Business of
Art + Design
Looking for a unique and personalized program to help you bridge the gap between creativity and business design management? The Business of Art and Design major at Ringling College is for you.
Artwork Credit
Name goes here
Creativity meets business management in this BA program.
Master the skills of a project management degree and business design management all rolled into one. Explore the principles of marketing and design, production management, and learn to collaborate with others. Our students start their careers equipped with a multifaceted skill set that allows maximum adaptability in the professional world. Business of Art and Design grads are redefining what ‘business’ means today; the need to pivot, adapt, design, refine, and problem solve. They go on to freelance and work for companies around the world including DreamWorks, Panasonic, Deloitte, Feld Entertainment, and Pixar.
What We Do
As a student in the Business program, you will have countless opportunities to join forces with Ringling students across all majors to bring creative visions to life: producing animated films, planning events and experiences, crafting bold advertising campaigns, and developing ideas for new creative businesses!
Wet Dog Corp.
Meet the Business Students Behind the Brand Activation at South by Southwest
Student Work
Senior Thesis Exhibition Reel 2018
Behind the Scenes: Artists Minding Their Business
INDEX: Redefining Experiential Learning
Pixie Dust: Studio Strategy and Game Production
This senior thesis project put creative business skills into practice for a real-world client. In a partnership with the Lewis Foundation, senior Pablo Murray-Campbell coordinated the production of two visual novels and devised a strategy to transform a game development startup into a scalable and sustainable business. Pixie Dusk will operate as the first major independent studio to consistently develop and self publish high quality English-language visual novels.
Magical Mom: Production Management for Animation
Want to know everything a production manager does behind the scenes? This thesis book by Yu Ting Lin, class of 2018, takes readers on the journey from pre-production to distribution. Go behind the scenes of the animated short, Magical Mom.
Legal Limbo: The Intersection of Law and Storytelling
Through exclusive interviews with entertainment attorneys and studio executives at various media powerhouses (Warner Bros, National Geographic, DreamWorks Animation, HBO), Legal Limbo:
The Intersection of Law and Storytelling explores the ever-changing legal dynamics of various creative sectors within Hollywood’s multibillion dollar media and entertainment industry, including exclusive insight into entertainment law, film and television, intellectual property, and emerging trends and innovations that will leave a lasting impact for years to come. This senior thesis project was produced by Emily Fritz, class of 2020.
The Desirable Pet Initiative: Creative Project Management
With a mission of reducing the length of stay for “less adoptable pets,” this initiative proposed five interconnected programs: a social media plan, event plan, volunteer program, mobile shelter plan, and a new facility plan for the client, Bishop Animation Shelter, a local non-profit organization. This project was produced in second year Business of Art and Design Class, Project Management.
Senior Thesis Exhibition Reel 2018
Behind the Scenes: Artists Minding Their Business
INDEX: Redefining Experiential Learning
Pixie Dust: Studio Strategy and Game Production
This senior thesis project put creative business skills into practice for a real-world client. In a partnership with the Lewis Foundation, senior Pablo Murray-Campbell coordinated the production of two visual novels and devised a strategy to transform a game development startup into a scalable and sustainable business. Pixie Dusk will operate as the first major independent studio to consistently develop and self publish high quality English-language visual novels.
Magical Mom: Production Management for Animation
Want to know everything a production manager does behind the scenes? This thesis book by Yu Ting Lin, class of 2018, takes readers on the journey from pre-production to distribution. Go behind the scenes of the animated short, Magical Mom.
Legal Limbo: The Intersection of Law and Storytelling
Through exclusive interviews with entertainment attorneys and studio executives at various media powerhouses (Warner Bros, National Geographic, DreamWorks Animation, HBO), Legal Limbo:
The Intersection of Law and Storytelling explores the ever-changing legal dynamics of various creative sectors within Hollywood’s multibillion dollar media and entertainment industry, including exclusive insight into entertainment law, film and television, intellectual property, and emerging trends and innovations that will leave a lasting impact for years to come. This senior thesis project was produced by Emily Fritz, class of 2020.
