The Applied Arts: Courses, Colleges, Syllabus, Jobs

Are you a creative person who has always been interested in design and has always wanted to put it to practical use? The Applied Arts is surely for you! The Applied Arts is seldom mistaken for the Fine Arts, which does not deal with the practical aspect of design. The Applied Arts courses offer you a limitless array of practicality combined with your unique design perspective. You can dive into the world of Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, and many more. In this Applied Arts blog, you get to explore your areas of interest and how you can successfully pursue your creative journey. 

Field Name	Applied Arts
Level	Undergraduate, Post Graduate
Eligibility	Completion of 10+2 with a minimum of 50% of marks is mandatory.
Job opportunities	Graphic Designer, Interior Designer, Fashion Designer, User Experience Designer, Art Director, Industrial Designer
Average Fees	$30,000 to $70,000 per year
Average Salary	Average annual pay of $50,000

Why Study the Applied Arts?

The Applied Arts courses open up the world to your creativity and individuality. The areas for you are boundless and limitless. Your imagination and innovation are given a space in the Applied Arts. Your hands-on skills are polished from plentiful experiences. The Applied Arts improves your problem-solving skills and gives you tools to address real-world problems. 

Moreover, you are presented with vast opportunities and various fields unlock for you. Other than the fact that it showcases personal expression, there are plenty of job opportunities and career paths that for qualified students pursue. 

Popular Applied Arts Courses

The Applied Arts Courses can be pursued through undergraduate(Bachelor’s), and postgraduate(Master’s). Let us go through the various courses that you can pursue. 

Bachelors

There are a range of courses in the undergraduate field that you can choose from according to your preference. 

Bachelor of Arts (BA)	Specialisations:
	Fashion Design
	Product Design
	Graphic Design
	Textile Design
	Visual Arts
	Digital Media Arts
	Graphic and Media Design
	Interior and Spatial Design
	Theatre and Screen Design
	Graphic Communication Design
	Jewellery Design
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)	Specialisations:
	Graphic Design
	Industrial Design
	Furniture Design
	Fashion Design
	Interior Design
	Strategic Design and Management
	Communications Design
	Product Design
	Interaction Design

Also Read – Performance Arts Courses

Masters

After you have completed your undergraduate degree you can pursue the following postgraduate degrees related to the Applied Arts. 

Master of Arts (MA)	Specialisations:
	Fashion Design
	Design Products
	Graphic Design
	Textile Design
	Visual Communication
	Digital Media Arts
	Graphic and Media Design
	Interior and Spatial Design
	Urban Environments Design
	Jewellry Design
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)	Specialisations:
	Graphic Design
	Industrial Design
	Fashion Design
	Interior Design
	Visual Communication Design
	Communications Design
	Product Design
	Interaction Design

Top Colleges for Applied Arts Courses Abroad 

These top institutes in the world offer several Applied Arts undergraduate and postgraduate programs. 

Institute	QS World University Ranking	Courses Offered
Royal College of Art,London, UK	N/A	MA in Design Products, MA in Fashion, MA in Textiles, MA in Visual Communication
University of Arts, London, UK	NA	BA in Graphic and Media Design BA in Fashion Design BA in Interior and Spatial Design BA in Product Design BA in Theatre and Screen Design
Rhode Island School of Design,Providence, USA	1001-1200	BFA in Apparel DesignBFA in Furniture DesignBFA in Graphic DesignBFA in Industrial Design
Parsons School of Design,New York City, USA	NA	BFA in Communication DesignBFA in Fashion DesignBFA in Product DesignBFA in Interior DesignBFA in Strategic Design and Management
Pratt Institute,USA	NA	BFA in Communications DesignBFA in Fashion DesignBFA in Industrial DesignBFA in Interior DesignBFA in Jewelry Design
Politecnico di Milano,Italy	139	BA in Product DesignBA in Interior DesignBA in Communication DesignBA in Fashion DesignBA in Textile Design
School of Art Institute of Chicago,USA	NA	BFA in Fashion DesignBFA in Graphic DesignBFA in Visual Communication Design
The Glasgow School of Art,UK	NA	BA in Communication DesignBA in Fashion DesignBA in Interior DesignBA in Product DesignBA in Textile Design
École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs, France	NA	MA in DesignMA in Fashion DesignMA in Graphic DesignMA in Product DesignMA in Textile Design
University of California,Los Angeles, USA	44	BA in Design Media ArtsBA in Fashion DesignBA in Interior DesignBA in Product DesignBA in Visual Arts
California College of the Arts,USA	NA	BFA in Fashion DesignBFA in Furniture DesignBFA in Graphic DesignBFA in Industrial DesignBFA in Interaction Design

