viewbook 2011-12
DESCRIPTION
Undergraduate Viewbook 2011-12 for Otis College of Art and DesignTRANSCRIPT
Otis 2011-12 View Book
vol. 1
no. 1
In This Issue
Meet Mr. Unicorn
Wood for Good Designing for a Sustainable Future
Life After Otis Proof that investment in Art and Design Education Pays Off
Rise Above Plastics
As seen on facebook &
YouTube!
Otis is training us to be superheroes and to use the skills they have taught us to
solve the world’s problems. We work together and learn from each other, because we can’t save the world on our own.
— Tianna Poanessa
“
”
In the first year, we teach the skills that allow you to take your concept and make it into an object (that actually looks like what you imagined!). We take teaching seriously, and we apply that learning to
teaching you. Along the way, you will find challenges, triumphs, friendships, sleepless nights, hidden corners of L.A., food from every part of the world, and more museums and theaters than any other American city.
Our students engage with the local community and the world to create a sustainable, globally conscious society. They participate in Integrated Learning courses with peers from all disciplines, engaging community site partners to identify, research, and propose design solutions. Read about the program (pg. 47) and one team’s summer trip to Palau (pg. 34) to design the national war memorial.
Realize youR
dReams
Otis College of Art and Design is ideally located in Los Angeles. Both are fertile grounds for artists, innovators, and achievers. Otis has charted the development of art and design in Los Angeles and radiated its influence from this Southern California epicenter.
At Otis, professional practices, social engagement, and the creative economy converge with new ideas, diversity, and a concern for sustainability. Otis is a for-ward-looking art and design college with a real-world orientation.
The future is bright for our graduates. In the 21st century, creativity is a force as im-portant in shaping culture as in economic and social development. The 2010 Otis
Report on the Creative Economy reveals that one of six jobs in the Los Angeles region is sup-ported by the arts, design, and entertainment industries, and these jobs generate $127 billion in sales revenue. Otis’s unique mix of majors of-fers pathways for young talents to develop their creative best while linking them to careers in this powerful creative economy, and to opportunities in bettering our world. Our alumni surveys con-sistently evidence the success of Otis graduates as creative professionals and their satisfaction in college and career choices.
An Otis education is an investment in your per-sonal and professional development. I hope you will join us to realize your dreams.
Samuel Hoi, President
Why Otis?
This view book answers the question.
First, read about our
Foundation program
(pg. 8)
Community engagement is a cornerstone of professional practice
Students can minor in sustainabil-ity and study in a green building, the Galef Center for Fine Arts. We do the little things, like recycling all of the trash on campus. We do the big things as well. Read about
some examples, like the sustainable fashion design proj-ect with Nike and Hurley (pg. 30) and Ryan Robinson’s recycled product designs for amputees in underdevel-oped countries (pg. 31).
From winning Oscars to design-ing the places we live, the prod-ucts we use, and the media we watch, our graduates create all the things they studied in the classroom. Across the world, these cross-disciplinary thinkers leap across vocational borders: fine artists become special effects wizards, and interior designers become theme park builders. Their creativity, their skills, and their vision empower them to build successful careers and satisfying lives. Ultimately, our core value is to develop each student’s personal vi-sion and creativity for a lifelong career in art and design. The creative economy is our future, and an Otis educa-tion prepares students for thriving roles within it.
But don’t just take my word for it. Check out our web-site. Open this view book. Visit us and let us show you why Otis should be your first choice.
Sustainable design is
everywhere at Otis
We educate artists who work in their fields. Develop your career as a creative professional (pg. 53)
Yvette Sobky-ShafferDean of Admissions
letter from the dean letter from the president
Otis 11–12
Editors in ChiefYvette Sobky-Shaffer, Dean of AdmissoinsMargaret Reeve, Director of Communications
Creative Direction and DesignAnne Swett-Predock, Senior Graphic Designer
Design Assistance and ProductionDavis Ngarupe (‘12)
Writing ContributorsAlexandra Pollyea, Media Relations ManagerMargaret ReeveYvette Sobky-ShafferAnne Swett-Predock
PhotographyKelly Akashi (’07) Kristy Campbell, Tom Carey, Jessica Fleischmann, Holly Tempo, Ana Llorente-Thurik, Ari Marcopoulos, Wayne McCall, Anne Swett-Predock
PrintingTypecraft, Wood & Jones, Inc.
Fonts“Gustan” designed by Communication Arts faculty member Greg Lindy“Newsald” by Kris Sowersby
5 The Choice is Yours What majors and minors are offered at Otis? Find out about Liberal Arts and Sciences.
8 Foundation What you’ll experience during your first year at Otis
11 Major Match Guess which desk belongs to which major
13 Thumbs Up Check out the latest exhibitions,books, movies and videos, sports and games
25 Future Stock How do we envision the future?30 Regeneration Revolution31 Wood for Good
49 Los Angeles as a Laboratory
59 Where in the World? Where are Otis students from? Where do they go?
51 It’s a Bright FutureFacts about the Creative Economy, Otis in the Biz, and Career Services
53 Alumni SuccessRight out of School, Moving up the Ladder, and Running the Show
36 MarketplaceFor the Home, For Play, and For the Street
19 How Was This Made? Discover the secrets behind the great work
47 Change Agents Design in the Community
39 Runway Project Fashion Show from start to finish
41 Countdown toLaunch The End of Year Exhibition45 Design>Build Architecture/Landscape/Interiors Installations
Life After
Otis
FAQs
60 FAQs Interview with an Admissions Counselor61 Preparing a Portfolio62 Five Easy Steps to Apply63 Otis at a Glance
Welcome
If you’re a young doodler and tinkerer, take heart. You’re living in a career candy store, filled with cool jobs your parents and career counselors probably don’t even know exist. — Kay Hymowitz in an NPR interview with Kai Ryssdal
“
”
contents
Make an appointment for a
campus tour.
310 665 6800800 527 OTIS (6847)[email protected]
©2010 Text, illustrations, and photographs may not be reproduced or utilized in any form without the written permission of Otis College of Art and Design. Information in this publication is subject to change without notice.
32 Global Adventures In Paris, Palau, and China
From the Sustainability
Desk
Preparing for Profesional
Life
septembervol. 1 no. 1
The choice isyours...
FashionDesign
4
Advertising Design
GraphicDesign
The four-year BFA degree curriculum promotes
flexible, adaptive, and entrepreneurial thinking.
After completing 1st Year Foundation, students select one
of eleven majors.
Architecture/Landscape/Interiors
1
2
5
but wait...there’s more!you can also minor in
SustainabilityArtists Community Teaching (ACT)Interdisciplinary StudiesCreative Writing Cultural StudiesArt History
6
Illustration7
Photography
Product Design
Toy Design
9
11
Painting
Sculpture/New Genres
10
8
Digital Media3
5the choice is yours
6the choice is yours
Liberal Arts Sciences
Creativity, Identity, Diversity, Social
Responsibility, and Sustainability
Students Say...
