Welcome to CCS
What We Offer
Advertising Design
Copywriting
Art Practice (Fine Arts) Communication Design Craft & Material Studies
Ceramics Fiber & Textiles Furniture Glass Metalsmithing & Jewelry
Entertainment Arts
Animation Concept Design Digital Film Game Design
Fashion Accessories Design Illustration Interior Design Photography Product Design Transportation Design Teacher Certification Program
Art Education
Studio Minors Any major studio can be taken as a minor. Advertising Design Art Practice (Fine Arts) Communication Design Craft & Material Studies Entertainment Arts Entertainment Arts: Concept Design Fashion Accessories Design: Fashion Business Fashion Accessories Design: Footwear Fashion Accessories Design: Handbags Illustration Interior Design Product Design
At CCS, our goal is to help you discover your artistic style, to push yourself to be the best and create the best, so when you graduate you’ll leave with more than a diploma. You’ll leave with an excellent foundation for the inspiring and innovative work you’ll go on to create. The CCS name is known throughout the world, and your degree will distinguish you from other college graduates. Your dedication, skills, confidence and abilities will pave your way into whichever industry you choose. The work you create will define who you are as an artist or designer, just as the students who attend and graduate from CCS define who we are as a college. Our goal is to help you realize your creative potential.
In This Section CCS Alumni
3
Success
No starving artists here. CCS alumni know success. They are entrepreneurs. They are working artists. Fortune 500 companies hire them. The stories you read here are a testament to the impact CCS alumni are making in the world of art and design. All of them dared to dream big. Let their stories inspire you‌
32
Two Batmobiles There are only six in the history of film, which means CCS alums have designed one third of them Tim Flattery led the design team for 1995s Batman Forever and Ed Natividad collaborated on 2016s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Tim Flattery Chair, Entertainment Arts, CCS + Freelance Concept Artist
Won for best animated feature, Frozen (2013) Chuck Tappan Studio Dept. Leader for Look Development Disney Animation Studios
02 Designers for the men’s and women’s on- and off-track competition gear for track and field athletes Including shoes for Usain Bolt in the 2016 Olympics Astin Davis Brand Design Manager Puma
01 2015 award in art from the American Academy of Arts and Letters
Brenda Goodman Painter
Benjamin Nethongkome Senior Footwear Designer Innovation: Nike Ashley Payne Footwear Designer Nike Umberine Qureshi Footwear Designer Nike
Ed Natividad Conceptual Vehicle Designer
Academy Award
One of the oldest and most prestigious honorary societies in the United States
Footwear gurus who are making their mark at the global iconic giant, including:
Guercy Eugene Footwear Designer Puma
10 and Counting 1 Moana 2 Rise of the Guardians 3 Puss in Boots 4 Kung Fu Panda 2 5 Alice in Wonderland 6 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 7 Surf’s Up 8 Open Season 9 I Am Legend 10 Speed Racer Dave Hardin Senior Character Animator Dreamworks Animation
Yoda
The legendary Jedi Master who first appeared in The Empire Strikes Back (1980), fabricated by CCS alumna Wendy Froud Sculptor, Doll Artist, Puppet Maker
‘92
CCS Alumni
Ralph Gilles Transportation Design FCA US LLC Head of Design — FCA Global
An avid car lover since age six, Ralph Gilles is Head of Design at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Global. He was hired by the company as a designer in 1992 and has received worldwide acclaim with his design contributions to the 300C and numerous other vehicles.
“Initially, I went into engineering because people sometimes consider it a more ‘noble’ profession, but I ended up spending more time sketching than taking notes. My creative side wasn’t being stimulated enough. Then my brother showed me some photos he took during a visit to the CCS campus, and I was sold.”
‘07
Kevin Beasley Art Practice (Fine Arts) Fine Artist Photograph by Steve Harries
Kevin Beasley returned to the Whitney Museum of American Art in 2018–2019 for his first solo exhibition in a New York museum, Kevin Beasley: A View of a Landscape — a stunning installation at the center of which is a cotton gin motor from Maplesville, Alabama, encased in a soundproof glass chamber. The exhibition received overwhelming critical praise by publications ranging from The New York Times and Artforum to Automobile Magazine, and a documentary video feature conceived and published by Art21.
‘02
Dikea Katakis-Kotsifakis Interior Design Starbucks Senior Design Manager
In her current position as Senior Design Manager for Starbucks, Dikea Katakis-Kotsifakis oversees the design team and locations on the eastern side of Canada. She recently moved to the Toronto office after working almost seven years in Amsterdam as Design Manager for Starbucks stores in EMEA, which includes Russia, Spain, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece, Cyprus, Scandinavia and the U.K.
“The job of the design team is to create beautiful stores. No two stores are the same. Each has characteristics of the Starbucks brand, yet maintains its own look/feel.”
‘91
Ed Natividad Illustration Conceptual Vehicle Designer
There are only six Batmobiles in the history of film. We can thank CCS alumni for two of them. Alumnus Ed Natividad (’91, Illustration/Transportation Design) recently joined this prestigious club as the conceptual vehicle designer for the Batmobile in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
‘14
Sarah Bromley Entertainment Arts Double Negative VFX (DNEG) Build TD
If Sarah Bromley does her job well, you’ll never know she was there. A Build TD (Technical Director) at DNEG in London, she can construct or rework anything a film requires, from assets like rings, watches and clothing, to characters and background landscapes. A CGI generalist, Bromley is skilled at modeling, texturing and look development (but modeling’s her favorite), and has worked on films like Justice League (2017) and the global blockbuster, Black Panther (2018).
“I wanted to go to CCS so badly. I don’t think I would have had my career change without it. One day I walked into a classroom at CCS, and a professor was doing CGI on a screen. I decided to swap majors right then and there.”
‘03
Jeremy Levitt Craft & Material Studies Parts and Labor Design Principal
As a student, Jeremy Levitt took a multifaceted approach to his education; he customized his own interdisciplinary major to combine key courses in both Crafts and Product Design. Today, he’s applying the knowledge from both of these programs as Principal at Parts and Labor Design. Parts and Labor is a full-service design firm specializing in hospitality, commercial and retail spaces. Based in New York City, Parts and Labor offers a bespoke, bare-knuckled and straightforward approach to high-end design, focusing on unique and highly customized interiors, furniture and lighting.
“Clients that I’ve worked with here really go for that hardcore, industrial feeling that artists and designers from Detroit infuse into their work. This job has taught me a lot about the industry as well as given me more creative experience in a professional setting. I’ve worked my butt off, but the networking and lessons I’ve learned have been invaluable.”
‘11
Linda Jiang Product Design Essential Products Head of Industrial Design
Linda Jiang is the Head of Industrial Design for Essential Products, a company focused on creating consumer technology products for the 21st century. She is currently leading the design efforts of the company’s entire hardware portfolio, including designing one of the most anticipated cell phones in recent time — The Essential PH-1 flagship smartphone. Additionally, Jiang was named one of Forbes’ “30 under 30” in the consumer technology division.
“One of the most valuable lessons I learned from CCS is that design isn’t just about making something look good; good design involves research and a series of trial and error to find the best solution to your problems. It’s this approach to design thinking that helped get me to where I am now.”
‘08
Brett Renfer Communication Design Bluecadet Creative Director
Brett Renfer uses technology to create meaningful, personal connections between people in spaces. He has built immersive experiences for Google, Intel, JetBlue, the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, the Whitney Museum of Art, ZER01 and the National Building Museum.
“What I enjoy most about my career is seeing people interact with my work.”
‘97
Jenny Risher Photography Freelance Photographer
What’s Jenny Risher’s proudest moment? Looking up in Times Square and seeing her photographs on five enormous billboards in one of the busiest places on earth. Risher relocated to New York City shortly after graduation to develop her portfolio and assist other accomplished photographers. Since then, her list of clients has grown. Today, she works on a freelance basis and is represented by M Represents in New York.
