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Home , Communication design

MASTER OF FINE IN

FLORENCE, ITALY saci-florence.edu MISSION

saci’s mfa in communication design program provides students with the knowledge needed to:

→ understand and use design as an instrument for change.

→ work across mediums embracing the ever-expanding range of available tools and .

→ interpret data in developing systems.

→ develop a keen sense of the social implications of design.

→ work as creative mediators within a multi-disciplinary collaborative environment.

→ contribute to and expand the field of communication design through research and pedagogy.

c ov er: "how m y br a in wor ks when de signing" by mfa in communication de sign s t uden t neh a bh a r a dwa j

f er r ag a mo fa shioning space s collaboration f or t he e x hibi t ion "1927 t he r e t ur n t o i ta ly" by v is ua l de sign s t uden t s p il a r f er n a nde z s a n t o s a nd v ir a l sh a h INTRODUCTION → Advanced professional competence as Design Area Head and two other Design evinced through a well-developed body area instructors appointed by the Program In this two-year program, MFA candidates of work which demonstrates a depth of Director/Design Area Head. Such requests have a unique opportunity to situate their knowledge and experience. are normally approved only in the case of personal design practice in relation to both documented medical emergencies, and the the design and legacies of Italy and → Knowledge of theory and practices period of approved extended study does not Europe and the challenges of contemporary necessary for leadership positions normally exceed one academic year. urban Florence. within the design professions. Credit from other institutions is not → Advanced capabilities with To facilitate a modulated learning transferable to the MFA in Communication technologies, as evinced through experience, each MFA candidate works Design program, nor is credit earned at creation, dissemination, presentation, in dedicated studio space that fosters SACI prior to matriculation in the MFA in documentation, and preservation of communal studio experiences. The studios Communication Design program. Students work. are in a fully renovated 16th-century who, prior to matriculation in the MFA in Communication Design program, have palazzo in the heart of Florence—the city → Understanding of the significance of completed at SACI courses required in that during the Renaissance, revolutionized Italian, other European, and global the program may be permitted, subject visual culture and has since served as an Communication Design practices, both to approval by the Program Director/ inspiration for generations of . historical and contemporary, and the Design Area Head, to enroll in other SACI ability to demonstrate this knowledge courses, in the appropriate area and at MFA candidates investigate the evolution through creative, innovative, and the appropriate , to substitute for of Communication Design from its roots socially-responsible design projects. in Western visual conventions to current the required course work that had been completed previously at SACI. trends and processes. They are encouraged PROGRAM OF STUDY to adopt—and incorporate into their own way of working—practices from both Students in the Master of Fine Arts in CURRICULUM old and new disciplines: , Communication Design program must , and ; complete 60 semester hours of course The curriculum for the Master of Fine Arts in Branding and ; ; work within two academic years. They Communication Design program is founded ; ; and Environmental, normally enroll each academic year in 4 on the belief that graduate students in Interactive, and . or 5 courses in both the Fall and Spring Communication Design should concentrate semesters. Students meet at the beginning in one area, experiment in others, and Ongoing dialogue and critiques with and throughout each semester with the complement their studio work with art SACI instructors and visiting designers Program Director/Design Area Head. history, , and other academic provide MFA candidates with varied studies. Programs of study are flexible. They vary perspectives on their creative work. A from student to student and are geared Each student in the MFA in Communication deeper understanding of the Italian culture to meet individual study goals, which are Design program is given studio space, and of and style is reached through outlined in the Study Proposal. Students his or her work is critiqued regularly in presentations and workshops, visits to are able to pursue their specific areas group sessions led by SACI instructors the studios of cutting-edge designers, and of interest by undertaking Directed who are, at times, joined by other design travel to design fairs throughout Italy and Independent Study that complements professionals. All students are encouraged Europe. classroom study in Design and other areas. to take an active role in these critiques,

