Laguna College of Art + Design

<p>My son attends LCAD, which offers degree programs in Animation, Game Art, Fine Art, Illustration, Design & Digital Media. LCAD doesn't receive much mention here on CC, which surprises me--it's an excellent arts school known for passionate teaching and job placement for graduates. I wish I'd found more about LCAD here when my son was looking at programs! To that end, I'm posting for other prospective animation, art, and design students. </p>

<p>For ex: LCAD's new Sports Action Design major may be of interest to aspiring design students. It's evidently the "first action sports design degree program in the world." </p>

<p><a href="http://californianewswire.com/2014/04/29/CNW19357_093611.php/ceo-bob-hurley-to-inspire-students-at-laguna-college-of-art-and-design-2014-commencement/"&gt;http://californianewswire.com/2014/04/29/CNW19357_093611.php/ceo-bob-hurley-to-inspire-students-at-laguna-college-of-art-and-design-2014-commencement/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>A bit from LCAD’s animation program: “Attack of the 50-Foot Hero” took home the award for “Best Animation” in the 4th Annual New Media Film Festival in Los Angeles."
This animated short was created at Laguna College of Art & Design’s summer Animation Master Class 2012 under the supervision of Eric Goldberg.
Here it is: <a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube;

<p>My son is interested in this school after speaking with their rep at the recent portfolio day. His wants to do game art. Did your son start as a freshman or transfer student? I notice a lot of their required courses are unique to the school without a comm. college equivalent but we can’t possibly afford 4 years there plus living expenses. We will be visiting later this year and hope to get some answers about that but anything you’d like to share is more than welcome!</p>

<p>Hi there,
Son transferred in after one year and received credit for all his GE courses. Transfers at two years are common. Game Art is a relatively new, but strong major. </p>

<p>There is good info here on the Game Art major: <a href=“http://www.lcad.edu/site/game-art/game-art-program-overview/”>http://www.lcad.edu/site/game-art/game-art-program-overview/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>The program has close industry ties and instructors from Blizzard, Sony SM, Obsidian, DoubleHelix, and Carbine, etc. </p>

<p>And here is a 2014 article in which a brand new game art graduate talks about landing his “dream job” at Blizzard right out of school: <a href=“Orange County Register: Local News, Sports and Things to Do”>Orange County Register: Local News, Sports and Things to Do;

<p>LCAD did a transcript review after son was admitted and they accepted all of his GE’s, as I recall. Son did not want to apply for transfer of any art foundation or animation courses, but if he had, I understand this requires that a portfolio review be done.
LCAD has a unique and interesting approach to its liberal arts requirements: they teach GE courses in a way that relates the core area to art (whether history, or writing, science, etc.). This may be why the course names looked different than typical GE courses, OrygunMim.) But they were fair, according to son, in accepting transfer credits in these areas and it didn’t seem to be an issue. An admission counselor could tell you more, of course. </p>

<p>This article talks about LCAD’s approach, philosophy, accreditation, and successful job placement–something they track and are known for.
<a href=“http://www.getdegrees.com/interviews/michael-savas-dean-of-visual-communications-laguna-college-of-art-design”>http://www.getdegrees.com/interviews/michael-savas-dean-of-visual-communications-laguna-college-of-art-design&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Lastly, here is the 2014 list of the top 100 animation schools–as rated by animation and industry professionals. Though under-represented on CC, LCAD is recognized here and pretty high on the list (Laguna College of Art + Design: #12).</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/2014-top-100-animation-school-programs-us”>http://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/2014-top-100-animation-school-programs-us&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>^I should have typed top “US” animation schools. </p>

<p>Thank you for the links. So far I’m very impressed with LCAD. However, I am concerned about whether it is reasonable for a student who transfers in as a junior to complete the degree at LCAD in two years. There are so many foundation game art classes that are not offered anywhere else, that I can see spending an extra year at least just completing the lower division foundation art courses. The time and money investment is my biggest concern.</p>

<p>Yes, the foundation coursework is important and time-intensive. A meeting with an admission counselor (perhaps when you make the visit) sounds wise. Our son re-did some foundation animation coursework after transfer (by choice) and this might add a few months to his degree. </p>

Just finished the pre-college figure drawing class. Can’t recommend this figure drawing/foundational drawing coursework highly enough. There were three incoming students in her class, and we were told that they had the option of starting LCAD in the summer with the Foundational Drawing class and the Figure Drawing class rather than taking it as a freshman and sophomore, respectively. There was also a rising senior who said she learned more in the pre-college class than in three years of college coursework at another college. She was repeating the class this summer, and returning for a post-bac at LCAD after graduation from her current college. .

Hi, OrygunMom. Do you have any examples of your son’s work? I would love to see what he’s got in his admission portfolio since I am 17 and would LOVE to attend LCAD for Game Art.

My son did not ultimately apply at LCAD. During his senior year his interest started to veer toward photography, cinematography and the film industry. He is now pursuing a Digital Communication Arts BFA in New Media Communications. The advisor at LCAD said his scenery art was very good but he needed to work on figure drawing. In the end, I’m not confident he would have been admitted, had he even applied. His portfolio was not very strong at the time. For reference purposes, I suggest you look at the portfolio art of students who were accepted at LCAD… here are a couple examples: http://sjwoo.blogspot.com/2012/02/game-art-portfolio-2012-for-lcad.html

http://badkittehco.blogspot.com/2012/06/lcad-admissions-portfolio.html