Parsons School of Design, Design college in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, United States
Parsons School of Design consists of several buildings spread across Greenwich Village, offering programs in fashion, graphics, interiors and other creative fields. The spaces range from classic lofts with high ceilings to modern studios equipped with digital tools.
William Merritt Chase founded the school in 1896 as a gathering of progressive artists turning away from traditional Manhattan academies. Later, during the 1970s, it introduced the first university degrees in fashion, interior and lighting design in the United States.
The institution takes its name from Frank Alvah Parsons, who led it in the early 1900s and built its international reputation. Today students from around the world work side by side in studios and workshops that often stay open until late evening.
The buildings sit close together in Greenwich Village, making it easy to walk between locations. Most studios and labs open during the day for enrolled students, while public events often take place in the evening hours.
Many well-known designers and fashion creators studied here, something you can trace in certain display cases and exhibition rooms. In the lower floors of some buildings, small galleries show final projects by current students.
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