which are intended to offer constructive Students earn 60 credits. During their first To maintain satisfactory academic progress evaluation of the student’s work and assist year, they create a customized program and earn the MFA degree, students must the student in sharpening his or her own that balances independent study, studio complete all course work in the program critical faculties. design assignments, and course work. In at SACI within two academic years with a their second year, emphasis is placed upon minimum overall grade point average of Students in the Master of Fine Arts in career options for emerging communication 3.0 (based upon a scale in which A = 4.0). Communication Design program are designers. MFA candidates have the A letter grade (A-F) is given in each class. required to take the following: option of gaining practical experience as Students in the program are not permitted SACI Teaching Assistants, and they can to take courses Pass/Fail except for f a l l s e m e s t e r (f i r s t y e a r ) undertake Design Internships in Tuscan Teaching Assistantships. • 3 semester hours: Graduate Seminar design firms and cultural institutions. in Communication Design: History & Students who need additional time to Theory I After completing their MFA in complete all course work are able to • 3 semester hours: Graduate Seminar Communication Design, graduates will be enroll, during their two academic years in Communication Design: Studio Co- able to demonstrate: of matriculation in the program, in SACI’s Requisite I Summer I and/or Summer II terms. • 3 semester hours: Graphic Design, → The ability to approach design Students who require more than two Interactive Art & Design, Typography, or work as an integrated system and academic years to complete the program Illustration to solve problems by employing must receive approval to do so from both • 3 semester hours: Directed Independent research methodologies and visual the Dean and their Graduate Review Board, Study in Communication Design communication practices. which consists of the Program Director/ • 3 semester hours: Studio Elective s p r i n g s e m e s t e r (f i r s t y e a r ) awards are made on the basis of teaching 2D DESIGN INTERNSHIPS • 3 semester hours: Graduate Seminar potential and academic distinction at in Communication Design: History & both the undergraduate and graduate MFA in Communication Design students are Theory II levels. 2D Design Teaching Assistantships encouraged to gain training and practical • 3 semester hours: Graduate Seminar are available in SACI classes, ranging experience in the field by undertaking in Communication Design: Studio Co- from beginning to advanced levels, in 2D Design Internships in Tuscany with Requisite II Graphic Design, Interactive Art & Design, individual designers or firms that specialize • 3 semester hours: Graphic Design, Typography, Infographics, and Illustration. in , graphic design, or Interactive Art & Design, Infographics, or The supervising SACI instructor prepares illustration. Interns assist these design Illustration the Teaching Assistant for teaching by professionals in their work. Design • 3 semester hours: Directed Independent providing an introduction to the pedagogy Internships entail a minimum of 8 hours of Study in Communication Design considered fundamental to curricula work per week and are unpaid. Students • 3 semester hours: Studio Elective for students in the subject matter at the receive grades for the Internship and 3 appropriate level of instruction. This semester hours of credit for each term f a l l s e m e s t e r (s e c o n d y e a r ) preparation begins prior to the start of in which they successfully complete 2D • 3 semester hours: Graduate Seminar in the course and continues throughout the Design Internships. Although knowledge Communication Design: Professional semester. of Italian is helpful, it is not required. Practicum I Students intending to undertake a 2D • 6 semester hours: Directed Independent The Teaching Assistant is required to attend Design Internship should inform the Study in the Communication Design each class session; assist the instructor Program Director/Design Area Head as early • 3 semester hours: Studio Elective both in class and outside class regarding as possible prior to the beginning of the • 3 semester hours: 2D Design Teaching matters related to the course; and, with term to allow ample time for the Internship Assistantship or 2D Design Internship the approval and under the supervision of to be arranged. the instructor, critique students’ work, give s p r i n g s e m e s t e r (s e c o n d y e a r ) demonstrations, and lecture on appropriate • 3 semester hours: Graduate Seminar in subject matter. With the approval of PROGRAM COMPONENTS Communication Design: Professional the Program Director/Design Area Head, Practicum II Teaching Assistantships in classes outside The Study Proposal • 6 semester hours: Directed Independent the 2D Design area can be taken as Studio At the beginning of each semester, students Study in Communication Design Electives. Teaching Assistantships are write a Study Proposal. The Study Proposal • 3 semester hours: Studio Elective unpaid. They are graded on a Pass/Fail must include: a clear statement defining • 3 semester hours: 2D Design Teaching basis. Students receive 3 semester hours the student’s focus within Communication Assistantship or 2D Design Internship of credit for each class in which they are Design; proposed goals for the semester; Teaching Assistants. problems that the student is seeking Work in Communication Design is directly supported by work in Studio Electives which

