The SIMBIG50 catalog celebrates the story of the first 50 years of an undergraduate college experiment that has influenced the lives of hundreds of young artists, entrepreneurs, technical wizards, teachers, UX designers, curators, and tattoo artists (to name a few) that have graduated with a Studio for Interrelated Media (SIM) BFA degree from the Massachusetts College Art and Design in Boston, Massachusetts.

In 2023, MassArt marked its 150th year as the first freestanding public college of art and design in the country, and the nation’s first art school to grant a degree. SIM is the first program of its kind in the United States and continues to be at the cutting edge of interdisciplinary education, experimental arts and social practice. 

This 500-page catalog acts as an archive, featuring 500 images, three new essays, five reproduced texts, profiles of founding faculty and featured alumni, a SIM timeline, and a glossary.

MassArt's SIM program has a unique story to tell about the potential of giving students the freedom to experiment, to fail, to persist and ultimately take ownership of their academic journey. For some readers, this will be a nostalgic experience and for others, the first time you’re hearing about SIM.

The design and typography takes cues from the innovative, printed ephemera designed by the students from the program. Images are intentionally placed to emulate the experience of uncovering the archive right before you. 

Written by Kate Redmond and Nita Sturiale with contributions by John Engstrom, Mary K. Grant, Dawn Kramer, Jeff McLaughlin, Dana Moser, Juan Obando, Susan Orlean, Evan F. Smith, Robert Taylor, and Ron Wallace.

Edited by Danielle Weindling

Designed by Mary Yang

Published by Massachusetts College of Art and Design Studio for Interrelated Media (SIM), 2023

ISBN: 979-8-218-15492-9