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Advanced
Design
Institute
Summer 2013 Sunday, June 30th - Sunday July 21st
3 weeks of focused design study
in Mexico City and Oaxaca
for rising seniors with strong art/design skills
Two rigorous courses:
Reuse/Rethink/Review
for students interested in Product Design
Interactive Narrative Design Lab
for students interested in Design for Digital Media
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Advanced
Design
Institute
CADI summer 2013 Sunday, June 30th - Sunday July 21st
Contents
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Why study design at CENTRO in Mexico?
CADI: CENTRO Advanced Design Institute
Course descriptions
Faculty Bios
Weekly schedule
Day in the life
Campus and facilities in Mexico City and Oaxaca
CADI Staff
Housing Meals and transportation in Mexico City and Oaxaca
Mexico City and Oaxaca
Cultural experiences and partnerships
Program costs, scholarships & application process
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General Information
Student conduct
Transcripts and credits
Language and prerequisites
Medical/Health
Passports and travel documents

Why
study design
at CENTRO
in Mexico City?
2

CENTRO College for Design,
Media and Film
CenTro is a uniquely modern institution. It is the only independent art or design college
in north America started in the 21st century and the only one focused exclusively on
design, media and film. Created by and for today´s designers, we are pioneers and offer
an innovative and highly relevant curriculum with a strong emphasis on entrepreneurial
thinking. our faculty members are first-and-foremost practicing designers with active
careers in their respective fields. We are a private, sustainable, socially responsible
enterprise, dedicated to creating a positive impact through our work.
In only eight years, CenTro has become recognized as the pre-eminent design university
in Mexico. our students and alumni are winning awards nationally and internationally.
With over 1,000 students enrolled in eight undergraduate and graduate programs
CenTro continues to grow. We have broken ground on construction of our new
campus which will increase our space threefold. In June of 2014 we will move to our
new campus when we celebrate our ten-year anniversary.
CenTro is more than a design university: we are a dynamic platform for research,
exhibitions, conferences, workshops and collaborative projects focused on design,
media and film. CenTro links its students to a global professional and academic network.
A broad range of partnerships, collaborations and specific programs with national
and international institutions generate a multitude of opportunities. our platform
is increasingly international in focus and scope, and our faculty and staff have been
educated in different parts of the world. We are expanding CenTro into a multi
campus design platform with campuses in different parts of the world, including in
north America.
CADI: Focused and rigorous courses taught at college level
Like most colleges, CenTro has a Continuing education department offering a
wealth of courses complementing our degree program courses. Unlike most US
pre-college programs, however, our CADI program is not administered through
Continuing education. This program is organized directly by the design departments.
The department directors have developed the curriculum and will be co-teaching
the courses with other CenTro faculty. These are rigorous and focused college-level
courses, geared towards advanced rising high school seniors only. This is not a generic
portfolio development summer program. The application and selection process is
competitive, and only students with strong art/design skills will be admitted.
3