can be selected from a full range of offerings a sn a p ch at filt er de signed f or t he g a l l eri a del l’ac c a demi a by a dva nced gr a phic de sign s t uden t bry nn a ziegl er including: ; Video; Animation; Digital Multimedia; Body Archives; Drawing; Painting; Etching; Serigraphy; Ceramics; Sculpture; Book Arts; Jewelry Design; Batik; Weaving; Installation & Performance Art; or additional Design courses. Though reviews have work in Communication Design as their main focus, work done in elective areas is also considered with care. In preparing Study Proposals and Final Presentations, students are encouraged to consider anticipated or completed work in elective disciplines as well as any other experiences, whether class-related or extracurricular, relevant to their design, artistic, or scholarly development.

2D DESIGN TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS

A number of 2D Design Teaching Assistantships are awarded annually to students who have completed the first academic year of the MFA in Communication Design program. The to resolve and questions he or she is Communication Design. The DIS format throughout Italy and elsewhere in Europe. proposing to answer; themes or subjects to enables a student to propose a study During the first year, the course focuses on investigate; the means and resources that plan to meet a specific educational need contemporary practices with an emphasis will be used to realize these goals (courses, pertinent to individual design, artistic, or upon the role of the emerging museums, libraries, materials, techniques, scholarly development. At the beginning within new and established art and design and other resources); and a statement of the semester, a DIS form in which the communities. During the second year, the about how all the above relate to prior work project is fully described in detail must be course investigates designers’ networks the student has done. submitted by the student to the instructor and professional opportunities for the supervising the DIS and the appropriate emerging designer. The Study Proposal must be typed and Area Head for his or her signed approval. All DIS arrangements follow the same add/ submitted for review and approval to the MFA Graduate Seminar in drop schedule as regular classes. Program Director/Design Area Head by the Communication Design: end of the first week of classes; it may be Studio Co-Requisite I and II returned to the student for rewriting and MFA Graduate Seminar in The 3-credit studio co-requisites of the clarification. The four Study Proposals Communication Design: History & MFA Graduate Seminar in Communication (one each semester) serve to define and Theory I and II Design consist of group critiques and redefine the student’s goals and provide individual critiques/discussions of each major points of reference throughout his or MFA Graduate Seminar in student’s design work. Each student is her entire course of study. It is a good idea Communication Design: required to: produce a body of design to think about and draft a Study Proposal Professional Practicum I and II work; make presentations about his or her before arriving at SACI. The Graduate Seminar in Communication ; maintain a journal; and participate Design, in which MFA students must enroll in an end-of-year group exhibition and other Directed Independent Study during each of their four semesters of group exhibitions. Each semester students enroll in a Directed study, provides structure and instruction Independent Study (DIS) in Communication that enables students to develop, refine, Reviews Design. The DIS is an intensive and and clarify their work. Students are Reviews occur at the end of each semester. individually designed tutorial in which the exposed to concepts, issues, designers, Over the course of the program, a student student meets weekly with the instructor and artists, past and present, relevant to has four reviews, including the Final to review design work created by the the practice and study of Communication Presentation. These are forums developed student for the DIS. With the approval Design in a contemporary setting. Visiting to serve the student with constructive of the Program Director/Design Area lecturers focus on a range of critical issues criticism and discussion of his or her Head, students can additionally take as pertaining to modern and contemporary work. Comments are geared to helping an elective a DIS in a subject other than design. This 3-credit academic course students develop their own critical faculties. consists of and discussions Reviews are conducted by the student’s that address a variety of topics. An Graduate Review Board, which, as has been overarching theme is the role and identity noted, consists of the Program Director/ of the communication designer within Design Area Head and two other Design society, with particular focus on the area instructors appointed by the Program experience of the communication designer Director/Design Area Head. Graduate in Italy. Readings provide students with Review Board members’ comments are an exposure to particular designers, art both spoken and written. A copy of written and design theories, and art and design comments is given to each student for his or institutions within a loose chronological/ her permanent reference. historical context. Final Papers/Presentations In addition to discussions