Master of Arts in Fashion Merchandising

at Academy of Art University USA

The Visual Development MA program provides professional development with advanced coursework in still life painting, figure drawing, character design, concept painting, layout design for animation, and other core skills of professional visual developers.

Entertainment Art
Entertainment Art emphasis students will develop professional skills needed to provide intelligent and informative visuals for new market areas of web publishing, app building, e-publishing, and VR experiences. Students will create unique portfolios incorporating data driven visual problem solving as well as fluency in time based media. Beyond distinct style and problem solving skills, students will develop professional portfolios emphasizing conceptual skills, current digital tools, appropriate motion based imaging skills, and the ability to work individually and in teams for online applications and digital publications. Professional skills needed to enter and sustain a career in the online marketplace for both contract and staff work will be emphasized.

The MA in Fashion Art Direction program will train students to think critically and create an industry-standard visual portfolio relevant to interview as Fashion Art Directors, Creative Directors, Visual Merchandisers, etc. Students who graduate from the program will be proficient in fashion styling, visual merchandising, graphic design, art direction, photo and video production.

The MA in Photography program provides professional practice and intensive study of the photographic medium. Core curriculum covers historical perspective, in addition to advanced theoretical and conceptual development in traditional, experimental and digital photography capture, post-production and output with a focus on the development of a signature portfolio in the student’s area of interest (Fine Art Photography, Documentary, or Art for Commerce).

The School of Industrial Design's BFA program gives students the freedom to pursue their personal design visions within a structured and supportive academic environment. Led by a faculty of industry veterans, students are taught to approach their work with equal regard for aesthetic, business, and societal considerations.

Transportation Design
The School of Industrial Design's BFA program gives students the freedom to pursue their personal design visions within a structured and supportive academic environment. Led by a faculty of industry veterans, students are taught to approach their work with equal regard for aesthetic, business, and societal considerations. Students with a career interest in Transportation Design will study the history of automotive styling trends and their evolution, design philosophy, and influence. they will develop sketch and rendering skills to emphasize accurate proportion, based on the seating of occupants and packaging of components.

The School of Fashion offers ten BFA degree programs, each designed to prepare you for work in the fashion industry. They are: Design, Knitwear Design, Textile Design, Costume Design, Footwear & Accessory Design, Fashion Styling, Fashion Product Development, Fashion Visual Merchandising, Fashion Merchandising, and Fashion Marketing. Students in these BFA programs may choose an emphasis in Fashion Design or 3D Design Pattern Making. Coursework combines excellence in design, artistic production, and innovative technology to provide students with the skills necessary to fully realize their creative visions.

Fashion Design
The School of Fashion's BFA program offers nine types of degrees: Fashion, Costume Design, Fashion Marketing, Fashion Merchandising, Fashion Product Development, Fashion Styling, Fashion Visual Merchandising, Knitwear Design and Textile Design.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) program in Interior Architecture & Design is a thirty-six (36) unit program that will provide students with a dynamic learning environment and a curriculum to prepare them for professional practice. The curriculum covers all aspects of design, including programming, design analysis, understanding human social and spatial interaction, space planning, use of color and materials, preparation of construction documents and specifications, site observation, professional business practices, current methods of interior construction, building systems and components, codes and regulations, fixtures, furnishings and equipment.

The Master of Arts program offers an introduction to landscape architecture. Coursework emphasizes the essential factors involved in the creation of outdoor spaces. This program is appropriate for students who want to learn about the profession but are not interested in practicing as a landscape architect in the future.

The School of Animation & Visual Effects BFA program provides students with the skills necessary to master today’s digital technology.

3D Modeling
The 3D Modeling BFA prepares students for modeling characters and creatures, as well as accessories like armor, weapons, etc. Students will learn to create textures using various modeling and texturing tools  to set new standards for artistic excellence. 3D modelers will learn composition, style, lighting, silhouette, prop modeling, prop placement, color, texture, and shader effects.

The BFA program provides students with a comprehensive education in the principles of modern web design and new media. Taught by a faculty that works in the San Francisco Bay Area creative industry, our students are provided a unique opportunity to learn from teachers immersed in the field. The curriculum focuses on visual design, user experience, design strategies, web design, and motion graphics.

The BFA program in Writing for Film, Television & Digital Media will teach you the skills you need to develop engaging characters and scripts. Our program is designed to offer personalized attention to your ideas, with an emphasis on industry expectations and standards. Study in a rigorous, supportive writing workshop environment. Explore original and adapted feature films, television comedy and drama, short films, and writing for other forms of digital media.