School of Design Columbia College Chicago

National College Decision Day is cause for celebration. We're excited to cheer on our newest students and celebrate the years of hard work and dedication that have brought them to this moment. Welcome to Columbia College! Chicago!

WE'RE HIRING!

The School of Design is hiring a teaching-track full-time faculty member in Graphic Design. Are you who we're looking for?

https://bit.ly/426QrVi

Looking to let your geek flag fly? Come visit Columbia College Chicago and School of Design Columbia College Chicago at C2E2 (Booth 336) today and tomorrow! Learn about Columbia's programs (Animation! Illustration! And more!) across the entire college and talk to actual students and current faculty. Find out about our 136-year history and how we're building creative careers for the next 136.

Oh, and if you want to play games, we got some games! Come play some student games developed as part of our Game Design and Game Art curricula. Can you get the high score?

Booth 336! You can't miss us!

Curious what Columbia College Chicago game students are up to? Here's a link to a collection of student games on itch.io that were created in our game production classes, including our year-long game studio class. In that class, multi-disciplinary teams of designers, artists, programmers, and sound designers work together through all phases of production to create a finished product.

Our students learn by doing in an intensive team-collaboration environment, using real-world techniques, tools, and production processes. You've played some of the biggest games in the world that our current alumni have worked on, so check out this selection of the next generation who are going to change how games are made and played.

https://columbiacollegechicago.itch.io/

Columbia Students’ Animated Short “Frankie” Selected for Oscar-Qualifying New York International Children’s Film Festival “Frankie,” a capstone animated short created by Columbia alums, has been selected for the 2026 New York International Children’s Film Festival.

Yesterday, Columbia College Chicago celebrated the formal investiture of our new President, Dr. Shantay Bolton, the first Black woman to lead the college. Not that we need an excuse, but this gave the School of Design and the other parts of the College the opportunity to show off at the post-investiture reception. We're extremely proud of the efforts our faculty, staff, and students put into showcasing our programs in animation, games, graphic design, visual effects, interior architecture, math, and science, which you can see below!

Columbia College Chicago Columbia College Chicago Office of the Provost Career Center Columbia College Chicago

In her formal investiture address, President and CEO Shantay Bolton, the first Black woman to lead the college, framed the moment as a turning point for Columbia as it navigates major challenges in higher education.

Click the link below to read the full article 🔗

https://columbiachronicle.com/campus/this-is-our-renaissance-shantay-bolton-installed-as-president-of-columbia-college-chicago/ #

This story has been updated with the correct last name for Brandon Phillips.

🖊️ Story by Vivian Richey
📸 Photos by Dustin Janicki
✍️ Copy Edited by Katie Peters