“LAS courses have expanded my lexicon of art and design lingo so that I am more confident in speaking with other professional designers and artists. I know how to see the world in the context of visual language, culture, propa-ganda, and symbols.”
“I have the power to be an educated designer because I know about the beliefs, practices, relationships, ideals, and history of artists and designers of the past and present.”
“The Semiotics class has changed the way I look at my built environment. I learned to articulate the things I didn’t pay attention to before. Going to the mall hasn’t been the same since.”
“I loved talking about different cultures, historical events, and so on. In fact, a lot of my interests and hobbies have developed from LAS classes. Part of why I use to wheat paste and tag was because I met people in these classes and began to practice these ‘urban’ arts with them.”
“English class readings like Eats, Shoots, and Leaves were great. I love that teachers are using technology, such as blogging, YouTube, and O-space.”
Follow the hints and guess which desks belong to which major.
Theory is not a dirty word anymore. Theory is a tool, its practice is a craft.
Expand cultural awareness
Develop information literacy skills
&Communicate complex ideas
clearly
Use analysis, reflection, and
synthesis to express ideas
Forge interdisciplinary connections
“
”
“Visual Culture was the first class that changed my
perspective on how I see the world. I enjoyed it because I
can totally relate to what I see on media every day: T.V,
billboards, and magazines!”
“Field trips are a great way to learn. It’s one thing to
learn about art in a class-room, but it’s a completely
different experience being able to have discussions in
front of the waork.”
I learned things I never thought I’d have an opportunity to, I tried things that I never thought I would, and honestly, I’ve turned into some-one I never thought I’d be. I went from being a distant wallflower to being a bold, confident nutcase. The people I’ve met along the way have been incredibly inspiring, unbeliev-ably annoying, simply beautiful, and everything in between.
“
”Fast-track creativity, forge friendships, and have fun!
FounDAtion
7what’s your major?
8foundation
hone the essential thinking and making skills
uring Foundation year, you will critique your own work and pursue a spirit of investigation. In Liberal Arts and Sciences
courses, you will examine how mean-ing is constructed during the creative process. You will learn both to question everything and to see that everything is connected. The skills you acquire during Foundation year will allow you to focus on WHAT to make during your next three years at Otis, not HOW. These skills will allow you to express your concepts clearly and effectively.
Learn aesthetic
fundamentals develop cultural and information literacy
sharpen visual acuity
engage the larger
community
D
Enjoy collaboration
Journey to creating your unique voice
I am not the observer I used to be; things I usually glanced over once, I now look at more than once trying to break down, digest, and synthesize the qualities that make them stand out from their surroundings.
“
”
9foundation
10foundation
Hi. So what's
your major?
Student desks reveal all.Follow the hints and match
the desk to the major
1 Advertising Design 2 Architecture/Landscape/Interiors 3 Digital Media (Video Game Design, Animation, Motion Graphics, Visual Effects) 4 Fashion Design 5 Graphic Design 6 Illustration 7 Painting 8 Photography 9 Product Design 10 Sculpture/New Genres 11 Toy Design
clever combination
of imagery
Wizard of Oz
references
1
large stack of mags
latte set aside safe
from spilling
mini mannequin
piles of materials
croquis on the walls
4
gridded cutting
mat
major hint
Is that an isometric section?
rolled sheets of
drawings
lava lamp for
all-nighter“atmo- sphere”
2
interesting typographic
sample colorful paper
samples
safety goggles
large- scaled work
occupies floor
space
neatly aligned posters
big jug of glue
glitter to add design
sparkle
open, airy, light-filled
studio
5
10
curious characters
hand- sculpted figurine
reference library
thick pad of sketch
paper
clay model super hero
power cord and
neatly arranged
tools
multiple matchingdrawings
6
charcoal sketch on
canvas
models and assistants
paint covered
chair
loads of gear!
20’ high ceilinged
studio with green
screen
protectivefloor
covering
7
8
color and more color
felt-tippedpens
wideassortment
of materials
colorful expressive characters
cleverly recycled
materials
119
paint brushes of
all sizes
storyboard sequence for
reference
very large monitor
need we say more?
many applications
open at once
3
11major match
12major match
Show Your Stuff
Freak Show, 2010
Fine Arts students curate and exhibit their work at Otis, as well as in galleries throughout L.A.
Wavelength, 2010Green-themed Exhibition
Unknown Knowing, 2011
Anomie, 2009
Metrosexual, 2010
Fine Arts is visual art created for the purpose of adding the poetry, the beauty, and the meaning that people need to live life more fully. L.A. is probably the best place in the world to study art. It’s a dynamic, varied environment, and a place where, after graduation, students can become involved in a community. —Meg Cranston, Chair, Fine Arts
“
”
13thumbs up
14thumbs up
I feel like I am part of a gumbo rather than part of a salad bar.—Derek Thompson (‘94) Storyboard artist at Pixar
“
”
Digital Peek The Craft of the
Letterformand the Page
BooksScenes and Stories for the Screen
AnimationThe old cameras resent the appearance of a new camera in the store.
Concept Design“Carmageddon,” traffic caused frustration among drivers, but their road rage was nothing com-pared to the freeways’ pent-up ire. Not even public transporta-tion patrons were spared.
Book Design Contest All Communication Arts students are invited to submit work to the annual contest that is judged by their peers.
Mr. Unicorn aka C.W. Moss (‘11), leads a full life. When he isn’t collecting tie-clips, he maintains his status as the most macaroni and cheese eating-est person west of the Colorado River.
So where does Mr. Unicorn like to spend time in L.A.? The Cheese Store in Beverly Hills (ah, there’s that cheese again), has his stomach; the Natural History Museum has his eyes, and his other parts are undeclared.
Did going to Otis change his life? You betcha. Four years ago, Mr. Unicorn would never have imagined how important words and language would be to his success as a designer and communications arts professional.
Originally from Joplin, Missouri, Mr. Unicorn has helped his native city recover from its devastating tornado by creating a series of videos to inspire donations and volunteers. Defy-ing expectations, Mr. Unicorn proved to be a model citizen, acting as Commencement Class Marshall (below).
Unicorn Feeding Bacon to the PigsUnicorn Being a Jerk, a book of comic illustrations, documents the antics of Mr. Unicorn ( Jon Stewart in disguise?). See Mr. Unicorn in action at misterunicorn.com.
15thumbs up
16thumbs up
Baldy the EagleThis handsome Tlingit-inspired book was hand bound and printed at Otis in the letterpress and printmaking lab.
RESETThis magazine explores the (anti) meaning of gay male identification.
