On December 17, 2014, graduating graphic design students at The Art Institute of Philadelphia held their final portfolio review and show. What was significant – and unique – about this year’s show was the integration of ground-breaking digital printing technologies including the use of white and clear toner and expanded media handling capabilities into their curriculum and, therefore, into their portfolio pieces. This was made possible courtesy of the innovative C941dn LED digital color printer donated by OKI Data Americas as part of an academic/corporate collaboration between the two organizations announced earlier this year.
The Art Institute of Philadelphia was the first school of higher learning within North America to adopt a C941dn – with its LED five station toner configuration with cyan, magenta, yellow and black, plus white or clear in the fifth position – and integrate it into select curricula. By providing students access to this device and its production grade output, students at The Art Institute of Philadelphia were able to expand their learning and gain real world experience, in terms of printing capabilities, that rivals what might otherwise only be achievable at professional graphic arts print shops.
The show – displaying the work of more than 20 graduating students – was held at The Art Institute of Philadelphia, and was well attended. In the coming academic terms, The Art Institute of Philadelphia will seek to integrate the C941dn into additional curricula, thereby providing even more students across a broader range of disciplines access to this leading-edge technology.