The application deadline for the 2010-2011 year has passed. Please check back in January, 2011 for information about applying to AC4D for the 2011-2012 academic year.
Application, in brief. We are pleased that you are considering the Austin Center for Design. All candidates must submit the following material; only when all items have been received will your application be reviewed. You may email your materials to us or physically mail your materials to the address below. You can pay your application fee via paypal, or can mail a check made out to the Austin Center for Design.
The following items constitute an application for admissions:
- a completed application form (.pdf)
- a portfolio
- a resume
- a statement of purpose
- an application fee - $50 (Paypal accepted)
If you choose to physically send your materials, please mail them to:
Austin Center for Design Admissions Department
PO Box 11572
Austin Texas 78711
Deadlines. The application deadline for the 2010-2011 year has passed. Full applications - including all of the above items - must be received by July 1st, 2011, to be considered for the 2011/2012 academic year.
Eligibilty for Admissions. Austin Center for Design seeks students who have an existing interest and proven track record in art, design, business, or technology. The rigorous program in Interaction Design and Social Entrepreneurship brings together these students in a creative environment to produce working, multi-platform design systems. Students do not need to have an undergraduate degree in art, design, business or technology in order to apply. Previous professional working experience is not required, but is highly recommended.
Portfolio Requirements. A portfolio of work is required for admissions, in order to illustrate a professional "body of work". Note that this body of work need not be visual, and it is expected that students from various disciplines will submit a wide variety of work artifacts. Submit work related to your core discipline and background:
- Design work should be presented visually, showing the process and final design solution in a clear and concise manner.
- Other creative and visual work, such as advertising or fine art, should show the final artifact or solution, and should describe the particular project goals.
- Design research work (and other forms of ethnography or anthropology) should be presented in a manner that illustrates the topic being studied, the rationalization for the group observed, and key findings.
- Business and marketing work should be presented through analytical reports, presentations, or other artifacts; be sure to describe the needs supported by the artifacts, and the result of the various reports, pitches, diagrams, or analytics.
- Software and code (both front and back-end development) should be presented in a way that articulates the problem being solved, the constraints (such as time and resources), and the outcome (is the work live, and being used?)
In all cases, the portfolio should showcase an applicant's best work, presented as professionally as possible. It should demonstrate the applicant's interests in and aptitudes for advanced study and, specifically, potential for success at the Austin Center for Design. Applicants are encouraged to submit only their best work. It is not necessary to add extra work if it is not consistently strong. All materials should be submitted electronically and cannot be returned.
Computer-generated pieces may be submitted on CD, DVD or USB Flash drive. Images should be saved as high-quality JPEG or PNG files (with a file suffix of .jpg or .jpeg, or .png), PDF files, or digital portfolios created in PowerPoint, Director, Flash or HTML. Digital portfolios should be checked to assure that links work properly and all necessary files are included. Applicants should indicate whether special instructions are necessary for the viewing of digital portfolios. In the case of documented, professional or group projects, applicants should indicate personal responsibilities.
Resume Requirements. A resume is required for admission. The resume should list a history of the applicant's previous work, education, awards, and other accomplishments. The resume should be submitted as a PDF file.
Statement of Purpose Requirements. A statement of purpose is required for admission. The statement of purpose should describe, in no more than 3000 words, the applicant's intent for attending the Austin Center for Design. The statement of purpose should be submitted as a PDF file.
Additional Details. Students may apply any time throughout the year, but all students begin their course of study during the first Fall Quarter (in August). The school reserves the right to verify all documents submitted in application for admission. Any falsification of admission documents or portfolio materials constitutes grounds for termination of application procedures or dismissal from the school. Only complete applications will be considered. The application fee of $50 is nonrefundable.
Application forms for the 2011-2012 academic year will be available in January, 2011.
Please check back at that time.
Send us an email if you need help with your application, or have any questions about the admissions process.