Students discussing design

Integrative Design

Art
Apply Now

A Master of Fine Arts in Integrative Design degree from Athens State University can help turn your creative passion into a rewarding career. With classes offered at the Alabama Center for the Arts in Decatur, Alabama, our supportive faculty is dedicated to providing expert instruction and hands-on training to develop the skills you need to create your career and excel in the arts industry.

Program Options

There are three options/concentrations for students to choose from: Media and Digital Arts, Painting and Drawing, and Ceramics. Each concentration will immerse students in an intense period of study where advanced theories, methodologies, and techniques are integrated across modalities.

Media and Digital Arts

The Media and Digital Arts Concentration will focus on a variety of strategic design elements common to the rapidly changing modern marketplace, such as photography, graphic design, videography, motion design, virtual environments, multimedia, digital audio recording, User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design as well as training in Augmented, Virtual, and Mixed Reality design (AR, VR, and MR, respectively) Students develop core digital skills while learning the value of working together in a creative environment and blending art and design to explore digital futures. Students will also work directly with area industry and community partners through real-world testing and internships. The broad range of skills covered in this concentration is made possible by renowned faculty whose expertise spans art, design, multimedia, and entrepreneurship. The program is designed for applicants with a demonstrated background in digital media/design who desire a multifaceted education, drawing from more than one area within the digital media space. Studies culminate with both a visual and written thesis.

Painting and Drawing

The Painting and Drawing Concentration includes a strong emphasis on the advanced development of drawing and painting as a form of communication in the 21st century. Students will 1) explore experimental and expanded practices in animation, new media, and digital painting, 2) use critical theory to analyze new and relevant analog and digital works in contemporary art and animation, 3) Experiment with stop-motion, digital painting, installation, and other 2D and 3D techniques to develop language and conceptual skill as an independent artist or professional animator. Faculty encourage students to pursue independent art practice and freelance creative work as well as a means of developing entrepreneurship and independent practice. Throughout the program, students are expected to acquire, develop, and refine skills and to engage in an exploration of personal expression and ideas. Studio artists must become highly self-motivated individuals dedicated to the practice of making sophisticated art and to thinking critically about their practice. This program assists students in developing an advanced level of visual critique and aesthetics, as well as conveying a sense of content and meaning. What makes this area of concentration stand out from others is its practical approach—it is technical (focused more on developing particular techniques and skills), but painting and drawing students are coached on the commercial aspects of working as an artist within the larger market context. Studies culminate with both a visual and written thesis.

Ceramics

The Ceramics Concentration offers the opportunity for studio work involving both technical and conceptual challenges. Through questioning and experimentation, students work to consolidate materials and processes while developing strong conceptual and expressive ideas. Students will pursue individual areas of interest which may include innovative fabrication of functional or sculptural forms. Work in the studio is complemented by courses in clay and experimental glaze formulation, kiln construction, and ceramic history and aesthetics. Students will work closely with a faculty advisor to ensure guided exploration to develop maturity and expertise. Individual meetings and critiques take place on a weekly basis. Studies culminate with both a visual and written thesis. Making this area of concentration unique in the region is the Salt kiln technology and state-of-the-art Ceramics facilities at the ACA, particularly the Atmospheric Firing technology.



Design Process

What You’ll Learn in the MFA in Integrative Design

As a MFA in Integrative Design student, you’ll:

  • Develop a disciplined professional practice of art-making in integrative design
  • Activate and perform their knowledge of Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) in real-world situations
  • Design and pursue increasingly sophisticated practice-led research questions and projects
  • Create and participate in collaborative projects with creative development teams
  • Engage in critical response around their own artwork and that of other artists both verbally and in writing.

Grow in Your Career With the MFA in Integrative Design

The population in and around Decatur and Athens is increasing as a result of economic and industry expansion and Decatur is emerging as an arts hub within the region. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment of craft and fine artists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. In Alabama, job predictions are slightly less than the national average but still positive through 2028 in all arts areas but especially in Media and Digital Arts. This status is bolstered by the Alabama Center for the Arts, which was built primarily for educational purposes. The proposed concentrations in the MFA in Integrative Design program map to 10 different occupations with an average salary of $66,040 in the State of Alabama.

