Kansas City Art Institue?

[RealignYourSpine]

So, I'm seriously considering KCAI, along with RSAD and RMCAD, and I just wanted to hear from someone who's gone to it. I'm majoring in graphic design, and minoring in photography, and I'm looking for a good graphic design school that's somewhat small and not *too* expensive (under 22-23k a year). I really like the sound of their interdisciplinary major, has anyone done that? I did get to show my portfolio to RSAD and KCAI at Portfolio Day here in Denver, and KCAI sent me a letter saying they'd approved my portfolio for admission, is that a normal thing with them? Any information will be appreciated!

[Moccomouse]

Hey, I'm from Denver too!
I've sat through more than one KCAI presentation, and I know a few people who go there. From what I understand, they are really well known for their sculpture and ceramics type stuff, they're a really small eccentric kind of school, and it is really cheap to live in missouri.
As for graphic design and photo, I dunnow, something tells me that there are better schools for that, but then you really just need to do some more research and ask more people.

good luck!

[RealignYourSpine]

Well, just an update - I went and visited KCAI this last week, and I absolutely loved it! From the student art (in the graphic design department) I saw the stuff coming out of there is pretty much in line with the kind of work I love and want to be able to do, so that was really exciting. Kansas City itself seems really fun too, looking forward to exploring it. I'll have to live in the dorms my freshman year, but after that KC is cheap enough I should be able to get my own apartment, yay!

Now here's to hoping I get in! :$

[scarborough]

Academy of Art University vs Kansas City Art Institute
I am 17 and was currently accepted by both AAU and KCAI. Can anybody out there tell me which school is better( Animation BFA) more up to date in software apps., teachers that are dedicated etc.?

[RealignYourSpine]

Hey Scarborough! I came back here to poke around a bit and saw you resurfaced my old thread lol

I did end up going to KCAI, been here for three years, and I really like it. I'm in the photography department (great department, but of course you're interested in animation). I'm not super-familiar with the animation department, but my friends that are in it seem to like it and are kept very busy. Each student in the program is required to buy a macbook pro, so you'd be doing most of your work on that. Most of the students seem to like that, cause you don't always have to be in studio to get your stuff done. I know the first year of the program they do a lot of hand drawn animation on the lightboxes, and they have a lot of required drawing classes. As far as computer programs go, I know they use Maya and that is taught in the second semester of your soph. year and first semester junior year. Senior year is spent working on individual thesis projects, so you'll have freedom to do what you want then.

I managed to find the department's youtube channel, there's a few student works on there: www.youtube.com/kcaianimation

If you want to talk to the head of the department, his email is dhudson at kcai.edu I'm sure he'd be happy to answer any questions.

The nice thing about KCAI that it's really small, so there's a good sense of community and everyone learns from each other. Also, it's right next to the art museums, and Kansas City is a pretty fun city. The art scene could be a little better, but for the midwest it isn't too bad. The Foundations program for the freshmen is awesome, you'll learn so much going through there!