Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is a private art and design college located in Providence, Rhode Island. Founded in 1877, RISD is one of the oldest and most respected art and design schools in the country. Its location in Providence gives students access to a historic New England city, a creative community and the resources of neighboring Brown University. RISD is a specialized college for students who are serious about pursuing art, design or architecture, rather than a traditional university with a broad range of academic departments. Undergraduates receive Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) or Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) degrees. RISD also offers several masters degrees including Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees in varying arts disciplines, Master of Architecture (MArch) degrees and specialized graduate degrees including Master of Arts & Teaching (MAT).
Admission to RISD is highly focused on the portfolio, which accounts for a substantial portion of the application review. Students should think of their portfolio as a visual résumé that demonstrates not only their artistic abilities but also their growth, curiosity, experimentation and creative process. Admissions officers want to see how students develop ideas, solve problems and explore different approaches through some in-progress pieces as well as polished art. Students who have focused exclusively on one subject or style in high school may need to demonstrate a broader range of interests and artistic exploration and a willingness to explore diverse media in college. Admissions officers from the Rhode Island School of Design attend National Portfolio Days and advise students on their portfolios while they are still in progress.
RISD offers undergraduate programs across a range of disciplines including illustration, painting, graphic design, industrial design, furniture design, textiles, jewelry & metalsmithing, glass, apparel design and architecture. Students should expect an immersive studio experience, with substantial time devoted to developing projects, experimenting with materials and refining their work. Studio courses emphasize critique, with professors and classmates providing feedback on students' work. Learning to discuss creative decisions, accept constructive criticism and revise projects is an important part of the RISD experience. Students need to be comfortable with an iterative process in which the first idea is rarely the final product.
First-year students are assigned an advisor through the first-year program, with advising becoming more closely connected to their chosen discipline as they progress deeper into their majors. RISD students have opportunities to apply design thinking to practical challenges, not just create work for display. Design projects can explore everyday products, while design research may address accessibility, sustainability and how people interact with objects and spaces. Students also participate in five-week Wintersession experiences such as studio classes, research, internships or study abroad between the fall and spring terms each year.
Who would thrive at the Rhode Island School of Design?
RISD students should be prepared for a demanding workload; assignments require long hours working in studios in addition to classes, independent projects and other coursework. A strong work ethic, time-management skills and a willingness to experiment are essential. Students should also be ready to develop their interests beyond their existing strengths. RISD is not simply a place to continue making the same kind of art a student has always made; it challenges students to expand their creative thinking, explore unfamiliar approaches and learn from other perspectives.
Brown | RISD Dual Degree Program (BRDD)
Ambitious students who want to combine their passion for art with another discipline, such as engineering or science, can apply to the Brown & RISD Dual Degree Program (BRDD) to take advantage of the strengths of both institutions. BRDD students graduate with a BFA from RISD and either a BA or a BS from Brown University after five years of interdisciplinary study. The program is exceptionally selective—a student must be admitted to RISD and Brown before their BRDD application essay will be reviewed—but it’s an incredible opportunity for the right candidate.
Notable Alumni:
Seth MacFarlane—Actor, comedian, and creator of “Family Guy”
Dale Chihuly—Glass sculptor and installation artist
Gus Van Sant—Academy Award-nominated director of Good Will Hunting and Milk
Jemima Kirke—Actor, known for “Girls”
Michael Dante DiMartino & Bryan Konietzko—Co-creators of Avatar: The Last Airbender
Shepard Fairey—Graphic designer, known for the Obama “HOPE” poster
Notable BRDD Alumni:
Nikolas Bentel—Industrial Design & Modern Culture and Media—Designer, known for the viral “Pasta Handbags”
Angie Kang—Illustration & Literary Arts—Author & Illustrator, Caldecott Honor winner for Our Lake
Sarah Nicita—Textiles & Cognitive Neuroscience—NASA engineer, helped design acoustic blankets to line the Artemis II Orion spacecraft
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