New England College | Institute of Art and Design Viewbook 2024
Institute of Art and Design
screen printer muralist
graphic novelist
artist
gallery director
art director professor
graphic designer
elementary art teacher
artist
photographer animator storyboard artist
photographer
inker
teacher
product designer
children’s book illustrator
gallery director curator
concept artist printmaker
animator
product designer
photojournalist sculptor muralist
tattoo artist
painter
web designer
It all starts here.
The Institute of Art and Design at New England College is a creative and supportive learning community that challenges individuals to transform themselves and their world.
game designer art therapist
UX designer
screen printer
art director
design director
fashion designer
our letterpress room
“The level of effort and precision that went into making physical type is incredible, and that made me excited to create.”
Austin R.
Graphic and Communication Design BFA
“Working in the darkroom is hands on, personal, and a rewarding process. Seeing your work come to life in your own two hands by mixing chemicals, developing, and enlarging is priceless.”
Michaela M. Graphic and Communication Design BFA and Photography BFA
our gallery
“Each new exhibition brings new opportunities to learn from professionals and fellow artists and to understand how a gallery functions in the real world.”
Isabella Z. Illustration BFA
Barrett F. Photography BFA our
“Learning new processes from our professors has made me a better artist overall.”
our senior studios
“Having my own workspace feels so rewarding. Getting to be surrounded by people who are as invested in what’s happening as I am is very positive. On top of that, a place where I can hang out for hours is so enriching!”
Hannah P. Fine Arts BFA
“The ability to work on modern technology that is easily accessible is a great opportunity to create in and out of class.”
Hannah S. Graphic Design BFA
FACILITIES F FACILITIES F
academic programs
Animation BFA
Art BA
Fine Arts
Media Arts
Comic Arts BFA
Fine Arts BFA
3D Studies
Painting and Drawing
Printmaking
Game and Digital Media Design BFA
Graphic and Communication Design BFA
Illustration BFA
Photography BFA
Theatre BA
Theatre Education K–12 BA related programs
Art Education K–12 BA
animation BFA
What’s your love? Animation design, digital illustration, stop motion animation, or 3D modeling? Be ready for these nextgeneration careers as you develop your visual organization through a combination of analog and digital design learning. Our Animation program prepares you for the 21st-century workplace by combining traditional hands-on experiences and cutting-edge digital tools and design platforms. You will gain competence and confidence in animation, mobile media, augmented reality, multimedia animation, and applied games as well as create a cohesive body of work that displays these concepts. The Northeast has become more active in the entertainment design industry, and you can pursue internships that help build your real-world skills.
art BA
When you pursue a Bachelor of Art in Art, you acquire foundation preparation for professional or graduate study or for careers in teaching, museum work, and studio and commercial art. You are encouraged to choose a Fine Arts or Media Arts concentration. The Fine Arts concentration includes courses in drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. The Media Arts concentration includes courses in photography, graphic design, video, and other digital applications.
art education k–12 BA
Encourage students to find the beauty in art and to express themselves through their own art.
comic arts BFA COMIC ARTS COMIC ARTS
From traditional comics and editorial cartoons to the latest techniques and trends in graphic novels, anime, or web-based animation, you will have the opportunity to learn not only how to tell a story but also how to bring it to life. Our Comic Arts major weaves together creative writing, illustration, and graphic design in a one-of-a-kind program that will broaden your horizons and open up new avenues for creative exploration in all manner of storytelling. And our innovative partnership with the Center for Cartoon Studies affords you the opportunity to meet and work with a broad range of visiting comic artists and cartoonists from around the world.
ARTS COMIC ARTS
fine arts BFA —
3D studies
FINE
Beginning with a firm foundation in ceramic wheel-working and hand-building techniques, you will gain insight into forms of abstract, conceptual, and traditional work. Incorporating techniques, aesthetics, and criticism into studio practice develops individual strengths and defines personal vocabulary and artistic style. Additionally, you can build skills toward professional development by sharing responsibility for attaining and understanding higher-level studio practices, including clay and glaze materials and kiln firing.
FINE ARTS
fine arts BFA— painting and drawing
Begin by gaining a vital understanding of painting techniques, materials, and processes and of the history of illustration and illustrators in America. In these foundational courses, you will learn the relationship between these disciplines and contemporary fine art. As you progress through the curriculum, you can explore other fine arts mediums to strengthen your overall artistic development in painting and drawing. Additionally, you will be challenged to create pieces that display your unique personality and progress as an artist and will have the opportunity to showcase your work in exhibits.
FINE ARTS FIN FINE ARTS FINE FINE ARTS FIN FINE ARTS FIN FINE ARTS FINE FINE ARTS FINE ARTS FINE ARTS
fine arts BFA — printmaking
FINE ARTS
Whether you are interested in screen printing clothes or making copper etchings, lithographs or linoleum blocks, you will find state-of-the-art facilities and resources to do it all. Plus, the class setting is intimate and places you on personal terms with a faculty of practicing professionals. NEC’s proximity to Boston, New York, and Montreal facilitates your exploration and engagement of broader artistic trends. Our faculty are committed to seeing you graduate with fluent and creative flexibility, prepared to engage your future as both artist and citizen.
