info.risd.edu

Experimental and Foundation Studies Division

As the studio curriculum for all first-year undergraduate students at RISD, Experimental and Foundation Studies is comprised of three programs of study: Drawing, Design and Spatial Dynamics, each of which meets one full day per week. Freshmen are assigned to a section of approximately 20 students who attend the three studio classes together.

Experimental and Foundation faculty members emphasize the development of rigorous critical inquiry and motivate students to learn independently. Projects are designed to encourage exploration, questioning and risk taking. At the end of each project, critiques are held so that students can discuss their intentions and processes, and reflect on the capacity of the work to embody ideas and emotions.

Staff

Diane Blair
Foundation Studies Office Supervisor
401 454-6672
dblair@risd.edu

Elliot Clapp
Digital Education Manager
401 454-6176
eclapp01@risd.edu
Carr House

George Dyment
Technical Assistant II
401 952-4551
gdymen01@risd.edu

Evan Finkle
Digital Fabrications Technician
efinkle@risd.edu

Shawn Greenlee
Programs Head
401 454-6176
sgreenle@risd.edu

Carol Lasch
Interim Advising Coordinator
401 454-6176
clasch@risd.edu

Shane Richards
Technical Assistant III
401 277-4840
srichard@risd.edu
Carr House

Joanne Stryker
Dean of Experimental and Foundation Studies
401 454-6177
jstryker@risd.edu

McDonald Wright
Technical Assistant III
401 454-6761
mwright@risd.edu
Carr House

Karen Zucconi
Departmental Coordinator
401 454-6176
kzucconi@risd.edu

FAEFS Computer Lab

The Fine Arts / Experimental and Foundation Studies (FAEFS) Computer Lab (Auditorium, Room 525) is available for Fine Arts Division and EFS Division classes and for student use as an open lab.

Lab Schedule:
Weekday mornings 8:30 am - 12:00 pm: open lab (if not already booked by an EFS class)
Weekday afternoons: Fine Arts Division scheduled classes
Mon - Thu 6:30 pm - 11:00 pm: open lab hours
Sat - Sun 1:00 pm - 11:00 pm: open lab hours (during the fall, winter and spring semesters)

Hardware:

  • 24 Macintosh iMacs w/ Wacom Tablets (one is a teaching station with HD Projector)
  • 2 flatbed scanners
  • 1 BW Laser Printer
  • 1 Color Laser Printer
  • 3 MakerGear 3D Printers (contact the lab manager for use)

Software:

  • ADOBE Creative Cloud Suite (complete suite, including After Effects and Premiere)
  • MS Office
  • Rhino for Mac
  • Various Open Source apps and more

For FAEFS Computer Lab questions, please contact Lab Manager Paul Virgadamo.