EMERGENCY: Prospective student for CCA's ID program

Design Discussions students and schools
1

Hey everyone,

I am sort of in a bind and was wondering if i could ask for help. I am a 2005 graduate from NYU that majored in math and art and have been interested in studying Industrial Design for quite a while to combine both my analytical and artistic skills. I still want to become an athletic sneaker designer in the beginning, but broadening my career with other products and finally teaching students design.

I recently applied and was accepted to California College of the Arts ID undergraduate program. My father feels that I should not be going to design school for a BFA if I already have a undergraduate degree. Actually, he does not believe in it at all truthfully. I am not sure what to think, because ID is I feel something I always wanted to do as my dream, but I do want it to be worth it since it looks like I may be paying for this education on my own.

My questions are:

  1. Should I go for the Undergraduate Degree in ID, if I already have a degree in a non design related area? If not, what graduate programs should I look for?
    ( My design experiences have come from internships in graphic design and web design which I freelance right now. Also, two summers in an architecture firm as well).

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  2. Is CCA’s program known to provide the necessary skills and connections for ID looking to get into the shoe world and produce an awesome portfolio?
2

No matter what program you go to, I don’t think it matters as long as you can think, conceptualize, problem solve, sketch, render and communicate. I do think you get more skill training in under graduate programs.

Honestly, for footwear, CCA would not be at the top of my list. I would recommend University of Cincinnati, Cleveland Institute of Art, or College for Creative Studies (CCS Detroit), maybe Art Center. (I know, shocking)

Follow your passion, where there is a will there is a way, this is your life not your Dads.

Best of luck, I hope we see you more on the c77 boards.

3

yo is right.

but if it means your dad’ll help pay - the program at Pratt is set up for people without ID Bachelors…its a good program too.

(It always kills me when people think they can walk into ID at the Masters level. What would it take for a BFA to graduate with a MS in mathematics?)

4

Hmm, NYU math/art degree. Do you need 3-4 more years of ID school- and starting as a sophmore? Think about it.

Have you scoured NY talking to ID firms and independent designers yet? I’d put that on the list first. You may find a job/internship that will tell you where the next step is.

5

Yeah, I was thinking of going back for med school… not going to do pre med though… sorry, I couldn’t help it.

6

I am going to at least check out the school in person this week and talk to some of the ID students there to get a feel for it. Still determined to make my dream happen. Thanks again