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HOW IT WORKS | CLASS SCHEDULE | FOUNDATION COURSES | MAJORS
HOW IT WORKS
The Pre-College Program strengthens your ability to observe, conceptualize, analyze and create. Whether courses are selected for personal exploration or as a fast track to college-level study in art and design, a balanced schedule and all-day studio classes allow for creative problem solving as well as artistic experimentation. In addition, studio critiques encourage you to talk about both your own work and that of your classmates.
One of the hallmarks of a RISD undergraduate education is the Foundation Studies program, a year-long immersion in rigorous visual and critical inquiry, designed to encourage experimentation and the challenging of ideas, motivations and assumptions. At RISD, foundation work is as crucial to a student's overall development as the major. It is no different for the Pre-College Program, where you are introduced to the RISD curricular concept through three foundation courses: Drawing Foundations, Design Foundations, and Critical Studies in Art History. These courses help you sharpen your powers of observation, gain experience with various tools, materials and techniques, and learn to analyze and discuss works of art.
As in a college-level art and design education, choosing a major is also an essential part of one's experience, and this, too, is an important element of the Pre-College Program. Majors provide the opportunity to immerse yourself in focused effort within one particular design or fine art field; major classes are scheduled for two full days each week, allowing you to explore one of the 20 available disciplines in depth. RISD stresses that foundation studies are as important as major work, so equal emphasis is placed in both areas and effort is balanced between the two during the week.
The faculty work in teams so that the major, Drawing Foundations and Design Foundations curricula are consistent, and Pre-College students study with the same classmates and teachers throughout the session. Critical Studies in Art History courses, on the other hand, bring students of differing majors together to add a more varied perspective to class discussions.
CLASS SCHEDULE
Each week's schedule is structured as follows:
Drawing Foundations
1 six-hour day
(6 contact hours per week)
Design Foundations
1 six-hour day
(6 contact hours per week)
Critical Studies in Art History
partial day
(2 contact hours per week)
Major
2 six-hour days
(12 contact hours per week)
Total
26 contact hours per week
Each course requires work to be developed or completed outside of class.
Please note: Course schedules, syllabi and instructor information are not available prior to Check-In.
FOUNDATION COURSES
Drawing Foundations
The ability to observe and the skill of translating these observations into visual expression are fundamental to an artist's education. Students in this course first develop their power of observation and strengthen their ability to think and express themselves visually on paper. They learn techniques for working from the human figure, forms in nature, landscapes, interior spaces and still-life setups. Traditional and nontraditional materials are used throughout to investigate line, value, form and composition.
Design Foundations
Design is critical to all visual expression. This course introduces students to the formal elements of design—line, shape, color, texture and space. Through challenging exercises, students are encouraged to explore traditional methods of visual organization and to discover new solutions on their own. Projects may include both two- and three-dimensional design concepts.
Critical Studies in Art History
Critical analysis—the ability to thoroughly examine, analyze and respond to creative concepts and ideas, both verbally and in writing—is an essential tool in an art and design education. In this foundation course, historical and contemporary art (both two- and three-dimensional) is presented in relationship to a specific theme. Students develop an approach to critical analysis by delving into the historical context of the artwork. Course work is enhanced by visits to the RISD Museum of Art, where students explore the collections and examine original artwork in an intimate setting.
MAJORS
Animation
Animation—the study of art in motion—is a constantly evolving art form. This major introduces students to the rich traditions of frame-by-frame nonlinear movie construction, and to recent developments in the field. Using a variety of rendering techniques, students focus on the development of unique characters and compelling narratives. In order to produce impactful visual elements, emphasis is placed on studio projects—such as flipbooks, storyboard, cutouts and stop-motion film—that develop strong perception and drawing skills. Students are introduced to basic technical skills in computer distortion, timing, exaggeration, sound and sequencing, and also view noteworthy animated films and discuss ways in which they relate to their own work. NOTE: While not required, students may wish to bring a high-capacity storage device such as an external hard drive or flash memory device.
Architecture
Students profit from the dynamic relationship between learning basic architectural concepts and physically employing them in the construction of prototypes. As an introductory architectural design studio, important architectural principles are presented through studio exercises, slide lectures and demonstrations. Students implement these principles through both drawing and model-building to develop an understanding of scale, form and spatial relationships. This intense study provides the framework for the process of analysis and synthesis that is critical to further architectural pursuits.