“Photography is an extension of who I am. From the time I started taking photography classes through an afterschool program in middle school, I never doubted my desire to pursue this career.”
‘13
Astin Davis Advertising Design Puma Brand Design Manager
Guercy Eugene Product Design Puma Footwear Designer
Gold medals are the highlight of any Olympic competition, but there is also another competition that is closely watched by the world — what the athletes are wearing. In 2016, CCS alumni played a major role in dressing Olympians from around the world as well as designing an iconic pair of shoes for the fastest man on earth. Astin Davis, CCS Advertising Design alumnus and Brand Design Manager at Puma, designed the
men’s and women’s on-track and offtrack competition gear for Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Cuba, Grenada and Switzerland. Guercy Eugene, CCS Product Design alumnus and Footwear Designer at Puma, designed the shoes.
‘07
Michael Maher Illustration Concept Artist
Concept Artist Michael Maher recently landed a dream gig working for his favorite TV show — Stranger Things — Netflix’s popular sci-fi horror series. As a concept artist, Maher reads the script and talks with a director before anything is shot and creates paintings that inform a production’s visuals. He’s worked on several movies and TV shows, including Argo, The Conjuring, Independence Day, Sons of Anarchy, Ray Donovan, Real Steel and the docuseries Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, for which he received an Emmy nomination.
“The really special thing about this show is that I’ve pushed my skill sets continually for so many other shows previous to this. Now that I have the opportunity to work on such a fun show, I feel like the preparation has paid off and I’m making the best of it.”
‘11
Amy Gozalka Advertising Design Ogilvy & Mather (Chicago, IL) Creative Director
Amy Gozalka, Creative Director at Ogilvy & Mather in Chicago, and her team were the creative minds behind the “Walk Her Walk” campaign for Morton Salt. The campaign challenges how Millennials think of the salt brand and encourages them to take action with causes that resonate with them. The project included a music video by the band OK Go. “The One Moment,” which explores the idea of how a single second can make all the difference in the world, is a way to help share that optimism outwardly.
“Just remember, you are selling something, but you don’t need to sacrifice your point of view. If you do strong and smart work, you’ll also be doing what’s best for the brand.”
‘94
Chuck Tappan Illustration Walt Disney Animation Studios CG Workflow Supervisor
When he talks about animation, CCS alumnus Chuck Tappan is actually describing not one, but two worlds. The first is the one he’s worked in for almost 21 years at Disney Animation Studios, where he currently serves as CG workflow supervisor. The other world is Frozen, which he helped create and audiences fell in love with. The film won the 2014 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
“You’re designing a believable world that people can immerse themselves in and emote with, and it has to all feel natural and right. It’s not as if you’re going to design a laptop. You’re going to design everything new that ever existed in that world.”
In This Section Industry Statistics Networking Student Experience World-Class Facilities
Why CCS?
For more than a century, the College has distinguished itself as one of the premier institutions of higher learning in the world. Our veritable force of talent and resources is unrivaled. Our internationally acclaimed faculty and stateof-the-art facilities will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need not to simply find a job, but to become a leader wherever life takes you. CCS will challenge you to reach your creative potential and prepare you to succeed.
Industry Statistics
CCS offers multiple distinct lecture series led by prominent, well-known fine arts and design professionals
42% of CCS students graduate with no debt
“We look to the College for Creative Studies to help us in our day-to-day business. We actually use CCS student work more than we use our ad agency’s” Linda McIntosh Director of Marketing Somerset Collection
“CCS helped me define who I wanted to be and gave me the confidence to go out and become that person” Jason Mayden ‘02 Industrial Design Super Heroic Inc.
460 companies came to CCS to recruit in the last three years, 148 were international companies
CCS students are from 34 states and 27 foreign countries
The arts contributed $804.2 billion to the U.S. economy in 2016, more than agriculture or transportation
CCS enrolls more than 1,400 students seeking MFA & BFA degrees
Our alumni are employed by companies, galleries, museums and studios where you want to work
$20,000 The average scholarship/grant package (money that is not repaid) for incoming students in 2018/2019
Artists do better in the professional world than most people think. They’re not just finding jobs, but work that is satisfying
More than one million artists and designers work in the U.S.
$56.6 billion Total sales in the global art market in 2016
Networking
Local Community Involvement CCS is committed to investing in the community, and community service is an integral part of our mission. Opportunities include:
Your Success = Our Priority
Community Arts Partnerships Alternative Spring Break in Haiti Greening of Detroit
Sponsored Research Projects Research projects are highly conceptual and allow students to participate in creative, research-based assignments in conjunction with guidance from outside designers and corporations.
3M American Chemistry Council — Plastics Division American Iron and Steel Institute
EcoMotors International ecoStore, USA
National Association for Surface Finishing
Emagine Entertainment Inc.
Nike
ExxonMobil Fuels & Lubricants Company
Nissan
Fathead FCA US LLC
Olympia Development of Michigan
Ferrari
OSRAM
Ford Motor Company
Osram Sylvania
Gardner-White Furniture
Pittsburgh Glass Works
GE Appliances, a Haier Company
Plastech Holdings Corporation
Generac Power Systems, Inc.
PPG
General Motors
Public Lighting Authority of Detroit
The Oakwood Group
Service Learning Saturdays
Student benefits: • • • • •
Perspective on how art and design can positively impact a community Caring for community and people outside of their experience Giving back Developing a connection between school, life, goals and the world Increased global perspective and consciousness
Polaris Industries
Angell-Demmel North America
GHSP, Inc.
AOL Autos
Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., LTD.
PVH Corp.
Hagie Manufacturing
Reebok
Hagopian
Renault
Harley-Davidson Motor Company
Rock Ventures
HAVEN
SABIC Innovative Plastics
Haworth
Samsung
Henry Ford Health System
Sanyo Automotive USA
Honda R&D Americas, Inc.
Shades Optical
Hyundai Design
Shinola Detroit
Ilitch Charities
SMZ Advertising
Student benefits:
Indy Racing League
The Somerset Collection
ITC Holdings Corporation
Subaru
Jabil
The Suburban Collection
Carhartt
Johnson Controls
Suburban Infiniti of Troy
• • • • •
Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology, LLC
Kohler Company
Toyota Motor Corporation
Lacks Enterprises
CCDC Ground Vehicle Systems Center
Ultrasuede®
Lear Corporation
Visteon Corporation
Leo Burnett
Volkswagen
Magna Exteriors and Interiors
Volkswagen AG
Mahindra GenZe
Ward’s Automotive Group
The Mars Agency
Warrior Sports
Crown Equipment Corporation
Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Center
Whirlpool/KitchenAid
Czarnowski Display Services
Meritor
Daimler Trucks North America LLC
Michelin
Aptiv ASC Incorporated Avanti Press, Inc. BASF Bayer MaterialScience Bedrock Real Estate Services BISSELL Bordrin New Energy Vehicle Corporation, Inc. BRP Brunswick Calty Design Research Campbell Marketing & Communications
CITIC Dicastal Co. CNH Industrial Compuware Crain Communications Inc.
Detroit Skate Factory Doodle Home DURA Automotive Systems
Michigan’s 36th District Court Moosejaw MotorCity Casino Motorola
Quicken Loans, Inc.
Royal Technologies
White Castle System, Inc. Wilsonart Wolverine Worldwide, Inc. World Technical Services, Inc. Xenith Yangfeng Automotive Interiors
Student Exhibition Approximately 3,000 works of art created by our students are displayed in May each year. The exhibition is the culmination of hours of hard work and dedication, and we let them shine.
