parsons school of design AAS programs fashion design fashion marketing graphic design interior design
contents Overview 2 8 Fashion Design 18 Fashion Marketing 26 Graphic Design 36 Interior Design 46 Student resources
A legacy of innovative education Parsons—recently named the best art and design school in the United States¹—has been a pioneer in education since its founding in 1896, championing new movements and methodologies that have shaped generations of creators and scholars. Parsons is part of The New School, a progressive, innovation-focused urban university made up of schools offering interdisciplinary instruction in the liberal arts, media and technology, the performing arts, business and management, and the social sciences. If you lack transferable liberal arts credits, you can take relevant courses at The New School and experience our acclaimed methodology, which brings together academic rigor and creative problem solving to address contemporary social and environmental challenges. Programs at Parsons are grouped into five schools—the School of Art and Design History and Theory; School of Art, Media, and Technology (which includes the AAS Graphic Design program); School of Constructed Environments (which includes AAS Interior Design); School of Design Strategies; and School of Fashion (which includes AAS Fashion Design and AAS Fashion Marketing). This organizational structure supports Parsons’ educational mission, and its interdisciplinary approach builds community among students and faculty in related disciplines.
Your Passion and Drive, Our Experience and Network Pursue the career you want— in fashion design, fashion marketing, graphic design, or interior design—with an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree from Parsons School of Design in New York City. It takes commitment and hard work, but you leave the program prepared for a new professional life, with the skills, perspectives, and relationships you need to thrive in and lead global creative industries.
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Your Future, in Focus Whether you’re coming to Parsons’ AAS program as an attorney, dancer, banker, healthcare worker, or chef, you are passionate about entering a creative industry. You’re joining the AAS community to learn alongside experienced professionals establishing new careers at a world-class art and design university in a cultural capital. While acquiring the skills to become a merchandiser, graphic artist, fashion designer, interior designer, trend forecaster, or design consultant, you’ll discover that many of the talents and abilities you developed previously in other fields complement your studies. The AAS educational approach builds on this expertise, making you sought after for your marketable combination of academic and professional experience. Graduates often advance quickly in their careers and enjoy rising salaries as well. On a new path, you’ll see your professional future coming into focus.
AAS contents OVERVIEW
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Degrees of Difference In addition to its Associate in Applied Science (AAS) curricula, Parsons offers a variety of bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. If you already have a bachelor’s degree but want to acquire advanced skills and experience for entry into one of Parsons’ competitive graduate degree programs, we strongly encourage you to explore our AAS offerings. To learn more, visit newschool.edu/aas.
Professionally Taught Parsons’ faculty of leading design professionals anchors your studies. Instructors apply current theory and practice in the studio and to projects you undertake with design firms. Virtually all faculty members work in the fields they teach, so you gain inside perspectives on concepts and developments shaping creative industries, including ethical and sustainable practices and global networks. The faculty also connect you to industry professionals and advise on internships and other learning opportunities. To learn more about the faculty, visit newschool.edu/parsons-faculty.
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An Intensive, Flexible Curriculum The Parsons AAS curriculum is a challenging and rigorous preparation for your chosen industry. Most AAS students have bachelor’s or advanced degrees and work experience. If you don’t but you completed high school two or more years ago, you may be eligible. If you have no design background or transferable credits, you can earn the degree in two years, completing 65 credits: 44 credits toward your major, 6 credits of English, and 15 credits of liberal arts electives. If you work, you can study part-time; many classes are offered in the evening. You can take many courses online and even complete the Fashion Marketing and Graphic Design programs entirely online. For complete curriculum and course information, visit newschool.edu/aas. If you want to complete your training quickly and have the required number of transfer credits (31) in applicable subjects, you may be eligible to choose the fast-track option and earn a degree by completing 34 credits in two semesters.
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Career Services AAS career advisors assist you in applying for professional internships that offer rich opportunities to network—an important aspect of working in creative fields. The New School’s Center for Student Success staff cultivate relationships with individuals and firms working in design, inviting design professionals and program alumni to campus for careerbuilding events. The office offers a range of services to help you find work, including •• One-on-one counseling on job strategies •• Résumé, portfolio, and interview preparation •• On-campus job and internship fairs •• Access to an online job database with more than 15,000 registered employers •• Alumni career panels, workshops, and special events •• A resource blog To learn more, visit newschool.edu/ parsons-career-services.