FINE ARTS
FINE ARTS
ARTS
FINE ARTS FIN FINE ARTS FINE FINE ARTS FIN FINE ARTS FIN FINE ARTS FINE
game and digital media design BFA
This exciting program is cross-disciplinary, meaning you will learn about gaming and digital media design from several critically important points of view, including digital imaging, technical computer skills using advanced computer-aided design software, and fundamental business management concepts to prepare you to succeed in a dynamic and entrepreneurial industry.
NEC’s Game and Digital Media Design program emphasizes engaged, hands-on learning and internships designed to build expertise and real-world skills. You will produce interactive content within your first year of study, and there are plenty of internship opportunities in nearby tech-centered Manchester, New Hampshire.
GAME DESIGN GAME DESIGN GAME DESIGN GAME DESIGN GAME DESIGN GAE DESIGN GAME DESIGN
GAME DESIGN GAME DESIGN GAME DESIGN
graphic and communication design
BFA
Our Graphic and Communication Design program is a unique place that embraces both digital and analog technologies. As you use top-of-the-line software and hardware to develop digital work, you will also learn letterpress and incorporate hand-drawn type, skills that complement each other and make you a better designer. This program is led by faculty who are practicing designers who will immerse you in the industry through our Design NH agency, where students run an in-house agency for real-world clients, and internship experiences where you could work for companies like Segway, Oracle, and Disney.
DESIGN
illustration BFA
Our faculty members are a diverse group of successful working artists and nationally recognized illustrators who will provide you with a broad range of approaches, applications, and mediums to explore. Our proximity to Boston, New York, and Montreal makes it easy to explore and engage in broader cultural trends. Tell stories through your drawing, develop powerful concepts, and learn how to solve creative problems. Pick up tips or get critiqued by the biggest names in the industry through our Visiting Artists series, all while enjoying the support of a closeknit community of committed teachers and passionate students. It’s all at your fingertips.
BFA
From photojournalism, documentary, editorial, or commercial endeavors to fine-art photography, we make sure you have all the required tools and knowledge to launch your career in the best possible way. Our faculty are committed photographers and artists who will teach you traditional darkroom and 19thcentury techniques through the most recent technologies in digital photography.
theatre BA
Welcome to the ensemble. We say “ensemble” because that is the heart of how our Theatre program operates. No one member of the group is greater or more important than another. It is our work together, and the support of the company, that makes a New England College Theatre production rise to the level of excellence that we expect.
THEATRE THETHEATRE THETHEATRE THEATRE
Together with faculty and other students, you will explore every element of the theatre to understand it completely, dig into every facet of theatre to better understand yourself, and challenge each other in every corner of the theatre to better understand each other.
THEATRE
theatre education k–12 BA
If all the world is a stage, you can help your students make it their own.
a portfolio creating
Prior to enrolling in one of our BFA programs, you will be asked to share a portfolio of your work with us. You can share your portfolio at any time before or after being admitted to the Institute of Art and Design at New England College (your portfolio is not a requirement for admission).
Why we require a portfolio
Submitting a portfolio is an opportunity to showcase your skills as an artist to our team before enrollment. Your portfolio paints a picture for our team about your creative process and methods, highlighting your strengths and capacities as an artist. We look forward to viewing your work and welcoming you to the IAD at NEC community.
If submitting portfolio digitally:
Photograph your work.
• Take clear, well-lit photos.
• Only show your work in the photo; crop background out of image.
Upload work to Slideroom OR attach Instagram handle.
Please include:
• Your name
• Medium of each piece
• Dimensions of each piece
• Date created
• Title, if applicable
If submitting portfolio in person:
Schedule a portfolio review.
Contact our admissions office at 603.428.2223 or admissions@nec.edu.
• Use your best recent work, created within the past year.
• Include finished pieces, in-progress work, or sketches.
• Show diversity in your work.
• Choose quality over quantity. Gather 15–20 original works.
What to bring to your review
Bring your best digital work. That’s it!
student made
Over the course of one semester, professors Jay Bordage (Associate Professor, Art) and Yoav Horesh (Associate Professor, Photography) challenged students Hannah P., Ian, Chloe, Juiliette, Luke, Michaela, Xena, Gemma, Barrett, Hannah S., Morgan, and Isabella to create a real-world marketing plan for the Institute of Art and Design at New England College. These students developed merchandise, posters, and this viewbook.
Although they had no idea of the scale of a project like this, they learned a lot about perseverance, and they prevailed. They created something that they hope will inspire the next generation of Institute of Art and Design students.
“As creatives ourselves, we humbly implore you to express yourself and not give up on your creative dreams. You say, ‘I have an idea.’ We say, ‘Let’s make it happen.’ We thank the Institute of Art and Design at New England College for believing in our ideas.”
