In 2017, the College launched a survey targeting all Otis 2016 Alumni. The survey had several goals. We wanted to determine employment rates, the duration of job searches, current work satisfaction, how Alumni connected their work to their field of study, how prepared they were for the working world, and how helpful they found the faculty and Career Services in getting their first job.
Survey Results
- 51% (126/249) response rate for survey
- Career placement data collected by Career Services (LinkedIn, phone calls, etc.)
- Combined efforts produced data collection on 84% (209/249) of our 2016 alumni.
Employment Data
Employment Rate: 92% of the respondents were employed or in graduate school
Responses demonstrated that Otis graduates attained a higher percentage of employment following graduation than the national average.
Time Frame of Job Acquisition: 76% of respondents indicated they obtained their job within the first 6-months post-graduation
- 26% Before graduation
- 31% Within 3-months post-graduation
- 19% 4-6 months post-graduation
Otis Alumni are aligned with national trends showing that college graduates typically take several months to find their first job.
Relation to their Field of Study: 76% are employed in a job related to their field of study
As members of the Creative Economy, Otis Alumni are prepared to enter a variety of fields where art and design backgrounds are critical. Beginning in 2007, Otis College of Art and Design has hosted an annual Creative Economy event which highlights the current achievements and future projections of innovative artists and designers in the local and state economy. See Otis Report for the Creative Economy for more details.
Otis College Alumni Employment Rates: Longitudinal Data
Otis College Alumni Employment in Relation to their Field of Study: Longitudinal Data
Freelance Employment
Because of its entrepreneurial advantages, many artists and designers are interested in freelance work which offers flexibility and opportunities to expand and develop their own lines and companies in an increasingly globalized economy.
Top Criteria Job Searching
Top criteria alumni identified as important, in rank order, when choosing their first job post-graduation:
- Salary
- Opportunity for Professional Growth
- Creative Freedom
- Job Location
- Employer Reputation
Work-Life Satisfaction: 84% of recent alumni indicated their work-life satisfaction as “good” or “excellent”
Work satisfaction is important on financial, professional, and personal levels. The college is extremely proud that alumni move from a successful formal educational experience to rewarding careers with high job satisfaction.
Otis Alumni Attendence Graduate School
Post-graduate education is important to many Otis alumni and 14% indicated they plan to attend a graduate program within the next 3 years.
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Where they plan to study: Art Center Bezalel Central Saint Martin, London College of Fashion Columbia Columbus State Community College Considering apply to places like ECAL or others in France Otis College CSU Long Beach UCLA Extension Program University of Texas at Austin or Rice Yale CalArts |
What they plan to study: Architecture Business Entrepreneurship Creative Writing/English Critical Race Theory, New Economic Models, Restructuring of global society Fashion/Stylist/Fashion Photography Fine art Graphic Design Landscape Architecture Law School. This is to help me develop my political illustrations. Painting Sculpture/New Media Teaching Credential Urban Planning Pursue a Ph.D |
What Otis Alumni Do: Position Titles
As the Report on the Creative Economy has demonstrated for over 10 years, artists and designers are key to a growing, vibrant economy with skills and knowledge that continually expand and integrate with new markets, new products, and new audiences.
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Animator/ Designer Architect Architectural & Interior designer Art Director Artivist Assistant Designer Assistant Language Teacher Associate Designer Associate Designer Associate Sculptor Associate, Graphic Designer Brand Designer BROADCAST PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Civil Agents TR GR Concept Artist Co-owner Design Apprentice Design Assistant |
Design Associate Design Coordinator Design Director Designer Director Director of Communication Fashion Design Assistant Freelance Motion Designer Graphic Designer Illustrator Illustrator/ animator image tech Interior Design Assistant Interior Designer Jr Graphic Designer Junior Animator Junior Art Director |
Junior Designer Junior Designer Lead Assistant Manager of Constituent Engagement motion designer Painter product packaging designer Production Assistant Program Director Retoucher and Artist Assistant Social Media Animator/ Designer Social Media Coordinator SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Studio Assistant Studio Manager Teacher Visual display Volunteer Art Coordinator |
Where Otis Graduates Work: Employers
53% of respondents indicated their employers have internship opportunities!
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Abercrombie and Fitch Agron Inc Alexis Smith Anna Hoffman Artist and Craftsmen Supply Atrthropologie Baroque Interiors Beyond Yoga Blind Bmor Cartoons Bob Mackie Designs Bradley and Montgomery Brand New School Buraiki Engineering Consultant Office California State University CASSANDRA AND COMPANY Charlie Compnay Chimayo Press Chimento contemporary CIEE CONILL COS Defy Media Dreamworks Animation DSH Architecture Edlio Inc Elemental Superfood Enfants riches deprimes Eskimo Creative Studios |
Exit Games Eyestorm Productions Final Touch Collection Framestore FRANKIE Free People G2000 Appearl G-III Apparel G-III/DKNY Global Brands Group GREG LAUREN LLC. Hallucinate Design Office Halston Heritage Hatchbeauty HOPELESS RECORDS Hourglass Cosmetics Human Garage IJ Industrial dba Tina + Jo Image: Global Vision Imperial Toys Industry Rag LLC/ Majestic Threads James Huang JDG Artwork JET Program Joe's Jeans John Andrews JT Lab/ Otis College of Art and Design Kimberly Metz Photographer |
L.A. Fabricators LA Associates LACMA Laju Lane bryant Le Cadeux lily marshall Lisa Soto Beacon Arts Made in space Mattel MIDNIGHT SHERPA MPC Naughty Dog NFL NMA Sports open road entertainment Otis College of Art and Design Pacific Sunwear Perri Ellis Petco Animal Supplies Pop Media Group Princes and Crows QRATION Rebellion VFX Reebok International Ltd. Reel FX RILLER & FOUNT Rolling Hills Preparatory School & Renaissance School RPA |
Sanctuary Clothing Scotch+Soda SECTION STUDIOS SKECHERS Smart A&C, Inc Special Effects Unlimited Sprite Animation Studios Standard Architecture Stuart Posnock Stun_performance Sugarfina Super Smooth Studios Susana Monaco THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION The Bouqs Company The Mill Thread & Supply Tom Ford Beauty TRANSPARENT AGENCY Treyarch Troika Unique Vintage, and Amanda Charchian VISTA INVESTMENTS VR sports Watson We are Royale Wessco Intl. Esthetician Women & Thier Work XYS Media |
How Otis Helped
High-Impact Practices like internships and a supportive Careers Services department ensure that Otis students can take advantage of employment opportunities during their college career which means they are well prepared for competitive job markets.
In November 2015, The Economist ranked Otis College of Design 6th in the nation and the only art and design school for the value of its education in relation to employment and earning.
"This is a pivotal moment for Otis College of Art and Design. We have always known the value of an art and design education and have focused everything we do on student success, but to have recognition like this strengthens and confirms our convictions. We hope this information will elevate awareness on a national scale that the creative economy is a major force in the new world economy of the 21st century, where original ideas and creative thinkers are highly valued." -- President Bruce W. Ferguson
Otis Prepares Graduates for the Working World
83% indicated Otis College did a “good/excellent” job in preparing them for the working world.
Faculty Impact on Job Acquisition
86% of respondents said that faculty was very/somewhat helpful in obtaining your first job.
Career Services
3 out of 4 of Otis Alumni indicated they used Career Services during their time at Otis College.
81% indicated that Career Services was very/somewhat helpful in acquiring their first job.