[gateauxdefraise]

My boyfriend's sister went to SCAD. She hated it there. Just a heads up for people who want to go to SCAD.

[gateauxdefraise]

Started a new thread, but then found this one. It really should be stickied!

Here's my question to anyone in Art&Design school:

I'm very keen on transferring to the Faculty of Design at OCAD from the human bio/psych major I'm taking currently.

What I want to know from students/alumni from OCAD/ANYWHERE are their opinions on:

- the school
- the program [specifically faculty of design; even better would be opinions on the graphic design/advertising degree]
- the portfolio it gives you
- how you will/are faring in the job market
- regrets if any

Most importantly, what pieces did you put in your portfolio? I've been doing sciences all my life, so I need to create some pieces when I do apply next year.

Thanks a lot!

First of all, I've never even heard of OCAD.
I suggest if you want to apply for art school, apply to either SVA,Pratt,FIT,RISD,MICA, or any other schools in California.
If you want to go into design and you haven't been drawing a lot, I'd suggest SVA,Pratt and RISD. Those 3 schools have foundation yr. You get to experiment with oil different medias. At the end of foundation yr, you can change majors. My friend who's attending SVA has a total of 18hrs for studio each week. The portfolio requirements for most art schools are pretty simple. You need to know how to draw. I know most schools say it's good to bring in a sketchbook, but seriously, don't do that. Only present work that's top notch. When a professor sees your sketchbook and it's not that good, they think you're not taking it seriously. During my portfolio review at FIT for interior design, some students bought in their sketchbooks and the professors ended up telling them not to bring half ass'd work to a review. It's because when you're submitting a portfolio, you're trying to showcase your abilities. You can include drawings or even things you did on photoshop. It's really up to you. They like to see sketches and original art. If you want, I can show you my portfolio for FIT, just PM me. I haven't really started my major yet, but the chairperson for interior design has been telling us that we're not going to get any sleep comes December. I know most people would hate that idea, but since I've wanted to do this since the 7th grade, I'm all up for it.

[Goombi]

sorry for the double post

[Goombi]

PM'ing both of you with more questions! Thank you so much

^Woah that's quite a different major switch! But I think it'd be quite interesting working with what you've learned from human bio and psych.
I might not be too much help since I can't answer most of your questions, but I'll let you know what I've found out from researching and asking OCAD people when I had to go through the same process xD

I emailed you on your hownot...@gmail.com email since Soompi is giving me problems with PM'ing.

Thanks!

[smirks]

I'm quite interested in doing graphic design in OCAD. I'm on my last year of graphic design at Dawson College in Montreal (it's a technical three year program). And while I do know that I can get a job after graduating this year, I'm still unsure whether or not I want to get a Bachelor's degree in design as well. Does anyone know if I'm just going to be relearning and redoing everything I've done in the past three years if I do decide to go to OCAD?

[ramenkid]

Wow so many east artist here.

I'm at a community college right now and getting ready for apps this upcoming fall. I'm planning on majoring in animation. Just wanted to know some good schools out there, perferably schools in cali =] i've already considered CalArts, San Jose State, CCA, CSU long beach, and CSU fullerton. anymore schools i should think of? thankssss

[tofuu]

Wow, didn't know there was a thread entirely dedicated to art/design school

Currently in YSDN (joint graphic design program between york university/sheridan college in ontario) and I love it! No one really knows about it -I didn't until my guidance councilor told me last year of HS LOL - but I'm really glad I did! I was originally going to go to OCAD for graphic design but I turned away when I met with a few of the professors lol

[threecharles]

It still confuses me why RCAD ~ Ringling isn't mentioned in there with the top schools for art.

Rated #1 in the US #4 in the World for Animation
34 Pieces in Society of Illustrators next up was SVA with 17
Award Winning Design Center
Multiple Dhognia Recipients ~ Interior Design
Other awards for graphic design but im not too involved with design so I cant name them.

[albasian]

I might be breaking a rule or something because I'm still in high school, but I wanted to reply since I'm into art and design. O__O"

Anyone going to Art Center? I was gonna go there, but I chose UCR...
Tell me how it is.

I take Saturday High classes at Art Center (Advanced Product and Transportation Design), and my instructor teaches night classes and I think he used to teach day program? But some advice:
It's very tough. Admissions are extremely hard. I'm going to speak more industrial design biased, since that's AC's most renowned program (I think 2nd/3rd best in the world or something?), and you have to be ready for all the challenges. AC goes by terms, and each term is very full in work. The most important thing is your creativity and problem solving. Your sketching/drawing/rendering skills will be taught at AC, but if you're still considering it, touch up on those parts. Everyone wants a scholarship when they go to AC because the tuition each term is about 15k, and the final cost of all your terms (about 8 terms, I think) will go over 100k. Competition to get in is tough, so your drawing skill may come in handy. Lots of day program students take off a term in between terms so they can brush up on skills and maybe find a job to make some money (you have to rent your own apartment, since AC doesn't have dorms). The environment at AC is really competitive too, and even in the Saturday High class, it's competitive, although you get a little more help. At Art Center, it's kinda like survival of the fittest. So if you ever plan on going there, work hard. Period. <-I know this because 99% of the students from the Sat. High class that I am taking got into Art Center either with or without a scholarship and they come back to visit and tell us about experiences.

Yea, I know. A high schooler talking about college >_> But I just saw this thread and felt an urge to reply xD

[*PeACH*IT*UP*]

Attending Otis for my foundation year. I only applied to MICA, CCA, and Otis I was accepted by all three and decided on LA over Baltimore. I'm undecided right now on my major.