The Desirable Pet Initiative: Creative Project Management
With a mission of reducing the length of stay for “less adoptable pets,” this initiative proposed five interconnected programs: a social media plan, event plan, volunteer program, mobile shelter plan, and a new facility plan for the client, Bishop Animation Shelter, a local non-profit organization. This project was produced in second year Business of Art and Design Class, Project Management.
More about this major
- Why Study Business at an Art College?
- What You’ll Learn:
- Is it Right for You?
- Upon Graduation:
As the lines between industries continue to blur, there is a growing demand for creative leaders and managers who are trained in business, design, entrepreneurial thinking, and capable of tackling any creative challenge. But in order to effectively support and manage any creative work, one must think like a designer and inherently understand the practice. This requires a full immersion into the creative process that is only possible at an art and design college.
Business of Art and Design program is a hybrid education focused on the ever-changing business landscape of the creative economy. Our students have a wide range of employment opportunities, ranging from design manager to brand strategist to animation producer. They are equipped with the design and management tools, training, and experience employers value most in today’s economy.
Through your courses, you will tackle real client projects and collaborate with a team to evaluate, design, and pitch creative solutions. You’ll develop broadly applicable skills that are highly in demand beyond the creative industries. There is a growing demand to new approaches to management and leadership and our curriculum is designed to prepare you for roles in the creative economy.
As a business student, whether you are looking to start your own business or pursue a career on the business-side of the creative industries, you will learn to apply your creativity to address complex challenges, design new business solutions, and take an idea from concept to market.
Our graduates enter the job market with a multifaceted skill set allowing them to apply for a variety of positions and pursue multiple career paths, from marketing to design to creative project management. You will take with you the resume and portfolio you need to immediately work on creative projects in any industry.
As the lines between industries continue to blur, there is a growing demand for creative leaders and managers who are trained in business, design, entrepreneurial thinking, and capable of tackling any creative challenge. But in order to effectively support and manage any creative work, one must think like a designer and inherently understand the practice. This requires a full immersion into the creative process that is only possible at an art and design college.
Business of Art and Design program is a hybrid education focused on the ever-changing business landscape of the creative economy. Our students have a wide range of employment opportunities, ranging from design manager to brand strategist to animation producer. They are equipped with the design and management tools, training, and experience employers value most in today’s economy.
Through your courses, you will tackle real client projects and collaborate with a team to evaluate, design, and pitch creative solutions. You’ll develop broadly applicable skills that are highly in demand beyond the creative industries. There is a growing demand to new approaches to management and leadership and our curriculum is designed to prepare you for roles in the creative economy.
As a business student, whether you are looking to start your own business or pursue a career on the business-side of the creative industries, you will learn to apply your creativity to address complex challenges, design new business solutions, and take an idea from concept to market.
Our graduates enter the job market with a multifaceted skill set allowing them to apply for a variety of positions and pursue multiple career paths, from marketing to design to creative project management. You will take with you the resume and portfolio you need to immediately work on creative projects in any industry.
Alumni Spotlight
Graduates of this BA degree program find success across industries as production coordinators, new product managers, marketing managers, brand strategists, backstage managers, and reactive entrepreneurs. You will find them anywhere business and creativity intersect!
Emily Fritz
“The magic of Ringling’s business program is that it immediately sets you apart. In my internship experience at Warner Bros, I wasn’t expected to have any design capabilities, but I excelled because I did. Now as a Production Assistant at DreamWorks, I find myself capable of things far beyond my job description, because the business program covered all the bases.”
Position: Production Assistant
Company: Dreamworks Animation
Graduated: May 2020
Hired: June 2020
Iana Prakheeva
“While this program might seem quite broad, it teaches all the essential tools to bring design thinking to any company and industry (not only art), and that is something that I truly value about the business program.”
