Course General Description

The Visual Presentation and Exhibition Design program (VPED) is a unique educational experience. The program educates students to lead in the complete process of developing environments that inspire, inform, and persuade. VPED comprises Retail Development, including the development of complete stores, fixtures, window and merchandise displays; Exhibition Design, including museums, trade shows, zoos, theme parks, and visitor centers; and temporary installations like large scale events, pop-up stores, Christmas spectacles, photo shoots, and stage sets. This program provides an in-depth, interdisciplinary education that prepares you to create displays and exhibitions from conceptualization through fabrication. In courses taught by professional designers with extensive experience, you will learn to use a variety of materials and techniques, shop construction including props, electronic media, and lighting. You'll develop skills in graphic and spatial design, drafting for plans and elevations, and the technologies used in industry. Hands-on fabrication experience is offered through the building of displays, models, and on-campus exhibits, including a major capstone exhibition. Networking events, field trips, and a required internship lead to multiple opportunities. Right after graduation, VPED students move on to jobs as designers, project managers, and production directors. After ten years many alumni have senior leadership positions as design directors, creative managers, and even CEOs.

School General Description

One of New York City’s premier public institutions, FIT is an internationally recognized college for design, fashion, art, communications, and business. We’re known for our rigorous, unique, and adaptable academic programming, experiential learning opportunities, academic and industry partnerships, and commitment to research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. While our pedagogical mission is to prepare our students for professional excellence in design and business, our broader ethos is to foster creativity, inspire leadership, impart a global perspective, and educate students to embrace inclusiveness, commit to sustainability, and engage with community. We encourage students, scholars, teachers, and industry colleagues to cross traditional boundaries of both geography and disciplines. Together we strive to develop innovative design and strategic business solutions that will upend the status quo, create personal and professional opportunity, and have a lasting and sustainable global impact.