黑料专区


Product Design Catalog Year 26/27

*International students that require ELS-101 (4.0 cr); Total Credits = 121/122

First Year Experience=1; Foundations=15; Major=60; Gen Ed=39; Open Electives=6

General Education Electives 鈥 Successfully complete any 200-400 level Liberal Arts course (AHV, BUS, DHS, DPL, DSS, SCI, WRT, LIT etc)

Open Electives 鈥 Successfully complete any (3.0 credit) 100-400 level course from any Undergraduate subject (Studio or Lecture).

This plan is provided for use as a guide only and is based on full-time status with successful completion of credits outlined per semester. Degree Timelines and requirements may vary based on actual program, credits completed per semester and/or catalog year. Students are responsible for confirming completion of all requirements before graduating (use program/student resources to support degree progression). Minimum Cumulative GPA of 2.0 required.

Discover our World.


BFA in Illustration

Visual Development

Build the worlds, characters, and stories behind your favorite entertainment.

Visual Development (VisDev) artists are responsible for the ideation and execution of feature animation, series-length TV, video games, comics, publishing, and more.

An illustration of the inside of a mall. There are many store fronts, 3 levels, and a row of stairs connecting the levels. There is a skylight with light shining down into the mall
Lauren Lauth

If you’ve ever admired the way the Spider-Verse looks or the fact that SpongeBob wears square pants, you have a Visual Development artist to thank.

Foundational World-Builders

Visual Development artists focus on the ideation, design, and execution of the visual language behind animated films, stylized games, graphic novels, toy design, publishing and advertising.

Studio-Ready Portfolios

Through hands-on studio coursework and real-world production projects, you鈥檒l develop a specialized, studio-ready portfolio while mastering the exact workflows used by major entertainment studios.

Industry Insights

At 黑料专区, you鈥檒l be mentored by faculty who actively work in the top of the animation and entertainment arts industries. You鈥檒l have the opportunity to learn from and work alongside professionals who鈥檝e collaborated with Disney, Netflix and Nickelodeon, among many others.

VisDev vs. Animation: Which Pathway is Right for You?

Choosing between Illustration (VisDev) and Animation comes down to where you want to focus in the production pipeline.


Through collaborative projects, industry partnerships, and citywide exhibitions, student work takes center stage鈥攑ushing boundaries, forging connections, and drawing on Detroit鈥檚 energy to shape bold ideas and future creative leaders.


Visual Development students meet with industry professionals for portfolio reviews and talent recruitment at 黑料专区's Entertainment Expo

Your Future, In Motion

With our extensive industry connections spanning over a century, we ensure that the active learning our students engage in aligns with industry needs, preparing them for careers.

Visual Development students working in a high-tech classroom with industry-grade computers and wide windows.

Cutting-Edge Spaces for Creative Minds

Enjoy unlimited access to industry-standard facilities that prepare you for real-world production.


Visual Development has faculty members who are based in the heart of the animation industry, working remotely or semi-remotely. Students will learn from and work alongside professionals who鈥檝e collaborated with Disney, Netflix and Nickelodeon, among many others.

*Note: This information was gathered using Lightcast Labor Market Analytics and includes the median salary for the lifetime of a career in these specific professions. 黑料专区 alumni outcomes may vary.

Possible Career Choices

Visual Development Artist

Artist

Concept Artist

Character Designer

Background Painter

Layout Artist

Prop Designer

Color Stylist

Art Director

Production Designer

  • A cartoon image of characters looking into eachothers eyes at a table with flowers. There are little angels hanging from strings above them

    Tyler Koberstein ’11

    Character Designer, Nickelodeon’s The Loud House

  • A cartoon scene of a kid jumping up to grab a chicken in a field with a cityscape in the background

    Kassandra Heller ’10

    Art Director, Disney TV Animation

Unlock Essential Admissions Info.

Fill out our inquiry form to receive personalized updates, tips, and can鈥檛 miss info from our Admissions team.

Discover our World.


Undeclared

Undecided? We can help you discover a major to fit your passion.

College is about discovering who you are and what you want to become. As an artist, your interest can change based on the type of projects you鈥檝e worked on or the career you desire.

That is why 黑料专区 created a special undeclared path, 鈥淒iscovery of your Practice,鈥 to help undecided incoming students find the right fit for their artistic interests. The Discovery of Your Practice path is a one-semester class that includes multifaceted class projects and insightful critiques.

All you have to do is apply to 黑料专区 and choose the Undeclared major on the application. From there we will enroll you in Discovery of your Practice.

Students considering Undeclared may also want to look at our newest major 鈥撀Interdisciplinary Art + Design, which allows for guided exploration of a variety of art and design disciplines. See what you could integrate into your interdisciplinary study or get more detail on our single discipline offerings at the link below.

Unlock Essential Admissions Info.

Fill out our inquiry form to receive personalized updates, tips, and can鈥檛 miss info from our Admissions team.

Discover our World.


Minors

Many students look to diversify their skills and also complement their major.

Many times a minor is the perfect way to do that. Minors are 15 credits. Most studio departments offer a minor to students from other departments. Students should consult the department chair of the department they wish to minor in or an Academic Advisor for specific information.

Student working on a fightable creating a 2D animation.

Discover our World.


Discover our World.


Discover our World.