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Students in field

School of Art & Design

PURPOSE      

Finlandia University’s International School of Art & Design balances experiences in critical thinking and creative insight with a strong foundation in liberal studies. We emphasize the convergence of technical skill and conceptual innovation. The program prepares graduates for emerging opportunities in an international community and provides foundations in entrepreneurship, sustainability, and business practices in art and design.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

  1. Communication: Communicate of the Elements & Principles of Design within selected medium.
  2. Analytical and Critical Thinking/Creative Insight: Integrate knowledge of basic business practices as they relate to entrepreneurial ventures, exhibition opportunities, and professional presentation & portfolio development.
  3. Analytical and Critical Thinking/Global Perspective: Resource the relevance of history, theory, and criticism, using perspectives and scholarship drawn from the students’ major field and at least one other field.
  4. Personal Perspective/Global Perspective: Measure decisions involving social, environmental, and ethical issues concerning the production and consumption of Art & Design.
  5. Creative Insight:  Assess the possibilities and limitations of materials and processes, including the potential and current uses of existing and developing materials, technologies, and production methods.
  6. Personal Perspective:  Support an attitude of curiosity, determination, and reflection that will persist beyond graduation.

Ceramic Design

In the transition from academics to professional practice, Finlandia Ceramic Design students are prepared to:

  • Understand basic design principles, particularly as related to ceramic design;
  • Develop solutions to ceramic design problems;
  • Use tools, techniques, and processes to produce work from concept to finished object, including knowledge of raw materials and technical procedures, such as clays, glazes, and kiln firing;
  • Understand the industrial applications of ceramic techniques; and
  • Understand the relevance of design history, theory, and criticism from a variety of perspectives, including those of art history, cultural studies, technology, and the social and cultural uses of designed objects.

Fiber and Fashion Design

In the transition from academics to professional practice, Finlandia Fiber/Fashion Design students are prepared to:

  • Understand the elements and principles of design and apply them to fiber, fashion, and textile design;
  • Understand the possibilities and limitations of materials and processes, including the potential and current uses of existing and developing materials, technologies, and production methods;
  • Understand the industrial applications of weaving, surface design, garment design, textiles, and production techniques;
  • Determine design priorities and alternatives; research, define, and evaluate criteria and requirements; and design complex weaves for interior textiles, garments, or fiberart using jacquard design software; and
  • Understand the relevance of design history, theory, and criticism from a variety of perspectives, including that of art history, linguistics, communication and information theory, technology, psychology, the natural sciences, and the social and cultural use of designed objects and systems.

Graphic Design/Digital Art

In the transition from academics to professional practice, Finlandia Graphic Design/Digital Art students are prepared to:

  • Solve communication problems related to problem identification, research and information-gathering, analysis, generation of diverse solutions, prototyping and evaluating outcomes;
  • Describe and respond to the audience and context that a visual communication solution must address, including recognition of the physical, cognitive, cultural, social, and human factors that shape design decisions;
  • Create and develop form in response to communication problems using principles of visual organization and composition, information hierarchy, symbolic representation, construction of meaningful imagery, and typography;
  • Understand the use of tools and technology, including their roles in the creation, reproduction, and distribution of visual messages;
  • Understand the relevance of design history, theory, and criticism from a variety of perspectives, including those of art history, communication theory, technology, and the social and cultural application of designed objects and systems; and
  • Make informed decisions about social, environmental, and ethical issues, concerning contemporary graphic design practice and practices.

Integrated Design: Product/Interior/Sustainable Systems

In the transition from academics to professional practice, Finlandia Integrated Design students are prepared to:

  • Solve design challenges of the form and function in architectural interior spaces and the design of the products used by people;
  • View these design challenges with the holistic perspective of the non-specialist and apply sustainable systems design that adapts to the earth’s natural cycles and systems;
  • Apply the creative problem solving processes to any design-related issues in the built-environment that complement a bioregional sense of place;
  • Apply principles of sustainability with the highest ethical standards in addressing social and ecological impacts; and
  • Combine the wisdom of nature with ecologically sensitive technology and to be empowered by design seen as a meta-discipline integrating human activity with that of other life forms.