Position: Associate Producer
Company: MAKE Visual Studio
Graduated: May 2020
Hired: June 2020
Nada Khan
“I am a foreign citizen and I want people to understand why I chose to study business at an art school. At Ringling College, I put myself out there, made connections, got internships, and tried my best to work in teams. Fortunately, I found the right team that embraced my creative approach to business and appreciated my education greatly.”
Position: Strategist
Company: Deloitte Digital + Heat
Graduated: May 2018
Hired: June 2018
2020: Named 2020 Rising Marketing Star
Keith Nielsen
“More and more I see the need for business thinkers in the creative world. We serve as connectors because we know the creative language and workflow, as well as what is needed to run a department”
Position: Costume Coordinator, Wardrobe Supervisor, Costume Designer
Company: Freelance NYC
Graduated: May 2015
Sarah Kambara
“This program offers many opportunities to discover and advance your career. And it’s different from other business schools–you learn the hard skills and become business-minded, but you learn in a way that is molded toward the creative mind.”
Starting Position: Production Assistant
Company: Pixar (Zootopia, Big Hero 6)
Graduated: May 2014
Hired: May 2014
Position: Producer of Ask the StoryBots
Company: JibJab Studios
Hired: January 2017
Pablo Murray Campbell
Starting Position: Associate Producer
Company: Blue Mammoth Games
Graduated: May 2020
Hired: August 2020
Employment Opportunities
Business of art + Design graduates will find opportunities across many different industries.
Here are a few examples of jobs that are available for our grads:
Account Manager
Art Center Director
Business Owner
Communications Director
Consumer Insights Manager
Creative Assets Manager
Creative Coordinator
Creative Marketing Strategist
Creative Advertising Coordinator
Design Manager
Design Studio Owner
Digital Campaign Strategist
Film Production Manager
Film Production Assistant
Gallery Owner / Director
Marketing Consultant
Marketing Manager
Media Services Manager
Online Strategy Specialist
Production Manager
Production Coordinator
Project Manager
Social Media Manager
Opportunities for students
We are proud to say that every Ringling student, regardless of major, is guaranteed the opportunity to gain professional work experience. Our Collaboratory Commitment pairs teams of Ringling students with local businesses to give students a taste of real-world projects, expectations, and deadlines. Facilitated by Collaboratory staff, students will meet with clients looking for creative, unconventional solutions to their branding and design challenges and execute the entire creative process of concepting, presenting, and building campaigns that meet their demands.
The Ringling College Digital Filmmaking Studio Lab program connects aspiring film and production students to the best known filmmakers, screenwriters, producers, directors, and actors from around the world. Collaborate with, listen to, and engage with the leading filmmakers in the industry who are coming to Ringling College to share their insights and meet emerging talent right here in Sarasota.
Visiting Creative Leaders
This speakers series provides access to creative leaders and their first-hand insights into the evolving landscape of creative industries. From design management to brand strategy, entrepreneurship to the art of the pitch – this virtual series brings the conversation into the classroom.
Adriana Velasco
Senior Manager US Marketing
Barbie at Mattel, Inc.
Eric Morse
Senior Vice President, Content Partnerships
General Manager, Global Licensing
RedBubble
Shawn Seipler
Founder and Chairman
Clean the World
Luc Mayrand
VP, Creative Portfolio Executive
Shanghai, Epcot
Walt Disney Imagineering
Geoffrey Colon
Head of Brand Studio
Microsoft Advertising
Alfredo Rivera
Creative Producer
Meow Wolf
Christopher Fidler
Senior Director - Product
Management & Creative
Burton Snowboards
Will Johnson
Partner & Director
Scholar
We’re happy to answer any questions you may have, just send us an email at the addresses below.
Admissions Questions
(applying, portfolio, transfers, deadlines, events)
admissions@ringling.edu
General Questions
info@ringling.edu
Media Inquiries
(contact, releases, news)
Accessibility Inquiries
communications@ringling.edu