Opportunity to sell work to collectors Exposure Exhibition planning Installation Celebrate and acknowledge success through hard work
• = Internships
The Internship program allows qualified students to earn academic credit while gaining first-hand experience in their chosen fields. Student benefits: • • • • •
Use classroom skills in real-world situations Learn skills from professionals Gain first-hand experience prior to graduation Network with professionals Define career goals
AICAD Exchange
Student Organizations
Study Abroad
Through the College’s affiliation with the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD), juniors or first-semester seniors who meet the GPA requirement have the opportunity to spend a semester (usually Fall or Winter) studying at another member institution in the United States or abroad.
AD Club
Student Exchanges
AIGA
Qualified students may study up to 18 credit hours at international institutions for transfer back to CCS.
Artistic Accolades C-Project Detroit
Opportunities include:
Creative Corner
Burren College of Art, Ireland
Crit Club: Contemporary Development
Lorenzo de Medici, Italy
Cru
Hochschule Pforzheim, Germany
Dungeons & Dragons Club
Paris College of Art, France
Friday Night Magic
Studio Arts College International, Italy
Queers & Allies
University of the Arts, London, England
Smash Club Soccer Club
Woodward Lecture Series Past Speakers
Faculty-Led Programs
Stage Combat Club
Qualified students work in places like Florence, Italy, and the Netherlands with well-known artists and designers, visit studios and museums, and immerse themselves in local art and culture for three undergraduate credits.
Women in Animation
John Chamberlain sculptor Alex Katz painter Lucy Lippard critic/activist Elizabeth Murray painter
Student benefits:
Ed Ruscha painter
• • • •
Tom Sachs sculptor Jerry Saltz critic Franklin Sirmans curator
Learn international design aesthetics Experience working for an international audience Global experience and perspective International connections
Ryan Trecartin video artist Richard Tuttle sculptor Kara Walker artist Andrea Zittel installation artist Student benefits: • •
Exposure to current prominent fine artists, critics and writers Lecturers engage with students in the classroom
• Get connected to contemporary theory and art
Student Showcase Career Services invites industry representatives to CCS throughout the year to review portfolios and recruit students for internships and employment. Student benefits: • • • • •
Exposure to professionals Interview/presentation practice Professional feedback Internships and jobs Excitement about the profession
Toyota Lecture Series Past Speakers Craig Vetter Motorcycle Designer and Entrepreneur
Massimo Ferragamo Chairman of Ferragamo USA, Inc.
Steven Heller Columnist for The New York Times Book Review, Co-chair of the MFA Designer as Author Department at School of Visual Arts, and Special Consultant to the President of SVA for New Programs
Syd Mead Concept Artist, Designed for Blade Runner and Tron
Shiro Nakamura Senior Vice President, Chief Creative Officer, Design and Brand Management, Nissan Karim Rashid Renowned Industrial Designer John Plunkett Founding Designer of Wired Magazine Stefan Siegel Founder & CEO, Not Just A Label
Stefan Sagmeister Founder of Sagmeister Inc. Chris Bangle Managing Director, Chris Bangle Associates S.R.L. and Former Chief of Design, BMW Group Anna Sui Fashion Designer Michal Makarewicz Animator, Pixar Animation Studios Student benefits: • • •
Exposure to top designers from around the world Lecturers visit and engage with students in the classroom Gain a true understanding of working in a creative industry
Student Experience
CCS Roller Rink
Fun in the Park
Museum Day
Night Out
World-Class Facilities
Ceramics Studio Electric indoor kilns Plaster mold-making room Shop-bot CNC tile carver Decal machine Woodfire Anagama kiln Covered exterior kilns Car kiln
Studios “The Stage” production studio
European “Blaauw” kiln
Labs
Hand-throwing studio
Stop-motion lab
Figure and anatomy dry studio
Wheel-casting studio Slip-casting studio
Computer labs with Wacom tablets
Housing
Multipurpose studio
Clay-mixing studio
Traditional animation labs
71 apartment-style units
Digital studio with Mac desktops
Glazing room
Audio/Visual center
Located on Ford Campus
Blacksmithing Studio
Traditional sound room
Private bath
Studio B and sound studio
4 solid fuel forges with anvils and tools
Sound-contained room
Full kitchens
Recording room
2 gas forges with anvils and tools
2 professional sound-mixing rooms
Accommodates up to six students
3 leg vices
Large darkrooms
Located in Taubman Center
Printmaking and letterpress studio
2 swage blocks
Dry mount room
Private bath
75-lb. air power hammer
Alternative processes lab
Manually operated presses
60-lb. treadle hammer
Computer labs
Accommodates up to three students
Daylight studio
Locations A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education Walter and Josephine Ford Campus
Soda, salt, reduction and Raku kilns
Final cut studio Fully equipped photography studios
80 loft-style units
WO R L D Shops Wood Shop Foundry Casting with lost wax process Pours: iron/bronze/ aluminum Ceramic shell casting Resin bonded sand casting
Metalsmithing and Jewelry Studio
Linda Dresner Levy Studio
Printing Lab
Laundry Facilities
Nancy and James Grosfeld Advertising Studio
Mac desktops
Free Overnight Parking
Scanners
Community Rooms
Black-and-white printers
Fitness Rooms
Gaming Lab
Spray Rooms
Electroforming/ anodizing room
Danialle and Peter Karmanos, Jr. Communication Design Studios
Super computers/ widescreen monitors
Game Room
Tig welder
WPP Studio
Virtual reality capability
Rofin/Starweld laser welder
Keith E. Crain Transportation Design Center
Virtual Reality Lab
Casting area Stake and machine room Buffing room
Glass Studio State-of-the-art furnaces Double-ended gloryhole Slumping and fusing kilns Oxy torches and garage Casting and annealing kilns Cold workshop Fibers and Textiles Studio AVL and computergenerated looms Gas ranges and hoods Sewing room Weaving room Stock burners
Jennifer and David T. Fischer Studio Paul Farago Studio Vicki and Tom Celani Rapid Prototyping Studio
5 3D printers
CNC five axis mills
Laser cutter
3D Handi Scan
Car-sized ventilated spray booth Clay Modeling Studio Fashion Accessories Design Studio Juki Industrial Sewing Machines
Video and Editing Suites 4K monitors Premier editing software 24/7 Lab 15 Mac and 5 PC desktops Scanners Black-and-white printers Xerox color printer Polk Technology Center
Student Hub
Other Facilities/
Libraries
Resources
Art and Design Library More than 50,000 volumes in print, 90% of which are devoted to art and design
Dining Arts and Crafts Café TC Cafeteria
Services
Seamless walls (for video) Oxberry
Galleries
Imaging Center
Large-scale printers
274 periodicals from worldwide sources
Center Galleries
High-end, full-color prints
Photo equipment
Alumni and Faculty Hall
More than 50 electronic databases for research workshop subscription
Main Gallery
High-end, mono-color prints
Xerox Phaser color duplexing printer
Permanent Gallery Collection
Eight-color, large-format prints
Bob and Ellen Thompson Gymnasium
More than 2,500 DVDs
Revolving Student Exhibition
Less expensive rate
Benson and Edith Ford Conference Center
A digital database (Luna web) of more than 35,000 images for teaching and research
Valade Family Gallery John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Gallery
Digital camera/ recorder rentals Drawing tablet rentals
General Motors Auditorium
Student Success Center
Henry Ford II Promenade
C L A S S Lounges 24/7 student lounge 24/7 commuter lounge Shared production areas Student hubs
Color and Materials Library More than 2,300 volumes focused on color trends forecasting, sustainable materials and design
Bookstore 3,000 sq. ft. retail space Textbooks School supplies Art materials
More than 3,000 materials
Computer supplies
Material ConneXion database
Snacks
70 periodicals primarily focused on materials, fashion and design
CCS clothing and memorabilia
Design Core Detroit Design Core Detroit supports the growth of Detroit’s creative economy through business acceleration and attraction services and signature programming tailored specifically to creative professionals
University Prep
Light room with essential tools for visual color assessment
Middle and high school
Natural Colour System®©
Grades 6-12
Essential tools for analyzing consumer lifestyle trends
Curriculum with a strong emphasis on art and design
Art & Design
Ford Motor Company Fund College and Careers Transition Office
Josephine F. Ford Sculpture Garden Wendell W. Anderson, Jr. Auditorium 7.1 surround sound LCD projector HD projector VHS/DVD player Blu-ray player 2 podiums with touchscreen controls and VHS/ DVD combo players
In This Section Detroit: An Art and Design Community
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City of Makers
Artists and designers, young professionals and entrepreneurs of all backgrounds are creating the next Detroit. The ease of becoming an entrepreneur is just one of the characteristics that is aiding the resurgence of our multifaceted city.