recent internship placements
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•• Donna Karan International •• Spacecraft Architecture •• Marie Claire •• Carolina Herrera •• VH1 •• POLO–Ralph Lauren •• Victoria Hagan Interiors •• Gucci •• Whitney Museum of American Art •• Christopher Maya Associates •• W magazine •• Saks Fifth Avenue •• Halston •• Office of Thierry W. Despont •• Elie Tahari
AAS OVERVIEW
Fashion Design As you consider a career shift into fashion design, you’re probably aware that Parsons has launched the careers of many of the world’s most successful fashion designers. But the accomplishments of Parsons’ AAS Fashion Design graduates go beyond the boldface names. Program alumni are equally impressive for their contributions to the industry at all scales—from leading innovation in sustainable fashion technology to developing local businesses to building brands globally. Learn more about AAS Fashion Design at newschool.edu/parsons/aas-fashion-design-programs.
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Working with Leaders, Launching Your Line AAS Fashion Design graduates apply the industryfocused perspectives they acquire in the program to positions with a variety of fashion companies. Graduates have joined the most respected companies in the business: Chanel, Theory, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Eileen Fisher, Ralph Lauren, and GAP, to name a few. Other alumni—such as Jay Godfrey and Aimee Kestenberg—start their own lines right out of the gate. The program’s reputation for quality, industry relevance, originality, and comprehensiveness opens doors throughout the fashion industry.
Developing Your Vision The program provides opportunities to have your final collection photographed, giving you portfolio material documenting your work. Your work is promoted on a variety of platforms, and selected work is presented during the annual Parsons Festival. Your design practice is developed under the guidance of Parsons’ faculty of fashion professionals and reflects an awareness of the industry’s social, historical, and economic dimensions.
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Fashion Design from Concept to Collection In the program, you study the process, techniques, and language of fashion design from concept through production, along with the essentials of marketing and of designing with ethical and sustainable methods. You design womenswear, menswear, and accessories, learning everything from the basics of drawing, draping, patternmaking, and sewing to tailoring and haute couture. Class critiques and lectures organized by the School of Fashion at Parsons bring design professionals such as Narciso Rodriguez and Jenna Lyons and journalist Cathy Horyn to campus to offer their perspectives. Projects with external partners like Coach, Louis Vuitton, Under Armour, Swarovski, Allen Edmonds, and the Council of Fashion Designers of America provide opportunities to work with major industry and media
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firms while developing your own creative practice.
AAS Fashion Design
AAS Fashion Design Student work
Curriculum Core classes and electives focus on conceptual research and construction techniques relevant to work in the industry. Required courses cover fashion research, design, and construction methods; accessories design; and industry software, including visual communications tools for ideating fashion collections, creating presentations, and documenting work for portfolios. Electives offer you opportunities to explore shoe, textile surface, jewelry, bag, and leather design. Depending on the number of transfer credits you bring to your AAS program, you can complete your studies in two to four semesters. Most students finish the program in about three semesters.
THIS PAGE (from top): Daniel Noya ’14, look book, Energy Flow; Laura Levine ’15, portfolio, Your Mind Is Not Your Own; Zing Chuan ’12 FACING PAGE (from left): Oliver Weiyu
Zhang ’15, garment, gender; Eunil Ko ’12 the new school parsons
Alumni Work in the Following Positions and Firms Senior Menswear Design Consultant Tommy Hilfiger Senior Sweater Designer Theory/Theyskens’ Theory Accessories Designer Proenza Schouler Senior Swimwear Designer Victoria’s Secret Founder and Principal Designer J.F. & Son/Project 1281 Designer Michael Kors Senior Designer, Women’s Sportswear True Religion Brand Jeans Manager, Color and Concept Department A|X Armani Exchange Associate Designer Yigal Azroël, Inc. Associate Designer, Line Coordinator Nicole Miller
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AAS Fashion Design Alumni and Their Labels
Erin Beatty ’06 Creative Director SUNO Erin Beatty entered fashion after earning a bachelor’s degree in English and Spanish at the University of California. Beatty began at GAP, Inc., working as a buyer and then as a product manager. Encouraged by GAP’s creative director to study design, Beatty entered Parsons’ AAS program. She followed her boss to Generra, working there while completing her degree. Beatty and her friend Max Osterweis then established SUNO, launching a collection in 2009. The inaugural line was produced in Kenya from vintage fabrics. Their business now includes sustainably produced pieces made in India, Italy, Kenya, New York, and Peru. Known for high-end tailoring and dynamic prints, SUNO is available at more than 50 retailers worldwide. In 2013, SUNO won the CFDA Swarovski Award for Womenswear; Beatty was also named creative director of Tory Burch’s ready-towear line along with her creative director role at SUNO. Beatty has recently been profiled in T Magazine and the Wall Street Journal. “Parsons grads are my best employees,” she says. “They’re motivated and skillful at translating ideas into the visual realm.”
