Design Solutions Students blend design theory and practical application at levels of increasing complexity and sophistication.
BACHELOR OF ARTS
DESIGN
The Bachelor of Arts in Design Program prepares students to think creatively, critically, and divergently about the design process. Students learn to appreciate the universality of design, contextualize design problems, and blend historical and global perspectives with evolving trends as the foundation for inspired design solutions. Students become design innovators by learning to balance conventional design approaches with new, emergent thinking.
What Our Students Learn In our comprehensive program, students apply advanced principles of design, articulate design concepts and solutions, and use global perspectives to develop effective design strategies for their area of specialization.
Why FIDM The Bachelor of Arts in Design Program incorporates advanced practices of design with historical, ethical, and social perspectives. Building upon skills from their A.A. degree, students develop a personal design thesis. During three intensive studio courses, students create a senior thesis project reflecting a creative design philosophy, personal and civic engagement, and an understanding of an existing business model. Through capstone studio courses, students explore design strategies, trends, visual image, and identity, as they articulate design concepts for real-world application and target customers.
BACHELOR OF ARTS DESIGN
REQUIRED CLASSES FOR BACHELOR OF ARTS (B.A.)
| BDSN 3100 | Advanced Practices in Color, Design & 3-D Form | 6 | |
| BDSN 3200 | Structural Drawing1 | 3 | |
| BDSN 3400 | Drawing the Figure in Context | 6 | |
| BDSN 3500 | Human Dynamics | 3 | |
| BDSN 3600 | Creative Design Strategies | 3 | |
| BDSN 3700 | Digital Photographic Image | 3 | |
| BDSN 3800 | Digital Asset Management | 3 | |
| BDSN 3850 | Theory & Context of Design | 3 | |
| BDSN 4100 | Visual Identity & Image | 3 | |
| BDSN 3780 | Prototyping 3-D Forms | 6 | Graphic Design Students2 (A.A.) |
| BDSN 4250D | The Studio I — Digital Communication | 6 | |
| BDSN 4500D | The Studio II — Digital Communication | 6 | |
| BDSN 4750D | The Studio III — Digital Communication | 6 | |
| BDSN 3750 | Garment Construction & Detail | 6 | Textile Design Students2 (A.A.) |
| BDSN 4250D | The Studio I — Digital Communication | 6 | |
| BDSN 4500D | The Studio II — Digital Communication | 6 | |
| BDSN 4750D | The Studio III — Digital Communication | 6 | |
| BDSN 3780 | Prototyping 3-D Forms | 6 | Interior Design Students2 (A.A.) |
| BDSN 4250E | The Studio I — Environment & Product | 6 | |
| BDSN 4500E | The Studio II — Environment & Product | 6 | |
| BDSN 4750E | The Studio III — Environment & Product | 6 | |
| BDSN 3780 | Prototyping 3-D Forms | 6 | Visual Communications Students2 (A.A.) |
| BDSN 4250E | The Studio I — Environment & Product | 6 | |
| BDSN 4500E | The Studio II — Environment & Product | 6 | |
| BDSN 4750E | The Studio III — Environment & Product | 6 | |
| BDSN 3750 | Garment Construction & Details | 6 | Fashion Design Students2 (A.A.) |
| BDSN 4250F | The Studio I — Fashion Apparel | 6 | |
| BDSN 4500F | The Studio II — Fashion Apparel | 6 | |
| BDSN 4750F | The Studio III — Fashion Apparel | 6 | |
| BDSN 4950 | Design Thesis Presentation | 3 | |
| BUMT 3100 | Ethics in Business+ | 3 | |
| BUMT 3600 | Management Theory & Principles | 3 | |
| GNST 2530 | Principles of Kinesiology+ | 3 | |
| GNST 2530L | Principles of Kinesiology Lab+ | 1 | |
| GNST 2630 | Principles of Chemistry+ | 3 | |
| GNST 3000 | World Political History+ | 3 | |
| GNST 3150 | Research on Topics of Design History | 3 | |
| GNST 3700 | Multicultural Perspectives Through the Short Story | 3 | |
| GNST 3750 | Mapping Your World: Introduction to Global Production | 3 | |
| GNST 3800 | Icons of Culture: The Context of Meaning | 3 | |
| GNST 3900 | Issues in Contemporary Society+ | 3 | |
| Total Units of Credit | 91 | ||
- Prerequisite:
- FIDM degree in one of the following majors:
- – Fashion Design
- – Graphic Design
- – Interior Design
- – Textile Design
- – Visual Communications
[top] Annual Bachelor in Design Student exhibition in the FIDM Museum. [bottom left] Student garment Class: The Studio III – Fashion Apparel Student: Yen Hsi Chen [bottom right] 3-D prototype Class: Prototyping 3-D Forms Student: Allison Wix
1 Three (3)-hour lab included in 6 hours
2 Students take a series of three studio courses plus either an advanced construction or prototyping course based on their original FIDM A.A. degree.
+Available as online (distance learning) course
This program starts each quarter on the Los Angeles campus and in the fall quarter on the San Francisco campus.
One-on-one advisement is available to students from other FIDM Majors to consider eligibility for special admissions to this program. Contact the appropriate department chairperson.