Third Floor Group Crews ‘Rock The Boat’

By Marie Deason
Art Institute Of Phoenix Advertising Major

If you have been following the last several issues of Arizona Boating & Watersports, you know that they have partnered with the Art Institute of Phoenix on the “Rockthe Boat” project. You also know that the Art Institute of Phoenix’s students will be doing all of the production, advertising, marketing concepts, graphic-design work, and video production for “Rock the Boat.” 

But other than that, what do you know about the Art Institute of Phoenix and its Third Floor Group that is working on “Rock the Boat”?

There are numerous degrees offered at the Art Institute of Phoenix: Advertising, Baking & Pastry: Diploma, and Culinary Arts: Associate of Applied Science, Bachelor of Arts.  Digital Media Production, Fashion Marketing, Game Art & Design, and Graphic Design: Associate of Applied Science, Bachelor of Arts.  Interactive Media Design, Interior Design, Media Arts & Animation, The Art of Cooking: Diploma, Visual & Game Programming,             Visual Effects & Motion Graphics, Wines, Spirits & Beverage Management: Associate of Applied Science. 

Unless otherwise specified, all programs are bachelor’s-degree programs.    What is unique about the bachelor’s degrees at the Art Institute of Phoenix is it only takes three years rather than four to reach your bachelor’s degree if you don’t take any quarters off. 

The school is on a quarter-based schedule rather than a semester-based schedule.  This means that the students attend 16 weeks worth of classes in 11 weeks — and only meet once a week for four-hour class times. 

Graphic Design major and member of the Third Floor Daniel Aslaksen had this to say about his experience at the Art Institute of Phoenix, “ I enjoy the way everything is “hands on,” and students are directly involved in their own education.  We don’t sit in a lecture hall and never personally talk to our teachers.  They are personal and take an interest in our development as artists.”

Not only is the school concerned over helping the students understand their degree fields, they have taken an active interest in helping the students work with real clients so they achieve real experience with clients with in their field. 

This is where the Third Floor Group comes in.  The original concept for the Third Floor was an internal design agency directed at constructing student knowledge into real applications.  

The Third Floor has specific requirements that allow a student to be a part of the group.  They ideally should be fifth quarter or higher and hold a 3.0 GPA or higher.    With the original concept for a design agency it has progressed into an advertising, design, production studio at the Art Institute of Phoenix. 

With time, it is sure to grow it include all majors available at the Art Institute of Phoenix.

Advertising major and another member of Third Floor, Lindsey Klies had this to say about the group, "Through Third Floor I am able to learn about the business before I breakout into the "real world".” 

Klies, as Aslaksen, is working on one of the many projects Third Floor currently has going on under the direction of Keith Bennett and Doug Wynn. Bennett is the academic director of Advertising and Graphic Design, while Wynn is academic director for Digital Media Production, Interactive Media Design, and Visual Effects and Motion Graphics. 

Many exciting things are taking place at the Art Institute of Phoenix. “Rock the Boat” is only one example, and there is much more ahead for AIP students and their community.

 To contact the Art Institute of Phoenix, call toll-free: (800) 474-2479 or visit www.artinstitutes.edu/phoenix.

THIS IS "CHARLIE" -- as in Travels with Charlie by John Steinbeck. Arnold's Mobile Detailing (623-205-7086) is preparing Charlie for its new role of hauling the 1984 Chris-Craft Scorpion from Hale's Marine in Phoenix -- sponsor and donor of the boat -- to Dan Turner's Sun Valley Fiber-Glas in Mesa -- another project sponsor -- for its refurbishing. Once the Scorpion is ready and sporting the logos of the project sponsors, Charlie will haul her to various Arizona lakes where she will often be made available to charitable organizations.