CCS Mini Brochure 2023

15 water bottles are recycled for every one pair of glasses designed by CCS alumnus Evan Sparrow at Genusee Eyewear

21 international outdoor companies employ CCS alumni in creative positions

The proof is in the numbers

When someone tells you they’re making it happen –doing good work, finishing first or fastest or best –don’t just take their word for it. Do some digging. Look at the stats

Two alumni have been included in the prestigious Whitney Biennial — Michael E. Smith and Kevin Beasley

88% Job placement rate (undergraduate)

Our alumni are employed by companies, galleries, museums and studios where you want to work, and they know the quality of a CCS education

54 rankings labeling CCS as one of the top art and design schools in the nation including Money’s “One of America’s Best Colleges”

More than 2.57 million artists and designers are active in the workforce nationally

Source: Americans for the Arts National Arts Administration Policy Publications 2020 Arts Index

$28,411

The average scholarship/grant package (money from all sources that is not repaid) projected for incoming students in 2023/2024

$28M CCS institutional funding in scholarships and grants to help ease the burden of tuition, and to recognize and recruit top creative talent

Two alumni are responsible for uniforms and shoes worn during the Rio Summer Olympics

Astin Davis ‘13, Advertising Design

Guercy Eugene ‘13, Product Design

Three alumni are working in high-profile jobs for LEGO

Megan Shellenbarger ‘09, Communication Design

Leah Weston Kaae ‘88, Studio Art & Craft

Matt Betteker ‘09, Product Design

World-class facilities allow you to be the best and create the best to fulfill your creative potential

If you’ve played it, a CCS alumni has had a hand in designing it — our alumni design some of the industry’s top video games

Artists do better in the professional world — 88% are satisfied with their current work and the number of artists in the workforce has increased by 6% over the last decade

Source: snaap.indiana.edu and nea.gov

CCS enrolls more than 1,400 students from 36 states and 30 countries and territories

Advertising Design

Career Choices

Account Executive

Art Director

Copywriter

Creative Director

Digital Ad Strategist

Digital Content Manager

Digital Designer

Graphic Designer

Mobile Media Designer

Motion Graphic Designer Producer

Social Content Manager

Social Copywriter

Social Media Graphic Designer

Social Media Manager

TV & Radio Producer

Fact

Alumni have had ads featured during the Super Bowl, Oscars and Olympics

20 Awards — including Best of Show — were awarded to students by the American Advertising Federation

Detroit is the fourth largest advertising market in the U.S., with agencies hiring hundreds of our alumni

Real-world Students are taking classes taught by industry professionals

Artwork by Samantha Talanges and Kayla Matthews ’25, Advertising Design (top); Gina Munson, Julia Honto and Carolyn Clawson ’23, Advertising Design (middle); Cole Guidry and Cheyenne Janik ’23, Advertising Design (bottom)

BFA Entertainment Arts Animation, Concept Design, Game Design STEM-designated program

Career Choices

3D Character Artist

3D Modeler Animator

CG Artist

Concept Artist Environment Artist

FX Artist

Game Artist/Designer/ Developer

Level Designer Lighting Artist

Motion Graphics Artist

Rigger

Stop-Motion Animator

Storyboard Artist

Two Batmobiles

There are only six Batmobiles in the history of film — which means CCS alumni have designed one third of them

Hi-tech

CCS is at the forefront of industry-level technology, including Rokoko suits and full VR/AR labs

24 movies animated by alumnus Dave Hardin at Disney

Our alumni work on top games, including Metroid Dread, Forza, World of Warcraft, The Sims 3 and Call of Duty

Our alumni create concept designs, CGI, storyboards, production designs and more to bring iconic characters to life for films in the comic universe

Artwork by Alaina Smith ’23, Entertainment Arts

Success

Ranked “Most Successful School” by Car Design News

Graduates secure employment at leading companies across the globe

Two students entered the 5th BRP Inc. International Design Competition — and took first and second place

25 years

Faculty bring more than 25 years of global industry experience from Tokyo, Milan, Los Angeles and Detroit

by Cedric Joseph ’21, Transportation Design (top); Yen Tsai ’21, Transportation Design (bottom)

Design, Fashion Design BFA Fashion Design

Fashion Accessories

Career Choices

Accessories Designer

Apparel Designer Entrepreneur

Fashion Designer

Fashion Retail Professional

Footwear Designer

Handbag Designer

Leather Goods Designer

Merchandiser Patternmaker

Production Developer

Production Manager

Stylist Trend Analyst

Our program was developed in collaboration with globally recognized fashion brands that offer unparalleled opportunities to students for real-world experience and access to industry experts