CADI: CENTRO Advanced Design Institute
CADI is
• A rigorous and focused 3-week intensive summer design experience.
• For students interested in Product Design or Design for Digital Media.
• Taught in English, by CENTRO department directors and senior faculty.
• Open only to rising seniors with strong art/design skills.
• For ambitious high school students who want to be challenged.
• Highly selective in its admissions process.
• Focused for 2 weeks in Mexico City and 1 week in Oaxaca.
CADI Summer 2013 Course offerings
Students will choose one of the following design courses:
Reuse/Rethink/Review –for students interested in product design.
Interactive Narrative Design Lab –for students interested in digital media.
June 30 - July 21, 2013 -3 weeks & 3 college credits
The three-week Advanced Design Institute will allow you to focus in-depth on your
course subject. each course consists of 75 contact hours (in-class instruction), and
25 hours of independent studio/lab time. You are expected to work hard, develop
a much better understanding of your design field and create some strong pieces to
add to your portfolio. Most importantly, we will help you strengthen your conceptual
skills and hone your personal voice as a designer.
CenTro is very much about cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Teamwork is a major part of design these days, and we encourage collaboration on
project components between students in both CADI courses.
The last Saturday of the program we will host a Showcase to exhibit your final project.
Your final project, however, will only be a part of the outcome of your three-week course.
In addition to showcasing your products/pieces, you will design the actual exhibit, and
design and fabricate the supporting exhibit materials. The Product Design students will
even design and fabricate the packaging with which to ship their products home.
Class size
Classes will be no larger than18 students. each course will be team-taught by two
CenTro faculty with help from a teaching assistant and a lab technician.
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We will also have a number of designers join us for pertinent workshops and lectures.
In this setting, you are guaranteed individual instruction and attention from our faculty.
Since your student peer group will be comprised of students who are just as serious
and hard working as you, you will learn a lot from each other as well.
Spanish language & culture immersion
You are in Mexico and although all classes will be conducted in english, why not
improve your Spanish language skills and learn more about Mexican culture? It will
make your time in the city that much more enjoyable, and Spanish is an eminently
useful language. It is the language with the second largest number of speakers, after
Mandarin and before english. You will attend an immersion Spanish language and
culture class, which will meet for 75 minutes after lunch three or four days a week,
depending on the week. We will offer 3 groups, each offered at a different level based
on your skills, including a special section for students who are already fluent in Spanish.
College Credits
Upon successful completion of the CADI program you will receive an official CenTro
transcript and be awarded three college credits, which can potentially be applied to
future undergraduate studies at CenTro or elsewhere.
Costs and Fees
The total tuition and fees for the CADI program is US$2,400. These fees include
all required art supplies and materials. You do not need to purchase any additional
materials for your classes.
A limited number of scholarships are available towards the US$2,400 tuition cost.
These scholarships can cover up to full tuition and are based on the overall merit of
your application and demonstrated financial need.
room and board for double occupancy is US$1,250, for single occupancy it is $1,650.
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Reuse/Rethink/Review
A pivot to the design process:
Imagining new functions for existing forms.
Taught by the Director of Product Design at CENTRO, Sebastián Ocampo.
This intensive 3-week course will focus on the concepts of reusing design tools and
rethinking the design process. Students will be presented with ten plaster molds
designed to make existing objects and challenged to reuse them to create new products
based on personal ideas. Through drawing, 3D modeling and reverse engineering,
students will visualize how to combine parts of existing ceramic elements with wood
and other materials, to create new forms and functions. Students will use the high
tech 3D modeling and prototyping facilities at CenTro and an artisanal ceramics
workshop in the city of oaxaca as their laboratory and production platforms. The course
will emphasize product design sketching, model making and digital fabrication and will
push students to develop their own voice. Students will create a logbook related to
their personal experience and will produce sketches, drawings, digital images, and a
final functional product. Students will also design how to exhibit their final product(s)
and design and fabricate the packaging with which to ship these products home.
Sebastián Ocampo
An Anglo-Mexican designer, Sebastián ocampo completed his studies at the national School of
Decorative Arts in Paris (enSAD). In 2000, he received the “LABeL VIA” for his collaboration with
CLP Marqueteire, and participated in numerous exhibitions such as the “Art Deco” show at the
Museo Franz Mayer and “18 ans: 18 chaises” at the French Cultural Center in Damascus, Syria.
outstanding examples of his professional activities are the work done for the VIA (Association for
the Appraisal of Innovation in Furniture), the magazine Intramuros, the Furniture Salon in Paris,
the Fund for the Promotion of Arts and Crafts and the French embassy in Mexico. Sebastián has
been the Director of the Product Design department at CenTro since our beginning in 2004.
Francisco Torres
Is a Spanish-Swiss industrial designer who studied at eCAL (University of Art and Design of
Lausanne) where he earned a masters degree and taught design. He has worked with Jorg Boner
(Zurich), Atelier oi (neuveville), Stephen Burks (new York) and was a taught with ronan Bouroullec
at eCAL. Moreover, he has worked for the luxury market LVMH desarollando projects, Coty Prestige
and Donna Karan. Francisco has received the Swiss national Design Award, the Design Award at
the Design Biennial of Saint-etienne, and the Award of excellence from eCAL. He has also been
nominated for recognition by the Design report, and the raymond Loewy Foundation.
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To give you a taste, this is what your second week in this course
will look like: (All weekly schedules and more course details can be found on the CADI website)
Time/day Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday
7:30 - 8:30 AM
9:00 - 12:00 AM
12:15 - 1:00 PM
1:15 - 2:30 PM
2:45 - 5:45 PM
6:15 - 7:30 PM
8:00 - 10:00 PM
10:30 PM
11:30 PM
12:00 PM
Bfast in Hotel
Travel to oaxaca
Lunch TBD
Dinner TBD
Check in with PArA´S
Lights out
Bfast in Hotel
PD studio work
Lunch in Hotel
Spanish/Culture
PD studio work
Dinner in Hotel
Independent studio time PD
Check in with PArA´S
Lights out
Reuse/Rethink/Review | A day in the life
Bfast in Hotel
PD studio work
Lunch TBD
Spanish/Culture
PD studio work
Dinner in Hotel
Independent studio time PD
Check in with PArA´S
Lights out
every day in your course will be different, but this will give you a sense of what one
of your days will be like:
After working in Mexico City for a week on sketching, building mock ups, and
modeling in SolidWorks you will have decided what parts of the black clay molds
you will be using for your individual projects. on our first day in oaxaca we will start
with breakfast at the hotel–perhaps with atole, or agua de Jamaica as well as a cup of
the great local coffee. We will then travel for 15 minutes by van to the Plaza Artesenal
de Barro negro in San Bartolo Coyotepec. Master craftsman Javier Mateos Calderón
will give you an introduction to the clay tradition in their area and his own family
history related to this activity. Javier and his craftsmen will then demonstrate how
to use the molds effectively and work with the clay to achieve the various finishes
Bfast in Hotel
PD studio work
Lunch TBD
Cultural Activities
in oaxaca
Dinner TBD
Cultural Activities
in oaxaca
Check in with PArA´S
Lights out
8

