The Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) today announced the launch of its Professional Studio. This new initiative is aimed at upskilling and reskilling working professionals through high-impact learning experiences in areas critical to the creative economy.

Housed within MICA’s Advanced Professional Education Division, Professional Studio will offer modular, flexible training across disciplines such as design strategy, creative entrepreneurship, UX, branding, and immersive media. Each course is developed with input from industry leaders and taught by professionals working at the forefront of their fields.

“With the rise of new, advanced technologies and a growing need for specialized creative and digital competencies, the creative economy is evolving quickly,” said Dr. Raymond Barclay, Senior Vice President of Enrollment Strategy, Innovation, and Partnerships. “We designed Professional Studio to meet this moment, giving creative professionals a platform to develop the skills they need to tap into new opportunities in the marketplace.”

Professional Studio will feature a portfolio of courses that reflect the most in-demand skills in the creative economy. Early offerings include “Image + Influence: Art Direction,” “Game Educator Pro,” “Intro to Figma,” “CSS, HTML, and Java,” “Photoshop for Creative Professionals,” and “Intro to Adobe Illustrator.” Some of our intensive courses and credentials will include exposure to creative technologies such as but not limited to XR, VR, AR, MR, Generative AI, p5.js, and openFrameworks. At MICA, we believe creativity and ethics are inseparable, ensuring that new technologies serve to deepen, not diminish, the integrity of artistic practice.

Courses are structured to support Professional Studio’s four key areas of focus:

• Workforce development tailored to the creative economy.

• Upskilling and reskilling in high-demand competencies.

• Flexible formats, including online, in-person, and hybrid learning.

• Partnership-ready models for businesses and nonprofits.

Registration is now open for two inaugural courses, “Essentials of Culinary Photography” and “Generative 3D Assets for Game Design,” with additional offerings in development for a late fall rollout.

The launch of Professional Studio comes at a time when MICA is making significant investments in innovative and future-facing curricular offerings. Earlier this year, the College introduced its “New Creatives” Majors, two flexible, modular undergraduate degrees that prioritize creative exploration and transdisciplinary fluency. MICA also recently debuted three new professional tracks in the fully online Master of Professional Studies in Business for Creatives: Brand and Luxury, Entrepreneurship and Venture, and Creative Leadership and Strategy. Professional Studio builds on these efforts by establishing new educational pathways for working professionals. 

“Our Professional Studio connects creative expertise to emerging market demand,” said Doug Barkey, Executive Director of Professional Programs and Assessment. “From short-form workshops to potential credentials and certificates, these programs will arm creative professionals with the specialized training to build on their existing strengths and respond effectively to shifts in visual culture and technology.”

To find out more and register for courses, visit mica.edu/professional-studio/