SportsandGames
Passions in the SandUsing the graphic language of romance comics, this episode from “A Terrorist Romance” takes place in the Middle East.
Imagination = Play
Building Blocks for Young AstronomersFind your favorite constellation or create your own by rearranging the starry blue and white blocks.
Three D GameThe 3D excitement of Killer Swamp Trees! Ordinary willows morph into murderous bark monsters when the full moon is high.
Who Will Win?The Chronic Crybaby? The Angry Seether? Or the Joyful Cheerleader?This graphic design piece explores the Emotional Olympics. We’ve all been in training our whole lives, but who surpasses their peers and wins gold in Love, Sadness, or Joy?
17thumbs up
18thumbs up
A new generation of artists and designers effortlessly makes the transition from
low to high tech. Replacing “recycle, reclaim, reuse” with “sustainable innovation,” they evaluate every aspect of the creative process from initial concept to fabrication, packaging, delivery, and retail. Global manufacturing requires that a product’s environmental life cycle or footprint be measured — from raw material extraction through materials processing, manufacture, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, and disposal or recycling.
HOW?
A
Band It!
Interstellar Telescope 555
Mylar tubes burst from a
wall, like projectiles from
space
Simplicity of Material: A video monitor behind a wall projects light through rolled mylar
Hidden video monitor creates holographic prismatic patterns
Kaleido- scopic wonder!
Two halves of the image were
printed in a 3D milling
machine and glued together.
The image of randomly placed bands was transformed into a model.
Tubular!
Otis students use technology, but are not technicians or engineers: they are creators, artists, and makers who thrive on diversity and engaging design challenges. — Steve McAdam, Chair, Product Design
“
”
After the rough seams were sanded, the bowl was ready for casting.
was this made?
Global Warming
Campaign from Sang Youb
Shin (‘11) and Wu Hyun Lew (‘11)
The team combined elements from After Effects, Photoshop, Maya, Illustrator, and Cinema 4d to create the movie.
19how was this made?
20how was this made?
Title: Midsummer Nightmare
Sculpted and cast
snake heads have gold-
leafed eyes
FoundCaribouAntlers
Snake heads fixed to painted ant-lers, mounted and chained to wall
Spotlight casts dramatic shadows
Flakes of landfill plastic
were melted and pressed into a flat
sheet then bent into a chair shapeThe bent sheet
was placed onto a welded metal frame This book,
made from wood bark, presents advice about living green
A chair from shredded
plastic
The world is changing as organizations and institutions look to creative people for answers to small and large problems. Designers are invited to the table in this great global initiative.—Kali Nikitas, Chair, Communication Arts
“
”
A native Hawaiian turtle became the model for a character in an animated piece
Midsummer New Mexico Nightmare A sampling
of materials:Sculpey,
styrofoam, fabric, train model pieces, doll parts, magnets
21how was this made?
22how was this made?
Anatomy studies, concept
and character motion sketches
were made
A virtuoso drawing can
bring any creature to
life
Historical and visual research are key elements in creating detailed, credible environments
Making a model for
digitization
Sculpey is the material
of choice. Soft and
malleable but sturdy
Old- fashioned sculpting tools serve the purpose for carving
Physical model is scanned and digitized using 3D software
Bringing clay to life
Digital modeling starts with a wireframe
And is then layered
with texture and color
amazing drawing skills
23how was this made?
24how was this made?
Future Stock
No More Texting? :-0
How would you
envision the Future?
Sustainably Sourced Fur?
Rocks on Fire?
Walking toolboxes?
The student repurposed everyday materials to create an innovative and sustainable product.
This handmade ceramic vessel blends the natural form of a
stone with the element of fire
“
”
Imagination: Where would we be without it? Would we even exist?
—Tuna Tarugno
“”
Insect Transportation?
While in the Air Force, I was an airplane mechanic. I had to carry an enormous and heavy toolbox with me everywhere across long tarmacs, and huge hangars. I wished the toolbox could sprout legs and walk itself. So that is what I built— a walking toolbox.
25from the sustainability desk
26from the sustainability desk
Claustrophoria: The Ecstasy of Spatial Thinness
Shards of Space
Digital Media Bromance
Five students envisioned future worlds with different cultures and environments.
Blade Runner Living? Closer Than You Think.
Designers not only ‘solve’ problems but frame – and even invent – them. — Linda Pollari, Chair Architecture/Landscape/Interiors Department
“
”
In downtown L.A., a fabric awning stretches across a very long and narrow building to allow rooftop access and a communal space for all residents. Danny Phillips (‘08)
The world can keep changing. The world cannot flatten as long as we exist
to change it. Bring it on, world!
—George Peaslee (‘11)
“”
27from the sustainability desk
28from the sustainability desk
Will Nature Win?
Ban the Bottle, Abolish the Bag
Working with Surfrider Founda-tion, this student campaign raised awareness of single-use plastic consumption, particularly at SoCal beaches.
Nature Will Win
Sustainability is the New Now. Get With The Program
season-agnostic looks; wrapping, tying, and folding; detachable collars and cuffs, educational care labels, and repair kits. Some were inspired by the web-based experiment “Six items, 31 days” in which participants selected six garments to wear for a month, and blogged about their experiences. The average American has 35 T-shirts and 4 pairs of jeans, which are washed four times a week. Convinced that consumer habits are changing, students designed garments that educated consumers about washing, excessive consumption of low-priced clothing, and the value of ‘heirloom” and multipurpose clothing. Youth leads the way, as Hurley’s tag line “microphone for youth” states. Fashion designers are doing it now rather than thinking about what to do next.
Water-Saving Buildings?
Seattle Health Academy
Slices/gaps in building sections facilitate water collection and the flow of natural light. Exhibited at Go Green Expo 2011.
Rise Above Plastics
Trash Chic!
A bold, new classic made from newspaper, chicken wire, glass, foil, pencils and plastic (Communication Arts).
I n this collaboration with Nike and Hurley, students created designs that reduce
waste, use fewer resources, and are more respectful of human life. Their goal was to design for the global context, thinking differently about the fashion cycle of Paris-Milan-London-N.Y. and Tokyo-L.A., in which too much is produced for too many seasons. They focused on personalization, self-expression, consumer participation and input; reversible fabrics and clean stitching for a “second life”; unisex tailoring;
Regeneration Revolution
The new “triple bottom line”
is profit, people, and the planet. If you take
care of people and the planet, profit will follow.
— Rosemary Brantley, Chair, Fashion Design Department
“
”
29from the sustainability desk
30from the sustainability desk
Wood for Good
Ryan Robinson (‘11) This senior thesis showed how elegant furniture can be made from felled trees.