Time/day Thursday Friday Saturday
7:30 - 8:30 AM
9:00 - 12:00 AM
12:15 - 1:00 PM
1:15 - 2:30 PM
2:45 - 5:45 PM
6:15 - 7:30 PM
8:00 - 10:00 PM
10:30 PM
11:30 PM
12:00 PM
Bfast in Hotel
PD studio work
Lunch in Hotel
Spanish/Culture
PD outside work
Dinner in Hotel
PD studio work
Check in with PArA´S
Lights out
Bfast in Hotel
PD studio work
Lunch in Hotel
Spanish/Culture
Cultural Activities in oaxaca
Dinner in Hotel
Check in with PArA´S
Lights out
Bfast in Hotel
PD studio work
Cultural Activities in oaxaca
Dinner TBD
Independent studio time PD Free time
Check in with PArA´S
Lights out
that are possible with the material. We will then break for lunch at one of the local
tianguis in town. After lunch you will work with the craftsmen and begin work with
this unique clay, using the traditional methods just explained and demonstrated. You
will pour the liquid clay into your molds and be able to start to confirm the feasibility
of your design proposals.
At the end of the day we will take the van back to our hotel. After some time
to clean-up and rest we will explore the city of oaxaca on foot and get a tour of
the Cathedral of our Lady of the Assumption. We will eat dinner at one of the
restaurants on the Zócalo and perhaps you will try one of the famous moles or even
the chapulines (fried grasshoppers with chile).
PD class
30 hrs/wk
Spanish class
5 hrs/wk
Independent studio
6 hrs/wk
Workshops
2.5 hrs/wk
9

Interactive Narrative Design Lab
Taught by the Director of Design for Digital Media at CENTRO, Manuel Alcalá.
Students in this intensive 3-week course will be engaged in a series of projects focused
on the use of digital tools to capture, process, create and distribute moving images
and sounds in multiple interactive platforms. The course will follow the production
rhythm of a professional interactive studio, which will have as its laboratories the vast
megalopolis of Mexico City and the eclectic mix of modernity and tradition of the city
of Oaxaca. Workshops will include digital filmmaking and animation, circuit-bending,
videomapping, and the appropriation of social media and web platforms. Students will
participate in several group projects, but will produce a highly personal body of work.
At the end of the course students will showcase their process and final project, and will
create and design their exhibition/delivery environment.
Manuel Alcalá
Manuel graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Film and Television from Boston University and later
did his masters in Media Design at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He
has extensively promoted audiovisual media through projects such as the independent videoclub
“Videodromo”, and the outdoor projections of “CINEabierto”. He has received support from
IMCINE for screenwriting and project development, and was selected in the Talent Campus
Guadalajara. He also founded JUDOmedia and the Public Workshop, offices that promote and
create, through conferences, labs and workshops, design production focused mainly on visual
arts and multimedia. He is currently developing projects for TABLOIDE (tabloide.mx), research
studies and interactive content production and was involved with the production of OFFF in
Mexico City this past October. Manuel has been Director of Design for Digital Media -one of our
newest programs, for two years.
Leslie García
Leslie García’s work explores the fusion process between art and technology, using techniques
such as the production of virtual tools, development of electronic prototypes, audio production,
net art pieces design and visual generative codes. She co-founded DreamAddictive electronic
media collective, in Tijuana Mexico 2003- 2010. She has exhibited her work in individual and
group shows, and in various festivals. She has collaborated with: Media Lab Prado, Museo de
Arte Reina Sofía, Eyebeam, O1SJ, Museum of Latin American Arts, Piksel Festival, Ars Electronica,
Centro Cultural de España, Public Art Lab Berlin, NOMAD Center for Media Research, Museum
of Contemporary Art in Szczecin, Transitio_MX and others. She recently received grants from,
FONCA (Jóvenes Creadores, Multimedia category, 2009 and 2011) and CENTRO MULTIMEDIA
2010. Leslie has been teaching at CENTRO since 2010. http://lessnullvoid.cc/content/en/
11

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To give you a taste, this is what your second week in this course
will look like: (All weekly schedules and more course details can be found on the CADI website)
Time/day Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday
7:30 - 8:30 AM
9:00 - 12:00 AM
12:15 - 1:00 PM
1:15 - 2:30 PM
2:45 - 5:45 PM
6:15 - 7:30 PM
8:00 - 10:00 PM
10:30 PM
11:30 PM
12:00 PM
Bfast TBD
Cultural Activities
in Mexico City
Lunch TBD
Cultural Activities
in Mexico City
Dinner TBD
Visiting Artists/PArA´S/
Alumni workshops
Check in with PArA´S
Lights out
Interactive Narrative Design Lab | A day in the life
every day in your course will be different, but this will give you a sense of what one
of your days will be like:
Bfast in Hotel
DDM classroom work
Lunch at CenTro
Spanish/Culture
DDM outside work
Dinner in Hotel
Independent studio time
DDM
Check in with PArA´S
Lights out
Bfast in Hotel
DDM classroom work
Lunch at CenTro
Spanish/Culture
DDM outside work
Dinner in Hotel
Independent studio time
DDM
Check in with PArA´S
Lights out
The first part of our transmedia project will be to explore and document some of the
unique spaces and improbable characters of Mexico City. The first few days we will
plan, discuss and prepare in order to develop a more thorough understanding of our
subjects and audience. A visiting lecturer will speak to us about interface and
its crucial role in a multiplatform narrative. We will view and analyze interactive
documentaries online, and decide which aspects appeal to our own work as media
designers. We will conduct a workshop on how to use digital tools for capturing
video, audio and geolocations, and you will learn how to use tools like openStreet
Maps to incorporate interactive maps into your narrative.
on our first Wednesday, with this knowledge under our belt, we will venture into
Mexico City with the photographer Mark Powell as our guide. Mark has made a career
Bfast in Hotel
Travel to Puebla
Lunch TBD
Cultural Activities in Puebla
Dinner TBD
Travel to oaxaca
Check in with PArA´S
Lights out
12

