School

Massachusetts College of Art and Design

MassArt's founders dared to imagine a better future for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and to believe the path to it lay in creativity. Their goal in establishing the Massachusetts Normal Art School was to educate students in the creative process, which would in turn lead to the development of the mind, body, and spirit.

The institution they created was dedicated to producing drawing teachers required in schools throughout the commonwealth, while at the same time training professional artists, designers, and architects. It proudly opened its doors in 1873 to anyone with talent and the will to succeed-at a time when access for everyone was all too uncommon.

True to its history, MassArt continues to envision all that is possible and strives to reach it. Our history sets the direction for our future.

Head Of School

Massachusetts College of Art and Design announces the appointment of Ken Strickland as Interim President and Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. The appointment comes at the same time that the college begins the process of selecting the 12th president for MassArt.

Ken brings a wealth of experience in professional arts and design education, a keen understanding of the challenges facing higher education administration and a commitment to fostering faculty excellence. His pragmatic optimism, boundless energy and dynamic vision advances MassArt's mission to affirm the value of the arts as a life enhancing force in society

Courses Overview: Undergraduate and Postgraduate

BA Fashion Design

The fashion design program trains students to create fashions with a global perspective and develop an understanding of the fundamentals needed to be a designer in the fashion industry. Students combine in their studies the domain of fine art high couture and of commerce. They learn to create both one-of-a-kind and ready-to-wear garments as well as accessory design and theatrical costume, using traditional and nontraditional materials. Students in the program learn to design and construct garments for women and men. Fashion students have designed for the Chadwick's division of Redcats USA, Radici Spandex, Levi Strauss, Sommers Plastic, Stride Rite, and Go-Pak Outerwear and the Italian Trade Commission. The curriculum encourages creative expression built on a foundation of technical development.