Oh yes, indeed it can. When brilliant creative people decide its time to initiate their own personal concept of life, anything can happen.

Today we salute, not an individual, but an institution of higher education. And this institution was born of an idea— a concept of higher education, as revolutionary as it was intense.

Some say we are already in a new Depression. Today I want to go back in time to the first Great Depression. A time of hardships, very much like today.

Now it is President Obama. Then it was President Franklin Roosevelt. Each leader was committed to putting people back to work. Franklin established the Public Works Arts Project (forerunner of the WPA). We wonder what President Obama might do, if he were unobstructed by Congress?

Black Mountain College was established in 1933. It’s origins were unconventional and inspiring. Art and higher education would never be the same.

Born in the lush North Carolina “Blue Ridge” mountains (just north of Asheville) the rugged and remote setting gave a fiercely independent spirit to everyone involved.

But how was it born? With an idea, of course. An idea in the brain of an individual.

John Rice was a brilliant scholar, far ahead of his times. Angered by narrow thinking, Rice left Rollins College. He conceived of a new kind of college, and chose the mountains of North Carolina as a beautiful inspiring place for learning.

More importantly, Black Mountain College was based on John Dewey’s (then radical) principles of “progressive education.”

What did this word “progressive” mean? It means democratic principles carried out to their fullest extent.

Everyone worked. Everyone contributed. Everyone learned.

Black Mountain College was fundamentally different from other colleges and universities of the time. It was owned and operated by the faculty and was committed to democratic governance… and to the idea that the study and practice of the Arts is critical to learning itself.

Black Mountain College was born in world turmoil. 20th-century art was under attack, with the rise of Adolf Hitler, the closing of the Bauhaus by the Nazis, and the persecution of European artists and other writers and intellectuals.

Word of the artistic freedom of Black Mountain College, in North Carolina, had quickly reached the Euro art circles. Condemned as “degenerative”, creative people fled Germany and Europe, and a number of them came to Black Mountain, either as students or faculty.

The founders of the College hired artist Josef Albers to be the first art teacher. Google Albers. In art, he was far ahead of his time. Albers fled Hitler’s Germany with his wife, and came to Black Mountain not knowing a word of English.

All members of the College community participated in its operation, including even farm work, and construction projects and kitchen duty. Each person worked. Each person taught and learned. No one was too good to share in the work or the knowledge or the overall experience of creative intensity.

Legendary even in its own time, Black Mountain College attracted many who thrived in the intellectual freedom there, and became giants of 20th-century art and ideas.

A partial list includes people such as— you will recognize some but GOOGLE those you don’t know, and be amazed…

Willem and Elaine de Kooning, Robert Rauschenberg, Josef and Anni Albers, Jacob Lawrence, Merce Cunningham, John Cage, Cy Twombly, Kenneth Noland, Ben Shahn, Franz Kline, Arthur Penn, Buckminster Fuller, M.C. Richards, Francine du Plessix Gray, Charles Olson, Robert Creeley, Dorothea Rockburne…

And there are many others, famous and not-so-famous, Black Mountain educators and students, who have impacted the world in a significant way.

In 1957, the college had passed its zenith, and due to financial issues, closed. It seems that many good things must come to an end. Or they bear fruit and wither, having served their purposes for their creators.

Even now, decades after its closing, the stunning gestalt of Black Mountain College inspires higher educators everywhere— challenges them to always explore new ways to educate, educate, educate, by encouraging students to explore their own energies and talents.

But now, again, private colleges are springing up both on the ground, and online. Students now have a dazzling array of choices.

Be proactive. Look hard for the school that suits your persona most effectively. Don’t settle for less.

We wonder if these hard times will inspire greatness in higher education, and radical new ways of learning?

Online learning is one new way. New institutions with new ways of learning may be another.

Black Mountain College, though now closed, still glows with an inspiring light of its ideas— to guide us into the new century of higher education.

And the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains are still there.

Want to be the next Steve Jobs? To create the next laptop, or a device that makes I-Phone obsolete? Maybe a radical new game console, the next fuel-efficient engine design, the next green-friendly house design?

Eli Whitney, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Nicolai Tesla, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, every age has them.

In his time, Raymond Loewy, often called “the father of modern industrial design”, created a new look— from the curvy Coca-Cola bottle to the finned Studebaker. And you probably never heard his name before reading this. But, Loewy was very very wealthy, in huge demand, and very famous in his time.

Our world is continually changing. All the objects that change in our world, are creations, by design.

