design

RISD. EDU

Rhode Island School of Design

Two College Street

Providence, RI 02903 USA

Bound Printed Matter

US Postage

PAID

Providence, RI

Permit No. 408