The facilities of the Department of Art & Design are state of the art and completely up-to-date. Classrooms, labs, and studios are located in the Oakview building and all spaces are dedicated to Art & Design use only.
Hardware
The Mac Lab contains the very latest models of Macintoshes. The lab consists of twenty workstations, each a 20" Intel iMac with. All units are fully integrated into a single network and completely accessible to all students. all loaded with the latest versions of all the programs that are the industry standards in Digital Design. In addition, there are workstations with specialized software for individualized tasks, plus four standard scanners, one 11 by 17 inch large format scanners, two high end large format Epson printers, wireless Wacom drawing tablets, and a dedicated wireless network.
The lab is also the smartest of our "smart classrooms." Through the use of a Smartboard, Apple Desktop Remote, high-end projectors, wireless Airport technology, Turnaround Software, and the ability to target your laptop into the existing network, we are able to accomplish amazing integration of technology with learning. The department also has all the necessary hardware and software to support projects in Podcasting and Video Podcasting.
Laptop Program
Every declared full-time art major is required to purchase a Macintosh laptop computer. All the laptops are configured identically, all enjoy full support from on campus Apple certified technicians, there is a loaner program should there be any need to leave your laptop at on campus repair facility (see the official Mobile Computing Program pages for details), and the Department of Art & Design has a full time specialist on staff. Upon completion of your degree, your laptop stays with you (by that time it has already "melded" with you) and becomes a key component of your fledgling career.
Software
Every workstation in the computer lab has installed on it the most updated versions of Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat, Quark, Dreamweaver, Flash, Freehand, and Fireworks. In addition, the university network provides access to all these programs by means of distributed licensing keys. That means that no matter where a student may be, on or off campus, as long as the student can access the internet, there is a temporary license available that will allow the use of any of the available applications for as long as it is needed.
Virtual Training
As part of the departments efforts to provide the very best resources available for learning software, multiple licenses are available for using the leading online training lessons of Virtual Training Corporation (VTC.com). The department also owns the entire Lynda.com library of essential training on CD for student use. Software training and answers to any questions are at your disposal 24/7 and from anywhere you may be.
STUDIOS
There are four separate studios in the art building, each dedicated to a single purpose.
The graphic design studio is dedicated to graphic design classes outside of the Mac Lab. The Department of Art & Design emphasizes learning the art of design beginning with fundamentals courses. The graphic design studio is also used for discussions, lectures, critiques, and with the entire campus being wireless, it is a very popular spot to work while using your Macintosh iBook (our current model), or the all new MacBook.
The illustration studio is the dedicated studio for illustration and color theory. There are twenty work stations, a wall of flat files for storing your work, matting facilities, and, of course, music. Professor de Graffenried's classes have for the last four consecutive years produced work from this studio that has been accepted to the nations premier student illustration showcases, The Society of Illustrator's Shows in both New York and Los Angeles.
The painting and drawing studio is dedicated for use by our painting and figure drawing classes. There are three different types of lighting systems available, plus a fantastic exposure of natural light through one entire wall of windows. The courses concentrate on oil painting and drawing of live models and still life work, and they are a part of every art major's experience at Sacred Heart University.
The foundations studio is used by all of the foundation level courses: Drawing I, Visual Organization, 3D Drawing, and 3D Design. It is ideal for foundation courses with drawing and work stations surrounding a central area for a still life, it has extraordinary natural light plus a dual lighting system and portable spot lights.
THE ART BUILDING
The Department of Art & Design is situated in an ideal location just off the main campus. The Oakview building is modern facility ideal for both our digital and our traditional classes. Situated at the end of a wooded cul-de-sac, students have ample opportunity to draw, paint, or photograph from nature, plus they are steps away from being inside of our state-of-the-art computer facility. The Oakview facility is serviced at all times by a shuttle service (a five minute trip from campus) as well as food services and security.