Annual Fashion Symposium hosts international designers to recruit students

Fully equipped Fashion Design department, boasting more than 6,000 sq. ft. of space, including high-end machines for apparel, footwear and accessories, and a warehouse of various materials, including textiles, leather, canvas, hardware, zippers and more

Students partnered with luxury brand Stuart Weitzman to design their vision for a future collection

Students travel internationally to fashion hot spots to learn from industry experts – Paris, London, New York, Milan

Artwork by Mehran Musta, Graduate Studies

Color & Materials Design

Film

Career Choices

Art Director

Cinematographer

Colorist

Compositor

Editor

Film Producer

Foley Artist

Gaffer

Production Assistant

Screenwriter

Script Supervisor

Set Designer

Sound Designer

Storyboard Artist

VFX Artist

Alumnus Frank Synowicz created VFX for Lady Gaga’s surrealist music video, “911”

Film students take part and win awards at local and international film festivals

Alumna Leah McGrail is the lead VFX editor for shows on Hulu, ABC and Netflix

Fact!

Industry-standard software, hardware and equipment, including green screen rooms, editing suites and sound-mixing rooms

Graduates film anything from music videos to feature films

Artwork by Jack Chisik ’24, Film

Fine Art, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, Ceramics, Fiber & Textiles, Glass, Metalsmithing & Jewelry

BFA Studio Art & Craft

Career Choices

Art Conservationist

Art Educator

Artist in Residence

Art Therapist

Ceramic Artist

Color & Trim Designer

Community Artist

Costume Designer

Curator

Furniture Designer

Gallery Owner or Director

Jewelry Designer

Metalsmith

Printmaker

Sculptor

Set Designer

Studio Artist

Textile Designer

Graduates’ works have been exhibited at the Guggenheim, MoMA and worldwide

24-hour access to studios for juniors and seniors, allowing for the selfdirected development of a signature body of work

State-of-the-art foundry — includes iron, bronze and aluminum pours

Our alumni land successful jobs doing what they love and where you might not expect

Alumnus Jeremy Levitt designs custom furniture and lighting in awardwinning interiors across the country

Artwork by Neo Hopkins ’25, Studio Art & Craft

Career Choices

App Designer

Branding/Identity Designer

Creative Director

Design Director

Design Strategist

Digital Content Manager

Digital Designer

Exhibit Designer

Graphic Designer

Interaction Designer

Motion Graphic Designer

Multimedia Graphic Designer

Social Media Digital Designer

UX/UI Designer

Web Designer

Alumni work in top graphic, motion and interaction design studios all over the world

Named one of the top graphic design schools by Graphic Design USA

Students have access to VR, touch screens, projection mapping, Makey Makey, Arduino and more in a specialized interaction lab

Alumna Kelli Miller has designed motion graphics for shows on HBO, Netflix, CBS, MTV, Vice and Amazon Prime

Look around

Alumni are responsible for designing the brands you see and use every day

Artwork by Samantha Mantua ’24, Communication Design

Illustration, Visual Development BFA

Career Choices

Advertising Illustrator

Character Artist

Children’s Book Illustrator

Comic Book Artist

Conceptual Illustrator for Video Games/Film

Editorial Illustrator

Entertainment Designer

Fashion Illustrator

Graphic Novel Illustrator

Merchandising Illustrator

Motion Illustrator/Designer

Multimedia Designer

Storyboard Artist

Textile Pattern Illustrator

Visual Development Illustrator

Visual development alumni work for leading entertainment companies including, Disney, Sony, Nickelodeon, Dreamworks and more

Alumnus Michael Maher, Jr., created storyboards for the Netflix series Stranger Things

Alumnus Ryan Savas brings stories to life for Sony Pictures Animation

Alumnus Gary Brook illustrated all of the packaging for Star Wars toys and collectibles

One of only five visual artists to receive the prestigious Hodder Fellowship at Princeton University — Alumnus Mario Moore

Artwork by Alison Slackta ’24, Illustration

Interdisciplinary Art + Design

Career Choices

Art or Design Consultant

Arts Advocate

Color & Materials Expert

Costume Designer

Exhibition/Experiential Designer

Motion/Interaction Designer

Multimedia Studio Artist

Muralist

Performer/Performance Artist

Physical/Digital

Special Effects Artist

Playground or Community Designer

Set or Stage Designer

Sustainability Director

UX/UI Designer

Sustainability is incorporated in most courses with in-depth consideration embedded in major studio courses