Time/day Thursday Friday Saturday
7:30 - 8:30 AM
9:00 - 12:00 AM
12:15 - 1:00 PM
1:15 - 2:30 PM
2:45 - 5:45 PM
6:15 - 7:30 PM
8:00 - 10:00 PM
10:30 PM
11:30 PM
12:00 PM
Bfast in Hotel
DDM outside work
Lunch TBD
Spanish/Culture
DDM outside work
Dinner in Hotel
DDM outside work
Check in with PArA´S
Lights out
Bfast in Hotel
DDM outside work
Lunch TBD
Spanish/Culture
Cultural Activities
in oaxaca
Dinner in Hotel
Independent studio time
DDM
Check in with PArA´S
Lights out
Bfast in Hotel
DDM outside work
Lunch TBD
Cultural Activities
in oaxaca
Dinner TBD
Free time
Check in with PArA´S
Lights out
of documenting unusual spaces and characters in urban settings from Detroit to
Mexico City. He will share his work (www.markalor.com) and brainstorm with us
over breakfast and coffee at Hotel Polanco. We will then journey through Mexico
City’s subway system, the second largest in north America. Mark will guide
us in his approach to meeting people, talking with them about their lives and
neighborhood, and creating interesting portraits. How do you tell a visual story?
How do you capture and show what you see? We will use our digital tools for
capturing these places, people and encounters. We will break for lunch at a local
tienda, and discuss our progress and experiences. After lunch we will continue
our exploration and capture more images, sounds and video. Around 3 PM we
will return to CenTro with our collected images and documentation to process
our material. After a workshop on video formats and storage protocols, each
student will have a space to present the material they captured. We will break
for dinner and end the day with a shared installation experience of our interactive
documentary of the day on the CenTro terrace.
DDM class
27 hrs/wk
Spanish class
5 hrs/wk
Independent studio
6 hrs/wk
Workshops
2.5 hrs/wk
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Campus and facilities
in Mexico City and Oaxaca
CENTRO Campus
CenTro’s campus is located in Lomas de Chapultepec, a residential neighborhood in
the northwestern part of Mexico City (in Mexico it is known as the Distrito Federal,
or DF for short.) CenTro’s main building -designed by world-renowned Mexican
architect enrique norten, blends exterior and interior spaces and takes advantage of
Mexico City’s temperate climate. The building has 5 floors of departmental studio
facilities, open studios, computer labs, small lecture spaces, a media center, and a
café serving lunch, snacks and coffee. Most facilities will be available to the CADI
students.
Campus & City Safety
CenTro has a safe college campus. Access to our building is monitored 24/7 by
security guards and access is restricted to current students and staff with valid CenTro
ID cards. You will be able to work in an environment where you feel safe and secure.
our summer program students will be supervised 24/7 by CADI and CenTro staff,
whether they are in our studio facilities, our residence hotel, in transit between
buildings, or on one of our many cultural excursions.
Facilities at CENTRO in Mexico City:
Product design students will have access to everything from architectural drafting
tables, to a CnC router, laser cutter, 3D Printers, and a fully equipped shop for wood,
metal and plastics fabrication. All studios have designated studio technicians who
can advise and assist students with their fabrication processes. Students will also
learn to work with 3D modeling in SolidWorks as part of their projects.
Design for digital media students will have designated priority access to our large
multi-use open film studio with 40 ft. ceilings and movable walls. You will have
access to the film equipment and editing suites of our Film and TV program and
CenTro’s Media Lab. In the Media Lab you can work with microprocessors, various
sensors, projectors and electrical materials to construct physical interfaces. our
computer labs are equipped with Macintosh computers with After effects, Final Cut
Pro, and similar software programs. CenTro is sponsored by SonY ALPHA, which
is providing us with several models of their latest Digital SLr cameras, which we will
use throughout the course.
15

