Here you can carry out art historical and design research; apply the theories and practice of information science; design and curate digital libraries, archives, and exhibitions; and communicate arts content and design effectively across diverse cultures and societies.
Pratt students at the Morgan Library Reading Room (courtesy Polly Cancro, History of Art and Design / Library and Information Science '18)
History of Art and Design / Library and Information Science at Pratt
The MSLIS/MA History of Art and Design dual-degree program prepares you for careers in art and design, museum, and academic libraries. In this program, you will become an expert on the intersection of art and design and information, going deep into art, design, and historical archives, art and design collections, and more. With fellowship opportunities at NYC’s leading museums, libraries, and archives, such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Frick Art Reference Library, and MoMA, the dual-degree program offers unique experiential learning opportunities.
Students in the dual-degree MSLIS/MA History of Art and Design program get to experience all Pratt has to offer by taking half of their program (30 credits) at the School of Information based in Manhattan, and the other half in the Department of History of Art and Design on the Brooklyn campus (30 credits). The first two years students take courses in both departments, with much of the thesis work taking place in the third year. With class sizes of just 8-12, you’ll collaborate closely with your cohort and faculty and be learning at the nexus of NYC arts and culture communities.
Internships
Internships at museums, libraries, nonprofit art organizations, and galleries provide professional opportunities in your area of interest and prepare you for future careers. Recent students have interned at prestigious institutions such as the New York Public Library, Franklin Furnace, and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
Study Abroad
We are pleased to offer study abroad options for dual-degree students, including a new course offered for the first time during spring break 2024: “Artist Archives: Rome/New York”. We also recently celebrated the 35th anniversary of Pratt in Venice, which is a 6-week program that occurs each June and July. For more information on Study Abroad, see where you can go.
Learning Resources
We develop disciplinary fluency in our program of study and we celebrate the interdisciplinary nature of design critical to address the plurality and complexity of the environments in which we operate. Learning resources.
Our Faculty
Pratt’s distinguished faculty of outstanding creative professionals and scholars share a common desire to develop each student’s potential and creativity to the fullest. Bringing different views, methods, and perspectives, they provide a rigorous educational model in which students make and learn. See all History of Art and Design faculty and administrators and School of Information faculty and administrators.
Our Alumni
Pratt’s distinguished alumni are leading diverse and thriving careers, addressing critical challenges and creating innovative work that reimagines our world.
Where They Work
Librarian, Photographs and Prints Division, New York Public Library
Archivist, Center for Brooklyn History at Brooklyn Public Library
IT Project Manager, J. Paul Getty Trust
Head, Reference & Reader Services, Teachers College, Columbia University
Web Collection Librarian, Columbia University Libraries
Join us at Pratt. Learn more about admissions requirements, plan your visit, talk to a counselor, and start your application. Take the next step.
You’ll find yourself at home at Pratt. Learn more about our residence halls, student organizations, athletics, gallery exhibitions, events, the amazing City of New York and our Brooklyn neighborhood communities. Check us out.
Pentimento: The Ghosts of Art’s Past
Definition:
Pentimento (plural: pentimenti) refers to a visible trace or alteration in a painting, where an earlier version, design, or element has been painted over but becomes visible again as the top layer of paint ages and becomes more transparent over time. This phenomenon provides insights into the artist’s process and reveals changes made during the creation of the artwork.
Image 1: Jan Van Eyck, The Arnolfini Portrait, 1434, tempera and oil on oak panel, 82.2 x 60 cm (National Gallery, London)
Image 2: Arnolfini Wedding Portrait by Jan van Eyck (left), detail of infrared scans of Arnolfini Wedding Portrait (right); Courtesy: Principle Gallery
On this day celebrating love, the I ♥ NY logo reminds us how a few simple elements can create a deep sense of pride and belonging, proving that design can be both emotional and iconic.
Created in 1977 by graphic designer Milton Glaser, the 'I ♥ NY' logo is one of the most recognizable and enduring symbols in graphic design history. Originally commissioned as part of a campaign to boost tourism, it quickly became a global symbol of New York City’s bold spirit and resilience.
Key Highlights:
Simple and Iconic Design: The logo features the phrase "I ♥ NY" with a heart symbol, using bold typography that conveys warmth and emotional connection. The heart replaced the word "love," making it instantly recognizable.
Cultural Impact: Despite being created for a specific tourism campaign, the logo became synonymous with the city itself, adapting to various cultural contexts and becoming a symbol of New York’s identity.
Enduring Popularity: From T-shirts to tattoos, the "I ♥ NY" logo remains a timeless example of how effective and universal graphic design can be, transcending its original purpose to become a global icon.
#GraphicDesign #ILoveNY #MiltonGlaser #DesignHistory #IconicDesign #NYC #SimpleDesign #WeeklyDesignHistory
Umberto Boccioni’s 'The City Rises' (1910) is a powerful representation of the energy and chaos of urban life. As a key work of the Italian Futurist movement, this painting captures the spirit of modernity with dynamic forms and vibrant colors.
Details About the Artwork:
Subject: The painting depicts the construction of a new city, with laborers, machinery, and horses in a chaotic, energetic scene. It conveys the frenetic pace of urbanization and industrial progress.
Technique: Boccioni uses sweeping, fluid lines and bold colors to create a sense of motion and vitality. The composition is filled with overlapping forms, emphasizing the dynamism and power of human and mechanical effort.
Significance: Although less famous than other works, 'The City Rises' is a quintessential Futurist painting, celebrating the modern age and its transformative energy.
Inspirational Idea:
"‘The City Rises’ reminds us of the relentless energy and progress of urban life. It captures the essence of modernity, urging us to embrace change and the possibilities of the future."