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Ardistia Dwiasri ’04 President and Creative Director Ardistia New York After receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees in industrial engineering and management from Northeastern University, Ardistia Dwiasri enrolled in the AAS program to turn her longtime interest in fashion into a career. While at Parsons, Dwiasri interned at Diane von Furstenberg; she later worked for Tommy Hilfiger, GAP, and Ann Taylor. Winning a 2007 Biore/Gen Art Fashion Award brought her exposure as she prepared to open her own womenswear company. The AAS program gave Dwiasri “a practical foundation in fashion, a network, and the ability to combine creativity with solution finding,” all useful in the launch of Ardistia New York in 2007. Her awardwinning designs, featured in publications ranging from the New York Times and WWD to Nylon and Lucky, are sold worldwide, bringing Dwiasri’s signature draping and wearable separates to women everywhere.
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AAS Fashion Design Alumni and Their Labels
Prabal Gurung ’00 Creative Director and CEO Prabal Gurung LLC Prabal Gurung’s glamorous style has a worldwide following that includes First Lady Michelle Obama and Demi Moore. In 2011, Gurung was the winner of the CFDA/ Swarovski Award for Womenswear and a finalist for a National Design Award, given by Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum; in 2010, he was a runner-up for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award. Before launching his line in 2009, he worked under Cynthia Rowley and served as design director for Bill Blass. After learning fashion basics in India and London, Gurung came to Parsons in 1999. There he refined his vision and deepened his mastery of the craft. “It was a crucial time for me in my career,” says Gurung. Gurung has collaborated with some of fashion’s most popular brands, including J.Crew, Target, and MAC Cosmetics. His work is currently featured in WWD, Style.com, Vogue, and other top fashion media outlets.
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Jay Godfrey ’04 CEO and Creative Director Jay Godfrey A job in fashion wholesale sparked Jay Godfrey’s interest in design—a passion he pursued at Parsons after studying finance at McGill University and working on Wall Street. While in the AAS program, Godfrey interned at Oscar de la Renta, where he applied the techniques he learned in Parsons’ studios and refined his vision. Soon after, Godfrey launched his own collection, featuring exquisite eveningwear that earned him a following among the fashion media and celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Leighton Meester, and Katherine Heigl. Godfrey credits Parsons with “allowing me to realize my vision with the exacting professional and artistic standards that Parsons is known for.” His line is sold in luxury department stores and online retailers worldwide, including Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, and Revolve Clothing, and at his flagship store in New York.
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Fashion Marketing Fashion is a global cultural and economic force. Guiding it are creative and business professionals who share a passion for beautiful, sustainable, and relevant design. They work in areas such as merchandising, public relations, trend forecasting, and product development and in marketingrelated positions. AAS Fashion Marketing at Parsons offers an intensive, flexible program that allows you to explore fashion careers and focus on your interests. Taught by working professionals, the curriculum reflects the industry’s evolving trends and demands. Summer study abroad courses provide direct exposure to international fashion, even if you work while studying. Learn more about AAS Fashion Marketing at newschool.edu/parsons/aas-fashion-marketing-programs.
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Study Abroad in Fashion Centers Intensive summer study abroad electives let you explore European fashion through a combination of study and on-site research. In Paris, you learn about European fashion and cultural innovation during two weeks of visits to prominent fashion firms, exhibitions, and cultural establishments. In the Fashion Merchandising: Italy class, you visit fashion companies, artisans, and textile mills and attend an industry trade show. You apply skills learned in the AAS program in a real-world context, navigating the market for raw materials, apparel suppliers, and trends. These study abroad courses are specially designed to let working students explore international fashion.
In the Fashion Merchandising: Italy class, you visit industry producers such as textile mills. the new school parsons
Paths into Many Fashion Fields As a fashion marketing student, you acquire a foundation in textiles, color theory, and fashion history and master business skills related to consumer analysis, manufacturing, and price structuring. You collaborate with fashion design students on competitions and on projects with external partners like Louis Vuitton, Under Armour, Braccalini, and CARE, researching concepts and strategies involved in bringing designs to the global stage. Electives in socially and environmentally responsible manufacturing and global practice and courses shared with the AAS Fashion Design program prepare you to think creatively and conscientiously about presentday concerns of the fashion world. Internships develop your skills and network, making you a competitive member of the fashion workforce.