Everything around you, your coffee mug, your car outside, your laptop, your desk, was designed to fit your human body parts and motions.

Commercial and industrial designers combine the fields of art, business, and engineering to design the products you use every day. In fact, these designers are responsible for the style, function, quality, and safety of almost every manufactured good. Usually designers specialize in one particular product category, such as automobiles and other transportation vehicles, appliances, technology goods, medical equipment, furniture, toys, tools and construction equipment, or housewares.

Industrial design. Design engineering. Commercial design.

Commercial and industrial designers usually work closely with a range of specialists including engineers, materials scientists, marketing and corporate strategy staff, cost estimators, and accountants. About 30 percent are self-employed; many designers work for services firms.

A Bachelor’s degree is usually required to start. Many top designers pursue a Master’s degree.

Strong competition for jobs is expected; those with strong backgrounds in engineering and computer-aided design and extensive business expertise will have the best prospects.

The first steps in developing a new design, or altering an existing one, are to determine the requirements of the client, the purpose of the product, and to the tastes of customers or users. When creating a new design, designers often begin by researching the product user or the context in which the product will be used. They ascertain desired product characteristics, such as size, shape, weight, color, materials used, cost, ease of use, fit, and safety. To gather this information, designers meet with clients, conduct market research, read design and consumer publications, attend trade shows, and visit potential users, suppliers and manufacturers.

Next, designers prepare conceptual sketches or diagrams—by hand or with the aid of a computer—to illustrate their vision of the product. After conducting research and consulting with a creative director or other members of the product development team, designers then create detailed sketches or renderings. Many designers use computer-aided design (CAD) tools to create these renderings. Computer models make it easier to adjust designs and to experiment with a greater number of alternatives, speeding and improving the design process. Industrial designers who work for manufacturing firms also use computer-aided industrial design (CAID) tools to create designs and machine-readable instructions that can direct automated production tools to build the designed product to exact specifications. Often, designers will also create physical models out of clay, wood, and other materials to give clients a better idea of what the finished product will look like.

Designers present the designs and prototypes to their client or managers and incorporate any changes and suggestions. Designers often work with engineers, accountants, and cost estimators to determine if a product can be made safer, easier to assemble or use, or cheaper to manufacture. Before a product is completed and manufactured, designers may participate in usability and safety tests, watching consumers use prototypes and then making adjustments based on those observations.

Increasingly, designers are working with corporate strategy staff to ensure that their designs fit into the company’s business plan and strategic vision. They work with marketing staff to develop plans to best market new product designs to consumers. They work to design products that accurately reflect the company’s image and values. And although designers have always tried to identify and design products that fit consumers’ needs, more designers are now focused on creating that product before a competitor does. More of today’s designers must also focus on creating innovative products as well as considering the style and technical aspects of the product.

Designers employed by manufacturing establishments, large corporations, or design firms generally work regular hours in well-lighted and comfortable settings. Designers in smaller design consulting firms, or those who freelance, may work under a contract to do specific tasks or designs. They frequently adjust their workday to suit their clients’ schedules and deadlines, meeting with the clients evenings or weekends when necessary. Consultants and self-employed designers tend to work longer hours and in smaller, more congested, environments. Additional hours may be required to meet deadlines.

Designers may work in their own offices or studios or in clients’ homes or offices. They also may travel to other locations, such as testing facilities, design centers, clients’ exhibit sites, users’ homes or workplaces, and manufacturing facilities. With the increased speed and sophistication of computers and advanced communications networks, designers may form international design teams and serve a more geographically dispersed clientele.

Creativity and technical knowledge are crucial in this occupation. People in this field must have a strong sense of the esthetic—an eye for color and detail and a sense of balance and proportion. Despite the advancement of computer-aided design, sketching ability remains an important advantage. Designers must also understand the technical aspects of how products function. Most employers also expect new designers to know computer-aided design software. The deciding factor in getting a job often is a good portfolio—examples of a person’s best work.

Commercial and industrial designers held about 48,000 jobs in 2006. About 30 percent were self-employed. Another 15 percent of designers were employed in either engineering or specialized design services firms. Manufacturing firms and service providing companies employed most of the rest of commercial and industrial designers.

Strong competition for jobs is expected; backgrounds in engineering and computer-aided design and extensive business expertise will have the best prospects.

Employment of commercial and industrial designers is expected to grow 7 percent between 2006 and 2016, about as fast as average for all occupations. Employment growth will arise from an expanding economy and from an increase in consumer and business demand for new or upgraded products.

