Art Academy of Cincinnati Welcomes New Major
Since Art Academy of Cincinnati’s establishment as a museum school in 1869, the curriculum has evolved to meet the changing needs of contemporary artists, writers, and designers. On May 28, 2021, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) approved the Art Academy to add its eighth major to the curriculum, Digital Arts Animation. Assistant Professor Loraine Wible will lead the program.
Adding Digital Arts Animation is a response to students’ needs in an ever-changing 21st-century digital landscape. “The program builds on our already established Animation and Film/Video Minors,” said Paige Williams, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean.
“The Academy has long been focused on interdisciplinary creative outcomes which are supported throughout our curriculum.”
Computer technology continues to bridge traditionally separated practices. This allows creatives to create multifaceted digital imagery. Above all, motion and interactivity will radiate into other traditional and non-traditional artworks.
As a result, students in the program will be empowered to understand tools, competencies, and processes to work in pre-production and post-production both, in 2D animation and 3D animation.
“The skills I built in my animation classes pushed my understanding of narrative illustration and lit a fire for creating unique characters that are recognizable,” said Hali Hutchinson, 2020 graduate, and current Community Education Instructor.
Students graduating with a BFA in Digital Arts Animation will be prepared to offer sophisticated time-based experiences. Further, they will utilize the skills they learned in animation, motion graphics, special effects, video, and interactive design. These approaches combined will enable students to create limitless possibilities.
Many Art Academy animation graduates work at studios as well as corporate in-house divisions. Graduates also thrive in entrepreneurial and freelance enterprises and related creative industries: design, video production, and entertainment industries.
Learn more about the program here.
Meet Our Head of Digital Arts Animation
Loraine Wible, has taught in New Media and Film/Video departments at several colleges and universities. Her work is hybrid by nature, combining different digital arts fields, including video, animation, sound, and interactivity. In addition, her works use humor and surrealist devices to explore institutional critique and patriarchal expectations. She holds an MFA in Electronic Arts from the University of Cincinnati and a BFA in Film/Video from Ecole Supérieure de Realisation Audiovisuelle (Paris, France). She is pursuing EDX certifications in 3D Animation to ensure continued excellence in evolving 3D technology.