Last spring, Ryan heard about the hundreds of 300-year-old oaks and sycamores that were felled in Arcadia, California, and decided to do something to save them from mulching. He created a plan to use this wood from trees on government land that are cut down for develop-ment as a resource. His plan was to allow artists and designers to transform the valuable hard-wood into furniture and other useful objects. “What I set out to do was create and outline for how this system could work, and to create an example of what can become of the beautiful materi-als. That’s where my furniture comes to play.”
“I focus on human-centereddesign problems, but physical making is a huge part of my pro-cess. My design for a prosthetic leg for underserved economies uses found materials. Because users assemble it themselves and maintain it throughout their lifetime, they aren’t just receiv-ing a new leg, they’re receiving the tools to be self-sufficient.” Interview from Ready Made blog
GlobalAdventures
During spring break, students have the opportunity to travel
to Paris, where they encoun-ter European design, culture,
and sensibilities, while visiting great museums and seeing
outstanding architecture.
Paris in Spring
It’s so valuable to get outside of Otis. Those experiences become some of the greatest memories of school — opportunities to be immersed in the world. —Danny Phillips (‘08)
“
”
I love computer modeling, but nothing helps you understand a form better than actually making
something that you can hold in your hands.
—Ryan Robinson (‘11)
“”
31from the sustainability desk
32travel
Freedom Memorial
Project
International
Spending time immersed in a culture rather than having a
distinct line drawn between us and the people we were trying
to get to know helped me practice some of the skills that I will be
using throughout my career, especially in the realm of
ethnography and research.
Jellyfish Lake, the only place on earth where the jellyfish do not sting
Presenting projects to Palau’s civic leaders
This design uses Palauan carved wooden boards that tell the story of creation and other myths IIn June, a group of Integrated Learning
students spent almost two weeks in the Republic of Palau as the first phase in a three-year initiative to design and build
a memorial for Palauans who have lost their lives serving in the US military since World War II. Visiting faculty members Jeffrey Val-lance (‘81) and May Sun (‘79), and cultural anthropologist Cindi Alvitre, worked with the students to transform creative ideas into a built reality in cooperation and consultation with the people of Palau.
“At the completion of the presentation, President Toribiong had been literally left speechless. Palau had their first Memorial Day celebration the weekend before our ar-rival in Palau, and very recently they also lost another Palauan in combat, so our proposals for the freedom memorial are quite timely and meaningful to the Palauan people.”
Otis women attended the extraordinary first childbirth ceremony for a relative of the Bilung (Queen of Palau). “When we got our first glimpses of the new mother, a hush fell over the group; she was simply stunning; the contrast of the bright yellow skin [she is painted in a mixture of turmeric and ginger] against the blue and red skirt was amazing.”
What is the purpose of a monument? What do the people of Palau want? What materials will hold up to the climate?“
”
”“
The people suggested that our designs incorporate their symbols: a turtle shell (women) and an axe (men).
The Bilung (Queen of Palau) considers the proposals for the monument
Spell it loud, we’re Otis and proud!
33travel
34travel
For Your Ears
4
5
76
8
3
4
1
marketplace
1 Felt Chair Folded layers of colored felt wrapped in an outer quilted shell connected with rope 2 Side Table with glass top and painted steel legs 3 Leather Chair Slitted leather reinforced with bolts 4 Teapot Chrome pot cradled in ceramic structure 5 Electrical Adapter Little helper for all your electronic needs 6 Coffee Table Table can double as a lamp 7 Barbe-Que Stylish grill and accessories 8 Table made with bent plywood 9 Cat Jars Glazes are informed by a variety of cat colors
9
For the Home 2
Students address real-world issues of engineering, production, and market appeal when designing for the home, for play, and for transportation.
toysFor all theOn a Mattel-sponsored trip to China students toured design facilities and factories in Hong Kong and other cities for a rare peek into the vast inner workings of toy production.
in China
35travel
36marketplace
Attack of the Lowrider BikesBeach Cruising will never be the same.
1 & 2 Using CAD Design, metal work, upholstering, painting and finishing and outsourcing specialty fabricating, students designed Lowrider Bikes. (Product Design)
For Play1 Viking Ship and action figures (Toy Design) 2 Skootle plays music as it scoots (Toy
Design) 3 Spin Words Toddlers build vocabulary by spinning the cat’s arms to match symbols and words (Toy Design) 4 Banjouke This hybrid instrument has a banjo construction, but plays like a ukulele (Product Design) 5 Uniforms for 2010 Brazilian World Cup Soccer Team (Fashion) 6 Puzzle Plush Blocks in a variety of shapes for kids to build (Toy) 7 “Jacks” Speaker An omnidirectional speaker system designed after the star-shaped “jack” from the childhood game. (Product Design)
4
5
6
3
2
1
7
4
5 6
8
9
3
21
7
For the Street
3 Outerwear, mentored by Kaufman Franco (Fashion)
4 Sportswear mentored by Hurley (Fashion) 5 Tote Bag (Product Design) 6 Design for City Parkway (A/L/I) 7 Enabled, the three-wheel design allows for easier maneuverability vehicle disabled individuals (Product
Design) 8 Sandals made out of recycled materials (Integrated
Learning) 9 Platform Shoes, Product Design (Product Design)
37marketplace
38marketplace
Students develop sketches, known in fashion as “croquis”
The birth of a fashion collection “In a nature-themed collection for men and women of all ages, incorporate three elements: vintage- inspired textiles; hand-crafted detail; and a recycled or reused item.” —Todd Oldham, Mentor
Under the guidance of the professional design mentors and the Otis fashion design faculty, teams of juniors and seniors work through the design pro-cess—researching, sketching, draping, fitting, and accessorizing the final garment. This year, mentors included Bob Mackie, Cynthia Rowley, Ken Kaufman and Isaac Franco, Cosabella, Juicy Couture, Hurley and NIKE, Sean John, MAX STUDIO.COM, Bleu by Rod Beattie, MAX AZRIA, Diesel, Forever 21, and Old Navy.
Runway Project
1
2
4
3
6
To see them run with it, and do such a beautiful work is very impressive....The excitement of seeing it all come together is like a gift. (At Otis) the students almost do it for real before they hit the market, and they’re feeling their way, but this school is really, really good.—Bob Mackie, Mentor, Fashion Design
“
”
Mentor presents project direction and inspiration boards
Students draw and cut patterns
Students collect material samples, and assemble textures and colors
Students accessorize with hand-crafted trims and details
Working with runway models, students fit their designs,
revise, and fit again
5
39fashion show start to finish
40fashion show start to finish
- 1 Year »
- 3 Months»
- 1 Month»
Develop a body of work or complete a senior thesis project.
Fine-tune production
issues
to Launch
It gives me goose bumps to think about graduating and becoming a working artist/designer
Review final work
with faculty
advisor.