Detroit: First American UNESCO City of Design
Detroit’s Midtown was named
“One of 10 Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods Around the USA”
Inspiring Architecture Everywhere You Look
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 Access cards used for entrance to dormitories 24/7 shuttle service between campus locations and off-site campus housing Safety escorts to and from vehicles Dedicated parking structures manned by security personnel Emergency notification system Emergency call boxes located throughout campus Closed-circuit camera monitoring system throughout campus First aid services
Collaboration All Around
Creative Spaces Anywhere You Make It
Design Core Detroit Operated and Housed at CCS
Shinola Detroit Built
Open-Air Markets, Urban Gardens and Sustainable Living. This Is the Real Detroit. The physical space available in Detroit is a draw for entrepreneurs, farmers, artists and people in search of sustainable living. They use the land to create socially minded, community-oriented gardens and projects that not only benefit themselves, but the greater good. On a typical Saturday in Detroit, you will find many of these Detroiters selling their organic goods at the Detroit Eastern Market, which draws more than 100,000 people to the city every weekend during the growing season. Dan Armand Illustration 2005 1XRun.com Co-Founder Detroit, Michigan
This Is the New Detroit — A Global Center for Innovation Detroit is building its reputation as a global center for innovation, and CCS is right in the middle of it. Located in the heart of Detroit’s Innovation District, CCS students have the ability to engage in the creative community that encompasses the campus. It seems that every day CCS learns about our alumni involved in starting new galleries, art programs, collectives, businesses and initiatives, including: Detroit Design Center Furnace Design Studio North End Studios CAVE Fortress Studios Ponyride
Detroit Is a City that Inspires its Inhabitants and Allows Them to Make Change Creative entrepreneurship is not only welcomed in Detroit, it’s fostered. There are more than 50 programs within our city that were developed to nurture start-ups. These programs offer assistance to new business owners as they navigate the sometimes intimidating world of business ownership. Some of these
Urban Garden
programs include: Design Core Detroit — Operated by and Housed at CCS Hatch Detroit D:hive Invest Detroit Detroit Soup Detroit Venture Partners
Detroit Mercantile Co.
Eastern Market
Elysia Vandenbussche Craft & Material Studies 2011 Artist Detroit, Michigan
International Community of Creatives
Brian Newman Art Practice (Fine Arts) 2013 Artist and Clothing Designer Detroit, Michigan
A Vibrant and Socially Cultured Mind
Inspiration Is Everywhere
Eastern Market Murals
Third Man Records
Where We Hang
King Bookstore Le Petit Zinc
Arts and Crafts Café
The Magic Stick
Avalon Bakery
The Majestic Theatre
Belle Isle
Mexicantown
Biggby Coffee
Milano Bakery
Boardwalk
MOCAD
Bowling Alleys
The Motor Bar
Broadway Café
Motor City Brewing Works
The Bronx
Northern Lights Lounge
Burton Theatre
Old Miami
Café D’Mongo’s
Old Shillelagh
Campus
Pool/YMCA
Campus Martius
Random Music Venues
Cass Café
Renaissance Center
Centaur
Riverfront
Circa Saloon
Slows Bar BQ
Cliff Bell’s
Taqueria Lupita
Comerica Park
Tim Hortons
Detroit Artists Market
Town Pump Tavern
Detroit Institute of Arts
Traffic Jam & Snug
Detroit One Coney Island
Union Street
Midtown Dog Park
Detroit Public Library Detroit Symphony Orchestra Detroit Zen Center
Slows Bar BQ
Eastern Market Edsel and Eleanor Ford House The Ferry House The Fillmore Fisher Building Ford Field Great Lakes Coffee Greektown Greenfield Village Hard Rock Café Hart Plaza Hockeytown Café International Café Java Hut
Avalon Bakery
Ashe Supply Co.
Ashe Supply Co.
Detroit Institute of Bagels
Fun in the City
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, blues and so much more.
Celebrating Creativity
The Detroit Institute of Arts
Campus Martius
Where We Rock
Northern Lights Lounge Old Miami
The Magic Stick
The Belmont
Orchestra Hall
Berkley Front
Oslo
Bohemian National Home
Painted Lady
Burton Theatre
PJ’s Lager House
The CAID
Royal Oak Music Theatre
Cass Café
Russell Industrial Center
Church
Schubas
CKWW
The Shelter
Club Amnesia
Small’s
Cobo Hall
St. Andrew’s Hall
Comerica Park
The Stick
The Crofoot
The Token Lounge
Detroit Electronic Music Festival
Town Pump
Detroit Opera House
The Trumbullplex
Detroit Orchestra Hall
TV Bar
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Venue
The District Venue
Vuze
DTE Energy Music Theatre
WCSX
Eagle Theatre
WOMC
Elysium Lounge
The Works
Exodus Rooftop
Zoots
The Fillmore Fisher Theatre Fox Theatre Freedom Hill The Gem Theatre Gold Dollar Grog Shop Harpos Little Caesars Arena The Magic Bag The Magic Stick The Majestic Theatre Max Fisher Music Center The Metro Michigan Theater
People Mover
New Center Park
Corktown
Garden Bowl
Great Vibes
Detroit Fireworks
In This Section Majors Student Work
Majors
Advertising Design
Copywriting
Art Practice (Fine Arts) Communication Design Craft & Material Studies
Ceramics Fiber & Textiles Furniture Glass Metalsmithing & Jewelry
Entertainment Arts
Animation Concept Design Digital Film Game Design
Fashion Accessories Design Illustration Interior Design Photography Product Design Transportation Design Teacher Certification Program
Art Education
What’s your interest? We will help you find the right path. Interested in
Interested in
Interested in
The “Big Idea” Art Direction Advertising Marketing Idea Generation Commercials
Painting Printmaking Sculpture Installation Time-Based Media
Graphic Design Web/App Design Interaction Design User Experience Motion Design Typography
See
See
See
Advertising Design
Art Practice (Fine Arts)
Communication Design
Interested in
Interested in
Interested in
Art Furniture Ceramics Fiber & Textile Design Glassblowing Metalsmithing & Jewelry Design Colors & Materials Handmaking
Animation Movies Video Games Cinematography Storyboarding Stop-Motion
Fashion Bag Design Accessories Fashion Footwear Design Colors & Materials Fashion Trends
See
See
Craft & Material Studies
Entertainment Arts
Fashion Accessories Design
Interested in
Interested in
Interested in
Drawing Sketching Concepting Graphic Novels Storyboarding Comics
Colors & Materials Layouts Furniture Aesthetics Trends Interior Decorating Architecture
Digital Photography Traditional Photography Studio Lighting Photo Editing Photojournalism
See
See:
See
Illustration
Interior Design
Photography
Interested in
Interested in
Interested in
Shoe Design Toy Design Appliance Design Sports Gear Design Furniture Design Problem-Solving
Automotive Design Mass Transit Design Boat Design Bike Design Airplane Design Mobility Autonomous Vehicles
Teaching Art Theory Classroom Setting Art Making Museum Education
See
See
See
Product Design
Transportation Design
Art Education
See
Advertising Design
Career Choices Account Executive App Designer Art Director Brand Manager Brand Strategist Copywriter Creative Director Design Director Digital Ad Strategist Digital Designer Graphic Designer Interaction Designer Motion Graphics Designer Producer Social Content Manager Social Copywriter Social Media Graphic Designer Social Media Manager TV & Radio Producer Visual Designer Web/Mobile Media Designer
Build a better mousetrap? Build a better concept. Advertising is made of ideas: A well-developed concept makes brands memorable and takes hold in the popular imagination. Advertising strategies seek to persuade, but the really good ones inspire. Art directors create long-lasting imagery with impact, stirring emotion and influencing cultural change. In Advertising Design at CCS, you’ll learn to devise advertising strategies — based on research and consumer insights — that integrate digital and social media, content creation and user experience, print and television, and study how innovative approaches to persuasion (viral and guerrilla marketing) have redefined the playing field.
