Create a portfolio-ready body of work in a cutting-edge design department

During the two-week program, students explore a variety of media examining different practices and design methods applied to the domains of graphic design 2D Image, Net, 3D worldbuilding, and motion Design. Broadly addressing a common theme, all four classes contribute to the creation of an integrated, multi-media exhibition at the end of the residency. Each class is taught by an instructor and program assistant; class size is limited to a maximum of 20 students.

All four classes below will relate to and influence each other, and they will contribute to the creation of an integrated, final, multi-media project.

2D IMAGE

Students explore graphic design as image-making coupled with basic typography through a series of fun and fast-paced assignments and exercises for the print media. All projects encapsulate the yearly theme while addressing principles of design such as form, data, composition, hierarchy, and creative intent. Students develop a design process and develop a visual vocabulary through hands-on experimentation and projects.

NET

This course focuses on the internet as a medium for creative expression and artistic intervention. Through examples and tutorials, students study the web in the tradition of art, creative coding, and activism. Using techniques like collage, appropriation, and strategies of artistic self-expression, students analyze these forms for their aesthetic and social potentials. References to relevant artworks are provided, both in and outside the field of Net-based art.

WORLD

Game engines developed originally for electronic games offer an exciting mode of interactive storytelling. Virtual spaces and intangible systems can strike complex moods and imagery. In this course, students learn the basics of how games and immersive media are developed and explore “Worldbuilding” as a form of visual narrative, playfulness, and participatory experience. Students use Unity4D game engine to build and dismantle 3-Dimensional games.

MOTION

In this course, students learn the exciting properties of time-based media and ways to enable their creative potential. Exploring the technical and experimental approaches to cinematography, animation, editing, and sound, students gain a basic understanding of video-making as a powerful medium capable of capturing, parsing, and imagining environments and stories.

Applications are reviewed and admission to the program is granted on a rolling basis starting February 15^th.  Applying at your earliest convenience is highly recommended.

The program has application requirements for admission. Eligible applicants who successfully submit all requirements will be reviewed and notified via email of an admission decision within 3 weeks.

Applicants are required to provide the following during the online registration process:

• An unofficial transcript from grade 9 to present reflecting a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • If your school transcript utilizes a different grading system, please submit your transcript as is. If available, please attach a translation/equivalency guide.
  • INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: If you are an international student, a transcript refers to your complete secondary academic record. To learn more about converting your grades into a US-based GPA, please click here.
    • If your school has a translation/equivalency guide, please also include it with your transcript. If you do not have a translation/equivalency guide, please still submit your most up-to-date transcript as is for staff to review.
• Value statement: At the time of registration, ALL applicants will be prompted to submit a few short sentences reflecting on their pursuit of participation in a UCLA Precollege Summer Institute. Please note that students are strongly discouraged from relying on ChatGpt/AI tools for their application responses and are encouraged to submit original and authentic answers.

DMA Summer Institute – Session A.1 is a residential program.

The residential track is ONLY available to students who will be 17 years of age or older by June 23, 2025. NO EXECPTIONS are made to this eligibility requirement.

All residential precollege programs also feature scheduled non-curricular evening and weekend activities that all students are expected to participate in. The nature of these scheduled activities is at the sole discretion of the individual academic department offering the program, and are not operated by UCLA Summer Sessions. To learn more about when your selected program will host such activities, please consult the schedules for each program, or contact the department in question directly: dmasummer@arts.ucla.edu.

Most of our precollege programs with mandatory housing will hold check-in on the Sunday before the start of the program between 4-6pm, and hold check-out the Saturday after the final day of class at 11am. Please contact the department in question directly to confirm check-in and check-out times: dmasummer@arts.ucla.edu.

For more information on UCLA housing precollege programs, please see the Housing for Minors page.

DMA Summer Institute – Session A.2 is a commuter program.

UCLA also is offering a commuter program option for students who prefer to commute and/or do not meet the age 17 requirement for on-campus housing (please see the residential program above for details). There is NO on-campus housing available for the commuter program through the institute program or UCLA Summer Sessions.

Participants of the DMA Summer Institute – commuter track must commute to the UCLA campus each day of the program. Specific location information (e.g. classroom) will be provided to enrolled students closer to the start of the program.

Parking
Summer Sessions parking permits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Students have the option to purchase a summer term permit or a daily permit.

Please review the Transportation and Parking Services web page and read the “Summer Quarter Parking (All Students)” section for more information on all permit types, including cost.

The Design Media Arts Summer Institute – Session B is a virtual program. All meeting times will take place in Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), unless otherwise noted on program schedule and syllabus. Participants must log-in to virtual sessions at the times indicated on the program schedule.

Students in the virtual program will not be offered housing.

Coursework
Design/Media Arts (DESMA) 5; 4 units

Grading
Students will be graded on a Pass/No Pass basis upon completion. See University Credit, Grades and Transcripts for more information about academic credit.

In order to successfully complete the program, students must not have more than 1 excused or unexcused absence.

UCLA Summer Sessions Summer Scholars Support

Qualified students attending grades 9th – 11th in Spring 2025 in the state of California may be eligible for Summer Scholars Support, a need- and merit-based scholarship offered by the UCLA Summer Sessions Office. Students must be 15 years old by the first day of Summer Sessions 2025 on June 24th in order to participate in a Precollege Summer Institute and/or apply for Summer Scholars Support. A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available to support enrollment in SCIP/eSCIP, one Summer Course, or a Precollege Summer Institute.

Summer 2025 deadline to apply: March 15.