College for Creative Studies
Type | Private |
---|---|
Established | 1906 |
President | Richard Rogers |
Undergraduates | 1,339 |
Location | Detroit, Michigan, United States |
Campus | Urban |
Colors | PMS 109 (Gold), PMS 276 (Deep Purple) |
Mascot | Watson Peacock |
Website | CCS Website |
College for Creative Studies (CCS) is a private, fully accredited college, that enrolls more than 1,400 students, pursuing Master of Fine Arts degrees in Color and Materials Design, Interaction Design, Integrated Design and Transportation Design and Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Advertising: Copywriting, Advertising: Design, Art Education, Crafts, Entertainment Arts, Fashion Accessories Design, Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interior Design, Photography, Product Design and Transportation Design. The College also offers free art education for more than 4,000 Detroit youth annually through its Community Arts Partnerships program. In addition, the College’s Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies is a public charter middle and high school enrolling more than 800 students in a high-performance academic curriculum with a special focus on art and design. [1][2]
Early Years
The College for Creative Studies traces its heritage back to 1906 when a group of local civic leaders, inspired by the English Arts and Crafts movement, formed the Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts. The Society’s mission was to keep the ideals of beauty and craftsmanship alive in what was rapidly becoming an industrialized world. At their original location on Farmer Street, Society members began teaching informal classes in basic design, drawing and woodcarving. In 1911, they opened a gallery where students as well as prominent modern artists displayed and sold their work.
As Detroit’s creative community continued to take root, the Society recognized the need to expand. They moved to a larger location on Watson Street (1916),[3] and 10 years later became one of the first arts and crafts organizations to offer a formal, four-year program in art (1926). Within a year, the Art School of the Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts grew to an enrollment of 280 students.
Much of the school’s success was attributed to its close integration of rigorous courses with progression of the art and design movements and world-class, contemporary exhibitions. In addition to hiring talented, local artists and designers, the school sought renowned painters, sculptors and craftspeople from around the world to teach courses. In 1933, the Society’s gallery garnered national media attention as one of the first art institutions to recognize the automobile as an art form. This was around the same time that programs in industrial design and commercial art were introduced to the school’s curriculum.
1950-2000
The school relocated for a third time in 1958 to its current location near the city’s cultural center. The move provided students with more convenient access to the Detroit Institute of Arts. All classes and offices were initially housed in the Arts & Crafts building designed by Minoru Yamasaki.[4]
In 1962, the school officially became a college when the Michigan Department of Education authorized the institution to offer of a Bachelor of Fine Arts in industrial design. Eight years later, the College was awarded the right to provide degrees in all of their major programs. The National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) granted original accreditation in 1972, and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) granted regional accreditation in 1977.
The next four decades brought about several significant changes to the campus. In 1975, construction of the architectural award-winning Kresge-Ford Building was completed, and the Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts changed its name to the Center for Creative Studies—College of Art and Design. The school acquired an apartment building adjacent to campus (the Art Centre building) in 1988 that serves as the main dormitory on campus and the building that formerly housed Detroit’s African American Museum of History in 1997 that was later transformed into the Academic Resource Center (now the Manoogian Visual Resource Center), which contains the Center Galleries and library. A parking structure was added to the campus in 1999, and in the fall of 2001, the college inaugurated the Walter B. Ford II building for design and technology-driven disciplines. The donation to fund this project was the largest ever given to an art college at the time. That year, two historic homes on the northern side of campus were also renovated to accommodate administration and admissions offices.
2000-present
In 2001 CCS changed its name to the College for Creative Studies to more clearly communicate its identity as an accredited, degree-granting “college.”
The Josephine F. Ford Sculpture Garden[5] was added in the fall of 2005 to provide a gathering place for the campus community, and in 2007, the College renovated another home on historic Ferry Street to house the Institutional Advancement and Human Resources offices.
