The Academy of Art University

I am in the 4-year Pattern Design & Drafting program at the Academy of Couture Art - a fashion design college, located in the beautiful Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, CA. This is the ONLY school in the US that offers such a detailed and intensive pattern design course as a degree separate from the fshion design program. This small jewel of a school just received its accreditation from ACICS - and is poised to grow significantly in student enrollment. Classes are small and very hands-on, and a unique feature of this school is that the owner, Sonia ETE has had thirty years of extensive experience in many areas of fashion design and production.

3rd Year Female -- Class 2011

Education Quality: A+, Social Life: B

The Academy of Art accepts any and everyone. That would be its one fault, because if you are going to go to an Art School make sure that you are serious about it and can draw decently. If you struggle with the technical side of things, like how to use computers and programs, don't know your art lingo or can't get things done on time. Don't waste your time, its not an easy school and though they claim they will teach you to draw, the only way you are going to learn is if you want to learn to draw with every fiber of your being and nothing else in this world matters. San Francisco was an amazing place to learn, the school has students from different majors work together to help build your portfolios. If you are thinking about doing graphic design, go New Media, which does graphic design and so much more and the classes are very fun and knowledgeable. The Advertising program was fun, but the first year classes are intense so people will drop like flies or switch to account planning because they can't execute their ideas. The online classes aren't as demanding as the onsite classes, but are convenient if you juggle both and saves you time going downtown to class. I wouldn't recommend the online program, just because living in San Francisco is really such an awesome experience and though it is expensive to live there it is well worth it.

3rd Year Female -- Class 2010

Collaboration/Competitive: A+, Extracurricular Activities: C