The flexible curriculum allows you to integrate multiple minors

Hi-tech

Explore theory and practice outside of just one major

Full virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) labs

Strategic mentoring and collaboration will prepare students for the real world

Interior Design, Exhibit Design

Career Choices

Color & Materials Designer

Color & Trim Designer

Commercial Interior Designer

Corporate Interior Designer

Display Designer

Exhibit Designer

Facilities Design Manager

Furniture Designer

Hospitality Interior Designer

Interior Designer

Lighting Designer

Residential Designer

Retail Interior Designer

Space Planner

Alumni work internationally in color and trim, commercial and residential design, exhibit design, and retail and hospitality design

ARStudents use augmented reality to design and walk through spaces

Three CCS alumni took top honors at some of the most prestigious awards in architecture for their commercial and hospitality designs

30K+

Samples of physical materials available to students to use in their projects from our Color & Materials Library

Alumna Michelle Killen designs top-of-the-line interiors for Cadillac

Career Choices

Architectural Photographer

Art/Photography Educator

Commercial Photographer

Digital Retoucher

Event Photographer

Fashion Photographer

Fine Art Photographer

Freelance Photographer

Nature Photographer

Photojournalist

Portrait Photographer

Sports Photographer

Studio Photographer

Videographer

Named One of the Best Photography degree programs by Intelligent.com

Sports – Alumnus

Greg Shamus has covered some of the most elite athletes, teams and events, including the Olympics

Fashion – Alumna

Jenny Risher’s photos have been published in The New York Times, Vanity Fair and Redbook

Free Students can check out the most up-to-date lighting kits, cameras and studios on campus

Entertainment – Alumnus Evan Butka shoots for the popular Emmy Award winning show Euphoria on HBO

Artwork by Brendan Brooks ’23, Photography

Product Design, Industrial Design

Career Choices

3D Modeler

Accessories Designer

Athletic Equipment Designer

Color & Materials Designer

Consumer Electronics Designer

Exhibit Designer

Footwear Designer

Furniture Designer

Independent Design Consultant

Market Researcher

Medical Equipment Designer

Product Designer Researcher

Trend Forecaster

UX/UI Designer

Product Design Junior

Camila Lerena won gold in the Architecture and Design Collection Awards (ADC)

Students’ designs come to life in our Rapid Prototyping Studio’s 3D printers, five-axis mills and laser cutters

Graduates design products for leading outdoor lifestyle brands

Alumna Cheresse

Thornhill is the Design Director at Adidas S.E.E.D. school, a mentorship program that creates new pathways in the footwear industry for women and people of color

Alumnus Ashley Comeaux, VP of product design for the sustainable footwear company, Allbirds, just revealed its M0.0NSHOT, the world’s first net-zero carbon shoe

S.E.E.D. Photo courtesy of Leeor Wild; artwork

by Eli Lewis ’23, Product Design

Art Education Teacher Certification Program

Career Choices

K-12 Art Teacher

Community Arts Gallery

Director

Community Arts Program

Director Museum Educator

Hands-on experience at our on-site art- and design-based charter school, University Prep Art & Design, and schools in the Metro Detroit area

Streamlined certification

Prepare for the Michigan Visual Arts LQ certification, recognized across the U.S. and Canada, while completing your BFA

Two times

A unique, studio-based Visual Arts Teacher Certification program that combines an internationally recognized BFA degree with teacher preparation courses

Alumna Nina Weis won the prestigious Outstanding Arts Educator of the Year Award in 2017 and 2018

Precollege Programs

Whether you’re interested in earning college credit prior to entering college or simply taking a class to refresh or learn a new skill, our Precollege and Continuing Studies department has a program dedicated to your success.

Dual Enrollment

Online and in-person options to earn college credit at CCS while in high school. Courses available in most majors.

Precollege Summer Experience

Three-week program where you choose a major, earn three college credits, create work for your portfolio, and meet awesome people like faculty, professional designers and artists, and creatives from around the country (and world). Residential or commuter options available.

Precollege Courses

Non-credit courses available in workshop or weekly format, online or in person, where you can learn new skills and techniques, explore something new and create work for your portfolio.

Scan to check out Precollege programs and scholarship opportunities:

We created Precollege programs to help you prepare for a college like CCS, so you can excel as an artist or designer.