In 2008, CCS embarked on a $145 million redevelopment of the 760,000 sq. ft. historic Argonaut Building (formerly General Motors’ first research and design studio). Located in Detroit’s New Center district (about a mile from the original Walter and Josephine Ford Campus in Midtown), the building serves as the A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education. The Taubman Center is home to the College’s five undergraduate design departments, graduate degree programs and the Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies, an art and design charter school for middle and high school students. This second campus site has enabled CCS to expand its curriculum to include new areas of the creative industries, improve facilities for all of its departments and connect with the local community through the Detroit Creative Corridor Center.
The original Ford campus continues to house arts and crafts disciplines as well as the majority of administrative offices. In 2007, Bloomberg Business Week listed CCS among the top design schools in the world.[6]
Academics
Accreditation
The College for Creative Studies is a nonprofit, private college authorized by the Michigan Education Department to grant Bachelor’s and master's degrees. CCS is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Documents regarding accreditation are available in the Executive Office upon formal request. In order to make the accreditation process responsive to a broad range of constituents, the accrediting agencies invite the public to provide written comments about the College's qualifications for continued accreditation. If you wish to comment, please contact either agency by letter or email.[7]
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Currently CCS offers Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in 13 majors: Advertising: Copywriting, Advertising: Design, Entertainment Arts (Character and Experimental Animation, Video and Live Action, and Game Art), Art Education, Crafts, Fine Arts, Fashion Accessories Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interior Design, Photography, Product Design, and Transportation Design.[8]
At CCS, first-year students can enter their chosen department and concentrate their studies in one area or spend their first semester undeclared and take an orientation class to learn about the 13 studio majors. While students are immersed in their chosen area of study immediately upon entering CCS, they are also encouraged to take classes outside of their major to broaden their skills. Students are required to take courses in our foundation program to help establish the basics and give students a taste of the different paths they can follow. Additionally, students will take courses in liberal arts to help make their studies as well rounded as possible and have the option to choose an academic minor or the business concentration.
Each department emphasizes four distinct components of a visual arts education: technical skill, aesthetic sensibility, conceptual ability, and practical experience, combining studio and academic classes with more individualized instruction. The College also offers noncredit courses in the visual arts through its Continuing Education programs and opportunities for youth through Community Arts Partnerships.[9]
Master of Fine Arts
The College's MFA degrees in Color & Materials Design, Interaction Design, Integrated Design and Transportation Design are terminal degrees that prepare students for leadership in industries that rely on design. The MFA degree programs share core curricula, with variations in technology components, and the focus and content of industry sponsored projects.
The MFA degree requires completion of 60 credit hours. Distinctive among MFA programs in the United States, CCS's graduate programs are grounded in the conviction that the most effective designers are those who have a firm grasp of the business world. [10]
Location
CCS is located in Detroit's Midtown, where students will find a variety of activities near campus to enrich their studies and provide entertainment. The Detroit Film Theatre and the Detroit Institute of Arts, one of the largest art museums in the country, are both located next to CCS's Walter and Josephine Ford campus. Admission to the DIA is free for CCS students. The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the largest of its kind in the country, is also located next to campus. University and public libraries, galleries, great restaurants, and live music venues showcasing indie rock, hip hop, techno, folk, jazz and blues also can be found close by.