Studio Arts: Intermedia

In the transition from academics to professional practice, Finlandia Studio Arts: Intermedia students are prepared to:

  • Successfully construct artworks that communicate sincere devotion to craft and content;
  • Effectively apply the fundamental elements and principles of design in studio production and critique settings;
  • Understand art historical precedence, theoretical framework and critical context in the reception and explanation of art objects;
  • Make informed decisions about social and cultural issues concerning fine art production and consumption;
  • Apply knowledge of basic business practices as they relate to entrepreneurial ventures, exhibition opportunities and professional presentation;
  • Understand basic concepts and formats in various fine art discipline, including, but not limited to, painting, drawing, sculpture, and time-based media.

Cross-Concentration

For the ISAD cross-concentration degree, a student chooses two pre-existing concentrations and combines them to create an individualized learning experience. The cross-concentration degree is offered under the special circumstances listed below:

  • A grade point average in Art & Design classes of 3.5 or higher;
  • A letter of intent from the student to the dean explaining the desire and rationale for a cross-concentration degree; and
  • The curriculum for the combination of two concentrations will be evaluated by the respective faculty members on a case-by-case basis.

Academic Requirements

Art & Design students considering study abroad opportunities must have a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA and apply to and make arrangements with the dean of the International School of Art & Design. Students are encouraged to study at least one year of the Finnish language (or language of destination country) prior to departure.

Career Opportunities

  • Art Therapy
  • Art Therapist (additional education required)
  • Ceramic Design
  • Ceramic Sculptor
  • Ceramic Glaze Technician
  • Clay Body Technician
  • Production Potter
  • Teacher (additional education required)
  • Fiber and Fashion Design
  • Designer and/or producer of Accessories, Carpets, Knitwear, Fashion Fabric, Industrial Textiles, Upholstery, Garments, Yarns
  • Dye Specialist
  • Fiber Artist
  • Independent Garment Designer
  • Textile Consultant/Weaver
  • Textile Publication Designer
  • Graphic Design
  • Advertisement Designer
  • Art Designer
  • Book and Magazine Designer
  • Corporate Identity Designer
  • Entertainment Designer
  • Graphic Designer
  • Packaging Designer
  • Signage Designer
  • Teacher (additional education required)
  • Television Graphics Specialist

  • Integrated Design: Product/Interior/Sustainable
  • Architectural Interior Design
  • Exhibit Display Design
  • Furniture and Furniture Systems Design
  • Green Building Consultant
  • Human Factors Research
  • Product Design
  • Sustainable Systems Design
  • Toy and Game Design
  • Transportation Design
  • Studio Arts: Intermedia
  • Advertising Illustrator
  • Architectural Illustrator
  • Art Gallery Owner/Director
  • Cartoonist
  • Children’s Books Illustrator
  • Comic Book Designer/Illustrator
  • Commercial Artist
  • Computer Illustrator
  • Editorial/Newspaper Illustrator
  • Exhibits Installer
  • Greeting Card Designer
  • Installation Artist
  • Medical Illustrator
  • Painter/Illustrator
  • Teacher (additional education required)
  • Wildlife Illustrator

Progress Sheets

International School of Art & Design Staff

Dr. Cassandra Hill
Cassandra Hill, Ph.D.Dean & Associate Professor of CommunicationFinlandia UniversityCassandra.Hill@finlandia.edu(906) 487-7283
Fredi deYampert
Fredi de YampertVice President for Academic Affairs; Dean, College of Health SciencesFinlandia Universityfredi.deyampert@finlandia.edu906-487-7301
Lindsey Heiden Headshot Photo
Lindsey HeidenVisiting Assistant Professor, International School of Art & DesignFinlandia Universitylindsey.heiden@finlandia.edu
No Image Found - Directory Profile
Levi GrannisCTE/Graphic Design InstructorFinlandia UniversityLevi.Grannis@finlandia.edu

2016-17 Catalog

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