Yamini Raja
Adrienne Endres and Danielle McDougall
Elyse Marcinkowski and Kasey Knaggs
Jessica Keoshian
Olivia Steele
Art Practice (Fine Arts)
Career Choices Art Administrator Art Appraiser Art Buyer Art Conservationist Art Consultant Art Critic Art Educator Art Fabricator Art Handler/Installer Artist in Residence Art Therapist Color and Materials Designer Community Artist Curator Exhibition Designer Exhibit Manager Film Industry Fabricator Freelance Entrepreneur Gallery Owner or Director Independent Artist Independent Business Entrepreneur Model Designer/Maker Museum Educator Performance Artist Printmaker Prop Designer Public Artist Sculptor Set Designer Sound Artist Studio Artist Videographer
Customize your path. The Fine Arts major at the College for Creative Studies is transitioning to the Art Practice major to better represent the profession as a constellation of fields that are each considered as students define their art through the multiple lenses of studio, community, exhibition, markets and more. Art Practice takes a broad perspective on the work and identity of artists, from the studio artists’ ability to produce meaningful works of art, to the role of artists as cultural producers, arts advocates, community builders and innovators in a range of creative fields. CCS Art Practice students build conceptual and critical skills that focus on materials, form, content, history, theory and process. With the freedom to create a customized path suited to particular strengths and interests, supported by individual mentoring with outstanding faculty, students are equipped to make choices that will prepare them to be versatile and nimble in an ever-changing world. Art Practice students work within and between the areas of Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Print Media, Video/Digital Media, Installation and Performance. Students have access to some of the finest resources in the country, including the latest technologies in 3D modeling and printing, an expansive printmaking area, state-of-the-art wood and metal shops, a digital print studio and a fully functioning foundry. Beginning Fall 2020, our newly renovated Sculpture area will provide increased workspace and new equipment that will enhance students’ ability to make significant 3D work. Art Practice seniors and juniors have semi-private studios with 24-hour access — which allows for the development of a signature body of work as professional artists. Students begin to exhibit their work locally in the vibrant art scene in Detroit and are exposed to a global network of artists and creative professionals who provide significant models of successful careers as artists, creative entrepreneurs, educators and more.
Alec Kwiecinski
Ana Montesdeoca
Sofia Bicego
Eric Maurer
Shoukair Manal
Jaime Pattison
Communication Design
Career Choices Advertising Designer App Designer Branding/Identity Designer Brand Manager Creative Director Design Director Design Strategist Digital Content Manager Digital Designer Editorial Designer Environment Designer Exhibit Designer Graphic Designer Interaction Designer Interactive Art Director Mobile Media Designer Motion Graphic Designer Multimedia Graphic Designer Social Media Digital Designer Social Media Director User Experience Designer User Interface Designer Visual Designer Web Designer Web/Mobile Media Designer
The world isn’t two-dimensional and neither are we. From your favorite books and websites to every app on your mobile phone — every day we use, touch or see something a communication designer helped create. Communication Design at CCS covers print, motion and interaction, a reflection of where the field is now and where it’s headed. First, students learn the core principles of print-based graphic design — think image, typography, color, messaging and hierarchy. Then they merge what they’ve learned with the language of code in order to build media and create interactive environments on a wide variety of platforms. Communication designers are in high demand here and abroad — CCS graduates in particular. Our students are sought after because they can think, make and innovate.
Leah Wendzinski, Raquel Scoggin, Melissa Elliot and Tiffany Johnson
Eric Wilson
Jessica Rogner
Alex Chopjian
Hunter Thackham
Craft & Material Studies
Career Choices Art Educator Blacksmith Ceramic Artist Clay Modeler Color & Trim Designer Colorist Costume Designer Fashion Accessories Designer Furniture Designer Gallery Owner Glass Artist Independent Artist Jewelry Designer Material Designer Metalsmith Mold Maker Ornamental Architecture Fabricator Print & Pattern Designer Prop Designer Sculptor Set Designer Surface Designer Textile Designer Tile Designer
Makers of the future. The Craft and Material Studies department investigates the expressive possibilities of materials through rigorous, hands-on investigation. Students engage in disciplined making practices, including sculpture, functional objects, design and decorative arts. Craft and Material Studies students focus on the acquisition of both traditional skills and experimental approaches to develop an informed and innovative use of materials. The flexible curriculum allows students to explore a variety of materials while remaining grounded in a single material discipline: Ceramics, Fiber and Textiles, Furniture, Glass, or Metalsmithing and Jewelry. All students take classes to enhance their skill sets in professional practices, digital design and fabrication. And state-of-the-art studios help them cultivate an individualized practice that is informed by an understanding of materials and larger artistic, social and cultural contexts. A Craft and Material Studies education at CCS prepares students to thrive as independent artists, commissioned artists, production artists, studio owners, fabricators, designers, teachers, art administrators, and nonprofit managers and directors to broadly apply creativity and critical thinking to issues outside of their discipline.
Craft & Material Studies Ceramics
Ceramics teaches histories and traditions connected to clay alongside clay’s technical qualities, production processes, and the tools involved in building with it. In Ceramics, students engage with the concerns of contemporary art discourse while defining an individualized practice for themselves. Class projects encourage students to pursue notions of function, beauty, materiality, critique and narrative in their work. Ceramics offers instruction in hand building, wheel-throwing, slip casting and more, including designand technology-based classes. Students learn the scientific properties of clay and glaze formulation, how to build with the material, and how to fire a comprehensive range of kilns, including electric, gas, salt, soda and wood kilns. Students also work with many other materials and ideas outside of clay, engaging the resources in other departments and collaborations with other faculty and students.
Alyssa Graham
Dylan Stewart
Craft & Material Studies Fiber & Textiles
The Fiber and Textiles program encompasses art, design, craft and technology. Students in this field acquire technical and conceptual skills to create objects informed by materiality, purpose and the sense of touch. A wide range of technical processes and topics include: weaving, dyeing, screen printing, embellishment, surface design, felting, sewing, quilting, garment construction, knitting, crochet, laser cutting, digital print and pattern design. Students are encouraged to discover new ways of working through material experimentation. With the guidance of faculty, students develop an individualized language of color, pattern and texture, both planar and sculptural in form. Traditional and non-traditional methods of creation, and an interdisciplinary approach to technology (fabrication and production), are integrated into the program.
Kaylie Kaitschuck
Jacob Martinez
Taylor Childs
Craft & Material Studies Furniture
In Furniture, students approach object making through a deep investigation of how different materials influence form and function. Beginning with a strong foundation in technical woodworking in tandem with rigorous material exploration, students are prepared to create furniture that can fit into a range of industries — from product design to studio production and sculpture. Furniture students learn fabrication skills in wood, metal and foundry, and the curriculum allows them to take additional electives in areas that will enhance their practice, including Ceramics, Glass, Metalsmithing, Fiber and Textiles, Product Design and Sculpture.
