“One of the things that differentiates advertising education from other disciplines is that we’re creative sociologists. We have to adapt, understand, and work with sociological and ethnological constructs, so the curriculum requires constant revisions according to market trends.”
– Mikio Osaki, Chair of Advertising at ACCD from 1995-2008
(STEP Inside Design, May/June 2005)

I never thought I would end up here.

This is a clear under-statement for me on so many levels. Although I could never bottle the excitement of coming to this school in one paragraph or page, the time here has proven to be a humble and thrilling experience.

I’m local to Los Angeles, born and raised, so it was inevitable that I would eventually find Art Center. I discovered the school around 1995, right around the time when I graduated from high school. From time to time, I would peek at the work in the student gallery for inspiration. I regarded the gallery as my personal sanctuary, my church, and hoped that one day my work would be up on those walls as well.

That dream would not come to fruition until 10 years later, in when becoming an Art Director, I came to the horrible realization that I simply was not entirely ready. But instead of balling-up in fear, I swallowed my pride, packed up my belongings, assessed my goals, and decided to do something about it. I chose to continue my eduction.

Of course, the decision was not easy and after some convincing from friends and family, and perhaps even a little push from a highly regarded instructor and mentor, I submitted by portfolio to admissions for consideration into the Advertising Undergrad program at Art Center.

YRBK is an online journal detailing my raw experience as a student of Advertising at Art Center College of Design. So just to give you a heads up–I’m an open book and tend to get a little emotional at times with the constant stress. I find it all normal. My school has been rumored as being called a “medical school without the blood”, or the “bootcamp” or “Harvard” of design. To a certain degree, it’s all TRUE. Expectations at my school are VERY high.

Art Center differs a lot from a liberal arts college (But honestly, I wouldn’t know, I’ve never attended any other college). There are no fraternities, sororities, toga parties, or “keggers”. The attitude and curriculum centers around the exploration of art, creative-design and research. Students literally pull off beautiful miracles overnight, and seeing students sleeping on couches in the hallway is normal. The median age of the student body is older than most colleges, and it is not strange to find out that some students have previous degrees in various disciplines.

YRBK is a testament to the heartfelt anguish; the lonely days, sleepless nights, emotional breakdowns, and raw frustration of being a student. I hope that this blog will help others in their pursuit of fulfilling their dreams, or maybe even provide a little direction for others still looking for one.

Ray Allan David
YRBK
First drafted in September 2008, Revised March 2009

**Please feel free to email me if you have any questions, comments.

rdavid [at] artcenter.edu