“
”
Getting ready for life’s next chapter
At the year-end exhibition, seniors show their professional
work to future employers, gallery owners, alumni, and
friends and family. This is an occasion to both celebrate
graduation with friends and family, and at the same time,
join the alumni community.
41countdown to launch
42countdown to launch
Create display materials
- 3 Weeks »
- 2 Weeks»
- 4 Days»
- 5 Days»
Plan the presentation
Finishing touches (details, details!)
Assemble art/design costume. Drink more coffee
Last-minute adjustments
Pig Check!
- 3 Days»
- 1 Days»
- 3 Hours »
- 1 Hour»
Paint the walls
of your display
space
Put work up on your
prepared space.
Drink lots of coffee
Meet employers, curators, gallery owners!
Work out unforeseen
snags
After all of the work and effort, you
go public and become part of the art and
design world.
“
”
43countdown to launch
44countdown to launch
A/L /IArchitecture/Landscape/Interiorsdesign>build
A rchitecture/Landscape/Interi-ors seniors design and build a full-scale spatial environment as their final projects. These
installations are sited and built in exte-rior and interior spaces, and students verbally present their work via a Pecha Kucha (rapid-fire presentation, see pecha-kucha.org) at the public year-end exhibition. Interior installations include physical and digital displays of drawings and/or models, which further highlight the students’ cumulative work.
Design and construction are modeled after professional practice, and proceed sequentially with a fixed budget and deadline. Students act as the design and documentation team under the direction of an instructor who is the project architect, and then fabricate and install components as directed by a dif-ferent instructor, who is the contractor. This process mirrors how they will work professionally when they graduate, pro-viding vital real world experience.
An homage to the work of Dan Graham, four steel-framed walls
feature alternating mirrors and open panels to both deconstruct
and multiply space.
A single object (8’ x 8’ x 73’) consisting of 12 modules. Winner of an I.D. Magazine Annual Design Review 2004 Honorable Mention
An array of seven very large objects (approximately 8’ x 8’ x 16’ each) with apertures through which student work is viewed.Detail: Seniors posing with their apertures.
2008
A three-dimensional field of 74 different shapes installed within 15,000 cubic-feet of space.
2007
A continuous, triangulated landscape.
2006
An interior-ized environment of 490 circular “igloo”-like rooms, constructed in three different sizes and hues.
A continuous vertical surface of backlit acrylic panels, plus a “lounge” with hot pink pillows
2005
2004
2003
2009
Landscape Extrusion
A permanent outdoor social space, constructed of steel tubes and wood decking.Detail: Senior, Stella Yoo, welding a steel profile.
2010
Big Bang Barcode
Alternating opaque and backlit panels, were arranged in a continuous line and connected at various oblique angles to re-semble a room-sized barcode.
2011
45design>build
46design>build
AgentsChange
ver the last five years, Integrated Learning (IL) has worked with more
than thirty-five different community partners—researching, investigat-ing, and designing solutions for a range of issues. Students from different majors work as a team, applying their particular skill sets to devise solutions that can bring about change for a site partner. They develop solu-tions to some very serious problems, such as the environment, health care, and educa-tion, by working for a real client and learning from community leaders, and experts, who become part of the team. They will use these skills every day in the workplace—communication, collaboration, research, presentations and critiques, and adapting to different cultures. Their awareness of ecological and social issues leads them to use design as a real change agent.
48
O
Design in theCommunity
IL gives our students very concrete and real skills
to enable them to make a difference right now, in the
workplace and in society.
Activism in the Oil Fields
Working in cooperation with the social and arts collaborative Third Rail, students explored the politics and environmental im-pact of an active two-square mile oil field, in which the oil company planned to drill an additional 600 wells over the next 20 years. Their site-specific installations highlighted the dangers to the hummingbird, grey fox popula-tion, and local residents.
In IL courses, students are introduced to the way the real world works, and where they can really start to define their role—who they are as a creative people in the context of a world that needs a lot of creative responses.
Color, Motion, Magic!
Collaborative mural project with students at La Tijera Elementary School
Planetary Solutions
Collaborating with fifth grad-ers, students designed sixteen projects, including gray water systems, gardening tools, a sustainability manual, and a shade trellis.
Compassionate Response’s Art Therapy Program
Students designed knapsacks for Haitian children, filled them with donated books, and shipped them to survivors of the earthquake. The project “became an inclusive neighborhood model of designing and sharing locally in order to help those in need globally.” Students from Otis and Loyola Village Elementary School, and Westchester Senior Center members, used “yarn” made of hundreds of discarded T-shirts to weave knapsacks.
47in the community
48in the community
Westchester Farmers’ Market: 0.10Coffee Bean: 0.23
LAX Airport: 2.31TBWA\Chiat\Day: 2.60
Mattel, Inc.: 3.06Venice Beach: 4.73
Bergamot Station: 10.22Santa Monica Museum of Art: 10.22
Hammer Museum: 10.34Museum of Jurassic Technology: 10.43
Fowler Museum at UCLA: 10.84Santa Monica Pier: 11.91
The Paley Center for Media: 12.25]Little Ethiopia: 12.27
3rd Street Promenade: 12.55Watts Towers: 12.78Getty Center: 12.94
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA): 13.69The Pacific Coast Highway: 13.65
Craft and Folk Art Museum: 13.85Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust: 13.87
Doughboys (West Hollywood): 14.25Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA): 14.40
MAK Center for Art and Architecture: 14.76
California Science Center: 15.88Getty Villa: 16.66
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County: 16.76Staples Center: 17.19
Clockwork Orange at The Ruby:17.62Karaoke (Korea Town): 17.63
Amoeba Music (Hollywood): 17.84Fashion District: 18.54
Mulholland Drive: 18.56Museum of Neon Art: 18.64
Los Angeles Central Public Library: 19.50MOCA Geffen: 19.57Olvera Street: 19.58
Walt Disney Concert Hall: 20.20Dodger Stadium: 20.50
Chinatown, L.A.:20.82Traxx (inside Union Station): 21.17
Museum of Latin American Art: 24.15Rudy’s Barbershop: 24.16
Capital Records Building: 24.08Hollywood Bowl Museum: 25.00
WHERE TO GO 5 10 15 20 250
LOS ANGELES L.A. is the best place in the world to study art. It’s a dynamic, varied environment, and a place where graduates can stay and become involved in a community. — Meg Cranston, Chair, Fine Arts2 Theme Parks + A Sign + A Beach
A/L/I students
visit the Disney Concert Hall in
downtown L.A.Landscape drawing along the L.A. River
Fashion design student work on display at Neiman Marcus, Beverly Hills
The Long Beach
aquarium is a great place to
drawRiders
ready for their trip to the
Playa del Rey beach clean-up “Movies
That Matter”poolsidenighttime screening
Learning from the masters at L.A. County Museum of Art
Toy Design students at
Disney Animation,
Burbank
Painting in Griffith
Park
=
49los angeles as a laboratory
50los angeles as a laboratory
End-Of-Year Preview
annual internship
fair
preparing students for their careers as creative
professionals
workshopson resume and cover letter writing
portfolio reviews
alumni mixer
online job board
Career Services
Alumni have enriched the entertainment industry since Wilfred Jackson’s (‘28) animations for Disney’s Silly Symphony (1935) and Thomas McKimson’s (‘25) concept for Tweety Bird for Warner Brothers in the 1930s.
