A visit to the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD)

Minneapolis College of Art & Design (MCAD) is a small private visual arts college of about 800 undergraduates recognized for their innovative programs in animation, graphic design, and illustration. They offer 14 majors and 9 minors spanning both fine arts, design, creative writing, entrepreneurship and teacher education. MCAD also offers four professional development certificates with in person and online coursework available to working professionals who are interested in gaining credentials in Biomimicry, Design Foundations, Illustration, and UX Design.

First-year students take a series of foundation courses exploring techniques, tools and concepts before declaring their major. MCAD has a long history in supporting Minneapolis’ arts community sharing space with the historic Minneapolis Institute of Art, and is a short distance from the Walker Art Center showcasing more contemporary work. There are also several co-op classes open to students and the community from watercolors to live figure drawing. 

While we were there we saw “Grow, As We Are” a beautiful exhibition of a senior photography major of large scale photographs of Black Americans on Martha’s Vineyard.

MCAD, with its two square block campus is nestled in a quiet, residential part of Minneapolis. It’s an easy place to get around on by bike or with the city transit system and there is a shopping area with a local grocery store about two blocks from campus as well as many local restaurants and a climbing gym! MCAD requires all full-time, first year students to live on campus in furnished apartments - all the classroom buildings are connected with skyways and tunnels, an absolute must for navigating the Midwest winters!

MCAD DesignWorks Studio - Student designers and photographers have the opportunity to work in the college’s in-house design studio where MCAD’s brochures, signage and videos (among other things) are produced.

MCAD’s Pre-College Summer Sessions offer students the opportunity to take challenging 2-week, 3-credit studio art and design classes for animation, character design, illustration, painting and photography.