Jason Kehdi
Toomas Toomepuu
Craft & Material Studies Glass
The Glass program is informed by the material properties of glass and its history in decorative art, science and industry. Students develop dexterity with glass through hands-on courses that include both technical and experimental investigations. Beginning freshman year, students work in state-of-the-art facilities with individual studio space. The curriculum offers extensive instruction in freehand glassblowing, mold blowing, kiln casting, hot casting and coldworking. A rigorous technical curriculum coupled with individualized studio practice help students develop innovative and expressive approaches to glassmaking informed by a contemporary art and design context. Sculpture, functional objects, lighting, installation and vessels are among the many possibilities for student explorations.
Chris McGinnis
Hailey Callahan
Liz Coy
Craft & Material Studies Metalsmithing & Jewelry
Metalsmithing and Jewelry instructs students in design, bench and studio practice, digital technologies, and business and project management. Students learn to work with metal through research and project-based experimentation that challenges them to expand their material vocabulary and explore innovative ideas. Our expansive studios facilitate a range of processes, including forged iron, nonferrous metalsmithing, casting, fabrication, enamels and working with alternative materials. And CCS is one of only a handful of institutions in the United States that offers significant coursework in blacksmithing and decorative iron. Student work includes sculpture, design, architectural explorations, jewelry fabrication, home furnishings and vessels. Internships and first-hand field experiences help prepare students for success in a diverse and competitive field.
Elizabeth Beattie
Heather Pugh
Bryan Rees
Entertainment Arts
Career Choices 3D Artist 3D Character Artist 3D Modeler 3D Production Artist 3D Visualization Artist Animator Armature Builder CG Artist Character Animator Cinematics Director Cinematographer Colorist Compositor Concept Artist Creative Visualization Designer Digital Designer Digital Media Creator Digital Product Designer Director Editor Environment Artist Flash Artist FX Artist Game Artist/Designer/Developer Hair & Cloth Artist Interactive Imaging Layout Artist Level Designer Lighter Look Development Artist Maquette Builder Matchmover Matte Painter Mocap Artist Motion Graphics Artist Multimedia Specialist Rigger Stop-Motion Animator Storyboard Artist Texture Painter VFX Artist VFX Supervisor Video Game Specialist Videographer Video Producer Weapon Artist Web Artist
We put stories — and careers — in motion. Storytelling is at the heart of what artists do. The mediums may differ, but whether you’re venturing into animation, concept design, video games or digital film, it takes the best to help you become the best. Entertainment Arts at CCS prepares you to join the next generation of storytellers with Hollywood insiders who show you how to master the latest software and equipment used in the entertainment industry. Entertainment Arts students in all four emphases — Animation, Concept Design, Digital Film and Game Design — have been featured in international film festivals and competitions, and they have interned and/or worked for a wide variety of industry leaders, including: Aardman Animations LTD, Blizzard, Bluewater Technologies, Cartoon Network, Creative Time, Crush Music, Disney Feature Animation, DreamWorks Animation, Laika, NASA, Pixar Animation, Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Pictures, TBS, Warner Bros. and more.
Entertainment Arts Animation
Storytelling is at the heart of Animation, and we’ll prepare you to develop character performance within a variety of 2D and 3D applications. You’ll hone skills in traditional and computer-generated (CG) animation and design, and gain experience in stop-motion, motion graphics and experimental media. Animation graduates work throughout the industry as designers, storyboard artists, fabricators, animators and visual development artists.
Molly McLaughlin
Devin Law
Entertainment Arts Concept Design
Concept designers bring stories to life, envisioning every design element — from props and scenery to costumes and characters, they help design everything an audience visually experiences. With a curriculum developed by Entertainment Arts (EA) Chair and veteran Concept Designer Tim Flattery (credited in films such as Avengers: Endgame, Captain Marvel, Bumblebee and The Hunger Games), Concept Design at CCS is an intimate, competitive program that takes a deep dive into the field, including conceptual skills, 2D and 3D execution, and designing hardware, architecture, characters and environments.
Artwork represented was created by CCS alumni and notable concept designers. Special thanks to Tim Flattery, Warren Manser and James Oxford.
Entertainment Arts Digital Film
Digital Film is built on a foundation of history, theory and technique, all while keeping in mind a continually evolving industry. You’ll be encouraged to explore storytelling through narrative, documentary and experimental forms, as well as personal aesthetics and technological concerns. Digital Film graduates are screenwriters, cinematographers, directors, editors, producers, sound designers, colorists, creative directors, VFX artists, studio owners, and independent filmmakers and artists.
Sean Murphy
Leah McGrail
Entertainment Arts Game Design
Game Design prepares you to join the next generation of storytellers while using the hottest tools in the trade. You’ll learn how to conceptualize and build 2D and 3D CGI and put these skills into action as you produce immersive gameplay experiences across platforms, including mobile, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), as well as realistic environments and assets for film. Game Design graduates work as character artists, environment and vehicle designers, technical and VFX artists, creative directors and AR/VR developers.
Luiza Tanaka
Jordan Moorehouse and Alexis Witter
Fashion Accessories Design
Career Choices Accessories Designer Color & Materials Designer Color Specialist Fashion Designer Fashion Historian Fashion Merchandiser Footwear Designer Handbag Designer Jewelry Designer Leather Goods Designer Merchandiser Patternmaker Product Developer Shoe Designer Soft Goods Designer Textile Designer Trend Analyst Trend Forecaster
The one accessory that goes with everything. Fashion accessories is a $51 billion global industry and one of the largest in the United States. Yet only a handful of U.S. schools focus on accessories design as a viable and vibrant career path, and only one in the Midwest: College for Creative Studies. The Fashion Accessories Design program at CCS gives you head-to-toe preparation in the industry and helps you develop a broad set of skills in the key areas of vision, craft and business — how to conceive, make and merchandise handbags, small leather goods, footwear and accessories hardware. From the initial concept and design to the full range of fabrication techniques, supply-chain management and distribution, you’ll learn how to forecast trends, market your designs and manage a fashion brand.
Donovan Dewberry
Jordan Atkins
Kendra Barnowski
Mark Cox
Amanda Morrill
Illustration
Career Choices Advertising Illustrator Art Educator Character Artist Children’s Book Illustrator Comic Book Artist Concept Artist Conceptual Illustrator for Video Games/Film Creative Director Digital Illustrator Digital Matte Illustrator Digital Painter Digital Photo Illustrator Digitec Compositor Editorial Illustrator Environment Artist Fashion Illustrator Freelance Illustrator Gallery Artist Graphic Novel Illustrator Illustrator Lighting Designer Merchandising Illustrator Motion Illustrator/Designer Multimedia Designer Storyboard Artist Textile Pattern Illustrator Visual Artist Visual Development Illustrator Web Designer
Storytelling from the inside out. Illustrators occupy a unique space in visual culture. Not quite artists and not quite designers, they are both. And their work — from brand imaging, advertising and graphic storytelling to publishing, journalism, comic books and gaming — moves and influences audiences like nothing else. CCS’s Illustration program helps you realize this dynamic medium’s possibilities to convey ideas, solve problems, tell stories and express points of view. The best illustrators are well-rounded, active participants in the larger world. No other program offers the chance CCS does to get out and get engaged, because no other program takes place in Detroit: a creative hotbed of entrepreneurial opportunity and community activity.
Ivan Montoya
Sean Randolph
Meghan Jones
Sara Kendall
Olivia Panangos
Sheila Nicolin
Interior Design
Career Choices Automotive Color & Trim Designer Color & Materials Designer Color & Materials Specialist 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 Virtual Reality Designer
Design in three dimensions. Interior design is about more than making four walls and a floor look beautiful. Design has the power to impact our health, education, productivity and overall quality of life. CCS’s Interior Design program helps you develop a holistic approach to creating environments that function and respond effectively to the way people live their lives — at home, at work and as part of communities. Accredited by the Council for Interior Design (CIDA), the Interior Design program is an intimate experience that emphasizes how to develop concepts and master creative thinking. You’ll work collaboratively, learning how to strengthen your aesthetic point of view while paying close attention to client needs and experiences. You’ll also develop the skills to integrate research and current trends with environment function, design and sustainability.