Facilities in Oaxaca City
For our Interactive Narrative Design Lab students:
During our 5-day stay in oaxaca we will capture the sights and sounds in and around
the city of oaxaca. We will also make extensive use of the facilities at the Centro
de Diseño de oaxaca (CDo). Located in the former monastery of the 16th Century
Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, CDo is the first and only government
sponsored institution to promote design as a strategic tool for fostering social,
economic and culture development in Mexico. CDo will be our onsite laboratory
where we will conduct videomapping workshops and talks with local designers. As
part of our program in oaxaca we will also do a final videomapping showcase on the
façade of the former monastery.
For our Reuse/Rethink/Review students:
During our week-long stay in oaxaca our primary studio facility will be the atelier
Plaza Artesenal de Barro negro in San Bartolo Coyotepec. This is one of several
ateliers using the traditional black pottery technique for which oaxaca is famous.
You will work directly with master craftsman Javier Mateos Calderón and his
assistants to fabricate slip casts of parts of your plaster molds. We will also visit
several other fabrication studios such as the hacienda-studio oax-i-fornia and the
wood fabrication shop Tip Muebles in Ixtlán de Juárez.
For all students:
During our oaxaca stay all students will visit several sites of interest such as the
Textile Museum of oaxaca, the Instituto de Artes Gráficas de oaxaca (IAGo), and the
important archeological site of Monte Albán.
16

CADI Staff
Our CADI staff represents a wonderful mix of US and Mexican expertise.
Ms. Jenny Gifford, program director for CADI.
Ms. Gifford is the Dean of Visual Art at the Dreyfoos School for the Arts in West Palm
Beach, Florida and has over ten years of experience coordinating summer sessions at
the Marie Walsh Sharpe summer art program in Colorado. She holds an MFA degree
in painting from Pratt, exhibits regularly and has supervised high school art students
on trips to France and all over the US for many years. She brings with her a deep
understanding of US high school art students, speaks Spanish fluently and will be a
great asset to the program.
Ms. Andrea García-Cano Turner, residence director for CADI.
Ms. García-Cano Turner holds a bachelor degree in Interior architecture from CEDIM
in Monterrey, Mexico. She studied architecture at Parsons, the New School for Design
and organized trips for Mexican students to study at Parsons, 3rd Ward, FIT and
NYU. She is an assistant for the industrial design degree, works with departmental
alumni and faculty and helps develop new projects. She knows Mexico City well and
is fluent in English and Spanish.
Hans Evers, program assistant for CADI.
Hans Evers is the USA Liaison for CENTRO and the Director of College Advising at
Design and Architecture Senior High School. He is adjunct faculty at the Florida International
University and holds an MFA in Sculpture from the School of the Museum
of Fine Arts, Boston and an MA in Art History from Tufts University. He has 14 years
of admissions experience at MassArt, SMFA Boston, the Maryland Institute College
of Art and the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam.
We will also have two full-time American PARA’s (Program Assistants/Residence
Assistants) to provide additional supervision and support.
Yarminiah Rosa is a recent graduate from the Cooper Union whose resume includes
a year as Residence Advisor in the Cooper dorms. Yarminiah is fluent in Spanish as
well. Marcello Cunha is graduating from the Maryland Institute College of Art this
May, has served as a teaching assistant/residence counselor in the MICA summer
program for two years, and worked at the Marie Walsh Sharpe summer program as
a resident assistant last year. He speaks fluent Portuguese and is brushing up on his
Spanish. The PARA’s will be an important resource for our CADI students, and will be
able to help resolve most personal issues arising during the program.
17

