<p>I am also investigating graphic design and interdiscipliary design at Parsons. Does anyone know how good these programs are there? Also, what is the school like in general? I must admit that I don't see them rated in the top 50 by US News and World Report.However, they may not have a graduate program in these area or a strong graduate program.</p>
<p>I looked in the Parsons catalogue and it showed an "AAS" in Graphic Design (which looks like a two year program).</p>
<p>Interdisciplinary Design - I guess you mean the Integrated Design program? If so, it's a BFA which includes the freshman Foundation Year. You declare your concentration in March (of the freshman year) which may be fashion design, illustration etc.. The concentration is not as intense as the actual BFA's in fashion design and illustration.</p>
<p>I don't know how good the above programs are.</p>
<p>My daughter has been very pleased with the education she received in the Foundation year.</p>
<p>Also, you might look at their weekly news page:
<a href="http://www.newschool.edu/observer%5B/url%5D">http://www.newschool.edu/observer</a></p>
<p>mauretania - where did your daughter decide to transfer to for costume design?</p>
<p>Taxguy, this is not a direct answer to your question on Parsons but there is a two day conference in Philadelphia sponsored by AIGA on the future of design education moderated by Steven Heller (Art Director of NY Times Book Review and co-chair of SVA's MFA-Design program). Below is a link to information on the conference:</p>
<p>Interesting uncoccer-mom. It might be worth attending.</p>
<p>modiam asked:
mauretania - where did your daughter decide to transfer to for costume design?</p>
<p>She applied to Otterbein College and Central Saint Martins, London (was accepted at both). </p>
<p>After a great deal of "soul-searching", she felt she really didn't have the
passion to go the theatre route. What really turned her thinking was
the exposure to the working environment experienced through her
part-time internship, these past few months. What she witnessed
didn't involve her, personally, but she didn't like the treatment shown
to others.</p>
<p>The above happened after her visit/interview at Otterbein College.
My daughter said everyone in the theatre department at Otterbein were
very accommodating and wonderful to her. She can't say enough good
things about them and is very grateful for the time and effort they spent
on her:) I really, really wanted her to go there.</p>
<p>Since she's a bit of a lost soul now, she felt it would be best to stay
at Parsons and decided on Illustration as a major. Parsons Illustration Department were very supportive and wonderful about scrambling to get her re-registered for her sophomore classes (past the deadline!).</p>
<p>Naturally she quit the internship and got a summer job being a dog handler/walker on the upper East Side and will also take a Civil War
History class at Hunter College (it's someplace in Manhattan) to get
some of her Junior Year elective credits out of the way.</p>