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AAS fashion marketing Student work Alumni Work in Fashion in the Following Positions and Firms Merchandising Analyst Diesel Public Relations Coordinator Thomas Pink–LVMH Account Executive Givenchy Marketing Coordinator Charlotte Russe Brand Presentation Coordinator Tommy Hilfiger Online Merchandiser Saks Fifth Avenue Associate Production Manager POLO–Ralph Lauren Fashion Editor U magazine Assistant Buyer Marc by Marc Jacobs Digital Account Executive Syndicate Media Group Wholesale Assistant Elie Tahari Public Relations Assistant Roger Vivier Visual Merchandiser Buffalo Jeans Handbag Production Coordinator Michael Kors Product Developer Limited Brands Brand Assistant BHLDN–Urban Outfitters Associate Planner Macy’s Inc. Production Coordinator Theory Senior Assistant Buyer, Couture Bergdorf Goodman E-commerce Manager Nicole Miller Account Executive Alexander Wang the new school parsons
Curriculum Electives such as New York Trend Spotting, Visual Merchandising, and Ethical Fashion complement subjects taught in core courses, keeping you current with the fashion industry. Depending on the number of transfer credits you bring to your AAS program, you can complete your studies in two to four semesters. Most students finish the program in about three semesters. For more curriculum, faculty, and course information, visit newschool.edu/aas.
Flexible Study Options The Fashion Marketing curriculum can be completed on campus or online; the online option can be completed in two years from anywhere in the world. However you choose to study, you’ll emerge prepared for a career in the international fashion marketplace.
FACING PAGE (from top): Fashion Marketing class
critique; Marita Manrique ’12; Patricia Marquez ’12 THIS PAGE: Seung Yeon Lee and Jessica Laura Antar ’12
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Alumni Profiles
Kerry Tham ’11 Strategist Blu’s Womens Wear Kerry Tham received a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Alberta and worked as an accountant before coming to Parsons. Her educational and professional background served Tham well in the AAS program, where her business analysis skills opened up a path for a career in merchandise planning. An AAS-organized competition to develop a lifestyle collection for Under Armour was part of her career preparation as well. After Tham and a BFA Fashion Design collaborator won the contest, they entered an intensive fashion design and merchandising mentoring program at Under Armour’s headquarters. An internship at Donna Karan helped Tham land a job as a merchandise planner on Karan’s team immediately after her graduation from Parsons. According to Tham, “The AAS Fashion Marketing program opened doors to the fashion industry. Parsons provided a strong support network and exposed me to opportunities in a fiercely competitive market.” Now, after returning to her home country, Tham is directing operations for Canadian luxury fashion retailer Blu’s Womens Wear.
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Agyesh Madan ’11 Founder Media Art Design House Born in India, Agyesh Madan studied computer science at the National University of Singapore. While there, Madan was selected to participate in Stanford University’s Global Entrepreneurial Strategies program, which included working at a fashion e-commerce firm. The experience rekindled Madan’s interest in men’s clothing and led him to Parsons’ AAS Fashion Marketing program, in which he focused on classic menswear and fabric development. After graduating in 2011, he joined ISAIA, the Italian sartorial powerhouse known for its modern approach to classic men’s tailoring and fabrics. Madan served as the firm’s global director of product development, responsible for launching new categories in sportswear and a complete accessories suite. Madan left ISAIA in 2014 to follow an entrepreneurial path—the pursuit of thoughtful design and responsible production through his brand Stòffa. He also joined his two worlds in developing TOOVIA C3—a first-of-its kind digital platform that enables luxury brands to deliver a consistent omni-channel experience to their audience. Of his time at Parsons, Madan says, “The AAS program’s experienced faculty and range of courses helped me define my place in the industry. The Textile Survey, Merchandising Workshop, and Menswear History courses were pivotal in shaping my interests and enabling me to identify my true passion.” AAS Fashion Marketing
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graphic design Graphic design has never been more relevant. If you want to become a creative professional guiding the graphic design industry, Parsons’ AAS program offers you a community in which to develop the conceptual foundation and skills you need. Leading the AAS Graphic Design program are accomplished designers whose professional experience and networks help you enter and thrive in this growing industry. Learn more about AAS Graphic Design at newschool.edu/parsons/aas-graphic-design-programs.
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Award-Winning Students and Faculty Industry awards open doors, so our faculty help you submit work for professional competitions. Recently the Type Directors Club (tdc) recognized AAS work in the Typography 33 competition, awarding certificates for typographical excellence to a dozen AAS students. AAS student designers deepen their professional abilities, learn collaborative processes, and add published work to their portfolios by designing annual compendiums of work by peers in other AAS programs. In a recent juried competition, five AAS students had their greeting card designs produced for a fundraiser sponsored by AID FOR AIDS International and Marc Jacobs Inc.
