Parsons has been a pioneer in art and design education since its inception, spearheading new movements and teaching methods that have propelled artists and designers creatively and politically. The renowned American Impressionist William Merritt Chase founded the school in 1896. It was a rebellious gesture: Chase led a small group of Progressives who seceded from the Art Students League of New York in search of more individualistic expression.

In 1970, Parsons joined The New School (then called The New School for Social Research), a renowned institution of progressive thinking. The merger with The New School provided Parsons with new resources to expand its education offerings. The move also strengthened the connection between academic knowledge and social activism. 

Today, The New School and Parsons are committed to employ design thinking to help solve complex global problems. Joel Towers, executive dean of Parsons, describes the school’s forward-looking pedagogy.

What makes your school’s art & design programs different & unique from other art & design school programs? What are the top 3 program features that make your program stand out?

1. Parsons School of Design is the only major design school embedded within a major comprehensive university. In addition to Parsons, The New School houses a liberal arts college, a performing arts college, a social research institute, and additional graduate programs in international affairs, management, and urban policy; media; creative writing; and more. The New School encourages collaboration across all majors and disciplines to address social issues with innovative, viable solutions. 

2. Parsons is leading enlightened design thinking through a commitment to sustainability and cutting-edge problem solving that improves all facts of society.   

3. Located in New York City, with a branch in Paris. 

Can students take courses in other schools?

Yes. A student may choose to take a course or two in another area, or they may take a minor in another discipline of The New School. University-wide minors listed here  at www.newschool.edu/academics/minors/

Students may also choose to pursue a five-year dual BA/BFA degree in a liberal arts concentration at Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts and a visual arts focus at Parsons School of Design.

What steps do you take to evaluate a student’s candidacy, apart from reviewing their creative portfolio?

In addition to the portfolio, it is essential that a student  performs well in the classroom. Writing and communication is a part of the curriculum here at Parsons, so we want to see students connect their words to their visual work. A shared passion for creative inquiry and the desire to make real world impact is crucial. 

What does your program look for most in the creative portfolio during admissions? What do you think makes an A+ portfolio? 


Ideally we want the portfolio to present a range of technical and conceptual strengths. It’s truly exciting to get a sense of an applicant’s personality and interests. 

How are new technologies affecting students’ curriculums and/or ways of learning/collaborating at your school? 


Parsons’ approach to technology is to foster a culture of self-learning, so that students are capable of teaching themselves new skills; choosing appropriate tools for a given work, both known and unlearned; and responding and adapting to evolving and future technologies. A high priority in achieving this is maintaining currency and responding nimbly to changes and advancements in the field. 

Cross-disciplinary, project -based learning is at the center of our educational experience, encouraging students to consider issues from multiple perspectives in order to reframe the possibilities of design for the larger community. 

Starting in their first year, Parsons students are introduced to a variety of both analog and digital technologies in 2D, 3D, and 4D production, and image making. In subsequent years, students further refine their technological skills, while also acquiring those specific to their disciplines. The use of technology and equipment is embedded in the larger context of studio learning, so that students are acquiring these capabilities while learning how to best apply them and the outcomes of their use.

Are there any exciting developments for your programs that students should know about?

Continued investment in cutting-edge facilities and technology is a priority for the school. Parsons is currently constructing a state-of-the-art, 30,000 square foot Making Center to support making across all disciplines and programs. Designed to support the most advanced, sustainable practices in digital technology and physical craft, the Making Center will provide spaces for 3D printing, prototyping, modeling, printmaking, fabricating, constructing, physical computing, milling, engineering, and a host of other tools and skills.  

What is the most distinguished feature at your school?

Parsons is organized into five schools: Fashion; Art, Media and Technology; Constructed Environments; Art and Design History and Theory; and Design Strategies. This structure facilitates specialization in a given field while enabling interdisciplinary and cross-school scholarship that affords designers the broad design perspective they need in today’s professional world. Additionally, Parsons students benefit greatly from our integration within The New School, a research and liberal arts university.  research and liberal arts university, The New School.  Our students can complement their design education with first-rate courses in anthropology, political science, public policy, music and drama, and many other disciplines, acquiring the capacity to work collaboratively across a wide range of projects and contexts.

‘Design is not a neutral act. Design enables human action.  It is purposeful and magnifies capacity. It reveals and conceals who we are. Design is a generative and a regenerative endeavor with immediate impact and long-term implications. And the challenges of our time require more than ever that artists and designers focus their talents not simply on how things appear but on how things fundamentally are and, more to the point, how they could be. It is an ideal time to study art and design. The future is always being designed. ’ 

Interviewed by Joel Towers
Executive Dean, Parsons School of Design Ashley Bruni, Director of Brand Strategy 

APPLICATION MATERIALS

Common Application

PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENTS

BFA: Slideroom  8-12 pieces 
Parsons Challenge 3 pieces 
BBA: Parsons Challenge 3 pieces.

WRITING SAMPLE

Artist Statement (for BFA)
Personal Statement (for BBA)

TRANSCRIPTS

Required

RECOMMENDATION LETTERS

1 Teacher 

INTERVIEW

Not Required

APPLICATIONS DEADLINES

Early Action: Nov 1
Regular Decision: Jan 15
*SAT or ACT not required now

FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Bachelor-degree BBA, BFA:
TOEFL: 92
IELTS: 7.0
PTE: 63

Dual-degree BA, BFA:
TOEFL: 100
IELTS: 7.0
PTE: 68

ALUMNI

Sheila Bridges, Interior designer
Mario Buatta, Interior decorator
Sue de Beer, Fashion artist
Tom Ford, Fashion designer
Albert Hadley, Interior designer
Marc Jacobs, Fashion designer
Jasper Johns, Painter
Donna Karan, Fashion designer
Barbara Kruger, Artist
Alex Lee, Product designer
Jenna Lyons, Creative director
Ryan McGinley, Photographer
Steven Meisel, Fashion photographer
Paul Rand, Graphic designer
Narciso Rodriguez, Fashion designer
Evan Roth, Artist
Joel Schumacher, Film director, Screenwriter, and Producer
Ai WeiWei, Artist

DID YOU KNOW?

Driven by its mission to confront real-world problems through bold and creative solutions, The New School is tackling the global crisis of climate change head on. This year, the university will pursue a comprehensive plan to address climate change, including full divestment of fossil fuels. At its heart is the Tishman Environment and Design Center (TEDC), a facility that will foster the integration of design strategies and creative social and ecological approaches to environmental issues.

ADMISSIONS OFFICE

University Admission
66 West 12th Street
New York, NY 10011

+1 (212)-229-5150