Ceramics
Clay has long been respected as the medium of choice for relief and sculptural portraiture, and has been used throughout history in many varieties of functional ware. Its plasticity and versatility are increasingly appreciated in works that transcend traditional boundaries, so that today, ceramic media are also associated with contemporary sculptural possibilities. Accordingly, students learn basic construction and finishing techniques, including hand-building, wheel-throwing, methods of surface design, glazing and kiln firing, and are also encouraged to experiment with both functional and sculptural ideas.
Comic Book Art
Comic books are pure pop-culture adrenaline—influencing novels, movies, fashion and even the web—and have become an essential element of our popular media consciousness. This major provides students with the expertise needed to combine words and pictures into compelling visual narratives for strips, comic books, or graphic novels. Students learn the creative and technical aspects of this idiosyncratic art form, including its unique characteristics and limitations. Classes include a survey of selected comics, in-class demonstrations of scriptwriting and drawing techniques, and studio assignments that encourage participants to develop original comic stories of their own. Beyond comic books themselves, the skills acquired also apply to children's books, film and television production and video games.
Drawing
This major allows students who wish to immerse themselves in drawing to expand significantly upon skills and techniques introduced in Foundation Drawing. Students confront demanding technical exercises and explore imaginative, descriptive and conceptual imagery on paper. All the critical technical elements of drawing—line, tone, composition and color—are employed as tools that facilitate extensive experimentation, discipline, and an environment of intense inquiry.
Fashion Design
Students in this major examine the fashion design process from sketchbook to consumer. Initial exercises focus on developing the visual communication skills necessary to illustrate a fashion concept. Merchandising and construction methods come to the forefront as students gain an understanding of color interaction, form and proportion. In the process, students begin to appreciate how fashion tastes and styles both reflect and contribute to contemporary culture. Ultimately, students design and construct fashion pieces out of alternative materials to be shown as part of the Pre-College Exhibitions at the end of the program.
Film/Video
Using video as a means for studying basic techniques of filmmaking, students develop universal skills of expression and storytelling, and the fundamental language and processes of motion pictures, from concept to final edit. Students learn basic digital video filming techniques and nonlinear editing with Final Cut Pro software as they shoot and edit a series of short individual and team projects. Experimental, documentary and narrative genres are all explored, and select student work is viewed and analyzed in class. (Previous experience with video editing software, such as iMovie or Adobe Premiere, is helpful but not required.) Note: Video cameras are provided for use during class hours only. Students may bring their own video cameras, provided they have manual controls and record to a digital format, and should be equipped with FireWire (IEEE 1394) or USB ports.
Furniture Design
You use it every day. You live with it and you can't get along without it. But have you ever really examined furniture? Have you ever admired the form of a table or scrutinized the function of a chair? Midway between sculpture and industrial design, the vital discipline of furniture design directly impacts human interaction and well-being. Through drawings and modeling, furniture design students explore key aspects of three-dimensional design, incorporating the aesthetics of form and function to articulate their design ideas. They learn to use traditional furniture-making skills, including joinery and the time-honored techniques of hand and power tools, ultimately building one of their own designs.
NEW! Game Design
For games to be compelling, game artists are obliged to not only develop aesthetic and technical skills, but to also consider psychology, sociology and storytelling. This course focuses on creating games through a fundamental, critical thinking approach, and studio projects are primarily created in traditional media—such as board games, cards, dice, puzzles and role-playing. Peer reviews and play testing help guide students to design fun, stimulating and enriching games. Game industry designers and developers serve as guest critics. Aspects of computer-based video games including modularity, depth and level design are covered; however final projects are analog, physical games. NOTE: While not required, students may wish to bring a high-capacity storage device to save any computer-based work.
Graphic Design
Graphic Design majors explore various combinations of traditional and digital design tools through a series of intensive classroom exercises. This regimen enables them to integrate diverse techniques with the design elements of color, form, typography and composition. Projects allow students to combine these tools and techniques in such creative applications as corporate identification, publications, posters, packaging and/or signage. Students also learn to recognize the principles of good graphic design as they integrate text and imagery (drawn from various media) into seamless, finished communications.
Illustration
This major is an ideal choice for students with a strong drawing background who desire the added discipline of working with both text and visual imagery. Indeed, the critical component of this major involves learning the best ways to combine words, images and ideas. Students explore books, magazines and short stories, seeking models for manipulating content, design elements, materials and techniques in order to express ideas effectively. These exercises allow students to explore a panoply of styles and to use various techniques and materials as they develop a personal visual vocabulary.
