Business of Art + Design
Artwork Credit
Name goes here
Creativity meets business management in this BA program.
Our Business of Art and Design degree equips students with the design and management skills, tools, and professional experience employers value most in today’s economy. Immerse yourself in all aspects of the creative industries, collaborate on teams across creative disciplines, and learn strategies for taking your ideas from concept to market.
Our curriculum is designed to be flexible, empowering you to tailor your academic experience to your interests and career goals. Tackle real client projects to build your resume and portfolio or dive into developing your own creative business. The opportunities are endless with this unique design management combination degree. Our graduates work as animation producers, production coordinators, brand strategists, and marketing managers at top companies, including DreamWorks, Pixar, JibJab, Blue Mammoth Games, Deloitte Digital, Game Developers Conference, and more!
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 Wurst Movement: National Student Advertising Competition
How do you elevate the image of the hot dog after years of shame? That’s what Wienerschnitzel challenged teams to explore for the 2019 National Student Advertising Competition. Our solution? A national ad campaign that called people to tear down the misconceptions and eliminate the surrounding shame. This includes stadium takeovers, a Museum of Bias and Bullsh*t, and Wurst Wednesdays. This project was a collaboration between students in the Business, Graphic Design, and Film majors. Third-year Business student Ellie Winslow was awarded Best Presenter at the District NSAC competition for her live pitch of this campaign.
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.
Alumni Spotlight
Graduates of the Business of Art and Design 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
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
Grads In The Industry
Ally Sage ‘16
Production Coordinator | Netflix
Alexandra R. Tibbe ‘14
Freelance Prop Master and Art Director Assistant |
Film and Entertainment Production
Ayu Saraswati ’14
Product Owner, Digital Strategy | US Bank
Martha Patouris ‘18
Account Manager and Producer |Epipheo
Iana Prakheeva, ‘20
Associate Producer | MAKE
Daisy Lora ‘16
Freelance Producer and Unit Production Manager |
Film and Entertainment Production
Siouxsie Connor ’13
Marketing & Graphic Art | Sun Hydraulics
Nazanin Varasteh ‘14
Senior Brand and Marketing Manager | Solico Group
Sarah McCauley ‘12
Associate Marketing Manager |
Game Developers Conference (GDC)
Agneta Ramoskaite ‘13
Operations Manager | Monster Jam at Feld Entertainment
Macenzie Meggison ‘ 17
Marketing Specialist | DDC Domus Design Collection
Andy Angstadt ’14
Engagement Specialist | Presence
Lisa M. Szaraz ‘13
Owner | Garden City Pets
Wendy Oliva ‘15
Digital Marketing and Social Media Manager |
Juki America, Inc.
Lauren Huber ‘14
Proposal Coordinator, Business Development | WSP USA
Taylor Vigil ’12
Marketing Campaign Manager | Meow Wolf
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
Backstage Manager
Brand and Marketing Manager
Brand Strategist
Business Owner
Casting Director
Communications Director
Consumer Insights Manager
Costume and Prop Coordinator
Creative Advertising Coordinator
Creative Assets Manager
Creative Director
Creative Marketing Strategist
Culture Curator
Design Coordinator
Design Manager
Design Researcher
Design Studio Owner
Digital Campaign Strategist
Diversity, Inclusion, and Programs Chair
Event Coordinator
Film Production Coordinator
Gallery Owner / Director
Graphic Designer
Head of Talent
Human Resource Manager
Marketing and Social Media Manager
Marketing Campaign Manager
Marketing Manager
Media Producer
Media Services Manager
New Product Manager
Office and Culture Manager
Operations Manager
Producer
Production Coordinator
Production Designer
Production Manager
Project Manager
Social Media Manager
Strategic Design Consultant
UI/UX Designer
Opportunities for students
INDEX is Ringling College's promise to provide every student the opportunity to have hands-on industry experience before graduation by offering real-world projects with real-world clients. This pillar of the Ringling College experience, alongside Academic and Student Life programs, is an experiential education initiative that allows students to learn how to turn passion into profession.
INDEX represents one of Ringling College's core purposes of focusing on our students' futures in the creative industries and empowering them to thrive as creative leaders. By connecting students with leading brands and clients to develop creative solutions for business challenges, INDEX mirrors the most successful studios and organizations by bringing together multiple creative disciplines to blend artistry with emerging techniques, and to seamlessly integrate design, storytelling, and technology to produce work that is driven by strategy and supported by style.
INDEX opportunities are abundant and available through experiential learning in the classroom, the Design Center, Studio Labs, ART Network, the Makerspace, as client competitions and immersive experiences, volunteerism, internships, and elective courses.
INDEX is Ringling College's promise to provide every student the opportunity to have hands-on industry experience before graduation by offering real-world projects with real-world clients. This pillar of the Ringling College experience, alongside Academic and Student Life programs, is an experiential education initiative that allows students to learn how to turn passion into profession.
INDEX represents one of Ringling College's core purposes of focusing on our students' futures in the creative industries and empowering them to thrive as creative leaders. By connecting students with leading brands and clients to develop creative solutions for business challenges, INDEX mirrors the most successful studios and organizations by bringing together multiple creative disciplines to blend artistry with emerging techniques, and to seamlessly integrate design, storytelling, and technology to produce work that is driven by strategy and supported by style.
INDEX opportunities are abundant and available through experiential learning in the classroom, the Design Center, Studio Labs, ART Network, the Makerspace, as client competitions and immersive experiences, volunteerism, internships, and elective courses.
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.