Notable alumni
Advertising
- Bruna Camargo – copywriter
- Danielle Cantin – art director
- Brandi Keeler – art director
- Douglas Blanchard – associate creative director
- Jenna Przybycien – copywriter
- Jennifer Kehl (Royal) – concept director
- Mark Freeman – vice president, art supervisor
Crafts
- Wendy Froud - doll-artist, sculptor, and puppet-maker
- April Wagner – owner, Epiphany Glass Studio
- Brendan Sherwood – owner, Elements
- Bryce Moore – owner, Context Furniture
- Cary Stefani – owner, Stefani and Company
- Christopher Nordin – owner, Furnace Design Studio
- Israel Nordin – owner, Detroit Design Center
- Michael Bush – puppetry, sculptor, co-writer and co-creator at Flying Boy Productions[11]
- Rob Elrick – owner, Elrick Bass Guitars[12]
- Tina Tomicic – design assistant, Proenza Schouler
Entertainment Arts
- Akil Dawkins – lead artist, Stardock Entertainment
- Stephen Dinehart – designer
- Avedis Ekmekjian – lead lighter, DreamWorks
- Chris Bedrosian – CG supervisor and art director, Blur Studio
- Damarcus Holbrook – senior world builder, Red 5 Studios
- Dave Hardin – senior character animator, DreamWorks[13]
- Dorian Compo – designer, Activision
- John Vassallo – senior character animator, Sony Pictures
- Mike Tonder – 3D artist, Stargate Digital
- Doug Chiang - American film designer and artist
Fine Arts
- Benjamin Kiehl – associate director, Robert Kidd Gallery
- Brad Lawrence – owner, BL Visuals
- Craig Paul Nowak – artist, ArtPrize Entry[14]
- Jocelyn Rainey – gallery director, JRainey Gallery
- Mark Arminski – poster artist
- Tyree Guyton - Noted artist behind the Heidelberg Project
Graphic Design
- Annmarie Koenig – lighting CG supervisor, DreamWorks
- Brian Salay - head of UX design, Lithium Technologies
- Christine Ward – art director, Team Detroit
- Elizabeth Hunwick – design manager, Avanti Press
- Joe Anstett – designer, Avanti Press
- Jackson Cavanaugh – owner, Okay Type and Design[15]
- Jennifer Gave – co-owner, Capacity[16]
- Ellery Gave – co-owner, Capacity[16]
- Richard Nicolson – co-owner, Nicolson and Associates[17]
- Todd Smith – design director, Nike
- Leila Matta – manager of brand identity, graphic design, and art programs, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services
- Mathias Burton – UX Design Lead at ProQuest
Illustration
- Angie Lai – senior concept artist, Sledgehammer
- Bill Morrison – comic book artist, Bongo Comics[18]
- Chris Houghton – comic book artist and character designer, Disney[19]
- Jeremy Melton – concept artist and illustrator, Zoic Studios
- Kevin T Chin – senior concept artist, Kingsisle Entertainment[20]
- Marc Gabbana – concept artist and illustrator[21]
- Serge Gay – illustrator, Grammy Nominee[22]
- B. K. Taylor - Illustrator and writer noted for his Odd Rods trading stickers, illustrations for Sick magazine and National Lampoon, and his writing for Home Improvement.
Interior Design
- Christopher Juneau – owner, JunoBuilt
- Lesley (Mowry) Robinson – interior designer, Spin Design
- Melissa (Endress) Rodriguez – interior designer, Studios of Melissa Rodriguez[23]
- Sarah Strader – owner, Sarah Strader Textiles[24]
Photography
- Greg Shamus – sports photographer and owner, Greg Shamus Photography[25]
- Derek Richmond – freelance photographer[26]
- Emily Berger – travel photographer and owner ee berger photography[27]
- Jenny Risher – fashion photographer, owner Jenny Risher photography[28]
- Micaela Ruiz – photographer, Converse
- Paul Mobley – photographer and owner Paul Mobley Studio[29]
- Patricia Schneider SDSA - Set Decorator
Product Design
- Jason Mayden – senior global design director, Nike Brand Jordan[30]
- Curtis Hopkins – senior scenic designer, Universal Orlando
- Crystal Windham – director of design, General Motors
- Donald Crum – animator, Pixar[31]
- Erik Eagleman – designer, Trek Bicycles
- Terence Duncan - Vice President, Design and Consumer Engagement - Mahindra GenZe
- Ian Grout – project designer, Fischer Price
- Jay Shuster – art director, Pixar[32]
- Jeff Hontz – senior industrial designer, B/E Aerospace
- Teckla Rhodes – executive director, global industrial design, General Motors[33]
- Veronika Scott[34] - 2012 New Frontier Award winner
Transportation Design
- Hermidas Atabeyki – yacht designer, Atabeyki Sarl[35]
- Robert Boniface – design director/advanced design, General Motors Design Center
- Ralph Gilles[36] - President and CEO of the Street and Racing Technology/Motorsports and Senior Vice President of Design at Chrysler Group LLC
- Andre Hudson – design manager, Hyundai Motors America
- Thomas Kearns – chief designer, Kia Design
- Earl Lucas – design manager, Ford Motor Company
- David Lyon - designer, Pocketsquare Design[37]
- Joel Piaskowski – director of design, Ford Motor Company[38]
- Misty Marcum Rolfs – designer, Chrysler
- Patrick Schiavone[39] - Vice President, Design, North America Region for Whirlpool Corporation
- Dong Tran – lead designer, Icon Aircraft
Other notable alums
- Harry Bertoia - Italian-born artist, sculptor, and modern furniture designer.
