Summer Institute Art, Media & Design

Monday–Friday

Choose one major from the following areas.

Animation

Professional animators guide you through the basics of motion studies: experimenting with traditional hand-drawn, stop-motion and digital animation techniques. Over the course of the program, you will storyboard, film, edit and execute your own short animated movie and demo reel.

This program is full and no longer accepting applications. 

Art Explorations

Develop a unique artistic practice by drawing from an array of 2-D and 3-D disciplines, including sculpture, ceramics, drawing and printmaking. You will have the opportunity to explore a range of techniques and learn how to work across media and toward an interdisciplinary approach to art making.

This program is full and no longer accepting applications. 

Design

In this wide-ranging course, you will develop a concept for your own sneaker design while learning about product design, branding (graphic design) and interaction design. First, you’ll design and print a 3-D model of your sneaker. Then, you’ll explore how to create a logo, a tagline and a brand for your footwear. Finally, you’ll create an interactive web and social media ad for your sneakers to help sell and promote your product.

This program is full and no longer accepting applications. 

Game Design

Delve into the complex and intricate world of video games. In this workshop, you’ll explore the principles that inform how games work, what makes them fun, and how they can help us understand our world and social interactions. Learn to construct logical storylines and rules in an imagined space, and utilize interface design, programming tools and aesthetics to bring your original game concept to life.

This program is full and no longer accepting applications. 

Illustration

Dive into the world of contemporary illustration with a course led by professionals working in the field. Learn traditional and digital drawing techniques while developing your picture-making process. Create imaginative, conceptual and meaningful visual solutions and storytelling illustration for platforms such as comics, children’s books, publications and concept art.

This program is full and no longer accepting applications. 

Painting

Enjoy a deep exploration into painting! Begin with an introduction to painting techniques and studio processes, including color mixing, paint application and composition. Hands-on projects and the opportunity to work from a range of source references will introduce you to some of the fundamental approaches to representation and abstraction.

This program is full and no longer accepting applications. 

Photography

Learn professional digital photography and develop your abilities in composition, lighting techniques, color and tonality to take dynamic images. You’ll also learn about photographic strobe lighting in the studio environment and hone your photographic skills to create exhibition quality images and prints.

This program is full and no longer accepting applications. 

Monday–Thursday

Students will enroll in two of the following electives, one meeting on Mondays and Wednesdays, and the other meeting on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Applicants will rank their preferred electives.

Ceramics

Learn about the technical possibilities of clay while working with your hands! You will develop two main projects that weave the historical and conceptual possibilities of this unique and transformative material.

Character Design Illustration

Working with a professional in the field, you’ll research and use your imagination to develop and design original characters that tell their stories. You’ll use a variety of traditional and digital media to create thumbnail sketches that evolve into highly rendered character designs suitable for various applications, including games, animation, comics, graphic novels and illustration.

Digital Effects for Film & Animation

Create effects for live-action and animated films using Adobe After Effects, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Premiere. Shoot and light sequences in front of a green screen for a range of settings, and create standard effects such as muzzle slashes, lightsabers and explosions.

Figure Drawing

Drawing the figure is crucial for many forms of art making and design. This course allows you to focus exclusively on articulating the human form. You’ll work from nude models as you learn basic anatomy, gesture, volume and how to check accuracy. Previous drawing experience is recommended.

Jewelry/Metals

Learn to create a one of a kind wearable piece of jewelry through various metalworking techniques, including soldering fabrication, cold connections and polishing. You’ll walk away with one or more pieces of finished jewelry.

Photography

Hone your photographic skills to create exhibition quality images and prints. Learn professional digital photography and develop your abilities in composition, lighting techniques, color and tonality to take dynamic images.

Risograph Printing

A Risograph printer echoes the vibrant “ink on paper” look of offset printing and is accessible to artists working in both analog and digital media, including illustrators, designers, printmakers and mixed-media artists. In this class, you’ll learn about the Risograph and create your own zines, posters and limited-edition prints.

Screenprinting

Discover the medium Andy Warhol stole from industrial production processes and transformed into an art form. Learn the techniques for screenprinting clothing, bags, posters, zines and items of your choice.

Sculpture

Learn a wide-range of 3-D techniques and processes, including modeling, carving and installation, among others. Work in numerous media in various shops across the university.

Sketchbooks: Experiments & Field Notes

Learn to use your sketchbook as a visual journal for observation and invention. You’ll experiment with markers, ink and cut paper, and field trips will encourage you to work from life and your imagination.

Storytelling Through Social Media

Create dynamic stories using text and image on social media (Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok). You will work collaboratively, and use your own stories, art, illustration, video, and photography in new dynamic ways on social media platforms.

Visual Development for Animation

Learn the fundamentals of character design, creature design, environmental design and art direction for animated media. You will also learn how to pitch a project to a design team using reference material, written descriptions and visual aids such as mood boards.