According to Lightcast Q2 2022 Data Set (July 2022), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers have had a 27% increase in job opportunities in 2022 in both Alabama and the United States while Graphic Designers saw a 12% increase in jobs in Alabama and a 4% increase nationwide.

SOC Code Occupation Alabama Jobs U.S. Jobs
27-1024 Graphic Designers 2,342 275,251
27-1013 Fine Artists 498 68,105

Additionally, many people seek the MFA Degree as the credential for college-level teaching positions. As of January 2022, there were 78 openings nationwide for tenure track positions requiring an MFA, according to higheredjobs.com; two are in Alabama. There are another 256 positions that are part-time, and one is in Alabama.

Employment in Media and Digital Arts is on the Alabama Department of Labor projections of high-demand occupations through 2024.


FAQs

What is an MFA?

Masters of Fine Arts, also called an MFA degree, offer graduate students the opportunity to study the visual arts. MFA programs typically require 2-3 years of full-time study and may offer some practical and applied learning, as well as lessons in technique and theory.

A Masters of Fine Arts (MFA, or M.F.A.) degree is considered a ‘terminal’ degree, meaning it is the highest academic degree available in the Fine Arts. Though there are exceptions, an MFA is typically enough credential for individuals aspiring to teach Visual Art, Design, Film/Video, or New Media at the university level.

What is the Master of Fine Arts in Integrative Design?
Integrative Design is the design of the interaction between users and products. Most often when people talk about interaction design, the products tend to be software products like apps or websites. In this degree, Athens State University realized that the interaction between users and ‘products can relate to traditional ‘analog’ mediums, as well. The goal of interaction design is to create art that enable the viewers/user to achieve their objective(s) in the best way possible.

If this definition sounds broad, that’s because the field is rather broad: the interaction between a user and a product often involves elements like aesthetics, motion, sound, space, and many more. And of course, each of these elements can involve even more specialized fields, like sound design for the crafting of sounds used in user interactions. Interactive work, including traditional mediums like ceramics or painting and drawing, interactive or physical computing installations, experience designs, websites, software, and other user interface designs, showcases the ability to apply design iterations and ideals. Graduates have portfolios that demonstrate a focus that demonstrates less a linear process approach and more integrated processes approaching each problem from the varied viewpoints of multiple participants and the issues they represent.

Application Process

The Athens State University MFA in Integrative Design will not require a GRE score for admission. Instead, admission will be based on the merit of students’ current artwork and artistic preparation as shown in their application portfolio. When applying for the Master of Fine Arts Integrative Design degree-seeking applicants are required to submit:

  • a resume
  • three references
  • an artist’s statement (one page in length) that describes your current body of artwork and your studio practice. The artist’s statement should be a Word or PDF document. A numbered “List of Works” should be uploaded with the artist’s statement. Please use the following format for your list:
    1. Title, medium, dimensions in height x width x depth (if applicable) and time (if applicable), date of completion.
  • a portfolio. Portfolios must be program-specific and follow the individual portfolio guidelines required by the concentration of interest. See below for detailed guidelines.

Portfolio Requirements

Portfolios for the Area of Concentration in Ceramics

Portfolios should include 20 separate examples of work in ceramics that demonstrate artistic maturity, as well as the capacity to develop an idea through a series of works. Applicants should include a related series of their most recent work that indicates their current artistic direction and demonstrates a committed studio practice. Applicants may show work in diverse media as long as all of the work demonstrates the pursuit of cohesive ideas. A successful application portfolio demonstrates creativity and commitment in a cohesive body of work.

Portfolios should be submitted via the applicant’s portfolio URL or dedicated social media site and can include still images; video files; audio files; or any combination. Video or audio files may be included as part of the 20 work examples. Please format to 150 dpi, 1500 pixels on the greatest dimension. Please limit each video or audio link to no more than 5 minutes. If the video or audio link requires a password, be sure to list it.

A numbered “List of Works” should be uploaded with the artist’s statement. Please use the following format for your list:

1. Title, medium, dimensions in height x width x depth (if applicable) and time (if applicable), date of completion.

Portfolios for the area of Concentration in Painting and Drawing

Portfolios should include 20 separate examples of work in Painting and/or Drawing that demonstrate artistic maturity, as well as the capacity to develop an idea through a series of works. Applicants should include a related series of their most recent work that indicates their current artistic direction and demonstrates a committed studio practice. Applicants may show work in diverse media as long as all of the work demonstrates the pursuit of cohesive ideas. A successful application portfolio demonstrates creativity and commitment in a cohesive body of work.