- Kevin Siembieda - co-founder of Palladium Books
- Mary Lynn Rajskub-known for playing Chloe O'brian in the Fox action-thriller 24.
References
- ↑ http://www.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/about-us/history
- ↑ http://scs.hfli.org/
- ↑ http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/images/detail/detroit-society-arts-and-crafts-building-47-watson-st-detroit-view-showroom-6526
- ↑ http://www.michiganmodern.org/buildings/detroit-society-of-arts-and-crafts-building
- ↑ http://www.dia.org/news/390/New-In-the-Sculpture-Garden.aspx
- ↑ http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/10/1005_dschools/source/10.htm
- ↑ http://www.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/about-us/accreditation
- ↑ http://www.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs
- ↑ About Detroit Community Arts Partnerships
- ↑ http://www.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/academics/graduate-programs-mfa
- ↑ http://flyingboyproductions.com/The_Creators.html
- ↑ http://www.elrick.com/
- ↑ http://croods.blogspot.com/2013/01/croods-crew-dave-hardin.html
- ↑ http://www.artprize.org/craig-paul-nowak
- ↑ http://www.commarts.com/insights/perfect-possible
- 1 2 http://capacity.tv/
- ↑ http://richard-nicolson.squarespace.com/about/
- ↑ Bill Morrison (comics)
- ↑ http://www.scratch9.com/news/9-questions-with-chris-houghton/
- ↑ http://drawcrowd.com/kevinchinart
- ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0299975/
- ↑ http://flavorwire.com/159903/grammy-nominated-artist-serge-gay-jr-s-colorful-dreamscapes/
- ↑ http://www.studiosofmr.com/
- ↑ http://sarahstrader.com/
- ↑ http://shamusphoto.photoshelter.com/portfolio/G0000_2KzJMHInfc
- ↑ http://www.derekrichmond.com/#/
- ↑ http://www.letstravelsomewhere.com/travel-inspiration/emily-berger-ireland/
- ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/24/jenny-risher-heart-soul-detroit_n_2539804.html
- ↑ Paul Mobley
- ↑ http://www.iamthenublack.com/2010/05/21/just-do-it-nike-senior-designer-jason-mayden/
- ↑ http://www.animationcollaborative.com/don-crum.html
- ↑ http://www.photoshopcafe.com/interviews/jay.htm
- ↑ http://idsa.org/rhoads-teckla-general-motors
- ↑ Veronika Scott wins JFK New Frontier Award
- ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/22/fashion/22iht-acaydesign.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
- ↑ Gilles as Dodge Brand Chief
- ↑ http://www.pocketsquaredesign.net/
- ↑ http://www.cardesignnews.com/site/designers/whos_where/display/store4/item276655/
- ↑ Patrick Schiavone resigns Ford for Whirlpool