Industrial Design
From the creation of a handheld electronic device to the configuration of a satellite, industrial design is a steadily growing field that affects every aspect of our daily lives. This major is dedicated to instilling the conviction that fine aesthetics and mechanics reinforce one another in producing exemplary products for industry. Students work on design solutions for social, physical and ecological needs, and develop a working vocabulary in the language of two- and three-dimensional design. Three-dimensional drawing and model-making skills are therefore emphasized throughout the course.
Interior Design
Students in this major gain a strong foundation in the process of designing interior spaces. They develop a visual vocabulary in order to explore the relationships between interior components and movement within the space. Color, texture, fabric, lighting and other elements are investigated in a creative environment that encourages participants to express their own sense of design. Discussions and critiques help students understand the elements and principles of interior design as they develop project solutions.
Jewelry
Designing and constructing jewelry is an ideal discipline for developing an understanding of the structural underpinnings of all kinds of sculpture. Many skills learned in this major, if expanded in scale, are readily transferable to other modes of metalwork because they familiarize students with the properties of various metals and related materials, as well as with commonly used methods of joining. Techniques are learned through numerous demonstrations and structured exercises in the studio, enabling students to complete jewelry objects of their own choosing by the end of the course.
Painting
Painting majors are introduced to both traditional and contemporary concepts and techniques in painting. They learn to create and organize forms, colors, textures and tones while experimenting with various methods of application. Initially, students work from the figure, still-life setups and diverse landscapes. They then seek to create more personalized imagery by adapting lessons from the studio. Lectures, demonstrations and critiques reveal how others have tackled similar painting issues in the past, so that students can discover their own style.
Photography: Digital
Professional photography is fully immersed in digital workflow, and anyone using a camera these days must have an understanding of digital tools. Students in this major develop technical and aesthetic skills in photography, with an emphasis on digital imaging and its potential applications in print and electronic form. Coursework focuses on camera techniques, lighting methods, and the use of computer software (Adobe Photoshop) for enhancing and refining images, and for presentation. RISD cameras are used during class time, but students are encouraged to bring their own digital cameras for flexibility in capturing images outside of class.
Photography: Traditional
Traditional Photography students learn how to see and compose images through the camera's eye, and are encouraged to develop personal concepts by solving fundamental visual problems specific to the photographic image. They explore black-and-white photographic tools and techniques, including operation of the single-lens reflex camera, how to determine proper exposures, and the chemical process for developing 35mm negatives and prints. Presentation methods and archival preservation are also demonstrated and discussed throughout the course. Both the experienced and the inexperienced photographer are welcome, but each student must have access to a 35mm camera with full manual exposure control capability.
Printmaking
This major is an excellent choice for students who want to expand upon previous drawing experience by exploring a tactile, process-oriented medium that offers many options for rich visual effects. Lessons in plate and paper preparation, registration and preservation enable students to explore diverse intaglio techniques such as pochoir, dry point, and hard- and soft-ground etching in both large and small formats. Surface printing techniques are also explored, including monoprinting, Chine colle and xerographic transfer. As students begin to master these techniques, they are given the opportunity to demonstrate both their facility and their developing personal imagery by producing a series of related small-format prints for final portfolio presentation.
Sculpture
In this major, students engage in a traditional approach to sculpture by exploring a range of three-dimensional concepts, skills and processes. Emphasis is placed on producing realistic structures based on human, animal and plant anatomy. Students select materials and methods that allow them to best address issues of form, space, expression, context and scale; in past years, projects have included constructing with wire, paper, fabric and found objects. Assignments encourage students to create well-crafted, conceptually sound and structurally durable sculptures. Information is provided and discussed regarding the expansive field of contemporary sculpture, including conceptual art, public art, installations, memorials and site-specific work.
Textile Design
Students working with textiles have the opportunity to explore how fabric and fibers can be manipulated to produce a wide variety of surface designs and expressive ideas. By mastering the basic elements of silkscreen printing and assorted dyeing methods, students learn to experiment with elements of layering, transparency and repeating patterns. Emphasis is placed on the creative use of color, and on drawing unique narratives and motifs, resulting in finished designs on fabric yardage. Discussions regarding the myriad ways contemporary textiles are created for fashion, home decor, architectural materials and original fine art augment studio work.
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