Housing, meals and transportation
in Mexico City and Oaxaca
Mexico City: living at Hotel Polanco
CenTro does not currently have a residence facility. We will be adding a residence
hall on our new campus, which will open in 2014. For the CADI program in 2013
we will use Hotel Polanco as our residence hotel. Hotel Polanco is a three star hotel
in the upscale Polanco neighborhood about 20 minutes by foot and 10 minutes
by van from CenTro. Students will be able to choose a shared double room, or a
single for an additional charge. our program and residence directors and PArA’s
will also reside in the Hotel Polanco and will be responsible for chaperoning and
managing student activities and the living environment. CADI students will not be
allowed to leave the hotel after curfew and they will be expected to adhere to our
rules of conduct at all times.
Oaxaca City
During our stay in oaxaca City, we will be residing in two different hotels. The hotels are
located five small blocks from each other in the center of the city, close to the Zócalo.
reuse/rethink/review students will reside at Hotel Las Golondrinas from July 7th
through the 15th.
Hotel Las Golondrinas is located in an old casa de vecindad consisting of many smaller
structures around an interior courtyard with lush plantings. rooms are doubles and
triples with simple but tasteful furniture and views of the courtyard. The hotel serves a
simple breakfast in the colorful courtyard Interactive narrative Design Lab students will
reside in Hotel oaxacalli from July 10th through the 15th.
Interactive narrative Design Lab students will reside in Hotel oaxacalli from July 10th
through the 15th.
Hotel oaxacalli is a restored colonial house with rooms on two levels around a
traditional central courtyard. rooms have two double beds, tile floors, and simple
furnishings. The hotel’s restaurant serves freshly prepared oaxacan and French dishes
in the dining area.
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Meals
All breakfasts and dinners are provided and are included in the total program costs. In
Mexico City, breakfast and dinner are provided either at Hotel Polanco or at the CenTro
campus café. During our time in oaxaca, breakfast will be provided at the hotels. We
will enjoy dinner at local restaurants; these meals will be paid by CenTro.
Students will only be responsible for purchasing their own luncheons.
All meals we provide will include options for vegetarians, but we are not able to provide
vegan options. Students with special dietary needs and/or restrictions must specify these
on the CADI enrollment forms prior to arrival. We will make all efforts to accommodate
your needs, but not all preferences can be accommodated. Students with severe allergies
are encouraged to bring supplemental food items with them. You will also have access
to microwaves and vending machines at CenTro and in the hotels.
Mexico City and oaxaca have earned reputations as great culinary centers. no state in
Mexico compares with oaxaca in the variety of cuisines found within its borders due
to the relative geographic isolation of its people, and the climates in which foods are
produced. oaxaca’s gastronomy is known for its “seven moles,” chapulines, oaxaca
tamales in banana leaves, and tasajo. You have certainly had Mexican food in the US
but you´ll see that is it very different from the food you will have in Mexico. There are
many exciting new types of food for you to try... from fried cactus leaves (nopal frito)
to chapulines con guacamole... that is fried grasshoppers for those who are not fluent
in Spanish. We hope you will be adventurous!
Transportation and Supervision
All transportation in Mexico City is with CenTro vans and our regular certified drivers.
These vans (we refer to them as “ideas in motion”) and drivers are used extensively in
our degree program throughout the year.
Upon your arrival at Benito Juárez International Airport in Mexico City, you will be met
by CADI staff andour PArA’s and will be transported to our residence hotel using our
vans and drivers.We will use these vans for all our local transportation needs –including
your drop-offat the airport at the end of the program and our local excursions. All of
these trips and each individual van will at all times be supervised and chaperoned by
our PArA’s, CenTro staff and/or faculty.
For our major trip to oaxaca we will rent two large tour buses (one for each course) to
accommodate students, staff and faculty. Students will be supervised by CenTro staff
at all times during these trips as well. In oaxaca we will use transportation organized
through our local partner institution, the Centro Diseño oaxaca.
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Mexico City and Oaxaca
Mexico City and Oaxaca study abroad experience
What is better than combining a rigorous and focused pre-college experience
with an exciting and informative study abroad adventure? And if you want to
study abroad, why travel the well-worn paths to Italy, France and other parts of
europe? Why not visit the largest city in north America and the oldest architectural
structures in Mesoamerica? our program includes numerous cultural excursions
inside Mexico City as well as specific trips and work ‘in situ’ directly related to your
design course. In short, these three weeks will be jam-packed with interesting
experiences and will give you a completely new perspective on your Latin American
neighbor to the south.
Mexico City
Metropolitan Mexico City is, by many accounts, the largest city in the Americas and the
third largest in the world. It is also one of the highest cities in the world at an altitude of
7,200 feet. Mexico City is a fascinating metropolis with a wealth of cultural resources.
It is consistently listed among the top 10 cities to visit in Latin America according to
Travel & Leisure Magazine (ranked # 4 in 2012 and #3 in 2011), and this year, it is
listed as having one of the top 10 bike sharing programs in the world. Mexico City is
a wonderful cacophony of color and sights and a fascinating cultural mix of old and
new. It has been and continues to be a real inspiration for artist and designers. Think
of Diego rivera and Frida Kahlo, and more recently of Gabriel orozco and enrique
norten. Mexico City, is the leading cultural center of Latin America and you will be
surprised by how modern and sophisticated the DF (Distrito Federal) is in terms of
contemporary architecture, art and design. The area of Lomas de Chapultepec where
CenTro is located can be compared to Century City in Los Angeles and the Cuatro
Torres Business Area (CTBA) in the Paseo de la Castellana district of Madrid. Polanco,
the area where Hotel Polanco is located on the other hand, feels very much like the
Upper West Side of Manhattan in terms of scale and neighborly areas with parks full of
parents and kids; and like the Upper east Side in terms of high-end shops, restaurants
and hotels. Mexico City is also home to some of the great museums and sights of
the world. The CADI program will take full advantage of all these resources but we
will also immerse ourselves in the contemporary culture of Mexico City. We will, for
example, attend a soccer match in the estadio Azteca –which is a completely different
experience from going to an American football or baseball game.
23

