Orange County Interior Design Program Receives CIDA Accreditation

The Council for Interior Design Accreditation awarded The Art Institute of California – Orange County its highest level of accreditation

The Art Institute of California – Orange County Interior Design program has been recognized by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) for having met their high standards of post-secondary interior design education. CIDA awarded the school a six-year accreditation, which is the maximum amount a program can receive.

“CIDA is recognized as the authority in Interior Design education by the industry,” said Interior Design academic director Ronni Whitman. “Receiving this accreditation reinforces the industry-specific curriculum we’ve always provided our students.”

Accreditation requires an extensive review process that involves self-evaluation by the program applying for accreditation, a site visit from a team of trained evaluators and a review from a six-member accreditation commission.

According to the CIDA Web site, “Accreditation promotes achievement of high academic standards while making education more responsive to student and societal needs.”

The goal of CIDA is to set high standards for interior design education in order to contribute to the advanced professionalism of the interior design field.

“The Art Institute of California – Orange County and CIDA share the common goal of preparing students for entry-level employment,” said Dean of Academic Affairs, Melinda Lester. “This accreditation can give our students a competitive advantage as they prepare to enter the workforce and adds another level of achievement for our well-established Interior Design program.”

Media Contacts
Tricia Cook at tcook@aii.edu or 714.338.1303
Veronica Orozco at vorozco@aii.edu or 714.830.0221

Mary Ann Gale Featured in California Apparel News Article

Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing & Management Academic Director Mary Ann Gale was recently quoted in a California Apparel News article discussing how the economy is effecting fashion programs in schools and what that could mean for the apparel industry down the line. Click here to read the full article.

Team of Students, Staff and Faculty Participate in an Art Adventure

On Tuesday April 21, a group of six from The Art Institute of California – Orange County joined Discovery Arts of Tustin at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) to help brighten the day of children of with cancer. Discovery Arts brings art to children in hospitals receiving treatment by hosting Art Adventure Days and The Art Institute of California – Orange County joined them last week as part of the National Week of Service.

Armed with glitter, glue, scissors and construction paper, the team spent a couple of hours with the children working on an art project coordinated by Foundation Studies Academic Director Alan Burner.

The Week of Service was a nationwide initiative and Art Institute locations across the country each selected a nonprofit to work with in their local area. In addition to sending a group of representatives to CHOC, The Art Institute of California – Orange County collected enough art supplies to fill 100 Bedside Adventure Kits. Bedside Adventure Kits bring the fun of an Art Adventure Day to children who are too sick to leave their hospital beds and join the other children.

The volunteers that went to CHOC shared their personal experiences below:

Alan Burner, Foundation Studies Academic Department Director
“It was nice to do something for someone else.”

Arica Haberstich, Financial Aid Officer
“It may be difficult for some to deal with the fact that these children are sick, but those few hours mean the world to a child who does not get to experience what one would consider a normal childhood.”

Krystal Lagpacan, Web Design & Interactive Media student
"Volunteering at the hospital was a rewarding experience and is something I will never forget. If you love art and want to contribute to the community, share your art with others. "

Jessica Muro, Interior Design Student
“It was worth taking time away from work to put a smile on the kids’ faces.”

Katherine Perez, Media Arts & Animation student
“This experience really put some things in perspective. It made the things I usually complain about seem stupid. I mean, here I am complaining about not finding a good parking spot or all the homework I fell behind on and here is this child with a life threatening illness that has to go through chemotherapy everyday and she still has a smile on her face. I really want to volunteer again even if the school isn't holding an event of some kind.

Kelly Piedra, Financial Aid Officer
“Kids are completely adaptable to difficult situations and these kids have adapted to being in and out of the hospital. They don’t feel sorry for themselves. It helps you put your own life into perspective.”

The Art Institute of California – Orange County Participates in the National Week of Service

Students, faculty and staff from The Art Institute of California – Orange County, will team up on a special assignment that will promote goodwill and valuable support to their community during the National Week of Service April 19-25, 2009.

The Art Institute of California – Orange County is no stranger to community service. Since its inception, the school has been actively involved in community outreach with various organizations including Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County and the Inland Empire, The American Red Cross and the Discovery Science Center.

“Participating in the National Week of Service complements our mission of helping our students grow professionally while serving the community we share with them,” said President Dan Levinson. “Giving back to the community has always been a priority and we are proud of the enthusiasm our students, staff and faculty have always had for these types of projects.”

For the National Week of Service, The Art Institute of California – Orange County has partnered with Discovery Arts to help bring art to children in hospitals while they are receiving treatment. The school has been collecting art supplies since the beginning of the month and this week will be putting together “Bedside Adventure Kits” for the organization. These kits are for children too sick to leave their hospital beds.

The entire school community has been encouraged to take time to decorate one of the kits with a positive, uplifting theme. Decorating stations will be set up in the student lounge during class breaks and the goal is to present Discovery Arts with 75 decorated, fully-stocked Bedside Adventure Kits.

On Tuesday, April 21, a team made up of two faculty members, two students and two staff members will visit Children’s Hospital of Orange County to participate in an Art Adventure Day with Discovery Arts. Foundation Studies Academic Director Alan Burner will lead the group and the children in a special art project.

Art Institute locations across the country are taking part in this national initiative.

Art Institute Employee Spends Birthday Giving Back

For her 50th birthday, psychology counselor at The Art Institute of California – Orange County Laura Pinkham wanted to do something more meaningful than a party. Laura decided to invite fifty of her closest friends and family to spend the day helping a local charity – Laura’s House (no relation), which offers shelter and counseling to women and children victims of domestic violence.

“I wanted to hold this event as part of my lifelong commitment to community service and encourage others to participate in similar events,” Laura said.

After brunch, the party began to put together bags of toiletries to take to the women at the shelter and plans were in place to plant flowers at the house.

“Laura is a wonderful woman with so many strong connections to the community and her desire to give back as a way of celebrating was inspiring,” said Interior Design Academic Director Ronni Whitman, who participated in the event. “We all live such busy lives and for those of us who are more fortunate, it is so important to give back.”

Click here to read an article on Laura in the Huntington Beach Independent.