Fall 2026 priority deadline for transfer and graduate studies is January 5.

Fall 2026 priority deadline for transfer and graduate studies is January 5.

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Fall 2026 priority deadline for transfer and graduate studies is January 5.

Program

Our vision

Curriculum →

Mission →

Community

Who we celebrate

Faculty →

Chair →

Staff →

Students →

Work

We strive for

Recent Work →

Ventures →

News →

FAQs →

Apply Now →

Search

Ism

Ism

Winter Sun

Winter Sun

Project Description

Project Description

Ism is a series of motion graphics animations that introduce philosophical ideas in thirty seconds. Ism proposes simplifying and mainstreaming philosophy, making it accessible to a broader audience. By holding to a strict time limit, each video condenses an entire ideology—like Nihilism, Buddhism, Existentialism or Taoism—into its purest form and filters out the less essential aspects. A different illustration style is featured in each video, in order to keep the visuals interesting.

Links

Links

A blackboard with white chalk writing displays two questions: “why we exist” and “how to exist”. A white-outlined box to the right contains “metaphysics”, “epistemology”, “religion”, “ethics”, “politics”, and “logic”.The image shows a page of text printed in black ink on a cream-colored page. The text is titled "Existentialism" in a larger font size. Below the title, a quote by Jean-Paul Sartre is presented: "we are born without identity and we must choose it for ourselves. Despite living an absurd and alienated existence, with our approaching deaths always looming ahead of us, we have the freedom to be the creators of our own lives and the responsibility of giving life its meaning." The page has a slightly aged or textured appearance.The image features the phrase "EXISTENTIALISM" written in white cursive font against a black background. The text is centrally positioned and spans across the width of the image. White splatters or paint-like marks are scattered around the text, adding visual texture. The background is predominantly black, with subtle variations in shade visible around the text and splatters.The image shows a traditional Chinese ink painting on a light beige or cream-colored background. It depicts a man in profile, wearing a dark head covering and a light-colored robe. His face is marked by a beard, and his expression appears serious or contemplative. The painting is done in a style characteristic of Chinese ink art, with black ink strokes that create a sense of depth and texture. To the right of the figure, a red square contains white Chinese characters. Near the bottom left of the image, faint outlines of bamboo plants are visible. The overall composition and details suggest a narrative or symbolic scene.A black wave with curved, pointed crests is depicted against a light beige background. The wave’s form is stylized, with smooth curves transitioning into pointed tips. White splatters and dots are scattered near the wave’s crest, particularly concentrated on the right side. The wave’s base is rendered in a lighter, off-white color, creating a contrast with the black upper portion. The background has a subtle texture, resembling a paper or canvas surface.The image is a 3x3 grid of nine square panels, each featuring a beige background and showcasing distinct black and white line art illustrations. The top left panel displays a red shield with a white banner reading "WISDOM IN MOTION" and two crossed white swords beneath it. The top middle panel shows a figure in a dynamic pose with a black curved object extending from their back. The top right panel depicts two black fish swimming near each other. The middle left panel features a wave with white foam. The middle central panel shows a white streak or brushstroke. The middle right panel displays a black ink drawing of a hand near an eye. The bottom left panel shows a stylized wave with blue-green lines. The bottom middle panel contains two green leaves. The bottom right panel displays two black swirling lines with leaf-like shapes at their ends.A stylized gray figure resembling Buddha is seated in a meditative pose with legs crossed and hands resting on its knees. The figure has closed eyes and a serene expression. Behind it, a red sunburst pattern radiates outward, with cream-colored stripes extending from the center. The figure’s torso has a single small black heart symbol on its chest.The image depicts a stylized face with large, white eyes looking directly forward. The face is centered within a circular shape with a dark purple or indigo background. Radiating outward from the circle are yellow and orange stripes, creating a sunburst effect behind the face. Two small white dots are visible on the forehead, and a small white dot appears near the right eye. The overall design has a stylized, graphic quality, with soft, glowing highlights around the eyes and face.The image is a 3x3 grid of nine square panels, each featuring a distinct graphic design. The top left panel displays an orange-red background with a crest and the text "WISDOM IN MOTION" and "ISM". The top middle panel has a cream background with the word "BUDDHISM" in bold black letters. The top right panel shows a gray Buddha statue against a red sunburst background. The middle left panel contains a red heart inside a speech bubble. The middle middle panel features a dark red heart with a jagged line through it. The middle right panel shows three coins with symbols: a dollar sign, a crown, and a heart with a heart inside. The bottom left panel has a yellow-orange background with a stylized face and a sunburst design. The bottom middle panel has a yellow-orange background with a stylized face and a sunburst design. The bottom right panel shows a dark silhouette of a person with glowing white eyes against a yellow-orange background.A man in a black shirt and cap rides a bicycle with large gears. The background includes industrial machinery, a lyre, a steam pipe, and a water valve with red arrows pointing toward it. The image has a vintage or retro aesthetic.A pinkish-red marble bust of a male figure with curly hair and a beard is centered against a cloudy sky background. A metallic pipe curves across the lower right portion of the image. The sky behind features light rays emanating from the upper left.The image is a collage of nine square panels arranged in a 3x3 grid. Each panel contains an illustration or photograph with a distinct style and color palette. The top row features a red panel with a black emblem reading "WISDOM IN MOTION" and "ISM," a gray panel with a portrait of a man reading a book titled "NIHILISM," and a black and white panel showing a figure riding a bicycle. The middle row includes a purple panel with a stylized cloudscape, a beige panel with a statue-like figure against a yellow-orange sky, and a light orange panel with a list of numbered items. The bottom row shows a red panel with a geometric symbol, a black panel with a portrait of a man smoking a pipe, and a sepia-toned panel with a black and white photo of a man in period clothing. The overall composition blends diverse artistic elements into a cohesive visual narrative.A yellow identification card from the ISM Academy, issued to Jackie Lay, displays the name "Francis G. School of Philosophy," an ID number "3523285175," and the website "ism.jackielay.com." The card rests on lined paper, with a portion of a blue form visible to the right.A webpage displays a video titled "Ism Trailer" showing a man reading a book. The video is labeled "from ism" and has a duration of 00:18. Below the video, the text reads: "Ism is a series of short motion graphic videos that introduce academic ideas like nihilism, naïlism, taolism, existentialism. And a strict time limit of thirty seconds, each ism video condenses an entire ideology into its purest form and filters out the nsentials."  Below this, the word "Taoism," "Existentialism," "Nihilism," and "Buddhism" are listed as categories. The background is brown with a heraldic crest at the top reading "WISDOM IN MOTION" and a stylized "ISM" logo.

Newsletter

Newsletter

Newsletter

310 East 22nd St - 5th Floor

New York, NY 10010

310 East 22nd St - 5th Floor

New York, NY 10010

310 East 22nd St - 5th Floor

New York, NY 10010

(212) 592-2600

mfadesign@sva.edu

(212) 592-2600

mfadesign@sva.edu

(212) 592-2600

mfadesign@sva.edu