Parsons School of Design, located in the heart of New York City, offers a comprehensive array of undergraduate and graduate programs focused on design, art, and creative industries. The curriculum emphasizes innovative thinking, hands-on practice, and interdisciplinary collaboration, preparing students for dynamic careers in fashion, communication, and product design.
- Fashion Design: This flagship program immerses students in the full spectrum of fashion creation, from conceptual sketching and pattern-making to sustainable production and global marketing. Courses cover textile innovation, draping techniques, and digital fabrication, with opportunities for runway shows and industry internships.
- Graphic Design: Students explore visual communication through typography, branding, and interactive media. Core classes include design history, motion graphics, and user experience (UX) design, fostering skills in Adobe Creative Suite and emerging technologies like AI-driven visuals.
- Illustration: Combining traditional and digital methods, this major teaches narrative storytelling via drawing, animation, and editorial work. Topics include character development, book illustration, and concept art for film and games.
- Industrial Design: Focused on product development, courses address ergonomics, prototyping, and sustainable materials. Students engage in projects from ideation to manufacturing, often collaborating with tech companies.
- Interior Design: Emphasizing spatial planning and human-centered environments, the program covers lighting, acoustics, and adaptive reuse. Studio work includes residential, commercial, and exhibition designs.
- Architecture: Integrating urbanism and sustainability, classes explore parametric modeling, site analysis, and resilient building practices. Students participate in design-build initiatives and international study trips.
- Fine Arts: This program nurtures personal artistic voice through painting, sculpture, and installation art. Advanced seminars discuss contemporary theory, critique, and gallery preparation.
- Design and Technology: Blending code, hardware, and aesthetics, courses teach physical computing, VR/AR development, and data visualization for interactive experiences.
- Strategic Design and Management: A graduate track on business innovation, covering entrepreneurship, leadership, and ethical design strategies for social impact.
- Photography: From analog to digital, students master lighting, editing, and conceptual photography, with emphasis on commercial and fine art applications.
Across all programs, Parsons integrates liberal arts courses in humanities, social sciences, and sustainability studies to broaden perspectives. Facilities include state-of-the-art studios, fabrication labs, and a renowned library. With small class sizes and renowned faculty from industry leaders, students benefit from NYC's vibrant creative ecosystem, including partnerships with MoMA, CFDA, and tech startups. Graduates emerge as versatile designers ready to shape culture and commerce. The school's commitment to diversity and inclusion ensures a global, equitable learning environment, with scholarships and outreach programs supporting underrepresented voices in design.