Admission Process

As there are a variety of courses available, the application process would vary depending on factors like university, country and the course you will apply to. However, your academic transcripts, letter/s of recommendation, a portfolio showcasing your creativity and ideas, and an English language proficiency test like TOEFL, IELTS, etc. will be a must. 

Eligibility

The Applied Arts consist of both theoretical and practical experiences and each course has numerous criteria. Here is a general overview of the requirements you would need to fulfil. 

• Completion of your High school education or an equivalent qualification with a foundation in art or design. 
• A proof of your English Language proficiency through examinations like TOEFL or IELTS.
• Pertaining to the university, you would need to appear for specific Entrance Examinations or Aptitude Tests. 

Must Read: All You Need to Know About the TOEFL Exam 2023

Documents Required

• Academic Transcripts and Certifications.
• A Portfolio that includes all your artistic capabilities and your strengths. You need to include the artwork and projects that portray your creativity. 
• A Letter/s of Recommendation(LOR).
• A refined Statement of Purpose(SOP).
• A completed Application Form.
• Passport
• Resume/CV
• Visa

Applied Arts Syllabus 

Though there are various courses that one can apply to, and the syllabus would vary depending on the university and the course. Here is the brief syllabus for a BFA in Interaction Design from The California College of the Arts, USA. 

• Core Studio: Foundations
• Core Studio: Systems
• Core Studio: Prototyping
• Core Studio: Interaction
• Creative Code
• Prototyping and Fabrication for Interaction
• User Interface and Digital Product Design
• Systems Thinking and Human-Centered Design
• Design Futures
• Interaction Design Thesis I
• Interaction Design Thesis II
• Design Leadership and Professional Practice

Read More: Interaction Design Courses

Job Opportunities 

There are multiple opportunities that unfold after the completion of an Applied Arts course. Here is a list of some of them. 

Graphic Designer	Fashion Designer	Industrial Designer
Interior Designer	Web Designer	Animator
Art Director	Advertising Art Director	User Experience Designer
User Interface Designer	Theatre Manager	Production Artist

Top Recruiters

Here are some of the top recruiters after your applied arts degree. 

• Advertising agencies
• Art galleries
• Banks
• Film and television production companies
• Media houses
• Public relations offices
• Graphic design firms
• Fashion design companies
• Interior design firms
• Architecture firms
• Industrial design companies
• Animation studios
• Game design companies
• Publishing houses
• Museums
• Art schools and universities
• Photography studios
• Theater companies
• Freelance opportunities

Why Should You Apply for an Applied Arts Course in 2023?

As the world is changing and developing by leaps and bounds, pursuing an Applied Arts course will facilitate a career of creativity and innovation. 

1. Your Creative Expression: Your own individuality is portrayed in the products that you create, you will call it your own creation and innovation. Furthermore, you get to know your own personal style and get to know yourself better. 
2. Great Career Prospects: The courses are vast and plentiful, and the course directly interacts with the market economy and thus there are many job opportunities and career paths to pursue for graduates. There are career opportunities like Graphic Design, Fashion Design, User Experience Design, and Interior Designer. 
3. Your Practical Experience: Since the applied arts courses always focus on learning through practice apart from the basic design principles, you face multiple situations that prepare you for your future career. The conclusion is that most applied art students also learn about psychology, communication, leadership, design, marketing, and practical skills.  
4. A Multidisciplinary Approach: The applied arts combines art with your needs, design, aesthetics, and problem-solving. It serves the purpose of making products that are of help as well as appealing. In addition, whilst studying the applied arts, there is also an intersection of graphics, architecture, advertising, and many more. 

FAQs 

Lastly, I hope that you have found the necessary information that you have been looking for. If this blog was helpful and you want to begin your creative journey, you can contact us at Leverage Edu and our mentors would be happy to guide you through the process and also help you understand the field of your choosing.