ABOUT US
What is NMA?
Animation & Interface Design
The New Media Arts (NMA) program is a two year AS degree program located at Kapi‘olani Community College (KCC) in Honolulu, Hawaii. The NMA mission is to prepare students for employment in the fields of interface design and animation.
Overview
What Makes NMA Different?
Rigorous Curriculum
The NMA curriculum is well-designed & comprehensive, offering a top-quality education comparable to top mainland art schools. Led by four full time faculty that are actively engaged in improving the curriculum.
Successful Students
The NMA curriculum is portfolio/demo-reel based to prepare students with real-world skills using the latest technologies. NMA students win awards locally and nationally and get hired by top companies.
Established Program
Since 2001, NMA faculty have been iteratively improving the degree (for close to two decades). Local companies look to NMA for top quality graduates to hire every year. The forward-thinking NMA faculty @KapCC have big plans for the future.
Honors & Accolades
Award Winning Students
National & International Awards
NMA students have won NINE National Addy Awards! We are typically the only community college listed amongst the top design schools in the country for winning national student awards, sharing the podium with students from schools like like SVA, Parsons, & RISD.
NMA student practicum animated short films have won awards and have been screened at film festivals across the world, including locally as part of CAFF at the Doris Duke Theater & Honolulu Museum of Art.
Local Awards
Since 2016, NMA students have won 70% of the Pele awards in the College Division.
- In 2022, KapCC NMA students won 22 of 23 awards, including Best in Show (5th year in a row)
- In 2021, KapCC NMA students won 21 of 30 awards, including Best in Show
- In 2020, KapCC NMA students won 8 of 11 awards, including Best in Show
- In 2019, NMA won 6/11, including Best in Show
- In 2018, NMA won 7/12, including Best in Show
- In 2017, NMA won 4/7
- In 2016, NMA won 2/6
Design Your Future
Get a Job!
As the industry changes, the NMA program adapts to fit the needs of several different career paths. Below are a few of the potential jobs that NMA grads can aspire for.
Future Job Opportunities
Animation Careers
- 3D Modeler
- Animator
- Character Rigger
- Storyboard Artist
- Concept Artist
- Texture Artist
- Compositing Artist
- Digital Painter
- VFX Artist
- Motion Graphic Designer
Future Job Opportunities
Interface Design Careers
- Web Designer
- Front-end Web Developer
- Information Architect (IA)
- User Interface Designer (UI)
- User Experience Designer (UX)
- Graphic Designer
- Motion Graphic Designer
Real World Real Clients
Real World Experience
Who’s hired NMA grads or interns? These companies:
Get In Touch
Have Questions?
For general information and inquiries about the New Media Arts program at Kapi‘olani Community College, the Associate’s degree, and the admissions process to become a student, please feel free to get in touch:
Admissions
Ready to Apply?
We are looking for applicants that demonstrate creative potential, exceptional craftsmanship skills, core technical abilities, and an understanding of the fundamental principles of design and animation.