One of my friends goes to SCAD she says that she hates it.

Why does she hate SCAD?

My boyfriend's sister went to SCAD. She hated it there. Just a heads up for people who want to go to SCAD.

Why did she hate it?

It still confuses me why RCAD ~ Ringling isn't mentioned in there with the top schools for art.

Rated #1 in the US #4 in the World for Animation
34 Pieces in Society of Illustrators next up was SVA with 17
Award Winning Design Center
Multiple Dhognia Recipients ~ Interior Design
Other awards for graphic design but im not too involved with design so I cant name them.

I know Ringling is Number 1 in the USA and is a school I've been considering, but I when I looked at their majors they had a Computer Animation Program that I wasn't too sure had any 2-D animation concepts in it when I really want to go into 2-D. Does the program incorporate 2-D also?

[gateauxdefraise]

Her profs sucked. She didn't like the people at the school. Etc etc.

[lokkita]

Wow so many east artist here.

I'm at a community college right now and getting ready for apps this upcoming fall. I'm planning on majoring in animation. Just wanted to know some good schools out there, perferably schools in cali =] i've already considered CalArts, San Jose State, CCA, CSU long beach, and CSU fullerton. anymore schools i should think of? thankssss

definitely check out Laguna College of Art & Design for animation! It's a small school, too small for some people's tastes, but the professors are great and there's a lot of talent there

[threecharles]

I know Ringling is Number 1 in the USA and is a school I've been considering, but I when I looked at their majors they had a Computer Animation Program that I wasn't too sure had any 2-D animation concepts in it when I really want to go into 2-D. Does the program incorporate 2-D also?

Yes, our 3d Animation course incorporates Traditional Animation as well as Drawing for Animators, Concept Development, Story Boarding and more. Overall, it is aimed at 3-D, though.

[deeism]

hey guys.
i took a year of environmental design and fine arts at my current university and im planning on applying for another university. the one i'm eying on (HKPU) have aptitude tests, drawing tests and interviews for their design programs and it's fairly competitive.

i haven't done anything worth including in my portfolio... and hardly anything like that during my first year (it was all history of visual arts, intro to e.d., etc...) i'm kinda lost...

so i was wondering, has anyone been through a aptitude test and interview for design before? i have no idea what to expect... or how to prepare.

i also have to include a portfolio. the requirements is to include 1-3 of my best design projects (done outside of school). im thinking of either advertisement or industrial so should i create advertisements (like posters, magazines, etc) and products (chairs, mobiles, idk....) ? any ideas?

so im going to take next term off, should i sign up for art classes to prepare for the tests? i draw in my spare time, but art classes couldnt hurt right?

and any advice to stand out from the rest?

thanks!

[Goombi]

^

bump for her question since I'm in the same situation [sans any art experience at all]

It it helps, I just bought books on learning Photoshop/Illustrator/Indesign CS4 and am using them to create pieces for my portfolio.

I'm also thinking of applying for art classes since it'll force me to draw during the studio hours and where else will you find a willing nude model?

[viedeluxe]

hey guys.
i took a year of environmental design and fine arts at my current university and im planning on applying for another university. the one i'm eying on (HKPU) have aptitude tests, drawing tests and interviews for their design programs and it's fairly competitive.

i haven't done anything worth including in my portfolio... and hardly anything like that during my first year (it was all history of visual arts, intro to e.d., etc...) i'm kinda lost...

so i was wondering, has anyone been through a aptitude test and interview for design before? i have no idea what to expect... or how to prepare.

i also have to include a portfolio. the requirements is to include 1-3 of my best design projects (done outside of school). im thinking of either advertisement or industrial so should i create advertisements (like posters, magazines, etc) and products (chairs, mobiles, idk....) ? any ideas?

so im going to take next term off, should i sign up for art classes to prepare for the tests? i draw in my spare time, but art classes couldnt hurt right?

and any advice to stand out from the rest?

thanks!

You should take as many drawing classes as you can because you can learn off of each other. Take figure drawing, even foundation drawing, a few graphic/ad design classes and do really well for each project that you do. Its best to fill up your portfolio with something that shows your skill and creativity so drawings like figure drawing can cover for the skill part, and pop in some works with illustration/graphics/ad. Since you want to do industrial, its great to take a 3D class and add in some projects from 3D. Also its really great if you have free studio drawing classes on campus.

[deeism]

thanks for replying! :>

i wish we had more art classes here! the university i am attending doesn't offer anything spectacular like that. (only basic design and fundamentals of drawing... but i took them both and came out with absolutely nothing) the fine arts department is pretty small at my university ugh..

what do you recommend for the portfolio? i have zero idea as to what kind of projects i should include... (besides a variety)

i heard from a friend that the test will be based on art history and designers.. but how would we know what to study? it seems such a broad topic!

[themetro]

Does anyone attend to Art Center College of Design or Royal College of Art in London?

[deeism]

so... i have another question.

is it better to attend/fly in for the interview or submit a portfolio instead?

[phantompc4]

My boyfriend's sister went to SCAD. She hated it there. Just a heads up for people who want to go to SCAD.

most people hate it because it's hard. to simply say it.
everyone thinks they can party all day and not do anything.
the teachers really treat you hard to prepare you for the real jobs. so they emphasize prefections and craftsmanship.
SCAD is a good school, 88% of students have a career started before they even graduate.