based on At the end of the final semester of assigned readings, this course includes study, the student undergoes an hour- visits to design events and designers’ long comprehensive review conducted studios. Field trips include visits to by the student’s Graduate Review exhibitions at the Palazzo Strozzi in Board. During the review, the student Florence, the Triennale in Milan, and presents works completed in partial the Children’s Book Fair in Bologna; the fulfillment of the requirements for the Tipoteca Italiana typography museum near MFA in Communication Design degree Treviso; the Bodoni Museum in Parma; and describes how studio and academic museums such as the Uffizi Gallery and research undertaken while at SACI relates Museo Galileo in Florence and the Luigi to the work being presented. Prior to Pecci Center for Contemporary Art in Prato; this Final Presentation, the student and meetings with designers in Milan and prepares and submits to the Graduate other cities whose work revolves around Review Board a research paper in which printed and digital . Field trips vary themes, problems, and concepts relevant from day trips of a few hours to excursions to the student’s visual, conceptual, and of several days, and include travel historical concerns are explored. The paper must trace strands of connection among for Teaching Assistantships. At the end of SACI’s faculty by looking at the Faculty individuals, movements, and cultural each semester, an official SACI transcript is section on SACI’s website: factors from many of the periods studied issued to all students in the program. For www.saci-florence.edu and demonstrate how these influenced the the MFA degree to be awarded, all Master student’s creative thinking in undertaking of Fine Arts in Communication Design RESOURCES and completing the presented body of program requirements must be fulfilled. work. The paper should, where applicable, Students in the Master of Fine Arts in be typed and double-spaced. It must be FACULTY Communication Design program are 15 to 20 pages in length and incorporate allotted studio space in SACI’s Jules infographics as a central means of Maidoff Palazzo for the . The communication. The Program Director/Design Area Head palazzo is a four-floor, 16,000 square foot The Program Director/Design Area Head building located in Florence’s historic center At the Final Presentation, students must is responsible for reviewing and approving at Via Sant’Egidio 14. It is a short distance additionally submit photo documentation: Study Proposals; advising students about from such famous sites as the Duomo and prints, CDs, DVDs, or videos of work registering for their classes; allocating Brunelleschi’s Ospedale degli Innocenti, completed in the program. Concentration studio space; scheduling reviews and and is in close proximity to Florence’s four must be on work in Communication Final Presentations; aiding students in great piazze—Piazza Santa Croce, Piazza Design. All work must be submitted in a scheduling and planning graduate student della Signoria, Piazza della Repubblica, professional format. Prints must be labeled exhibitions; and disseminating information and Piazza della Santissima Annunziata. (name, date, title, medium, dimensions), pertinent to MFA in Communication Design Named after SACI’s founder and director cropped, and mounted. The student must study. The Program Director/Design Area emeritus, the palazzo also includes pass the Final Presentation to receive the Head is a member of the Graduate Review classrooms, a garden, terraces, audio- MFA in Communication Design degree. Board and is available to advise students on visual equipment, and computer facilities all aspects of their work and life at SACI. In that can be used for design, photography, MFA Exhibition addition, the Program Director/Design Area and studio art projects. The Jules Maidoff An MFA exhibition of works by graduating Head helps students meet and work with Palazzo for the Visual Arts is open from students takes place at the end of their final faculty who can aid the students in their 9:00 am to midnight seven days a week semester of study. To gain experience of chosen areas of study. when classes are in session. professional practice, graduating students are required to take part in all aspects of SACI’s Faculty The Worthington Library, in SACI’s Palazzo the exhibition. This includes designing and Students in the Master of Fine Arts in dei Cartelloni, contains over 13,000 volumes arranging for the of invitations; Communication Design program are and includes a major section devoted to preparing the works for exhibition; installing encouraged to view the faculty at large classic and contemporary design texts. the works in the gallery; labeling all of the as a resource to further their study goals. The library’s periodical collection, with works; adjusting lighting; preparing for the Students should therefore feel free to over 50 subscriptions, is one of the largest opening reception; and arranging for the consult any member of the SACI faculty English-language art and design periodical dismantling of the exhibition and the return about areas of special interest. Prospective collections in Florence. SACI’s Blackwell of all works to exhibition participants. All students can acquaint themselves with Design Library, in the Jules Maidoff Palazzo, reasonable assistance is given in this effort