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Your Education: Broad, Deep, and Rigorous The field of graphic design is broad and deep, so your education is, too. Rigorous and intensive, the AAS curriculum presents the historical foundations of graphic design, instructs you in conceptual approaches and analytical methods of solving design challenges, and provides training in industry software and other digital and nondigital tools. You learn to design for print and the Internet, exploring typography, page layout, publication design, Web design, and printmaking. Assignments mirror real-world graphic design challenges and become part of your professional portfolio. Visiting lecturers like graphic design blogger Tina Roth-Eisenberg (swissmiss.com) and cognitive psychologist Alan Gilchrist bring fresh perspectives into the classroom. Internships, which can lead to employment after graduation, let you apply your learning and engage with industry professionals as you prepare to join the creative work force anywhere in the world.
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AAS Graphic Design Student work
THIS PAGE (clockwise from upper left): Urara Ito ’15, typeface design, CeoMetrY; Alex White’s Advanced Typography class work at Parsons Festival 2011; Yoko Nire ’14, book, Beethoven Symphony No. 9 Musical Notation Experiments; Neha Kavan ’14, series of books, 11.18.14 FACING PAGE (clockwise from upper left): Kento Matsubara
’15, book, Anamorphosis; Jim Kamoosi ’12, silkscreen poster, Color Theory (Isamu); Megumi Morihiro ’15, poster series, Color Theory (Live In Color); Maximilian Mikorcy ’12, design manifesto book; Mary Mac McFadden ’12, promotional booklet, Be A . A Design Manifesto Project
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Curriculum You can complete your studies in two to four semesters, depending on the number of transfer credits you bring to the program. Most students finish the program in about three semesters. For more curriculum, faculty, and course information, visit newschool.edu/aas.
Flexible Study Options The Graphic Design curriculum can be completed on campus or online; the online option can be completed in two years from anywhere in the world. However you choose to study, you’ll emerge prepared for a career in the international graphic design community.
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AAS Graphic Design Alumni: Where Are They Now?
Ed Nacional ’09 Graphic Designer, Illustrator, and Art Director Ed Nacional Design Ed Nacional began working in graphic design for the oil industry in Alberta, Canada, applying technical digital design skills he acquired there. At Parsons, he developed the conceptual foundations that have allowed him to flourish as a sought-after illustrator, identity designer, and art director. Says Nacional, “The city and the Parsons community offered daily inspiration, pushing me to establish my creative voice.” After a stint art-directing editorial illustrations at the New York Times, Nacional went out on his own. His witty, sophisticated illustrations appear in publications like Time, the Washington Post, Newsweek, and the New Yorker. Now based in Brooklyn, Nacional brings his novel aesthetic to design for clients such as MTV, SkillShare, J.Crew/Madewell, Herb Lester Associates, and Friends of Type and works on his own projects.
FROM TOP: illustration for ESPN The Magazine; BIC & Staedtler, a typographic experiment
inspired by a highlighter pen and a sharp pencil; typographic illustration for the On Language section of the New York Times Magazine
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Janice Yu Veksler ’06 Freelance Graphic Designer Executive Director of New Media MAC Cosmetics After earning a BA in modern European history at Barnard College, Janice Yu Veksler discovered an interest in graphic design while assisting the art editor at the New Yorker. After four years at the magazine, Veksler decided to get a formal education in graphic design at Parsons. She began her design career as art director of zingmagazine and went on to serve as a senior designer at Visionaire and then as an art director at Teen Vogue. Veksler served as Web art director at Kate Spade and is currently executive director of New Media for MAC Cosmetics. “My experience in the AAS program was invaluable; I built a strong portfolio, essential to getting my first job. Without AAS, I would not be where I am now,” says Veksler.
FROM TOP: interior spreads for V Magazine;
interior spreads for V Magazine; publication design for Visionaire 52: Private
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AAS Graphic Design Alumni: Where Are They Now?
Molly Crickman ’12 Freelance Graphic Designer During her undergraduate studies in English literature and creative writing at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Molly Crickman explored graphic design while working on university publications. After graduating in 2009, Crickman decided to pursue her interest in graphic design in Parsons’ AAS program. “Parsons pushed me to work hard, explore New York City’s resources, and connect with working designers. An internship at the American Museum of Natural History that AAS faculty recommended me for led to my current job,” she explains. Crickman quickly made her mark in New York’s design world: her identity work for music venues, restaurants, and museums can be seen throughout the city. She has designed exhibitions for the museum, and most recently worked as an exhibitions designer at Christie’s.