Let’s Talk About You

CCS faculty, counselors and the entire College community works hard to provide you with what you need to be successful. Our support services and campus activities make CCS a fun, dynamic place to be.

Services Available to Students

30+ Student Organizations and Clubs

Academic Advising

Audio Visual Center — where students can check out lighting equipment, cameras and studio space

Career Development Team — connecting students with career counselors and employers

Center for Tutoring and Writing

Food Bank

Imaging Center

Global Engagement Office

Office of Partnerships — connecting companies and organizations to our students and classrooms

On-campus Employment Opportunities

On-campus Nurse

Peer Tutors

Personal Counseling Services

Student Activities Board

Student Advocate

Student Government

U245 Student Gallery

Wellness Center

Career Development and Experiential Learning

It’s important that we provide our students with a holistic, well-rounded experience. Through our experiential learning initiatives, our students receive real-world, handson career opportunities before they graduate.

These opportunities come in many forms:

Career events throughout the year, including on-campus recruiting, panels and roundtable discussions, professional portfolio reviews and company information sessions

Career resources, including job search sites, grant information, competitions, fellowships, copyright information, gallery listings, professional organizations, self-promotion, freelance jobs and more

Educational partnerships with external stakeholders like industry and/or community such as sponsored projects and service learning projects

Entrepreneurship courses

Global experiences such as study abroad and exchange programs

Research such as MFA thesis or BFA capstone projects Internships, residencies and fellowships

Professional topic series, including workshops from Resume 101, Interview Skills, Business Etiquette and everything in between

2017—2022

84% of CCS alumni are working in a field related to their major

271 companies engaged* with CCS to recruit students in the 2022/2023 academic school year, 61+ were international companies

*Includes educational partnerships, industry day visits, portfolio reviews, internships.

178+ sponsored research projects (students working directly with industry artists and designers) took place between

CCS offers study abroad opportunities for all

students

321 student portfolio reviews were provided by industry partners in 2022/2023

Sponsored Research Projects

Major corporations from across the country request the chance to work with CCS students on what we call sponsored research projects.

These projects are designed to solve a particular realworld problem the corporation might be challenged with. These industry experts look to CCS students for their creativity and knowledge on how to solve these problems and work directly with the students in a studio setting.

Here are just a few:

3M

Carhartt, Inc.

Consumers Energy

Detroit Grand Prix

Ford Motor Company

Forgotten Harvest

General Motors

Kohler Company

Moosejaw

Stuart Weitzman

Toyota

Unreal Engine

Whirlpool Corporation

Zoox

Real-World Experiences

Study abroad experiences and faculty-led programs with international destinations support your learning objectives and broaden your perspective.

Internships at local, national or even international companies give students an opportunity to work alongside professionals, gain confidence in their abilities and build relationships with key people in their industry.

100+ years of industry connections that CCS has which ensures the work students create is in line with industry needs and prepares them for their careers

Career Development

CCS is dedicated to exposing students and alumni to professional development opportunities and resources that will aid you in identifying and obtaining your personal career goals.

We share information about career paths open to artists and designers, schedule on-campus recruitment events, provide one-on-one career coaching sessions, and host workshops to support the development of application materials such as resumes, cover letters, portfolios, reels and much more.

A Dynamic Community of Artists and Visionaries

CCS invites prominent fine arts and design professionals to speak at our distinct lecture series:

Alumni Lecture Series

Creative Boost Series

Toyota Lecture on Design Series

Woodward Lecture Series

The U245 Student Gallery and Hub Gallery feature student work and student-curated programs.

CCS students also have free access to the Detroit Institute of Arts, one of the largest art museums in the nation, and also our next-door neighbor.

103 for-credit internships that students secured for the 2022/2023 academic year

3K+ works of art are on display each year at CCS’s Student Exhibition

612 students participated in Industry Day events

82%

of Americans believe arts and culture are important to local businesses and the economy

Median pay by occupation

3D Modelers: $71,640

Art Directors: $97,270

Automotive Designers: $71,640

Cinematographers: $76,400

Color & Materials Designers: $63,750

Communication Designers: $97,270

Concept Artists: $52,340

Content Creators: $133,460

Craft & Fine Artists: $52,340

Fashion Designers: $75,810

Footwear Designers: $75,810

Game Designers: $77,700

Industrial Designers: $71,640

Interior Designers: $57,060

Multimedia Artists & Animators: $77,700

Pattern Designers: $75,810

Photojournalists: $41,280

Production Managers: $108,790

Sound Designers: $53,520

Storyboard Artist: $52,340

Toy Designers: $71,640

UX Designers: $77,200

VFX Artists: $77,700

Vis Dev Illustrators: $52,340

Students take many paths after graduation:

Artist residencies

Entrepreneurship — launch a business Fellowships

Positions within organizations and corporations

Top graduate programs

61K

The number of archivists, curators and museum techs. More people are employed in the visual arts than in all of the performing arts and sports industries combined.

