BALTIMORE--The Nov. 22 issue of The Baltimore Sun Education supplement includes A Perfect Design, an article highlighting local graphic design programs that emphasize community outreach. MICA's Center for Design Practice (CDP) is the lead example.

The center's founder and director Mike Weikert describes CDP as a  "multi-disciplinary studio dedicated to preparing the next generation of design leaders. We focused on the idea of students from graphic design, environmental design and animation working together. MICA was trying to establish this kind of research at an art and design school. I proposed that we try to create scenarios where these kinds of projects are not constrained by a kind of department...and that they are more institution-wide."

The article continues: "What makes the CDP's projects so unique is its mission. Each project is pursued with the intent to reach a solution for a problem met by a community organization. Whether it is a Web site, video or interactive display, the students are charged with the collaborative research and analyzing of the problem in cooperation with the client, while committing to an effort that will result in a positive, local impact."

For more information, call 410-225-2300.

Founded in 1826, MICA is among the top visual arts colleges in the nation. It enrolls 1,714 undergraduate and 218 graduate students from 48 states and 52 foreign countries, offering programs of study leading to the bachelor of fine arts (B.F.A.), master of arts (M.A.), and master of fine arts (M.F.A.) degrees. It also offers post-baccalaureate certificate programs and a full slate of credit and noncredit courses for adults, college-bound students, and children. MICA is recognized as an important cultural resource for the Baltimore/Washington region, sponsoring many public and community-outreach programs-including more than 100 exhibitions by students, faculty, and nationally and internationally known artists annually-as well as artists' residencies, film series, lectures, readings, and performances.