FROM TOP: exhibition panel for Beyond Planet Earth,
American Museum of Natural History © AMNH/ R. Mickens; directional signage for Beyond Planet Earth, American Museum of Natural History © AMNH; detail of infographic for Beyond Planet Earth, American Museum of Natural History © AMNH
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Jason Booher ’05 Art Director Blue Rider Press Born in Germany, Jason Booher graduated from Princeton with a BA in English and a teaching certificate. But teaching wasn’t the right career for him, he discovered. After stumbling upon some design journals, Booher realized he could pursue his interest in storytelling, drawing, and problem solving as a graphic designer. He entered the AAS program with little knowledge of type or composition but now creates award-winning dynamic and innovative book covers for Knopf and teaches at Parsons. He is currently art director at Blue Rider Press, an imprint of Penguin Books. Booher’s work is featured in Slate Magazine, the New Yorker, It’s Nice That, and the blogs of the Type Directors Club and other organizations. Of his time at Parsons, Booher says, “Incredible instructors and peers gave me an intense grounding in design principles. The program guided me into a new world without coddling me.”
LEFT TO RIGHT FROM TOP: cover design for Angelmaker by Nick Harkaway; cover design for 36 Arguments for the Existence of God by Rebecca Newburger Goldstein; cover design for The Art of Immersion by Frank Rose; cover design for All Men Are Liars by Alberto Manguel
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INTERIOR design In 1906, Frank Alvah Parsons established the first academic interior design program in the United States. Parsons continues to lead this evolving field with programs including AAS Interior Design. Begin your career with accomplished New York interior design professionals who guide you in exploring design’s potential to improve lives at every scale. You develop an awareness of the social, environmental, and cultural dimensions of interiors through curricula and projects that investigate global concerns such as sustainability and economic inequality. In the process, you become a designer equipped with the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to succeed in a growing field. Learn more about AAS Interior Design at newschool.edu/parsons/aas-interior-design-programs.
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The Theory and Practice of Designing Interiors In the program, you take three design studios focusing on residential, retail, workplace, and hospitality interiors. You learn the theory and practice of interior design through conceptual investigations of space, research on sustainability and materials, and training in computer rendering. In the studios, you explore the relationship between interior architecture and decorative arts. The AAS professional program allows you to take electives offered throughout Parsons to develop the range of skills required in the future workplace. Internships at prominent design firms like Victoria Hagan Interiors, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, AvroKO, Ghislaine ViĂąas Interior Design, and Yabu Pushelberg offer opportunities to apply your learning to real-world interiors. Completing the program fulfills the education requirements for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam. The AAS degree and supervised work under a licensed designer permit you to sit for the NCIDQ exam to become a licensed interior designer.
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Resources on Campus and in the City You share campus facilities with students of architecture, lighting design, and product design and can work in the fabrication shop and conduct research in the Light Lab and the Angelo Donghia Materials Center. “AfterTaste,” a biennial design symposium hosted by Parsons, and WORK, the program’s annual publication, let you engage with international scholars and practitioners shaping the contemporary design landscape. The city’s museums, archives, and designed spaces present work for both applied and critical study. Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum—an important collection of decorative arts and furniture and sponsor of many industry-related events—is a key resource. You also have access to the New York–based showrooms, factories, dealers, auction houses, and experts that make the city an international center of interior design.
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AAS Interior Design Student work
Curriculum Electives enable you to deepen your understanding of and experience designing with soft and hard materials, lighting systems, and sustainable and other professional practices; explore graphic design and illustration techniques applicable to interior design; and study a range of historical and theoretical topics. You can complete your studies in two to four semesters, depending on the number of transfer credits you bring to the program. Most students finish the program in about three semesters. Students who receive the maximum number of transferable credits (31) are eligible to be considered for the fast-track option. For more curriculum, faculty, and course information, visit newschool.edu/aas.
