Master of Fine Arts in Environmental Design

Master of Fine Arts in Environmental Design Art Center’s Graduate Environmental Design program addresses the relationships between body, materials, space, and emotion. Our focus goes beyond style, considering the links between the psychological, physical, emotional and sensory effects of quality design.

We design experience—from the first moment of encounter to the last moment of interaction. Our approach dictates that we work in a multi-disciplinary way, and most often we are the ones generating the creative guidelines by which the total experience is explored. We define ourselves as opportunity seekers in the creative process.

Tracks in Spatial Experience and Furniture and Fixtures enable students to specialize and obtain advanced knowledge of theory and practice. Our focus points towards hospitality, retail, office, exhibition and event design.

The goal of our program is to educate designers to position themselves as author-based design leaders. Our graduates are designers capable of advancing the discipline and the craft of environmental design. Our program concentrates on extensive conceptual rigor crossed with business practices with a focus on theoretical thinking, technical innovation, manufacturing, fabrication and project execution.

Art Center’s history of industry partners and internationally acclaimed alumni and faculty create a vibrant environment in which to investigate the future of spatial, furniture, lighting and fixture design.

Our students create opportunity, innovation, and development within our discipline. Scenography enhances our students’ ability to make a meaningful connection in all that they design.

Art Center is now accepting applications for students entering the Graduate Environmental Design program in the 2012 Fall Term.

The Art Center community—students, faculty, staff, trustees, and alumni—came together throughout 2010 to envision the future of our institution. The result of this shared vision is a five-year strategic plan that will position us to shape and define culture, encourage relevance and social responsibility in art and design, prepare graduates for leadership in an increasingly pluralistic society, and advance learning, research and make at Art Center to the highest level.

The plan, Create Change, sets the stage for the next era of growth for the College. Learn more about the plan and its milestones at Create Change.