American design schools with study abroad options

26 Jun 2019

Are you thinking about attending design school? The diversity of today’s creative industry make it an interesting and exciting field for students to branch into.

Creative industries help drive economic growth. For example, research notes that in the UK, “the creative industries are growing faster than any other sector” and that “local economies in the UK have grown their creative industries by an average of 11 percent between 2011-2014 and 2015-2016, twice as fast as other industry sectors”.

If the trend continues, 900,000 new jobs in the field could be created by 2030.

Meanwhile, a 2015 World Economic Forum report notes that the “current and future demand for creative services can be explained by the growth in internet usage and the increase in disposable income”.

While the industry has the potential to offer graduates many prospects, students will need the right qualifications to seize opportunities in the field. This makes choosing the right school – one that equips you with the right knowledge and skills for work success – an essential part of your research process.

One of the best ways to achieve this is by studying design abroad. Not only will you immerse yourself in a new culture to facilitate your personal and professional growth, you’ll also have the chance to soak in design movements happening abroad.

The US is home to several design schools, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have to make your way to the states. Here are three campuses abroad – or those that offer stints abroad – while enjoying an American-based education:

ArtCenter College of Design

Summer glam tonight at @ArtCenterEdu’s Rooftop Pride Soiree co-hosted by Brown & Proud and the Center for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. 🌈🌈🌈🎉🎉🎉 #ArtCenter #LAPride #LoveIsLove #LGBT #LGBTQ pic.twitter.com/GVMubc53xo

— Solvej Schou (@Solvej_Schou) June 21, 2019

The school, which was founded in 1930, is located in Pasadena, California and offers both undergraduate and graduate programmes. However, the ArtCenter has established a permanent, year-round studio for students at BIKINI Berlin, a mall in Germany, in 2013.

“The satellite studio hosts trans-disciplinary studio projects, giving ArtCenter students an immersive experience in a city known for reinvention. More than a study abroad programme, the studio environment is designed to deliberately remove students from a traditional setting and move them into the atmosphere of a pop-up design office, organised like a professional creative agency,” it said.

There’s also a network of members of local creative industries to support studio projects as mentors.

Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)

“Blessed be the fruit” – @handmaidsonhulu returns tonight! We are reminiscing on the evocative #SCADFASH exhibition, “Dressing for Dystopia,” featuring the captivating work by @AneCrabtree from season one and season two of the hit @Hulu series. #SCADFASH #costumedesign #ATL pic.twitter.com/XvTUdjIWYP

— SCAD (@SCADdotedu) June 5, 2019

SCAD is a private art school based in the US but students can apply to study abroad at its campuses in France or Hong Kong, among others, to boost their cultural experiences.

Its Hong Kong website notes: “SCAD offers the area’s largest concentration of art and design degree programmes in the heart of the Sham Shui Po district, where a fusion of ancient heritage and Western influence inspires visitors from around the globe”. It also offers degrees in over 40 areas of study and minors in more than 60 disciplines.

Students in SCAD’s France campus can also gain insight from visiting artists to further inspire them.

The Parsons School of Design

Join us for ‘The Fashion of Curating Fashion’ as we aim to explore the current state of fashion curating and the politics of fashion in museums. pic.twitter.com/IqM7qLWQKO

— Parsons Paris (@ParsonsParis) January 22, 2018

Parsons offers undergraduate and graduate programmes through their five schools where students can take up programmes in fashion to art, media and technology.

While their main campus is nestled in New York, students also have the opportunity to learn in a Parisian context at their branch campus in Paris – Parsons Paris – or exchange partners elsewhere, for one semester or one academic year, depending on their major and location of study.

Students can get the best of both worlds as the “Curricula shared by Parsons’ two campuses allow you to study in both creative capitals, drawing on American and European teaching traditions through our “one degree–two cities” approach to education,” notes its website.