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THIS PAGE (from top): Eleonore Pillet ’13, 3D model, Fixed; Interior Design class critique FACING PAGE (clockwise from top left): Mariel Levine ’15, video
and images, Sylar: Research Resort; Catherine Chia-Ling Lee ’15, digital rendering, Project Hotel One Madison; Pamela Mah ’13, Digital-3DS Max, Boom Hotel; Sofia Gimenez Burlo ’15, architectural plan, furniture, and colorway portfolio, The individual use of a collective space—Lounge for Newark Airport; Vinita Bakhale ’13, poster booklet, Our Valley Brooklyn
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AAS INTERIOR design
AAS Interior Design alumni profiles
Mary Davis ’09 Founder and Principal Designer Mary Davis Interiors Mary Davis received bachelor’s degrees in comparative history and cultural anthropology from the University of Washington before entering the AAS Interior Design program. Davis cites opportunities she had at Parsons—such as mentoring set designers working on a 2010 New School drama production—that developed her skill in creating cost-effective, user-specific design. Today Davis focuses on residential and commercial interiors. She is a certified aging-in-place specialist (CAPS); a central mission of her practice is addressing clients’ changing physical needs. Today Davis focuses on commercial interiors in partnership with Homepolish, an interior design start-up. Of her time at Parsons, Davis says, “I learned to reach outside of my comfort zone to give the best design work for my clients. And that education doesn’t stop after graduation; you have to keep learning to stay competitive and inspired.”
FROM TOP: alcove studio residence, photography:
Anne Fletcher; showroom for a fashion accessories firm, photography: Holly McWhorter; living room for a Clinton Hill loft residence, photography: Mary Davis
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Edward Yedid ’03 Partner GRADE New York Living in Paris, Edward Yedid resolved to shift from studies in finance to a creative career path. Architecture and interior design seemed ideal. “They involved fields I was already passionate about, serving human needs at scales ranging from rooms to buildings,” says Yedid. On returning to New York City in 2001, Yedid found work with designer Noel Jeffrey while taking interior design courses at Parsons; he eventually enrolled in the AAS program. “It was the first time I loved going to school,” he reports. When friends requested design help, Yedid turned to his AAS professor, Thomas Hickey, proposing that the two collaborate on projects, managed by Hickey. Their success led Yedid to establish an interior design department within Hickey’s firm, GRADE New York, after graduating. Today the partners and their 15-member team bring a high-end residential design approach to projects for hospitality, retail, commercial, and residential clients like Tiffany & Co., Victoria’s Secret, and The Arman apartment complex. GRADE New York has also extended the firm’s line to include furniture and other product development. Yedid’s work is regularly profiled in New York City–based and international online and print publications, including The Aesthete, Lifestyle Mirror, and the New York Times.
FROM TOP: showroom for Tiffany & Co., Bellavita
store, Chinese Taipei, Taiwan; outdoor seating area, Hamptons House, Southampton, NY
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THIS PAGE: Clement at Penninsula Hotel, New York, photography: Evan Dion FACING PAGE: Singapore Penthouse, images: Yabu Pushelberg 3DMax rendering
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Caroline Meersseman ‘07 Design Director Yabu Pushelberg Born and raised in Cernobbio, Italy, Caroline Meersseman studied philosophy at the Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan before shifting her focus to design and enrolling at Parsons AAS. While at Parsons, Caroline interned at design firm Yabu Pushelberg, where she still works today. She has been a design director there since 2012, managing a team designing hotels, retail spaces, and residences. Completed projects include the Park Hyatt New York, Clement restaurant at the Peninsula New York, and Barneys Co-Op New York; her current projects include both classic brands such as the Four Seasons and up-and-coming brands such as Moxy and Equinox. In the spring of 2015, Caroline enthusiastically returned to Parsons as a part-time lecturer; with her husband, Robert Seidel, she teaches Hospitality Design (Studio III) in the AAS program.
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student resources
City and Campus Resources A world center of design and industry, New York City is an essential part of an AAS education. You participate in the life of the city through class assignments and external-partner projects, many of which enable you to explore emerging design fields and enhance urban life and explore emerging design fields. The Parsons campus, situated in the heart of Manhattan, surrounds you with opportunity, talent, and countless design resources. You benefit from campus resources including rapid prototyping, photography, video, 3D imaging, metalworking, jewelry, woodworking, and fabrication facilities; extensive academic technology labs and the Light Lab; and the Angelo Donghia Materials Library and Study Center and the Adam and Sophie Gimbel Library.
Diversity and Parsons The Parsons community reflects a broad range of experiences, identities, cultures, and beliefs. Cultivating a learning environment in which all can thrive requires respect and an understanding of the social, political, and economic contexts in which academic study takes place. Diversity enriches the learning community by introducing varied points of view, enabling students to devise innovative, thoughtful solutions to social inequities and injustices. This collective effort relies on the perspectives and contributions of people who have historically been underrepresented in higher education. Parsons is committed to achieving greater diversity at The New School and is making institutional changes to reach that goal.
the new school parsons
Scholarships and FINANCIAL AID All AAS applicants are considered for New School merit-based scholarships; no additional application is required. The New School Office of Student Financial Services can help students budget and find support resources, including aid. For more information, contact the Office of Student Financial Services at 212.229.8930 or sfs@newschool.edu. For current information on the cost of attendance and financial services, visit newschool.edu/ student-financial-services.