Otis in the
Our Hollywood Heroes
Alice in Wonderland Daphne Yap (’04)Concept Designer
Avatar Daphne Yap (’04)Concept Designer andLindsay Thompson (’07)Animator
Bambi Tyrus Wong (’35)Concept Painter
Harold and Kumar go to White Castle Chevon Hicks (’95)Animator Kung Fu Panda
It’s a DIY world. Creativity is
serious business.
74% of Otis grads are employed as creative professionals either before or within three months of graduating, and 82% occupy a position that is closely related to their major.
creativity can’t be outsourced, innovation stays onshore
Raymond Zibach (’90)Production Designer Lord of the Rings, Trilogy Jim Rygiel (’80) (Oscar Winner)Visual Effects Supervisor
Silence of the LambsDawn (Teitelbaum) Baillie (’86)Poster Designer
The Ten CommandmentsWilliam Major (’52)Production Illustrator
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobbie Susan Matheson (’92)Costume Designer The Sound of Music Dorothy Jeakins (’36)Costume Designer
BizWhat are a few
things that were “born” in
L.A.?
The modern bathing suitThe fortune cookieThe B-2 “stealth” bomber (a flying wing)The Space ShuttleThe InternetThe Mars RoversThe Mazda MiataTalking moviesBarbieThe first commercially successful TV station (now KTLA, Channel 5)Valet parkingTooth-whitening toothpasteThe concept of modern make-up (Max Factor’s pancake make-up)Celebrity PRThe skateboard (Venice)The Cobb saladThe electric guitarAnd so much more!
2009–2014 Job Growth
Creative Economy
Other Sectors
Between 2009 and 2014, Creative Economy jobs are projected to grow 6.7% faster than jobs in other sectors.
The Creative Economy is the second largest business sector in Southern California, generating $127 billion in sales.
An art and design education
pays off!
51it’s a bright future
52hollywood heroes
Right Out of School
Many students find jobs before graduating, and within three months of graduation, more than 74% are employed.
Deborah Sabet (‘05) Fashion Design
Designed the suit worn by Glee star Darren Criss at the 2011 Grammy Awards.
Kelly Akashi (‘06)Fine Arts
Did graduate studies in Germany at the prestigious Stadelschule, Frankfurt, and is now in L.A. pursuing her photography career. “I now have a clear and confident understanding of what I want from life and why make art.”
Graduate Study Abroad
Designing for Stars
SeedBombs
To Infinity and Beyond!
Scott Derman (’05) Toy Design Derman collected toys and action figures while he was growing up, and learned about Otis from his AP art teacher. While at Otis, he interned at Art Asylum in New York, and at Lego in Denmark. He made lifelong friends at Lego, and was offered a job after graduation, but Scott wanted to live and work in L.A. In his senior year he interned for Mattel’s Games division, and began working there after graduation. Derman currently designs toys based on movie licenses for Mattel’s Entertainment Brands. Two recent projects are Green Lantern and the new Batman movie, Dark Knight Rises. Recently, he traveled to London where Dark Knight Rises was being filmed, to see the sets
Daniel Phillips (‘08) Architecture/Landscape/Interiors, and Kim Karlsrud (‘07) Product Design
Phillips and Karlsrud met when they were students, and started their Greenaid project, Guerilla Gardening, while they were still studying at Otis. “Johnny Appleseeds for the 21st Century” is how Fast Company described their seed bomb project, a grassroots campaign intended to raise public awareness as well as reveal and remedy issues of spatial inequity. Across Los Angeles are repur-posed gumball machines that dispense seed bombs, a mixture of clay, compost, and seeds, for 25 cents. Residents toss them into derelict urban spaces such as vacant lots and median strips to create instant wild-flower gardens.
Danny and Kim returned to Otis to teach “Design for Social Impact,” a course in which students sourced local materials and industrial scraps, conducted lifecycle
analyses, and creatively employed the ethics and aesthetics of “doing more with less.” Site partners included TOMS Shoes and the Boys and Girls Club in East L.A. Students used reclaimed materials from the garment district or bike shop inner tubes, and transformed them function-ally and aesthetically.
and meet the filmmakers. As he explains, “When you work with the filmmakers, you get to see their inspiration.” When he was twelve, Derman had a Buzz Lightyear but as lead designer for Toy Story 3, he cre-ated a new version. “The one I made was a little cooler. I had 14 years to get this right.”
Charged with energy, experience, skill, and entrepreneurial spirit, Otis alumni are well prepared to enter the world as creative professionals.
“In the 20th century, designers were mainly con-cerned with form and function. Today designers are not only dealing with objects but also with systems and tools. Oftentimes, systems and tools can be intangible, but designers can use them to produce very real and useful solutions.” — Daniel Phillips
It got easier when I got out of school. When you’re in school working on projects, you’re not part of a team. You have to do it all. Working with a team makes it easier, more fun. It only helps you be a better designer when you know what each team member does.—Scott Derman
Organic Style
Kirk von Heifner (‘06)Fashion Design
Von Heifner moved to New York after graduating to work for John Varvatos. After several years, he moved back to Manhattan Beach to be Design Director for the eco-conscious brand Vicarious by Nature. Combining fashion-forward design for men and women with a commitment to environmental issues, the company uses organic raw materials and methods. Their proactive mission includes educa-tional initiatives with local and global communities, and partnerships with organizations such as Tree People and the Ocean Conservation Society.
“From the time you wake to the time you go to sleep, it’s important to eat organic, conserve, recycle, reduce plastic, and wear organic. It becomes your lifestyle. We are just trying to provide cool clothing for the organic sec-tor and use any influence we might have to persuade our followers to join us during beach clean ups or planting a few trees.” —Kirk Von Heifner
53life after otis
54life after otis
Casey Hunt (‘06), Greg Gunn (‘06), and Reza Rasoli (’06), Digital Media Three Legged Legs: Commercial Directors
Hunt, Gunn and Rasoli met at Otis where they started their business. Named by L.A. Business Journal as one of “20 in Their Twen-ties,” they have crafted animations, visual effects, and narratives for creative agencies and well-known brands, bringing their style to advertising.
