Donor Impact Report 2022–2023

ArtCenter is renowned for its highly successful Sponsored Programs. One of the College’s premier offerings, these educational collaborations, funded by corporate partners, take place either in 14-week curricular courses (Sponsored Studios) or in short, immersive workshops (DesignStorms), both of which simulate a professional studio environment.

In these courses and workshops, a real-world design challenge is explored and top industry leaders provide onsite feedback and mentorship as the class moves through the design process. Sponsored Programs provide an enriched educational experience for our students that often leads to internships and career opportunities. Some students even describe these experiences as life changing. Corporations from around the globe seek out these collaborations with ArtCenter in order to witness firsthand how tomorrow’s leading artists and designers problem-solve and create.

A sponsorship fee paid by our corporate sponsors underwrites each incredible educational experience. A portion of this funding is considered a philanthropic gift and goes directly to support ArtCenter, providing critical unrestricted financial resources to the College. Last fiscal year, we were thrilled to offer Sponsored Programs with the following partners: Adobe, Astek, Bernhardt, Epic Games, General Motors, Gigabyte, Gravity Sketch, Hoka, Koenig & Bauer, Lululemon, Mars Inc., Meta, Meyers Manx, Nissan, Pasadena Art Alliance, Royal Caribbean, Stellantis and Volvo.

Sponsored Studio Donor Spotlight: Charles Feng and Didi reach $250,000 milestone in 2023

Transportation Design alumnus Charles Feng (BS 11 Transportation Design) accepted an ArtCenter donor recognition pencil on behalf of DiDi Global worldwide mobile technology platform whose ride-hailing, taxi-hailing, chauffeur services and more serve 550 million users around the world. The pencil was presented to Feng, who serves as the company’s head of design, following the Summer 2023 DiDi Sponsored Studio final presentation where students revealed their interior, exterior and interaction designs for the first Didi Global cross utility vehicle.

Sponsored Studio Spotlight 1: Stellantis / Gravity Sketch

This past year, digital design companies collaborated with global brands to offer ArtCenter students real-world design challenges. Gravity Sketch, a virtual 3D design and modeling software, teamed up with industry partner Stellantis to sponsor a Transportation Design course where students worked collaboratively in a virtual reality environment. Students were challenged to design an electric and autonomous Jeep Wrangler for 2030, using Gravity Sketch software.

Sponsored Studio Spotlight 2: CMF-X Program: Adobe / Hoka / General Motors

In Summer 2022, Product Design faculty members Kevin Beard and Kimberly Marte led an X-Program with a focus on color, materials and finish (CMF), sponsored by Adobe Substance, HOKA footwear and General Motors/Cadillac. The X-Program model was created by Beard and first piloted in 2018 to simulate a professional work environment that requires rapid decision-making, evaluation, teamwork and design leadership. Adobe Substance, HOKA footwear, and General Motors/Cadillac sponsored the CMF-X Program as three, two-week design sprints in which students were challenged to explore design concepts using Adobe Substance. Students also participated in one-week sprints for research, software training, sustainable materials and business, working closely with core faculty, additional specialized faculty, and the sponsors’ team designers for a truly transformative experience.