Housing The New School maintains residence halls and furnished apartments for full-time matriculated students. Early application is strongly encouraged. The university housing office also provides listings of private rentals, shared apartments, and short-term accommodations. Learn more about housing options at newschool. edu/student-housing.
AAS student resources
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CAN LOOKING CLOSER TAKE YOU FURTHER? Glimpse your future in the present. At Parsons, seeing isn’t just believing—it’s what changes everything. newschool.edu/visit Connect with us. We‘re waiting for you with information, answers, questions of our own, and thoughts that can transform your path ahead. 72 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10011 212.229.5150 or 800.292.3040 thinkparsons@newschool.edu newschool.edu/parsons
Admission Undertaking an AAS degree requires commitment and planning. To make the process easier, Parsons offers rolling admission for applicants. You will improve your prospects for admission, housing, and scholarships by applying by the admission deadlines.*
Admission Deadlines Fall Priority Admission Deadline: March 15 Spring Priority Admission Deadline: October 15 All applications must be made with the online form, found on the website: newschool.edu/applyaas. All applicants are urged to submit applications by the dates shown above, but applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. For more information about admission requirements, including transcripts, statements of intent, TOEFL scores, and creative assignments, visit newschool.edu/parsons-app-instructions. *PLEASE NOTE that students must have graduated from
high school at least two years prior to entering the AAS program. Applicants too young for the AAS program will be encouraged to apply to a bachelor’s program.
the new school parsons
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accreditation Parsons and The New School are fully accredited by the Commission on Higher Education and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, 267-284-5000). The New School, a privately supported institution, is chartered as a university by the Regents of the State of New York. Parsons is also an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and a member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD). For full information on the university’s accreditation, visit newschool.edu/accreditation-and-state-regulatory-authorizations.
AAS student resources
A few facts that
The new school
set us apart
at A GLANCE
#1 FOR SMALL CLASSES: Among national
• Founded in 1919.
universities, The New School had the highest proportion of classes with fewer than 20 students.
• Located in the heart of NYC in Greenwich Village, with a branch campus in Paris.
2014, U.S. News & World Report
• Houses five schools and colleges.
#1 ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL: Parsons School
• Offers 130 degree and diploma programs
of Design was named the Best College for Art and Design in the United States. 2015, Quacquarelli Symonds 2015 World University Rankings #1 MOST INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY: We have a higher percentage of international students than any other U.S. university. 2014, U.S. News & World Report #1 FOR SUSTAINABLE BUILDING: The American Institute of Architects named the New School University Center one of the greenest buildings in the United States—and it’s the largest LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certified urban university building.
and majors and more than 50 minors. • Has more than 10,000 degree-seeking students. • Students come from all 50 states and 118 foreign countries. • The New School also offers a range of graduate programs. See details at newschool.edu/academics. Membership and Accreditation The New School is a member of the Association of American Colleges and Universities and is accredited by the New York State Board of Regents and by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
1 By Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings, a London-based global provider of specialist higher education and career information. Ranking based on feedback from both academic peers and employers.
The New School is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution. For important information regarding your rights as a student, visit newschool.edu/your-right-to-know. Published 2015 by The New School. Produced by Marketing & Communication, The New School. Photography: courtesy of Ardistia New York, Christelle de Castro, Don Hamerman, Bob Handelman, courtesy of ISAIA Napoli, James Mendolia, Martin Seck, Matthew Sussman, David Wanderman
Parsons Programs
Parsons School of Design Bachelor’s Programs
Master’s Programs
Certificate Programs
Architectural Design BFA
Architecture MArch
Fashion Business
Communication Design BFA
Architecture MArch /
Fashion Design
Design and Technology BFA
Lighting Design MFA
Fine Art and Foundation
Fashion Design BFA
Business of Design
Graphic and Digital Design
Fine Arts BFA Illustration BFA Integrated Design BFA Interior Design BFA Photography BFA Product Design BFA Strategic Design and Management BBA
Graduate Certificate Data Visualization MS
Interior Design and Architecture Studies
Design and Technology MFA Design and Urban Ecologies MS Design Studies MA Fashion Design and Society MFA Fashion Studies MA Fine Arts MFA History of Design and Curatorial Studies MA Industrial Design MFA Interior Design MFA Lighting Design MFA Photography MFA Strategic Design and Management MS Theories of Urban Practice MA Transdisciplinary Design MFA
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