The core of the School of Design's curriculum is the Foundation Year program, which emphasizes drawing techniques as the fundamental language of art and design. The curriculum provides an overview of two- and three-dimensional design, digital design applications, and diverse areas of specialization in the visual arts fields.

Studio courses introduce the student to techniques of visual analysis and encourage experimental problem solving in a variety of media. Special attention is given to the principles, characteristics, and interests that unite the various fields of art and design. A liberal arts component--embracing instruction in anthropology, art history, and philosophy of design--broadens understanding of the world's artistic heritage. A language/communication component, which extends through the specialization year, brings global depth to the training of art and design professionals.

Students are encouraged to enrich their analysis of visual expression by viewing works of art in their cultural and historical context. The artistic eye is trained in the basic principles of drawing (line, placement, and geometric form) as the foundation for composition and painting. Classes explore the rigors of anatomical representation in perfecting the technical skills required to render the human form.

Students examine form and shape in the two-dimensional plane, then manipulate objects in three-dimensional space, using natural materials (wood, fiber, clay) to solve contemporary design problems. Short, hands-on courses across the visual arts spectrum give the student firsthand experience in specialized design fields. Through familiarization with computer science, students turn theory into practice using digital design.

The goal of this intensive first-year training is to familiarize students with key elements of the design process, define the skills and principles needed for specialized fields, and give students an opportunity to assess the full range of their strengths, interests, and professional options.