Wintersession Travel Courses
RISD Wintersession Travel Courses are rich, short-term global learning opportunities, led by RISD faculty, that take place for up to 5 weeks between fall and spring semesters.
As a core part of its mission to educate artists, designers, architects, scholars, and leaders to make lasting contributions to a global society, RISD is committed to developing these ever-relevant off-campus global learning opportunities. These unique off-campus programs are designed to give you the opportunity to embed yourself in new cultural contexts, to learn from artists and designers in those countries and regions, and to develop your practice in environments beyond RISD’s Providence campus.
In Wintersession 2024, RISD Global is offered 3 creative and culturally immersive art, design, and Liberal Arts courses in multiple locations, international and domestic.
The application for Wintersession Travel Courses 2025 will is now closed.
Wintersession Travel Courses
At-a-glance
Application Deadline
The application for Wintersession Travel Courses 2025 will is now closed.Academic Credits
3–6Instruction Language
Wintersession 2025
Biodesign NYC
At RISD, the biodesign studies that we have undertaken have supported RISD’s strategic plan, by introducing new ways of making and knowing, by engaging sustainability, and by pursuing opportunities that contribute positively to the diverse peoples of this planet. But RISD is not a hub for the study and practice of biodesign. Therefore, this travel course will provide you with an opportunity to learn about biodesign, and create meaningful contributions to the study and practice of biodesign, by directly engaging pertinent issues and projects with some of its global pioneers and influencers in New York City.
INDIA_SENSED | Craft and Collaboration in the Digital Age
This global travel course offers a unique opportunity to experience craft as practiced at the highest level on location in Jaipur, India, with its long tradition and rich diversity of artisan culture, and to explore how digital technologies which pervade contemporary art and design education can act in collaboration.
Japanese Design Culture | from 263 Years of Isolationism to International Influence
This class is a broad-based exploration of the remarkable contemporary international influence of Japanese art and design including: the architecture and interior design of Pritzker Prize winning architects as well as historic temples; the historic illustrations of Katsushika Hokusai and those of internationally popular anime and manga; the minimalist landscape designs or rock and moss gardens; and the sculpture of Noguchi.
New Old Japan | Contemporary "Giwafu" Design Guidebook
This travel course will visit various Japanese traditional design centers, including architecture, landscape, ceramics, woodworks, textiles, papers, and other products, while exploring the modern and contemporary appropriation of the traditional language. During the explorations, students will make observations and produce drawings depicting their perceived "Japanese form." The drawings will be compiled into a "Giwafu Design Guidebook,” which will inform students’ Giwafu design as a resulting outcome of this course.
Southern Africa | Art & Science of Conservation
This immersive interdisciplinary Wintersession Travel Course is for art and design students interested in exploring past and current efforts to conserve biodiversity in South Africa and Namibia while also developing their communication and documentation skills.
Apply to a Wintersession Travel Course
The application for Wintersession Travel Courses 2025 will is now closed.
View detailsI had a very inspiring three weeks in Guyana. Using my field journal and the photography and videos I took in Guyana I want to keep producing work on environmental issues. My experiences helped me create a library of inspiration and images that I will be using for a long time!
Elif Ilkel (FAV 20) WS19 Guyana: Exploring Art and Science of Bio Diversity in Guyana
The experience with the Wintersession Travel Course was instrumental in the development of my practice. It gave me the valor to reject Eurocentric and aesthetics, and fully and completely embrace color, pattern, and beauty...while not considering beauty to be inferior in any way. My work now explores a persistent presence of labored beauty in a contemporary culture that is suspicious of the same.
Raghvi Bhatia (GL 19) WS18 Morocco: Crafting the City
We had people from many different backgrounds in our group. It was interesting to see all of us find something from our culture that related to Mexico…We learned from each other as much as we did from the culture we were brought to.
Selib Miskavi (ID 21) WS19 Mexico: History, Pre-Colonial, Colonial and Contemporary Arts
In such a short period of time, I was amazed with how much we saw/experienced. Engaging with individuals that I otherwise wouldn't have from different majors and obviously, completely different cultures was definitely a highlight. I feel a lot more carefree in my art-making process and I think this skill will allow me to grow as an illustrator.
Brenda Rodriguez (IL 21) WS19 Italy: See Naples and Die: Panorama and the Poetics of City
[This travel course] actually exceeded my expectations. Everything was so well planned and carefully organized. I left feeling deeply connected to the country and the people I met, and with a new perspective and greater appreciation for a very different way of living.
Heather McMordie (MFA PR 20) WS19 Guyana: Exploring Art and Science of Bio Diversity in Guyana
My artistic practice before this trip was for the most part a personal affair, often between myself and the meanings I aspired towards in my work. Since traveling I can already notice how my methods have changed, becoming more responsive to the community I’m situated in and welcoming the work I do with organizations on campus into my artistic practice.
Dan Mitrovic (FD 20) WS19 Portugal: Mapping Portugal: Bio-geo Cultural Heritages
[The highlights of the travel course] were Frida and Diego’s studio in Mexico City, and seeing the lunar eclipse on the roof. I am still amazed at being able to have this incredible opportunity to learn about Mexican culture in its actual context rather than behind a computer screen in a classroom.
Malaika Franks (ID 20) WS19 Mexico: History, Pre-Colonial, Colonial and Contemporary Arts
A RISD winter-session course in Morocco provided me with an opportunity to strengthen my knowledge in this emerging field through an experience of the place filled with rich and interesting history and culture. The opportunity to study a physical record of the historical architecture in a contemporary setting guided me towards a better direction in my architectural learning.
Yunni Cho (BRDD 21, IA) WS18 Morocco: Crafting the City
My travel experience...was one of the best academic experiences at RISD. I felt supported by my instructors. This allowed us to approach our work, whether more related to liberal arts or studio, in a much more holistic way. I feel that I have substantially grown in academic but also social and spiritual pursuits due to critical-thinking that was encouraged.
Tomiris Shyngyssova (GD 20) WS19 Portugal: Mapping Portugal: Bio-geo Cultural Heritages
About Wintersession Travel Courses + FAQ
Explore answers to our most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Wintersession Travel Courses below:
Academics
Calendar
Finances
Scholarship
The application for Wintersession Travel Courses 2025 will is now closed.
Application + Enrollment
Travel + Logistics
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Cancellation + Withdrawal
Scholarships
Increasing financial aid is a central pillar of RISD’s equity, inclusion and diversity commitment. Through partnership with other campus offices, we are working to provide greater support and access to students interested in pursuing global learning experiences at RISD.
View details1:1 Advising Session
Have questions? The RISD Global team is available to meet for a 1:1 advising session. We can give you more information about your study options, help you figure out which program makes sense for you, and assist you with the application process.
Schedule an AppointmentEvents
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