Increasing demand for commercial and industrial designers will also stem from the continued emphasis on the quality and safety of products, the increasing demand for new products that are easy and comfortable to use, and the development of high-technology products in consumer electronics, medicine, transportation, and other fields.

Despite the increase in design work performed overseas, most design jobs, particularly jobs not related to high-technology product design, will still remain in the U.S.

Design is essential to a firm’s success, and firms will want to retain control over the design process.

Many talented individuals are attracted to the design field. The best job opportunities will be in specialized design firms which are used by manufacturers to design products or parts of products. Designers with strong educational backgrounds in engineering, and computer-aided design and extensive business expertise, will have the best prospects.

As the demand for design work becomes more consumer-driven, educated designers who can closely monitor, and react to, changing customer demands—and who can work with marking and strategic planning staffs to come up with new products—will also improve their job prospects.

Median annual wage-and-salary earnings for commercial and industrial designers were $54,560 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $41,270 and $72,610. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $31,510, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $92,970. Earnings information for the self-employed is not available.

A Bachelor’s degree in industrial design, architecture, or engineering is required for most entry-level commercial and industrial design jobs.

Coursework includes principles of design, sketching, computer-aided design, industrial materials and processes, manufacturing methods, and some classes in engineering, physical science, mathematics, psychology, and anthropology. Many programs also include internships at design or manufacturing firms.

Many aspiring commercial and industrial designers earn a Master’s degree in industrial design. Some already have a bachelor’s degree in the field, but an increasing number have degrees and experience in other areas, such as marketing, information technology, or engineering, and are hoping to transfer into a design occupation.

An increasing number of designers are pursing a Master’s degree in business administration, to gain business skills. The growing emphasis on strategic design and how products fit into a firm’s overall business plan, gives these MBA grads an edge in competing for business.

The National Association of Schools of Art and Design accredits approximately 250 postsecondary colleges, universities, and private institutes with programs in art and design.

About 45 of these schools award a degree in industrial design; some offer a Bachelor’s of art, some a Bachelor’s of science.

Many schools require the successful completion of 1 year of basic art and design courses before entry into a Bachelor’s degree program. Applicants also may be required to submit sketches and other examples of their artistic ability.

You love art, you love gadjets, you love science? It’s all waiting for you.

Unlock the ideas in your mind. Get the knowledge to make them into reality.

Go get the degree that will be your doorway to industrial or commercial design. Then use those tools to change the world we live in!

For general career information on commercial and industrial design, contact:
• Industrial Designers Society of America, 45195 Business Court, Suite 250, Dulles, VA 20166. Internet: http://www.idsa.org

For general information about art and design and a list of accredited college-level programs, contact:
• National Association of Schools of Art and Design, 11250 Roger Bacon Dr., Suite 21, Reston, VA 20190. Internet: http://nasad.arts-accredit.org

They sprang from the depths of the minds of artists, from the passion of animators. Artists birthed all the Superheroes. The Gods of all Superheroes are artists. Many superheroes are the alter-ego of their God, their creator, their artist. Many a superhero was birthed with a Bic pen on a notepad in a high school study hall.

Were you one of the daydreamers in school? Perhaps you had difficulty concentrating on subjects that bored you, but you were a top student in a class that fascinated you. You created a secret world in your dream world, and you captured it in drawings, in stories. Your creations were created to correct all the wrongs you see around you.

But now, you wonder— how do I take this talent and ambition to a higher level?

Multi-media artists and animators work primarily in motion picture and video industries, advertising, and computer systems design services. They draw by hand and use computers to create the series of pictures that form the animated images or special effects seen in movies, television programs, and computer games.

Freelance artists can write and illustrate their own graphic novels. Publishers like Marvel and Dark House and Top Cow have grown massively in recent years.

Some draw storyboards for television commercials, movies, and animated features. Storyboards present television commercials in a series of scenes similar to a comic strip and allow an advertising agency to evaluate commercials proposed by advertising companies. Storyboards also serve as guides to placing actors and cameras on the television or motion picture set and to other production details. Many multi-media artists model objects in three dimensions by computer and work with programmers to make those images move.

Artists create art to communicate ideas, thoughts, or feelings. They use a variety of methods—painting, sculpting, or illustration—and an assortment of materials, including oils, watercolors, acrylics, pastels, pencils, pen and ink, plaster, clay, and computers. Artists’ works may be realistic, stylized, or abstract and may depict objects, people, nature, or events. The college level of study offers all these areas of art disciplines.