Left: Scenes from Virgin Atlantic and Method “We’re all in This Together” Below: Still from Wrigley’s “Evolution” commercial.
Ben Go (‘00) and Dennis Go (‘01) Digital Media Creative Directors, Brand New School L.A. and N.Y.
One in N.Y. and one in L.A., brothers Dennis and Ben Go are the creative visionaries for Brand New School. The firm’s commercial directors, designers, animators and illustrators use an idiosyncratic visual style and witty conceptual approach in creating work for MTV, Fox Fuel, VH1, and Cartoon Network, as well as Apple, Nike, Pepsi, and Jeep.
Top: Animation for Honda CRV AdAbove: Animation for OfficeMax Ad
Creative Warriors
Moving Up the Ladder
Pied Piper for Pixar
Above: On a recent visit to Otis, Thomson gave a workshop on character development and the psychol-ogy of fear, beginning by having them sketch aliens, bugs, and dark closets.
Derek Thompson (‘94)
Since the age of five, Thompson has been obsessed with draw-ing dinosaurs and monsters. He first learned to tell stories in his major, Illustration. Many years later, as storyboardist for Pixar’s WALL-E, he and his team turned out more than 157,00 drawings. His early career included stints as a freelancer at Electronic Arts, Dark Horse Comics, and Maverick Studios before he joined Industrial Light and Magic, and then Pixar in 2005.
“The storyboard artist has to wear a lot of hats, thinking like a director, actor, editor, cinematog-rapher, production designer, art director, and more. Then you have to be able to draw your ideas to communicate them.” —Derek Thomson
Tofer Chin (‘02)
After producing several site-specific works on the streets in Spain, Chin continued the public art projects he had started at Otis in São Paolo, Brazil. Inspired by the murals done by Os Gemeos, he designed murals throughout the city. He also created an instal-lation for Rio’s Museum of Image and Sound in 2010. More recently, in June 2011, Chin returned to Rio to install Fourteen Black, acrylic and wood installations throughout the Parque Lage gardens, which have been de-scribed as “stalagmites—living and breathing souls, ghosts, spirits, voids, shadows.”
Gajin Fujita (‘97)Fine Arts
Born in 1972 to Japanese parents, Fujita honed his unique style as a graffiti artist on the streets of East Los Angeles, and later displayed his work on the walls of cultural institu-tions such as L.A. Louver gallery, LACMA, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art (Kansas City), and several internation-al venues in Switzerland, Greece, and Belgium.
Fujita blends Eastern techniques (ukiyo-e, animé, split screens), and elements (geishas, warriors, demons), with Western, urban imagery (Latino graffiti, tattoo art, and pop culture imagery) to create work that surfaces the cultural and class distinctions of urban L.A.
Above: Getting Harey, 2011 white gold and gold leaf, acrylic, spray paint and paint-marker, and mean streak on two wood panels 48 x 32 in. (121.9 x 81.3 cm) Courtesy of L.A. Louver, Venice, CA
Ad Men
“The afternoon after I graduated from Otis, I booked a flight to Barcelona. This journey would transform my life forever. Upon arrival, I was greeted by David Quiles Guillo, who had published my work in his magazine, ROJO.” —Tofer Chin
I kind of look at myself as a hip-hopper, the way a DJ would sample all sorts of great music from the past—sounds and beats. I’m just doing it with visuals. —Gajin Fujita
Through a collective vision, 3LL seeks to banish clichéd ideas with an unmerciful vengeance: sometimes scary, often exciting, always in the greater service of the project. While their ideas are edgy and often fiercely different, they’re pretty good guys to work with –3LL Website
“
”“
”
55life after otis
56life after otis
Shoe Queen
Cynthia Vincent (‘88) Fashion Design
Vincent received Otis’s Silver Thimble Award from Ann Cole upon graduation. Early in her career, she worked at Jane Ong & Co., London, where she rose to become head designer. She launched her first company in L.A. in 1993, and, ten years later, introduced Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent. Celebrities such as Miley Cyrus, Kate Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, and Ashley Tisdale are seen in her silk crepe de chine slips, velvet boudoir jackets, and luxurious sweaters.
Amy McFarland (’85) Communication Design Associate Director, Head of Graphic Design, Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Amy McFarland decided to major in graphic design after receiving her first “C” ever as a student in a communication design class. That “C” inspired her to figure out what graphic design was all about. Two years after graduation, Amy began her design career at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art after showing her portfolio to an Otis faculty member who headed the museum’s graphic design department. Fourteen years later, as Associate Director, Head of Graphic Design, she oversees nine designers who create 800–1,000 projects per year for thirty curators and the museum’s development and mark-ing teams—everything from print to gallery labels to store merchandise and web banners. McFarland’s department is currently working on designs for eighteen exhibitions including Ellsworth Kelly, Glenn Ligon, and the Chicano performance and conceptual art group Asco, which includes McFarland’s classmate, Patssi Valdez.
Muse(eum) WorkTim Burtonat the entrance to the LACMA exhibition, designed by McFarland and her team
Running the Show
The Interventionist
“
I always knew that I wanted to go into fashion, as I told my mom when I was
six. Otis was great for me. I did the high school summer program. I was rebellious,
and wanted to go more towards the creative end. Otis definitely prepared
me for the real world of fashion. At my first job in London, there were a lot of
incredibly talented designers, but when it came to knowing the calendar and
how to put garments together, and their functionality and wearability, I realized
how much I had learned.—Cynthia Vincent
“
”
“I’ve enjoyed drawing and making art since I was a kid but I didn’t know what it meant to be an artist, what it entailed, or how one sustains oneself. My family didn’t either, but as long as I wasn’t getting into any trouble they were okay. To get them to understand, I started incorporating them into my practice and into the work...It’s a push-pull relationship. Same with friends. It becomes like a community.”—Ruben Ochoa
”
Ruben Ochoa (‘97) Fine Arts
Ochoa works in an East L.A. studio, housed in a nursery that’s been vacant for years, next to a Mexican restaurant. He makes art that ques-tions boundaries and intersections, echoing the Chicano experience of his community. One of his first projects was converting his family’s tortilla delivery truck into a mobile art gallery. Later, in a large-scale sculpture installation, he transformed a section of L.A. freeway by extracting a section of the wall and replacing it with a photo-realistic mural of the landscape that might be hidden behind it.
Ochoa learned by trial and error how to build things. “I tell people I went to art school to be a construction worker,” he jokes. Several years later, after winning a Guggenheim Fellowship and exhibiting at the Whitney Biennial and Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, he continues to explore the tension among social class, urban architecture, and nature, examin-ing cultural politics through conceptual art.