We will visit many of the museums and modern galleries but will also visit the canals
and ‘chinampas’ of Xochimilco.
For more information on Mexico city’s cultural resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico_city
Oaxaca
The city of oaxaca is the capital and largest city of oaxaca state and is home to the native
Zapotec and Mixtec cultures. In Mexico, oaxaca is known as “the face of the nation.”
A Spanish-colonial city, it represents one of the nation’s richest cultural heritages in art,
food, and textiles, and has one of the most diverse bio-regions anywhere. In 2010,
Travel & Leisure Magazine ranked oaxaca 8th in the world, ahead of Barcelona and
new York, as one of the “World’s Best” top 10 cities to travel to. Lonely Planet ranked
oaxaca as one of its top 10 world food cities and Food and Wine Magazine ranked
oaxaca as one of 20 best-of-the-best of the world’s premier food destinations. Along
with the 2,500-year old archeological site of Monte Alban, oaxaca has been named a
World Heritage Site by UneSCo. oaxaca has developed as a major center for design
and crafts in recent years and is the home of the new Centro de Diseño de oaxaca
–the first and only government sponsored institution to promote design as a strategic
tool for fostering social, economic and cultural development. The Centro de Diseño de
oaxaca, will be a sponsor and strategic partner with CenTro for our CADI program.
oaxaca city is about a five-hour bus ride from Mexico City. It is a frequent destination
for CenTro faculty and students. All CenTro freshmen enrolled in our mandatory first
year “color” class visit oaxaca. Many of our special projects and workshops take place
in this area and a number of students do their community service projects here. It is a
city and area where CenTro has high visibility and many exciting cultural and artistic
connections. In oaxaca we will visit several fabrication studios such as the haciendastudio
oax-i-fornia and the wood fabrication shop Tip Muebles in Ixtlán de Juárez. We
will also tour the Textile Museum of oaxaca, the Instituto de Artes Gráficas de oaxaca
(IAGo), and of course the important archeological site of Monte Albán.
For more information on Oaxaca’s cultural resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oaxaca,_Oaxaca
24

Program costs, scholarships
and application process
Course Costs
The total tuition and fees for the 3-week CADI program is US$2,400.
These fees include all required art supplies and materials. You do not need to purchase
any additional materials for your classes.
room and board
• Double occupancy is US$1,250
• Single occupancy is US$1,650.
The room and board fees cover all your expenses in Mexico, including local transport
and museum entrance fees.
The only costs you will incur are your lunches and any personal purchases you may
want to make during your stay. Lunch in the CenTro café or elsewhere costs between
US$5-US$8. Your total cost for the three weeks is approximately $200.
You will also be responsible for your own travel expenses and arrangements to and
from Mexico City. If you book well in advance, your round trip to Mexico City should
cost around US$500.
Summer Precollege Scholarship Awards
A limited number of scholarships are available towards the $2,400 tuition cost. These
scholarships can cover up to full tuition and are based on the overall merit of your
application and demonstrated financial need.
If you are applying for a scholarship, you must also submit a copy of your parent’s most
recent tax returns and pay stubs.
27

Application Procedures & Timeline
We will continue accepting applications through June 1st
on a space available basis!
Admission to the CADI program is highly selective and will be based mostly on the
portfolio you submit.
To be eligible to apply to the CADI program you must be a rising senior when you apply.
Your anticipated year of graduation from high school should be 2014.
To apply, you must submit the following materials by the deadlines specified below.
All materials (including recommendations and transcripts) are submitted electronically
using Slideroom at: http://CENTRO.slideroom.com
1. Completed CADI 2013 application.
2. Application fee.
3. A portfolio of 10 pieces: we suggest that 5 of these should be related to your chosen
design course. (Please refer to the portfolio submission guidelines in the application
instructions on Slideroom for more details on how to format the images of your work).
4. Resume.
5. High school transcript.
6. Your response to our course specific application prompt.
7. One teacher recommendation ––from a teacher in art, design, media or other
discipline related to your design interest.
Timeline WEBSITE)
Due dates
February 27 Applications for the CADI program will be available on line.
April 1 Priority application deadline - application fee of $35
April 15 Notifications –including scholarship offers
will be e-mailed to priority admitted students.
May 10 Notifications –including scholarship offers will be e-mailed
to students who applied by April 30th
May 15 Notifications –including scholarship offers will be e-mailed
to students who applied by May 10th
May 21 Payment deadline for all admitted students
(priority and regular)
May 24 All travel, insurance, and related forms will be
emailed to registered students.
Jun 1 EXTENDED application deadline - application fee of $55
June 3 These forms are due back completed and signed.
If you have not done so yet, you should book your travel
& ensure you have a valid passport.
Sunday June 30th Travel to Mexico City
Sunday July 21st Travel back home.
28

General Information
Student Conduct
The CenTro Advanced Design Institute is designed for independent rising senior
high school students who are mature and will take initiative in and outside of the
classroom. If you and/or your parents are looking for a sheltered and highly structured
environment, this program may not be a good match for you. Please consider this
carefully before applying.
CADI students are expected to maintain the highest standards of personal conduct,
and be respectful of personal and CenTro property and of the rights of other students
and staff. All students participating in CADI must sign and abide by the CADI Code
of Student Conduct and additional program rules, which are sent to all students once
enrolled in the program. For more detailed information please refer to the CADI Code
of Student Conduct on our CADI website.
Transcripts and college credits
Upon successful completion of the CADI program, you will receive an official CenTro
transcript indicating you have earned 3 college credits. CenTro has the highest level
of accreditation with the Mexican Department of education and our transcripts are
recognized and honored all over the world.
Language and prerequisites
All classes are conducted in english and all faculty and staff are fluent english speakers.
There are no prerequisites for the courses in Product Design and Design for Digital
Media. To be eligible to apply you must be a rising high school senior -your expected
year of graduation from High School should be 2014. The application process for
CADI will be selective and will be mostly based on the strength of your portfolio. There
are also no prerequisites for the Spanish Immersion Conversation class. We will offer
three sections to accommodate all levels of Spanish proficiency from first-time learner
through fluent speaker.
29