Another degree in a related career might help the lifelong-committed artist to find the financial base to never quit, to never give up his/her art, in order to survive, have a family, or a home, a studio, (or even a good night’s sleep!)

Illustrators usually create pictures for books, magazines, and other publications and for commercial products such as textiles, wrapping paper, stationery, greeting cards, and calendars. Increasingly, illustrators are working in digital format, preparing work directly on a computer. This has created new opportunities for illustrators to work with animators and in broadcast media.

Medical and scientific illustrators combine drawing skills with knowledge of biology or other sciences. Medical illustrators work digitally or traditionally to create images of human anatomy and surgical procedures as well as 3-dimensional models and animations. Scientific illustrators draw animal and plant life, atomic and molecular structures, and geologic and planetary formations. These illustrations are used in medical and scientific publications and in audiovisual presentations for teaching purposes. Illustrators also work for lawyers, producing exhibits for court cases.

Cartoonists draw political, advertising, social, and sports cartoons. Some cartoonists work with others who create the idea or story and write captions. Some cartoonists write captions themselves. Most cartoonists have comic, critical, or dramatic talents in addition to drawing skills.
Sketch artists create likenesses of subjects with pencil, charcoal, or pastels. Sketches are used by law enforcement agencies to assist in identifying suspects, by the news media to depict courtroom scenes, and by individual patrons for their own enjoyment.

Artists usually develop their skills through a bachelor’s degree program or other postsecondary training in art or design. Although formal schooling isn’t strictly required for craft and fine artists, it is tough to make a living without some training.

Due to the level of technical expertise demanded, multimedia artists and animators benefit greatly from the education acquired through a bachelor’s degree. Many colleges and universities offer programs leading to a bachelor’s or master’s degree in fine arts. Independent schools of art and design also offer postsecondary studio training in the craft, fine, and multi-media arts— leading to certificates in the specialties or to an associate or bachelor’s degree in fine arts.

Many educational programs in art also provide training in computer techniques. Computers are used widely in the visual arts, and knowledge and training in computer graphics and other visual display software are critical elements of many jobs in these fields.

Demand for illustrators who work on a computer will increase as Web sites use more detailed images and backgrounds in their designs. Many cartoonists, in particular, opt to post their work on political Web sites and online publications. Cartoonists often create animated or interactive images to satisfy readers’ demands for more sophisticated images. The small number of medical illustrators will also be in greater demand as medical research continues to grow.

Demand for multimedia artists and animators will increase as consumers continue to demand more realistic video games, movie and television special effects, and 3D animated movies. Additional job openings will arise from an increasing demand for Web site development and for computer graphics adaptation from the growing number of mobile technologies. Animators are also increasingly finding work in alternative areas such as scientific research or design services.

Artists held about 218,000 jobs in 2006. About 62 percent were self-employed. Employment was distributed as follows:

• Multimedia artists and animators 87,000
• Art directors 78,000
• Fine artists, including painters, sculptors and illustrators 30,000
• Craft artists 8,800
• Artists and related workers, all other 14,00

Despite the competition, studios, galleries, and individual clients are always on the lookout for artists who display outstanding talent, creativity, and style. Among craft and fine artists, talented individuals who have developed a mastery of artistic techniques and skills will have the best job prospects. Multi-media artists and animators should have better job opportunities than other artists, but still will experience competition. Job opportunities for animators of lower-technology cartoons could be hampered as these jobs continue to be outsourced overseas.

Incomes of artists can rise exponentially— for the very successful artists who build their reputation as a major fine art talent, illustrator, or few those able to create a globally recognized product such as a superhero or other type of graphic novel.

Median annual earnings of salaried fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators were $41,970. The middle 50 percent earned between $28,500 and $58,550. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $18,350, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $79,390. Earnings data for the many self-employed fine artists were not available.

Median annual earnings of salaried multi-media artists and animators were $51,350, not including the earnings of the self-employed. The middle 50 percent earned between $38,980 and $70,050. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $30,390, and . Median annual earnings were $57,310 in motion picture and video industries and $48,860 in advertising and related services.

So, you have talent. You have ideas. You have passion for art and your many creations.

In 2007, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design accredited 282 postsecondary institutions with programs in art and design.

Why not take it to the next level? Why not build your talent, your powers, why not educate yourself in all the arts technology that will expand your horizons, to create, animate, to exploit all your talents?

Unleash your own superhero, the artist inside you, waiting to get out— Educate, educate, educate!