57life after otis
58life after otis
Where our students come from Where our graduates go
ArgentinaBrazilCanadaChina, People’s Republic of DenmarkDominican RepublicEstoniaGuatemalaHong KongIndonesiaItalyJapanKazakhstanKenyaMalaysiaMexicoNepalNigeriaNorwayPoland
AustriaAustraliaBangladeshBelgiumBrazilCambodiaCanadaColombiaCroatiaDenmarkDohaDubaiFijiFranceGermanyHong KongIcelandIndonesiaIsraelItaly
RussiaSingaporeSouth KoreaSpainTaiwanThailandTurkeyTurkmenistanUgandaUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomVenezuelaVietnamZimbabwe
JapanLondonMacauMalaysiaMexicoNetherlandsNew ZealandNorwayPeruPhilippinesSingaporeSouth KoreaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandTaiwanThailandTurkeyVenezuela
Interview with an Admissions Counselor
Do you offer career counseling?Career Services assists students and alumni in career planning and devel-opment. Workshops and individual counseling are available for internships, industry contacts, résumé preparation, interview skills, and career mapping. The on-line career center is another valuable tool.
What about housing?Many first-year students live in Otis’s two-bedroom apart-ments in new complexes around the corner from the main campus. This residential complex offers programming such as seminars, work-shops, events, and guidance from the Residence Life staff. All units have four residents (two per room). Amenities include a pool, outdoor bar-beques, a fitness center, and a resident lounge. Roommate assignments are made by Residence Life staff based on a roommate questionnaire. See otis.edu/housing for details and photographs.
LOS ANGELES, CA
Where in the World?
Give a call!—Contact the Admissions Office. We would be happy to meet with you and give you a tour.
“”
How do you apply?It’s as simple as going to our Website —otis.edu/apply, where you will find our online application and detailed instructions.
What do you look for?We look at both academic and artistic preparation. We will review your grades and classes from the schools you have attended, before, SAT or ACT scores (if you are applying in your senior year of high school), an essay, and a portfolio of your original artwork. Additional details are at otis.edu/admissions
How big are classes?Otis has approximately 1,100 BFA students. You will never find a “big” class with a hundred (or even 40 or 50) students. Studio sections are generally taught in groups of 20 or fewer, and the same is true for Liberal Arts and Sciences courses.
Is financial aid available?Yes! If you are a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident, after you are admitted, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Our Financial Aid Office will put together an offer for you. Otis will award $10.4 million in scholarship funds this year. To learn more, contact [email protected] or (310) 665-6880.
What if I am an international student?Admitted international students are automatically considered for scholarships. These awards are based on academic and artistic merit. The amounts vary but even the most substantial award will not cover all, or even most of the cost, so you will need access to other resources.
Do I have to take “GE” classes?You will graduate from Otis with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree. About two-thirds of your courses will be in your major, and the re-maining one-third are Liberal Arts and Sciences courses.
What is Foundation?Some schools ask you to select your major upon enrollment, even if you are coming directly from high school. At Otis, if you enroll directly after high school or if you have taken very few art and design courses at the college level, you are required to complete our Foundation program prior to enrolling in your major. In your “first year,” you develop a strong “visual vo-cabulary” through a common set of studio courses.
admissionsoffice800 527 OTIS (6847)[email protected]
apply onlineotis.edu/apply
housingotis.edu/housing
financial aidTo learn more, contact [email protected]
or (310) 665-6880.
contact us
59 where in the world
60faqs
5 Steps to a Bright FutureApplying to college can seem intimidating. Our counselors make it easy. Visit. Call. E-mail. We are here to help you through this process.
Look at our website. Visit the campus. See us at National Portfolio Day (otis.edu/events). Our counselors can answer all of your questions. We want to be your first choice.
otis.edu/apply The Priority date is February 15. Be first in line for scholarships, housing, and all the other important stuff. The earlier you apply, the more we can help you! Put in a valid e-mail address that you check. We will
contact you using that address.
May 1 is the day to
tell us you will attend.
It’s all about fit and we hope you
choose Otis!
Using the link we provide, upload your essay and portfolio.
Don’t forget to send us transcripts and test
scores. You will receive a list of items that you
need to submit once you apply.
animation draftingdrawings illustrationmixed mediamotion-based projects* painting
Sophomore Level Approach A
Show work that mirrors Otis’s Foundation year, including life drawing, observational drawing, and 2-D and 3-D design. Also include personal work that expresses your interests and creativity. It does not have to include work from the major you wish to study, but rather the core skills of that discipline. For example, if you want to study Toy Design, your portfolio does not need to include toys, but should include examples of drawing and three dimensional design.
Second Semester Sophomore (Spring only) &Junior Level (Fall only)
Highlight your skills in your disci-pline, and show that you are ready to succeed at junior year-level. Select work that shows your advanced professional skills and readiness for internships. For example, a student applying to be a junior in Graphic Design should show advanced work in graphic design.
Note: There are no transfer students for second semester or junior level in fashion design.
Sophomore Level Approach B
Submit work that shows advanced skills in your intended major. For example, students applying for the Architecture/Landscape/Interiors major may submit a portfolio that consists of drafting, rendering, and CAD projects, rather than life drawing and 2-D design. Remember, the portfolio must dem-onstrate that you have the skills to be successful at the sophomore level.
Transfer Students
Transfer Students
2
3
10–20 Examples of Artwork
10–20 Examples of Artwork
“”
Once you apply, we’ll send you a link to submit your portfolio online.
1Check us out
2Apply
3Turn in your stuff
Our financial aid office will help you put together a package of grants, scholarships, loans, and/or work-study to bridge the gap between your resources and the cost of tuition and fees. Be sure to apply for financial aid at www.fafsa.ed.gov (U.S. citizens and permanent residents).
This year, Otis will award $10.4 million in scholarship funds.
4Paying for College
5Choose your school
photographysculpturethree-dimensional designtwo-dimensional designvideo*
* maximum two-minute excerpt
Select your best work to show off your technical skills and your creativity!
How Should I Prepare My Portfolio?
1st yearFoundation Level
1 10–20 Examples of your best and most recent work
Artwork can be of any medium, including
61how to apply
62how to apply
L.A.’s first independent professional school of art
Affiliations: Private, nonprofit institution accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Member, Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD).
Advertising Design, Architecture/Landscape/Interiors, Digital Media, Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, Product Design, Painting, Photography, Sculpture/New Genres, and Toy Design
Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Public Practice, and Writing
All 314 faculty members are practicing
professionals in their fields.
Established in 1918 by the Los Angeles Times founder, Harrison Gray Otis.
Otis is among the most culturally diverse colleges of art and design in the U.S.
Undergraduate Majors
(BFA)
Graduate Majors
(MFA)
Otis at a Glance
of students from outside California
1,20016%
International Students
8:1Student/Faculty
Ratio
students come from
26 countries &
39 states
2,500 Degree Students Continuing Education
Students
Otis is a Nonprofit Institution