The programs of the School of Art and Design provide students with the aesthetic and critical perspectives vital for professional careers in art and design. Central to the UIC approach are studio courses which engage students in the development of significant creative works as well as independent research utilizing the interdisciplinary resources of one of the world's great cities and a major research university as a base for learning.
The first year program introduces students to a wide range of possibilities for creative expression and problem-solving. After completion of the first year program, students will participate in an all-School portfolio review to gain acceptance into one of seven areas of concentration. The majors in the School of Art and Design are: Electronic Visualization, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Moving Image, Photography, Studio Arts, and Art Education. By the senior year, students in the programs based in Art and Design Hall: Moving Image, Photography and Studio Arts are working together in an advanced interdisciplinary program. Likewise, students in the programs based in the Art and Architecture building: Electronic Visualization, Graphic Design, and Industrial Design are encouraged to collaborate in interdisciplinary projects and to share an advanced Design Colloquium. Areas of collaborative study include the UIC Interdisciplinary Product Development program, which teams design students with students in the College of Business and the College of Engineering. Senior level professional practice courses offer additional opportunities to engage in projects with industry and government.
New Media Arts educates artists and designers in the technologies of advanced computer and video interactivity and empowers students with a solid knowledge of the history and theories of responsive arts. Program curriculum introduces responsive technologies and their basic application processes in an incremental, lab-based approach. Students become effective programmers, using computer technology to create new visual statements and electronic forms of communication. Audio-visual tools are used as a vehicle for personal and aesthetic expression with applications across a wide range of professional career opportunities including Responsive Environments/Media Architecture, Web Design/Data Visualization/Algorithmic Design, Gaming/Real-time Interaction/Virtual Reality, 3D Modeling/Animation/Special Effects, Physical Computing/Interface Design/Robotics/Mechatronics, and Electronic Stage and Set Design.
This program was formerly known as Electronic Visualization.
