Savannah College of Art and Design and Alias Software Prepare Students for the Future

The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Savannah, Georgia, is quickly making a name for itself as a top level design school, growing from 71 students at its opening in 1979 to more than 6200 today. Much of its success comes from a focused effort to match its education programs to the needs of the world's leading companies, using the same state-of-the-art, high-end technology in its classrooms as companies are using to create the best ideas for their customers.

Among the high-end technologies employed are best-in-class 3D software solutions, including Alias StudioTools and Maya, which are used by nearly 1000 up-and-coming artists in SCAD's animation, architecture, and industrial-design departments. These promising men and women are stretching their creativity and technical skills as they explore the art of visual effects and conceptual modeling through Alias software.

Superior Skills
Remarking on the role of computer technology at SCAD, Victor Ermoli, chair of the industrial design department, says, "The modeling capability of StudioTools has improved the forms the students create; made them more precise. The software provides them more control over development of a product -- how surfaces react to light and textures, for example -- and that makes the designs more mature."

Famia Ablo, professor of industri