Experience Design - Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Every other year, this unique, studio-centric MFA in experience design (XD) admits a cohort of eight to twelve talented students from varied backgrounds, including all areas of design, art, architecture and engineering. Students in the XD program form a studio collective to complete an array of XD projects under the direct guidance of CU faculty and professionals in the field, many who provide project content. As a result of this industry involvement, and the students own self-exploration, XD graduates are prepared to enter the field of experience design.

The MFA in XD also exposes students to new ways of seeing the reality around them, new ways of creating, resolving problems, expressing ideas and telling stories. Essentially, the MFA in XD is a course of study in using new languages. 

The program also features a summer "design center" where students and faculty can accept real-time XD problems posed by outside entities (including some contracted projects with commercial firms) and solve them via a collaborative, studio approach. The work of this center provides a service to various communities and is a practical extension of learning for students. 

While the MFA in XD advances a collaborative studio environment where teamwork is held in high regard, we consider it a mission of the program to foster the individual talents, visions, and interests of each student in the program. The program will make every effort to provide an environment where individual students may gestate their own concepts, allowing them room to explore, test and innovate with the support of the studio, other students, faculty and industry professionals.

Connections to Industry

Some of the program's professional advisors, endorsers and participants include:

• Jim Doyle of WET Design, makers of the famed Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas
• Dave Cooperstein and Al Cross of PGAV Destinations, designers of Sea World and the NASA Space Museum
• Electrosonic, makers of the live video projection technology for Disney's Magic Kingdom Castle
• Adam Bezark, Phil Hettema and Steve Ryan, commercial producers of live experiences with credits at Disney, Universal and Landmark Entertainment
• Drew Campbell, Creative Director at International Resorts in Singapore
• Baam Productions
• Nassal
• Super 78
• Bolder Interactive, Technology Designers for Themed Experiences
• Stantec, Experiential Architecture Firm

Requirements

Application Process

The professional MFA in experience design admits a new cohort of 8–12 students every other fall semester. Applications will be accepted on a rolling deadline for entry in a fall semester beginning in July of the previous year.

Required Courses and Credits

Plan(s) of Study

 Sequence is subject to change.