Karin Abel
Katherine Chmielewski
Jacqueline Franciosi
Rebecca Zimmerman
Paige Scoggin
Sydney Rabishaw
Anissa Gray
Photography
Career Choices Architectural Photographer Art/Photography Educator Commercial Photographer Content Creation Specialist Digital Retoucher Documentary Photographer Fashion Photographer Fine Art Photographer Forensic Photographer Freelance Photographer Graduate School Image Collection Manager Image Buyer Image Stylist Ophthalmic Photographer Photojournalist Portrait Photographer Producer Sports Photographer Studio Photographer Videographer Visual Media Specialist
Another way of seeing the world. Anyone can take a picture, but not everyone can be a photographer. From event photography and magazine fashion shoots to fine art images, studio portraits and candid storytelling, photographers understand the scientific and technical aspects involved in photography while embracing it as an expressive medium and exercising aesthetic judgment. Photography at CCS helps you master evolving technology and develop your creativity so you’ll be ready for whatever lies on the other side of your lens.
Carl Eschenburg
Michelle Dale
Olivia Martin
Eric Henderson
Katherine Nagi
Product Design
Career Choices 3D Modeler Accessories Designer Appliance Designer Athletic Equipment Designer Athletic Shoe Designer Bicycle Designer Brand Manager Color and Materials Designer Consumer Electronics Designer Consumer Wearables Designer Creative Designer Design Engineer Exhibit Designer Footwear Designer Furniture Designer Independent Design Consultant Industrial Designer Influencer Market Researcher Medical Equipment Designer Motorcycle Designer Product Designer Recreational Vehicle Designer Recreation Equipment Designer Research Shoe Designer Sneaker Designer Toy Designer Trend Forecaster User Experience Designer User Interface Designer Virtual Reality Designer Watercraft Designer
We don’t just design objects, we design the future. Product design isn’t just about products. It’s a way of thinking that enables designers to apply their knowledge and skills across a wide range of careers. At CCS, students acquire a deeper understanding of complex problems, critical thinking skills, interdisciplinary approaches, and cultural and economic changes in the world. Whether it’s athletic gear, housewares, office products or furniture, students learn to think beyond trends and styling. Product designers design experiences and, as a result, improve and expand whatever they touch. It’s not about designing a new chair; it’s about creating new ways of seating.
William Turner
Laura Battiston
Brenton Wehrmeyer
Matteo Iavicoli
Corey Thelen
Daniel Coric
Transportation Design
Career Choices Airplane Designer Alias Modeler Automotive Color & Trim Designer Automotive Exterior Designer Automotive Interior Designer Autonomous Vehicle Designer Bicycle Designer Clay Modeler/Sculptor Concept Hardware Artist Creative Designer Design Engineer Digital Modeler/Sculptor Industrial Designer Market Researcher Mass Transit Designer Mobility Systems Designer Motorcycle Designer Recreational Vehicle Designer Surface Designer Transportation Systems Designer UX Designer Vehicle Exterior Designer Vehicle Interior Designer Virtual Reality Designer Watercraft Designer
If Detroit drives the auto industry, CCS put the wheels on the car. The CCS Transportation Design program has spent 57 years becoming the best. This century’s wave of ingenuity brought with it autonomous vehicles and mobility-forward design, and we educate the designers who are leading this charge and whose influence in the transportation industry is unmatched anywhere. CCS alumni swell the ranks of every major car design studio and nearly all the Tier 1 auto suppliers. Our graduates account for 60% of the design team at Fiat Chrysler, led by Global Head of Design and alumnus Ralph Gilles. GM Design employs more than 175 of our alumni, and our graduates are key designers at powersports company studios. It all began right here in Detroit, the heart of the U.S. automotive industry, where our faculty of award-winning, industry-savvy professionals have no rivals.
Joshua Blundo
Andres Gonzales
Logan Phillips
Kenneth Choi
David Hong
Don Kabongo
Undeclared
Undecided? We can help you discover a major to fit your passion. College is about discovering who you are and what you want to become. As an artist, your interest can change based on the type of projects you’ve worked on or the career you desire. That is why CCS created a “Discovery of Your Practice” pathway for undecided incoming students. The Discovery of Your Practice path includes multifaceted class projects and insightful critiques, paired with a special First-Year Experience class. This opportunity to explore gives you insight into all the programs we offer and will help you decide which major is the best fit.
Ben Fraser
Paige Nettleingham
Dmitriy Baltovskiy
Sean Carbary
Teacher Certification Program Art Education
Career Choices K-12 Art Teacher Community Arts Gallery Director Community Arts Program Director Educator in Medical Facilities Museum Educator
Teach others to do what you love — create art. Art programs are on the rise. Despite what you may have heard, the arts remain a vital part of K-12 education, and talented art educators are in demand. The CCS Art Education program is a unique, studio-based Visual Arts Teacher Certification program that combines an internationally recognized BFA degree with teacher preparation courses. Art Education is a hands-on, innovative Teacher Certification program that focuses solely on the learning and teaching of art. The curriculum combines rigorous studio and education classes with core liberal arts courses to prepare you to teach in Michigan and throughout the United States. And if you’ve already earned your BFA, you may be able to complete our 27-credit Visual Arts Teacher Certification in two years or less.
Ken Ostrolencki
Chris McGinnis
Khristyn Richardson
Foundation
Every artist and designer needs to know not only how to manipulate the physical materials and spaces they work with, but what choices are available to them. They must be able to express themselves using traditional tools as well as newer digital tools, and they must know how to critique; how to step back and analyze their work. This is what the CCS Foundation program is all about. Any major students choose at CCS will grow from the roots they develop through the Foundation program. Focused studies introduce essentials in drawing, design concepts, digital fundamentals, and materials and processes. In short, it’s the basics — the core skills students will build upon as they progress in their college and professional careers.
Kailyn Washington
Marc VanNocker
Kenta Tomeoki
Jessica Rowden
Cyelowyn Willey
Sarah Hua
Roland Frohman III
Liberal Arts Minors/Concentrations
Liberal Arts
Art History Art Therapy Creative Writing Critical Theory Entrepreneurial Studies Sustainability and Social Responsibility Visual Culture
From the classics to the contemporary. Ever wanted to write a script? Study science fiction or avant-garde film? Maybe you’d like to study the graphic novel or create one of your own? The Liberal Arts department at CCS gives you all the benefits of training in language, literature, classical rhetoric, art history and visual culture, philosophy, history, psychology, and the natural and social sciences. Of the 126-127 credits required to earn your BFA at CCS, 42 credits will be completed in liberal arts classes. From learning about the latest in sustainability and environmental science to writing a working business plan for your future gallery or design studio, there’s no limit to the many ways a solid grounding in the liberal arts can enhance your work as an artist or designer.
Entrepreneurial Studies Concentration Courses Advanced Business Skills for Artists and Designers Branding and Self-Image Management Entrepreneurial Studies Money Management Skills for Artists and Designers
In an effort to provide business expertise to our students, CCS has partnered with Walsh College, the area’s premier business school, to offer a set of four courses in entrepreneurial studies. This group of courses, referred to as a “concentration,” is similar to a “minor” but requires fewer courses to complete. Once you’ve finished these courses, a Certificate of Completion will be issued to you and “Entrepreneurial Studies” will appear on your official transcript.
Entrepreneurial Studies
Even the best artist or designer needs to know the business behind their craft.