Source: Americans for the Arts — Arts & Economic Prosperity 5

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

The College for Creative Studies lives inside Detroit’s Midtown area.

You’ll find yourself just steps away from iconic places like the Motown Museum, the Detroit Film Theatre and the Detroit Institute of Arts — one of the country’s largest museums. We’re surrounded by artisanal coffee shops, design boutiques, art galleries, live music venues that belt out indie, garage, EDM, hip-hop, folk, jazz and blues, and so much more.

CCS boasts an impressive and longstanding safety record. Your safety is one of our greatest priorities, and we take pride in being considered one of the safest college campuses in Michigan.

Safety & Security

24/7 campus security patrols

24/7 shuttle service between campus locations and off-site campus housing

Access cards used for entrance to dormitories

Closed-circuit camera monitoring system throughout campus

Dedicated parking structures manned by security personnel

Emergency call boxes located throughout campus

Emergency notification system

Safety escorts to and from vehicles

collegeforcreativestudies.edu/apply

Apply

Complete our free online application: collegeforcreativestudies.edu/apply.

Submit your transcript(s).

Show us your work.

Upload 5 – 12 pieces to ccs.slideroom.com (there is a $10 upload fee), or request a free live review at calendly.com/ccs-admissions.

Find links and details about our portfolio requirements on our website at collegeforcreativestudies.edu/ admissions/undergraduate-admissions

CCS is test blind.

CCS does not require a standardized test (ACT or SAT) score. If a test score is submitted, it will not be used to influence admission or scholarship. However, international applicants whose primary and/or native language is not English must submit one of the following English language test scores: TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, ACT or SAT. The test requirement may be waived for international applicants if the primary language of instruction at their secondary school/college is English.

Application Deadlines

December 1

Early Action

For students who want to be considered for our highest tuition scholarships and early registration.

February 1

Regular Decision

For students who want to ensure full consideration for generous scholarships.

Applications will continue to be reviewed on a rolling basis after February 1.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

$28,411

The average scholarship/ grant package (money from all sources that is not repaid) projected for incoming students in 2023/2024

98%

of students

98% of students receive tuition support. CCS is affordable.

Complete the FAFSA

To learn how much financial assistance you will receive:

Complete the admissions process

Fill out the FAFSA at fafsa.gov. Our school code is 006771

FAFSA Available December 1

The FAFSA now allows families to complete the application using their prior-prior year tax return. For Fall 2024, use your 2022 tax information. For more information on all types of scholarships, grant and loan programs available to CCS students, visit collegeforcreativestudies.edu/financialaidinfo.

Tuition & Fees

For the most up-to-date information, visit the Tuition and Financial Aid section on our website: collegeforcreativestudies.edu/tuition.

Go-to Guides for FAQs

For more information about some of your most pressing questions, scan a QR code below.

Visit CCS

Our Open House & Tour events are the best way for prospective students to experience our nationally recognized and highly ranked art and design programs. Explore campus while you meet current students, faculty and representatives from admissions, financial aid, career development, precollege and student life.

Open House & Tour events: Open House & Tour events are on the following Saturdays from 9 a.m. — 2 p.m. Advance registration required.

September 30, 2023

October 21, 2023

November 11, 2023

February 24, 2024

March 16, 2024

April 13, 2024

June 22, 2024

Scan to register for an Open House & Tour and check out more events.

Portfolio Feedback

Unsure of where you stand with your portfolio? Check out CCS’s portfolio requirements, or schedule a no-pressure portfolio review. Show us and get constructive feedback.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Don’t rule out CCS because of the price. Let us help you navigate the financial aid process and how to pay for college.

Apply

Let’s go! We can walk you through the admissions process and answer any questions you have along the way.

Accreditation Statement

College for Creative Studies is a nonprofit, private college authorized to grant Associate, Bachelor, and Master’s degrees. Documents regarding accreditation are available in the Executive Office upon formal request. College for Creative Studies is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.