Image: Umberto Boccioni, The City Rises, 1910, oil on canvas, 199 cm × 301 cm (MoMA)
#thecityrises #umbertoboccioni #artinspiration #futurism #modernlife #urbanenergy #momaart
Brutalism: The Raw Beauty of Concrete
Emerging in the mid-20th century, Brutalism made a bold statement with its raw, unpolished aesthetic. Known for its use of concrete and stark, geometric forms, this architectural style focuses on honesty in materials and structure.
Key Characteristics:
Raw Concrete (Béton Brut): Exposed concrete surfaces define Brutalism, showcasing the material in its natural, unadorned state.
Monolithic Forms: Massive, block-like structures that emphasize weight, solidity, and simplicity.
Function Over Ornamentation: Design that highlights utility and structure, rejecting decorative embellishments.
Brutalism reminds us that beauty can be found in raw, honest expression. It challenges us to appreciate the inherent qualities of materials and the integrity of structure.
#Brutalism #DesignInspiration #ConcreteJungle #ArchitecturalHonesty #Habitat67 #RawBeauty
HAD Faculty Conversations by Jennifer Miyuki Babcock, “A Work in Progress: Mapping the Wandering Goddess”
* This event is for Pratt community.
Date: Wednesday, February 26th, 2025
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Venue: Main 212
About the Project: Hathor, one of the world’s first imperial goddesses, absorbed numerous Egyptian, Nubian, and Levantine divinities into her multifaceted identity. The ancient Egyptians described her as “wandering” due to her many mythic journeys and manifestations. This digital project, born from my 2022 book, centers Hathor to foreground the divine feminine in Egypt and to explore the deeply intertwined nature of ancient Egyptian religion at both national and local levels. In this lecture, I will discuss the project’s origins, current status, and long-term goals.
About the Speaker: Jennifer Miyuki Babcock specializes in ancient Egyptian and Nubian art and archaeology. Her research explores cross-cultural parallels with other ancient and modern African cultures, examining how material and visual culture support the concept of divine kingship. She is also interested in artifacts and imagery that reflect personal piety, offering a compelling contrast to the royal and elite experience.
Let’s dive into Van Gogh’s 'Starry Night.' The swirling skies and vibrant colors reflect his emotional turbulence and fascination with nature. 🌌🎨
#vangogh #starrynight #artworkanalysis
Image: The Starry Night, oil on canvas by Vincent van Gogh, 1889; in the Museum of Modern Art, New York City.
Join us this coming Tuesday at 6pm ET for an information session for prospective students held in-person and online. Learn about our Masters programs and more! RSVP via the link in our bio.
What is the future of the School of Information? We are requesting your feedback on our 2026-20230 Strategic Plan and much more in our February '24 newsletter; link available in our bio.
The School of Information is pleased to receive a $1.28 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to support the Digital Preservation Outreach and Education Network (DPOE-N)! Read all about it in the Pratt.edu news article linked in our bio.
The School of Information is pleased to offer programming for Green Week 2025 (February 3 to February 7).
Anytime during the week, drop off your eWaste or old batteries in the designated box in the InfoLounge (Pratt Manhattan Center PMC 6th floor lobby).
On Thursday, February 6th at 2pm-3pm, we will be screening the documentary film “The Internet’s Unseen Carbon Footprint: How Can We Reduce It? | Greening The ‘Net” from CNA Documentaries in PMC 610.
See the link in our bio for more details!
Happy New Year from Pratt's School of Information. We have new faculty and staff joining us, as well as new wellness resources: yes, we have a massage chair! This news and more in our January '25 newsletter; link available in our bio.
In the years following the onset of the pandemic, @prattischool has committed itself to incorporating wellness into its thinking, culminating in the formation of a Wellness committee this school year. Part of this work is the creation of a Wellness webpage, that includes information on some of the resources available to the community, such as a new massage chair installed in Pratt Manhattan Center room 608b. Check it out! Link available in our bio.
The MSLIS/MA History of Art and Design dual-degree program prepares students for careers in art, museum, and academic libraries. With fellowship opportunities taking place at NYC’s leading museums, libraries, and archives, such as the Brooklyn Museum, the Guggenheim Museum, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the dual-degree program offers unique opportunities for experiential learning.
This program consists of 30 credits at the School of Information and 30 credits at the Department of History of Art and Design for a total of 60 credits, which must be completed with a B average or higher. Students in the dual-degree program generally take one or two classes in each program per semester (3–4 courses, 9–12 credits).
Students in the dual-degree MSLIS/MA History of Art and Design satisfy the learning outcomes of each of the respective degrees.
MS Library and Information Science
Throughout the LIS program, students will create a digital portfolio to highlight the work they have completed and demonstrate they have met the program’s five student learning outcomes:
Foundations of Library and Information studies – Apply core concepts and theories to information collection, organization and access in multiple environments.
User-centered services – Students can meet information needs of diverse user communities across multiple communication formats (e.g. oral, written, visual, interactive).
Technology – Students can select and apply tools and technologies used in the field to improve information functions.
Research – Investigate information environments and users’ needs, behaviors, and experiences through appropriate research methods and analysis.
Ethical/Creative/Critical practice – Apply core ethical principles to professional practice and understand the broad impact of information on society. Students can raise critical questions about information, its production, dissemination, storage and preservation.
MA History of Art and Design
Graduates are able to articulate the mutually constitutive nature of historical changes in social, political and economic conditions in the fields of art, design, and cultural production.
Graduates are able to describe, research and analyze the forms of cultural artifacts and monuments.
Graduates demonstrate a critical engagement with the discipline’s tools and methods.
Graduates have the skills to craft lines of inquiry and perform in-depth research, including the use of relevant languages, that results in original analysis and interpretation.
