Minimum Computer Specifications
Otis requires that incoming students own a laptop that meets the minimum system specifications for the software used in the Foundation year. This requirement will help ensure that all students have access to the college’s digital resources at home or on campus. As collaboration is a foundation of our curriculum, owning a laptop will promote communication, investigation, and making, both within and outside of the classroom.
If a student has an intended major, please refer to the major department's minimum specs below for guidance. We have selected these configurations to enable a broad range and a long useful life for your computer. If your laptop meets the minimum specifications, you are welcome to customize your machine to suit your individual needs. Otis partners with hardware providers to offer additional discounts to students purchasing a new laptop via the links below. If you already own a laptop with specs comparable to the Otis minimum requirements, you may use that instead. If you think you may have difficulty purchasing a computer, please completed the Laptop Request Form linked here.
Please note that Otis provides the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite at no cost to all BFA and MFA students for use on their personal devices.
For more information about software available for student-owned devices, please visit the Student Software for Personal Devices page
Visit the Computer Accessories and Peripherals page for information about recommended computer accessories and peripherals.
For technical questions, reach out to helpdesk@otis.edu.
Otis IT suggests investing in a higher-quality laptop that can reliably serve a student throughout their years at Otis. Cheaper models often lack durability and may not be as dependable.
Foundation (Option #1 Mac)
14 or 16-inch MacBook Pro ( M4 Pro Processor or better )
24GB Unified Memory Preferred
1TB SSD Storage
AppleCare Warranty Recommended
Foundation (Option #2 Windows)
Intel Core i7 processor (or better)
Windows 10 or 11
Minimum 32 GB of RAM
Nvidia® GeForce RTX 4070 or better
1TB SSD Storage
Warranty Service Recommended
Minimum Specification by Major
Animation & Motion Design, Game and Entertainment Design
Intel Core i9 or AMD RYZEN 9 processor
Windows 10 or 11
Minimum 64 GB of RAM preferred
Nvidia® RTX 5070 or better
1TB or larger SSD Storage
Warranty Service Recommended
Fashion Design, Fine Arts (BFA/MFA)
Fashion Design | BFA & MFA Fine Arts Product Design | Toy Design
14 or 16-inch MacBook Pro ( M4 Pro Processor or better )
24GB Unified Memory
1TB SSD Storage
AppleCare Warranty Recommended
Graphic Design (MFA/BFA), Illustration
14 or 16-inch MacBook Pro ( M4 Pro Processor or better )
24GB Unified Memory
1TB SSD Storage
AppleCare Warranty Recommended
Product Design, Toy Design
Intel i7 or i9 or AMD RYZEN 7 processor (or better)
Windows 10 or 11
Minimum 32 GB of RAM
Nvidia RTX 4080 or better
1TB or larger SSD Storage
Warranty Service Recommended
Student Software for Personal Devices
Otis students, staff, and faculty are eligible to access free and trial versions of popular software titles from the following companies. Please note that software requests for instruction are coordinated through the department chairs; for more information, please contact them directly.
Free for BFA/MFA students at Otis.
Students
If you're a new student, your access will begin a week before the semester begins.
If you're graduating (or non-continuing), access ends two weeks after the semester you are enrolled in ends. Be sure to export and save your projects to your own personal locations if they are stored in the Adobe Cloud. https://creativecloud.adobe.com/cc/?locale=en
If you are and remain registered for classes in the Fall, your access will continue through the Fall semester. The license will extend until the end of Summer, after which your academic license is automatically renewed.
Please try to log in and let IT ( helpdesk@otis.edu ) know if you need additional assistance.
Staff and Faculty
You lose access to Adobe CC immediately after your employment stops.
Adobe Mixamo does not support login using AICC (enterprise or school) accounts. Users attempting to sign in with company or school accounts may receive error messages like "Company or School Accounts are not supported" or "Account type not supported." To access Mixamo, users must create a personal Adobe ID.
Mixamo is available for free with a personal Adobe ID and does not require a Creative Cloud subscription.
For students taking classes at a Community College, but not enrolled in BFA/MFA programs at Otis,
If you're enrolled in courses at Santa Monica College or any other California Community College, there's a cost-effective opportunity to access Adobe for just $49.99 for six months.
Free educational license
Autodesk is not provided by the College for home use, but students and educators can get free one-year educational access to Autodesk products and services, which can be renewed if you continue to meet the eligibility requirements.
How to get free access
- Sign up for an Autodesk Education account: Go to the Autodesk Education Community website to get started.
- Create an account: Sign up and create your Autodesk account, which may require verification via email.
- Access the software: Once your account is verified and you are logged in, you can access all software available through the Education Community.
Free educational license
Autodesk Flow Production Tracking is a cloud-based project management and review platform, formerly known as ShotGrid, for media and entertainment studios. It serves as a central hub for all project data, enabling teams to unify production management, creative processes, and pipelines, thereby working more efficiently. Key features include real-time production tracking, AI-powered scheduling, resource planning, and creative review tools.
ShotGrid, also known as Autodesk Flow Production Tracking, now supports Single Sign-On (SSO) for Otis College users. This means you can sign in using your Otis credentials, no need for a separate Autodesk account password.
How to Access ShotGrid
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Request access and appropriate permissions by contacting your department chair (Game or Animation)
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After you’ve been added to ShotGrid:
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Go to autodesk.com and sign in with your Otis credentials
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If you don’t already have an Autodesk account, it will be automatically created the first time you sign in
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Students and teachers get to use the premium version of Figma for free
CLO Virtual Fashion provides a special student license for a one-time payment of $99.00 for academic users enrolled at a qualified institution. For more details, visit: Marvelous Designer License Information.
Explore plans and pricing for students.
Free for BFA/MFA students
- Go to www.office.com, and if you are not already signed in, select Sign in ( Sign in with your OTIS email )
- From the Microsoft 365 home page, select Install Office
- Select Office 365 apps to begin the download
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation
Rhino 8 is installed on all PC and Mac labs. Additionally, a limited number of Rhino 8 licenses are available for students and faculty to use on personal devices. To request access, please submit a Helpdesk ticket.
You can also purchase your own license for $138.00 from Novedge.
60 Licenses available only for students and faculty
A Serial Number (License Key) is required to download and activate the software. Please reach out to the Product Design department to obtain your key.
Toon Boom Centre of Excellence at Otis College of Art and Design
Otis College of Art and Design is proud to announce that it has officially become a Toon Boom Centre of Excellence (COE). This designation provides students and faculty with access to industry-standard animation tools.
All students and faculty are entitled to a free annual desktop subscription for the following Toon Boom software:
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Harmony
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Storyboard Pro
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This subscription is available to students each year until graduation.
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How to Claim Your License
COE licenses do not appear automatically in your Toon Boom account. Students and faculty must claim their licenses each year using the official Toon Boom COE portal:
License Claim Portal: https://coe.toonboom.com/
For step-by-step instructions on activating your COE license, please refer to the following guide:
COE Student License Activation instructions
Toon Boom Support
If you need help with Toon Boom software, visit the official Toon Boom Help Centre for guides, troubleshooting resources, and frequently asked questions. You can also ask questions in the Toon Boom Discord Community or submit a support ticket through the Help Centre.
Unreal Engine is free for students and educators. Epic Games offers Unreal Engine at no cost for educational use, including access to all features, source code, and learning resources.
Download for free