Portfolios should be submitted via the applicant’s portfolio URL or dedicated social media site and can include still images; video files; audio files; or any combination. Video or audio files may be included as part of the 20 work examples. Please format to 150 dpi, 1500 pixels on the greatest dimension. Please limit each video or audio link to no more than 5 minutes. If the video or audio link requires a password, be sure to list it.

A numbered “List of Works” should be uploaded with the artist’s statement. Please use the following format for your list:

1. Title, medium, dimensions in height x width x depth (if applicable) and time (if applicable), date of completion.

Portfolios for the area of Concentration in Media and Digital Arts Degree

Portfolios should include 20 separate examples of work in Media and/or Digital Arts that demonstrate artistic maturity, as well as the capacity to develop an idea through a series of works. Applicants should include a related series of their most recent work that indicates their current artistic direction and demonstrates a committed studio practice. Applicants may show work in diverse media as long as all of the work demonstrates the pursuit of cohesive ideas. A successful application portfolio demonstrates creativity and commitment in a cohesive body of work.

Portfolios should be submitted via the applicant’s portfolio URL or dedicated social media site and can include still images; video files; audio files; or any combination. Video or audio files may be included as part of the 20 work examples. Please format to 150 dpi, 1500 pixels on the greatest dimension. Please limit each video or audio link to no more than 5 minutes. If the video or audio link requires a password, be sure to list it.

A numbered “List of Works” should be uploaded with the artist’s statement. Please use the following format for your list:

1. Title, medium, dimensions in height x width x depth (if applicable) and time (if applicable), date of completion.

If you are submitting any work from a group project, your contributions must be clearly identified and labeled.

Applicants who intend to focus on Media and Digital Arts should show interactive work, including interactive or physical computing installations, experience designs, websites, software, and other user interface designs, and showcase the ability to apply typographic rules, layout, and composition to Web applications. Ideally, the portfolio or résumé should note skills in basic HTML, web design, or scripting abilities in addition to research documentation. Research documentation should be succinct to relevant design decisions.

Portfolios should demonstrate a focus related to Integrative Design that demonstrates less a linear process approach and more integrated processes approaching each problem from the varied viewpoints of multiple participants and the issues they represent.

The body of work should demonstrate intention in mastery of the subject.  Traditional art and design skills are acceptable as well as digital designs. Applicants must show proficiency in Photoshop or Illustrator and demonstrate presentation polish. Annotations of mental maps to solutions are appreciated. A strong portfolio includes a presentation of the process in addition to final solutions such as design documentation, model breakdowns, concept sketches, or relevant research. Live examples can be included in documentation to review websites or working apps.

Facilities
The Alabama Center for the Arts was completed in 2012 for the Visual Arts and houses state-of-the-art facilities and equipment in Computer Graphics, Ceramics, Multimedia and Integrative Design, and Painting and Drawing. The 44,000-square-foot facility for the Visual Arts is located in downtown Decatur, beside Phase II.
The Alabama Center for the Arts will allow appropriate access to studios, tools, and equipment for MFA candidates, as this is fundamental to art and/or design production and an education about safe studio practices. Additionally, the facilities are designed and situated in ways that encourage collaboration and exchange across disciplines and can include opportunities for MFA students to connect work to other program resources such as theater, music technology, set and lighting design, performance space, digital technology, and 3-D scanning labs, and a print center.

For more information, go to www.alabamacenterforthearts.com.

On-Campus Housing
A residence hall serving the ACA, located just one block southeast from the ACA, is under construction and will contribute importantly to the affordability of housing for both the traditional and low-residency MFA populations. The residence hall, scheduled to be opened in 2024, will exclusively serve the students of Athens State and Calhoun Community College who are educated at the Alabama Center for the Arts.
Pamela Keller Photo

Pamela Keller, MFA

Professor of Art
Phone:256-260-4296 Phone:256-260-4296 Email:Pamela.Keller@athens.edu
Department:College of Arts and Sciences
Office:

Alabama Center for the Arts
Visual Arts Building, Room 315