FIDM Named in Top 10 for Graphic Design

MOST POPULAR · RANKINGS

Top 10 Universities for Graphic Design Majors

November 28, 2018 // by Corey Marfitt

Elementary school taught you ROYGBIV and complementary colors. Now you know design is more than colors, shapes and letters—it’s a language. More than ever, companies and agencies need graphic designers fluent in technology to create designs that evoke feeling. Everywhere you go design surrounds you. Further your creative education at the top graphic design schools in America. Equipped with the latest technology, newly renovated studios and workshops, and talented professors, you’ll build a portfolio at these colleges that could land you your dream job.

6. FASHION INSTITUTE OF DESIGN & MERCHANDISING

Get your creative design juices flowing at FIDM. Aside from traditional graphic design classes like advanced typography, students also take “Graphic Design for Mobile” where they build an engaging mobile marketing application by the end of the course. At the Annex, Design Studio West offers studio labs, computer terminals, drafting tables and more. Students can also access the world-class FIDM Museum and Galleries plus FIDM Library, the largest fashion library on the west coast. Outside of the classroom, students interact with on-campus events like the DEBUT Runway Show, media lounge screenings, book signings from famous authors and designers and different exhibitions in the FIDM Gallery and Museums. Graphic design students can showcase their skills getting involved in FIDM Mode, a student-run magazine covering fashion, beauty, student life and career advice. FIDM also sets up industry partnerships so students can work on projects with companies like TOM and Signal Snowboards. More recently, Vespa San Francisco collaborated with FIDM graphic design students to create a custom look for the Vespa LX.

visit www.collegemagazine.com for the full list

Adobe + FIDM Creative Jam

I had the opportunity to help produce and co-host an Adobe Creative Jam for FIDM students in San Francisco and Los Angeles. During this half-day bootcamp-style design tournament, students quickly learned the basics of Adobe XD and then worked in teams of 3-5 to design an interactive prototype. Instructions given the day of the event: “Your challenge is to address a community and its residents, and design a way to make a tangible, measurable effect on their communities."

Eight teams working in three labs in Los Angeles and one team working at the Adobe offices in San Francisco were connected via CrowdCast and presented their work to the judges and other participants via this video chat. During the challenge, Creative Jam participants also heard from inspiring speakers Brycie Jones, Senior Communications Officer of Digital at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Antoinette Carroll, Founder & CEO of Creative Reaction Lab. Judges included Heather Haselwood, UX Designer at NFL Media, Pau Hershey, Sr. Experience Designer at Electronic Arts, and FIDM Alumnus Daniel Santos, Design Director at Kettle.

The winning team—made up of L.A.-based Conger, Emma, Carmen, and Erika—created an app, Walking Buddy, to help people feel comfortable walking in areas they may or may not be familiar with. Jordan, Marilou, and Stephanie took home second place for their Respect You app, while Vanessa, Ari, Chelsea, and Emily won third place for their Trans Ally Community app. 

 All competitors who successfully completed the Jam received a three-month subscription to Adobe Stock. Team members on the first place team won Amazon gift cards worth $250, second place team members won $150 each, and third place won $50 each.

 Documentation of the event can be seen here:
https://www.facebook.com/adobecreativejam/videos/301452467248055/
https://www.facebook.com/adobecreativejam/videos/196376257920237/

CosmoProf + FIDM Challenge 2018

Cosmoprof North America is one of the largest beauty industry conferences in the US. This year they sponsored a special collaboration with FIDM. We combined Beauty students with Graphic students and challenged them to work in teams to create a connected beauty concept for 2050. The Graphic Design students brought to the project their understanding of target market research, design thinking, as well as logo, and packaging design skills. The Beauty Industry Management students focused on trends, consumer preferences, and product development. The winning team was flown to Las Vegas where Tina Perez, Director of Beauty Industry Management, and I presented the project at the annual conference and introduced the finalists. Congratulations Alysha and Quiana!

Macy's Flower Show - 2018 Edition

We participated in another fantastic Flower Show this year. The theme was "Once Upon a Springtime" and the SF Visual Team asked us to come up with a display that would signify all the seasons and time with a storybook inspiration. The students came up with great ideas and executed them beautifully.