Health Insurance
CADI students must show proof that they have current health insurance and that this
coverage extends to Mexico during their stay. We recommend you check with your
current medical insurance company whether your coverage applies while traveling in
Mexico. If your insurance does not cover you in Mexico, we require that you secure
additional insurance for the duration of the CADI program
There are many companies, which provide travel insurance and health care coverage
in Mexico.
once you have been accepted and you have registered for the program we will send
mandatory health forms for you to complete and return to CenTro prior to your arrival.
All details pertaining to health and medical insurance will be covered in these forms.
Please refer to the following two sources:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_970.html#insurance
http://traveltips.usatoday.com/health-insurance-travel-mexico-19311.html
Health Medical
CenTro does have its own health center on campus with an on-duty nurse who can
provide immediate care and resolve simple medical issues, including help with the
infamous ‘turista’ stomach ailments. Students are instructed to avoid drinking tap
water or eating foods that could be contaminated and to avoid purchasing food from
street stands, and unreliable restaurants. Despite the best precautions however, some
students will contract a stomach bug. The normal bout with ‘turista’ lasts 1-3 days;
usually Pepto-Bismol and Tylenol are the best sources for relief. CenTro has a contract
with Hospital español, one of the top local hospitals, where we refer students who
cannot be helped effectively by the nurses in our health center. We also have a contract
with a local ambulance service in case of emergencies.
Hospital details
Beneficencia española (Hospital español)
ejército nacional 613, Colonia Granada, México, D.F.
Tel.: (+52-55) 5255-9659 | 5255-9660
emergency: (+52-55) 5255-9645 to 49
Website: www.hespanol.com
30

Passports and travel documents
You will need a valid passport to be able to travel to Mexico. You do not need a special Visa,
or additional paperwork for a three-week stay, and travelling to Mexico is easy and safe.
You will be responsible for booking your own round-trip air transport from your home to
Mexico City. You will book your flight to Benito Juárez International Airport (MeX). Upon your
arrival at the airport, you will be met by CADI staff and our PArA’s and will be transported
to our residence hotel using our CenTro vans and certified drivers. In case of unforeseen
delays or flight changes, we will ensure we have staff at the airport to help you and welcome
you. our program director, and residence director will at all times be reachable via email and
through US cell phone numbers in case you need to communicate last-minute changes to
your arrival time.
When you go through immigration at the airport you will be issued a visitor visa. This is a
loose piece of paper you should keep with your passport. You will be required to return
it at immigration when you leave Mexico. A notarized letter of consent from parent(s) is
required for minors (anyone under the age of 18) traveling alone, with one parent, or in
someone else’s custody. A form letter for parents to use for this purpose will be sent. Please
allow yourself ample time to have the letter notarized. The state department states that a
minor traveling alone or with only one parent should have evidence of the relationship and
permission of the parents or legal guardian not present for the child’s travel. Having such
documentation on hand, even if not required, may facilitate entry and departure. If a child’s
last name is different from that of his/her parents, the student should also bring their birth
certificate or official documents confirming the parent-child relationship.
31

CENTRO College for Design, Media and Film
Gina Diez Barroso de Franklin
PreSIDenT
Abraham Franklin Silverstein
VICe-PreSIDenT
Kerstin Scheuch
GenerAL DIreCTor
Interior Architecture
Beata nowicka
DIreCTor
Film and Television
Jorge Bolado
DIreCTor
Visual Communication
Uzyel Karp
DIreCTor
Product Design
Sebastián ocampo
DIreCTor
Digital Media Design
Manuel Alcalá
DIreCTor
Textile and Fashion Design
Liza niles
DIreCTor
Marketing and Advertising
Federico Antoni
DIreCTor
centro.edu.mx
CADI Partners and Sponsors
ADvISORy BOARD MEMBERS
Alfredo Achar Tussie
Marcos Achar Levy
Carlos Alazraki
Gloria Amtmann
Pedro Aspe
Antonio Cué Sánchez navarro
Alfredo elías Ayub
José ramón elizondo
Adolfo Fastlicht
Andrés Gómez
Marinela S. Lerdo de Tejada
enrique norten
Carlos rojas Mota Velasco
Javier Sordo Madaleno
INTERNATIONAL ADvISORS
red Burns, nY
Dorothy Dunn, nY
Ángel Sánchez, nY
Centro de Diseño de Oaxaca
http://cdo.gob.mx/en/

College for Design, Media and Film
Sierra Mojada 415
Lomas de Chapultepec
México, D. F., 11000
centro.edu.mx
Advanced
Design
Institute
centro.edu.mx/CADI