SARASOTA, FLA.- As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes every industry, including the arts, top-ranked art and design institution Ringling College of Art and Design is equipping creatives with the essential skills and ethical understanding necessary to thrive. Through ongoing research and collaboration across the field, Ringling College is setting an international precedent for AI instruction that acknowledges AI’s potential value as a creative partner while keeping core art and design skills central to the curriculum. Faculty across various disciplines are integrating AI into their instruction while continuing to foster a commitment to human creativity and connection.

“At Ringling College of Art and Design, we advocate for artists and designers to reckon with artificial intelligence on their own terms,” said Rick Dakan, AI coordinator and professor of creative writing at Ringling College. “For some, that means using the tools responsibly. Many object to using AI at all. For others, that means forging an AI-free path that is informed and effective. Our goal is to educate artists and designers through various avenues to help them make thoughtful decisions and advance in their professional careers.”

Dakan, a recognized thought leader in AI, co-authored AI Fluency: Framework and Foundation, an online course that teaches students how to safely and ethically interact with AI systems. This methodology, emphasizing a collaborative human-AI approach, is utilized at Ringling College and has also been adopted by higher education institutions in Ireland. Developed in partnership with Anthropic and Joseph Feller, professor of information systems and digital transformation at University College Cork, Ireland, the course centers on four key principles: thoughtful delegation of tasks between human and AI; precise description for effective AI output; critical discernment in evaluating AI’s processes and results; and diligent, responsible use of AI.

Ringling College incorporates each concept into its AI offerings, which include an undergraduate AI certificate program, an extensive library of AI resources for both faculty and students, an annual AI symposium and other opportunities. Ringling College’s AI undergraduate certificate program, the first of its kind at an art and design institution, launched in 2024 and provides students across all majors with a fundamental understanding of AI technologies, their application in creative contexts and their societal implications. Students learn how to use AI tools, explore the benefits and risks of AI in creative fields and integrate AI responsibly and ethically into their work. In the past two academic years, hundreds of the College’s more than 1,600 students have signed up for these new courses.

In the fall, the College will launch Fundamentals for AI Creatives, an eight-week online course designed for the public. The course caters to creatives who may not have had the opportunity to learn these skills during their undergraduate studies but need to be proficient in AI to advance their careers.

Ringling College will host its second annual AI symposium, AI and Creative Innovation: Advocating for Artists and Designers, Oct. 10-11, bringing together artists and industry professionals to explore the intersection of AI, ethics and creative innovation. Featured presenters include Moiya McTier, Ph.D., a scientist and senior advisor to the Human Artistry Campaign; Kurt Paulsen, an artist and professor with more than two decades of experience in higher education, motion graphics and visual communication; Amelia Winger-Bearskin, associate professor of AI and the arts at the University of Florida; and concept artist and illustrator Peter Mohrbacher. Attendees will also hear from Ringling College alum Catherine Hicks, who worked with Pixar for 15 years before beginning her current role as head of animation innovation at Cartwheel, an AI animation firm. Learn more and register for the symposium here.

“Ringling College of Art and Design isn't just preparing for the future of AI; we're actively defining it,” said Dr. Larry R. Thompson, president of Ringling College of Art and Design. “Through our comprehensive offerings, from certificate programs to learning opportunities for those not pursuing a degree, Ringling College is forging the path for how AI can ethically and innovatively elevate human creativity, ensuring our students and the wider creative community are pioneers in this rapidly changing era of artistic expression and design.”