by faculty, advisors, and staff. a de tail of intangible self-p or tr ait by design s t udent chandler b jork

Documentation As part of the MFA in Communication Design program, students are instructed in presentation and documentation methods. Documentation, submitted in a professional manner, must be presented to the student’s Graduate Review Board at the end of the final term for retention by SACI. This documentation consists of (1) the student’s curriculum vitae; (2) the Study Proposals; (3) the journals; (4) the final research paper; (5) the MFA exhibition invitation; and (6) slides, prints, CDs, DVDs, or videos of work completed in the program.

Grades, Transcripts, and Degrees A letter grade (A-F) is given in each course, including Directed Independent Study. Students in the Master of Fine Arts in Communication Design program are not permitted to take courses Pass/Fail except infographic for sustainable thinking pr o jec t by mfa in communications design s t udent neh a bh ar adwa j

contains the entire collection of back issues both as part of its classes and as optional GENERAL INFORMATION of journals, magazines, and periodicals additions to its programs. Students in the related to Graphic Design, Illustration, MFA in Communication Design program, in Eligibility , and . Both addition to participating in field trips that US and international students who have the Worthington and Blackwell libraries are part of the Graduate Seminars, are earned, or will have earned, a bachelor’s are open seven days a week. Library users encouraged to take advantage of these field degree, or its equivalent, prior to beginning have access to ARTstor (an online database trips. Even when not enrolled in a given graduate study at SACI may apply for of more than 1,500,000 art, design, class, they are welcome to accompany field admission to the MFA in Communication photography, architecture, humanities, trips when space is available. SACI classes Design program. Applicants who attend, and social science digital images) and regularly visit incomparable collections or attended, a US college or university JSTOR (an online database of articles from in museums such as the Uffizi, Bargello, must have earned a minimum overall grade thousands of academic journals). ARTstor Accademia, Pitti, Marino Marini, Horne, point average of 3.0 (based upon a scale and JSTOR can be accessed from any Primo Conti, Specola, San Marco, Stibbert, in which A = 4.0). The required minimum computer in SACI’s Palazzo dei Cartelloni and Bardini. undergraduate grade point average in or Jules Maidoff Palazzo. SACI also offers Design course work if the applicant has had online access to the Questia library of over Field trips are usually led by one of the art no previous graduate experience is 3.3. The 9,000,000 books and articles. history, photography, design, or studio required minimum grade point average in art instructors. SACI field trips outside of previous graduate work in Design is also 3.3. SACI’S LECTURE SERIES Florence normally include visits to Rome; Those whose native language is not English Milan; Ravenna; Pisa and Lucca; Siena who have not demonstrated English- Each semester, a number of lectures are and San Gimignano; Fiesole; Vinci and the language proficiency through prior study scheduled that are open to all students. Medici Villas; Bologna; the monastery of in the English language at an institution These lectures feature visiting designers, La Certosa; and Arezzo, Urbino, Monterchi, of higher learning will be required to painters, sculptors, photographers, and San Sepolcro. SACI also offers optional demonstrate English-language proficiency filmmakers, art historians, critics, curators, field trips to enrich students' overseas art through one of the methods indicated in the and other art and design professionals, as and cultural experience. Each year there Non-US Student Admissions section of the well as speakers who address subjects is a trip to Venice and another to Naples, SACI website. In addition to the above, to be relevant to Italian culture and politics. Pompeii, and Herculaneum. These travel admitted to the program applicants must opportunities allow students to explore demonstrate: FIELD TRIPS areas outside Florence, and are a wonderful way to become aware of Europe's art, → Academic distinction in prior university- SACI emphasizes on-site learning and design, history, and culture. Optional trips level study as evidenced through sponsors many field trips for its students, require modest fees. submission of transcripts from all schools attended showing courses of Fine Arts in Communication Design be posted online via SACI’s electronic completed and grades received. In program in the Fall semester only. portfolio provider. SACI does not require reviewing applicants’ academic records, a payment for submitting an ePortfolio. special attention will be paid to course Completed applications should be received Upon submission of your SACI application, work undertaken in areas most relevant no later than May 1. Applications received you will receive an email with a link for to Communication Design. after May 1 will be considered only if space your ePortfolio submission. Acceptable is available. file formats and sizes for ePortfolios are: → Artistic promise in Communication Images: JPEG at a resolution of 72 dpi which Design as evinced through submission of Applicants for scholarships must apply by must be no larger than 600 pixels in the a portfolio with images of a substantial March 15. longest direction. Videos: .flv, .wmv, .mov— number of high quality design works. up to 60 MB each and no longer than five Applicants should complete and submit the minutes. Text documents: PDF format up to → Strong support from instructors or other online application form through the SACI 10 MB each. All submissions must include artists or designers familiar with the website, including a $70 non-refundable an inventory list with title, medium, size, applicant’s work as indicated through processing fee. date, and description. submission of at least three letters of recommendation that evaluate In addition, the following materials are also the applicant’s past performance Scheduling a with a required: in academic and/or design subjects; SACI Faculty Member