Precollege Programs
Programs
Dual Enrollment Summer Experience Precollege Courses
Every student’s goal is to be prepared when they start at their dream college. But what if you could take that just one step further? What if you could already have college-level experience and possibly even credits before taking those ďŹ rst-semester classes? You can! With preparedness in mind, we created a Precollege program to help you excel as an artist or designer. 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.
Carolyn Jaye
Isabella Garza
Benjamin Trienan
Graduate Programs
Programs
Color & Materials Design Interaction Design Systems Design Thinking Transportation Design
Why CCS MFA? CCS prepares students to enter a global economy in which creativity shapes better communities and societies. Here, creative minds can both explore and thrive. There is nothing like it anywhere in the world. The College for Creative Studies offers four distinct graduate programs, including Color and Materials Design, Interaction Design, Systems Design Thinking and Transportation Design. Students participate in a unique curriculum that includes business practices, research methods and design making.
Dirk Wan
Jinseok Kwon
Fan Huang
Goktug Duman
In This Section Application Procedure Financial Aid Information
Real Examples. The images below are actual examples of CCS student work — all the way from high school portfolio through real-world alumni work.
Veronica Bayagich
‘11, Illustration
High School Work
Darby Barber High School Work
Student Work
‘16, Transportation Design
Student Work
We all start somewhere. Applying to an art college doesn’t have to be an intimidating process. At CCS, we’re proud of our accessible and supportive Admissions staff. We can walk you through the admissions process and answer questions anytime. Come for an open house and tour or personal admissions appointment. For more information, or to schedule a campus tour, call 313.664.7425 or 800.952.2787.
Alumni Work
Alumni Work
Kyle Gracey
‘11, Advertising Design
High School Work
Meagan Schoenfeld High School Work
Student Work
‘11, Interior Design
Student Work
Alumni Work
Alumni Work
collegeforcreativestudies.edu/apply Apply Complete our free online application
Deadlines Fall Semester December 1
February 1
Early Action**
Priority*
Submit your transcript(s) Show us your work Either show us your work in person, or upload eight to 12 pieces to https://ccs.slideroom.com (there is a $10 upload fee). Find links and details about our portfolio requirements on our website at collegeforcreativestudies.edu/admissions/ undergraduate-admissions, or reach out to your admissions counselor at admissions@collegeforcreativestudies.edu.
English Language Test Score 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, SAT or ACT.
May 1
Applications will continue to be reviewed on a rolling basis after February 1
Deposit Deadline
Early Action**
Priority*
For students who want to be considered for our highest tuition scholarships and early registration.
For students who want to ensure full consideration for generous scholarships.
The test requirement may be waived for international applicants if the primary language of instruction at their secondary school/college is English.
Winter Semester November 1
November 30
Application Due
Deposit Deadline
Financial Aid & Scholarships We believe that financial aid is a way for us to help you simplify the task of continuing with your education. Your college years will be some of the best years of your life, so planning your finances in advance will let you take full advantage of your experience at CCS. All applicants are automatically reviewed for scholarships. Students who complete their application by our Dec. 1 Early Action deadline will be considered for our highest tuition scholarships. Merit-based scholarships are announced after Dec. 15.
Complete FAFSA
$20,000 was the average scholarship/grant package (money that is not repaid) for incoming students in 2018/2019.
The FAFSA now allows families to complete the application using their prior-prior year tax return. For Fall 2021, use your 2019 tax information.
All U.S. students are strongly encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year to be considered for need-based financial aid. Our school code is 006771.
October 1 FAFSA Application Available
File your FAFSA here: fafsa.ed.gov. For more information on all types of Scholarships, Grant and Loan programs available to CCS students, go to our
Fact
All applicants are considered for scholarships.
website: collegeforcreativestudies.edu/financialaidinfo. CCS also awards scholarships funded by external entities to eligible students based on criteria specified by these donors.
Tuition & Fees For the most complete and up-to-date information, visit the Tuition and Financial Aid section of our website: collegeforcreativestudies.edu/tuition.
Student Housing CCS offers two unique opportunities to live on campus. You won’t want to miss out. Housing is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Apply early, demand for campus housing is high; only deposited students will be given a housing placement once all necessary applications and payments are made. Art Centre Building (ACB)
Meal Plans
Our newly renovated residence hall, the Art Centre Building (ACB), provides spacious apartment-style units on the Ford Campus. The residence includes amenities such as common areas, fitness room, vented spray room, mailroom and laundry facilities.
Taubman Center residents are required to purchase a meal plan. ACB residents and commuters may choose to purchase a meal plan.
Taubman Center The residence hall at the Taubman Center provides loft-style units with in-room bathroom. The units open to large common areas that include lounges, a game room, a fitness room, laundry facilities and workspaces where students can work on projects or socialize during their downtime.
Off-Campus Housing Midtown Detroit, Inc., provides a comprehensive list of what is happening around the CCS neighborhood, including different apartment and townhouse rentals in the Medical Center, Cultural Center, CCS, Wayne State University and New Center areas.
Fun Fact
Roommates are a great way to meet new people on campus!
Off-Campus Listings
Listings are available on the MDI website: midtowndetroitinc.org.
For complete details about on-campus housing and meal plan costs, and to apply for housing, visit collegeforcreativestudies.edu/housing.
Precollege Programs Precollege Studies at CCS offers evening, weekend and summer programs for high school and middle school students. Offerings include Dual Enrollment opportunities to earn college credit while in high school, summer residential programs for college credit, as well as short courses and free workshops that can help you get ready to apply to CCS. For more information, visit collegeforcreativestudies.edu/precollege.
Earn Credit While in High School
CCS offers the Precollege Summer Experience — a 3.0 credit program for high school students to begin preparation for art and design school. More information is available through CCS’s Precollege and Continuing Studies Office at pcs@ collegeforcreativestudies.edu.
Mission Statement
Accreditation Statement
The College for Creative Studies nurtures the creativity that is vital to the enrichment of modern culture. The College educates visual artists and designers, knowledgeable in varied fields, who will be leaders in creative professions that shape society and advance economic growth. The College fosters students’ resolve to pursue excellence, act ethically, embrace their responsibilities as citizens of diverse local and global communities, and learn throughout their lives. The College engages in community service by offering opportunities for artistic development and opening career pathways to talented individuals of all ages.
The College for Creative Studies is a nonprofit, private college authorized by the Michigan Education Department to grant Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. CCS is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Documents regarding accreditation are available in the Executive Office upon formal request. In order to make the accreditation process responsive to a broad range of constituents, the accrediting agencies invite the public to provide written comments about the College’s qualifications for continued accreditation. If you wish to comment, please contact either agency by letter or email.
Nondiscrimination Policy The College for Creative Studies subscribes to the principle of equal opportunity in its employment, admissions, educational practices, scholarship and loan programs, and other schooladministered programs, and strives to provide an educational environment and workplace free from unlawful harassment or discrimination. Discrimination, including harassment, because of age, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, physical attributes, marital or familial status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law is strictly prohibited.
The Higher Learning Commission
30 North La Salle Streets, Suite 2400 Chicago, Illinois 60602-2504 www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org
National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21 Reston, Virginia 20190-5248 http://nasad.arts-accredit.org
Council for Interior Design Accreditation
206 Grandville Avenue, Suite 350 Grand Rapids, MI 49503-4014 http://accredit-id.org/
Alex Alexanian ‘99, Entertainment Arts Gabriela Baginski ‘14, Photography Erick Carlson ‘02, Entertainment Arts Paolo Catalla ‘12, Communication Design Patrick Daly ‘09, Photography Daniel DiRito ‘12, Photography Kate Lees ‘04, Photography Justin Maconochie ‘93, Photography Christian Najjar ‘12, Photography Micaela Ruiz ‘09, Photography Zack Skynar ‘16, Communication Design Kelley O’Neill ‘17, Photography Aaron Barton ‘18, Photography
collegeforcreativestudies.edu/apply
Credits