assess the applicant’s appropriateness Applicants who submit all required → Short essay describing the applicant's for MFA in Communication Design study documents and materials will receive via area of specialization, objectives, and in Florence at SACI and likelihood of e-mail an invitation and instructions from reasons for wishing to enter the program. success in the program; and appraise the New York SACI Admissions Office to the applicant’s potential for career schedule a phone or Skype conversation → One set of official transcripts from all distinction as a designer and educator. with a SACI faculty member to discuss their post-secondary institutions attended. application and interest in the program. → Clearly articulated educational goals and design aspirations that could best → Three letters of recommendation from Please see the SACI website for full details be advanced through matriculation in instructors or other designers or artists on the application procedure. SACI’s MFA in Communication Design familiar with the applicant’s work. program. Notification → Curriculum vitae (required of those who Decisions will be emailed to students All proficiencies required for entrance to have been out of school for 3 or more between April and June. the program must be achieved prior to years). admittance. No credit toward the degree Financial Information, Tuition, Fees is permitted for study directed toward Submitting Your ePortfolio & Scholarships completion of these proficiencies. For admission, an ePortfolio of 10-15 For full information, please see the Dates images of your strongest and most and Fees and Scholarships sections on the Application Process recent work in Communication Design SACI website. As noted above, applicants Students may begin study in the Master must be submitted. This ePortfolio must for scholarships must apply by March 15.

SACI IS FOR FURTHER A United States non-profit 501(c) Department of Education to confer INFORMATION CONTACT (3) educational entity incorporated the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Studio Arts College International Studio Arts College International in 1976 Communication Design (New York) (Florence) 454 W 19th St Palazzo dei Cartelloni A directly accredited institutional Recognized by the Italian Ministry New York, NY 10011 Via Sant’Antonino 11 member of the National of Foreign Affairs and the Italian USA 50123 Florence, Italy Association of Schools of Art and Ministry of Universities as a foreign T: (212) 248-7225 T: (39) 055-289948 Design (NASAD) non-profit university-level program F: (212) 248-7222 F: (39) 055-2776408 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] Affiliated with Bowling Green State Students who would like to receive University (BGSU) in Ohio, which a copy of SACI’s accreditation, is accredited by NASAD and by licensure, and/or approval should the North Central Association of send a signed request for such Colleges and Secondary Schools material to SACI’s Dean. Authorized by the Delaware

www.saci-florence.edu 07_2019