Frequently Asked Questions
Register for classes at Brainstorm School webpage on the following link: www.brainstormschool.com
(Information for all classes can be viewed on the link provided above)
If you are a beginning artist or looking to focus on concept design, we recommend a core focus of learning of these materials:
- Beginner level: Foundation courses, sketching, drawing, form understanding and drawing from life. (PBC, CAB, FND,2,3, FIG, FIG1, DC1, AD1, AB1)
- Intermediate level: Understanding of values, lighting, color, basic design fundamentals and digital medium (DC series WB2, CH1, AD1,2, DC2, SPB)
- Advanced level: Focused learning of design sensibilities, aesthetic and shape language (AD2, ADS, WB3, PD AB1)
All times are posted as PACIFIC STANDARD TIME (PST)
To register, please visit: www.brainstormschool.com
Registration is based on a first come first serve system. A Student is considered registered when full payment is received. A registration fee will be applied to each class, workshops and Uninstructed Mentorships purchased.
Please note: All manual payments for classes will be made using PayPal. A $20.00 PayPal fee will be applied.
Please note: The email used to register will be used for correspondences between school and students.
All times are posted as PACIFIC STANDARD TIME (PST)
Tuition in full is due during time of registration. Once registration is complete, you will receive a receipt email. This will serve as your confirmation for registration.
Processing Fee ($15.99): If you are seeing a charge for shipping fee, do not be alarmed, this is our processing fee charge.
All classes, flash courses, workshops and mentorships are posted as PST PACIFIC STANDARD TIME
All classes for entertainment design are scheduled for 10 weeks/3 hours per session.
Assignments, Demo's, guest lecturers, reviews, critiques, paintovers along with solo & group activities taught by industry professionals.
- Very Serious: 3 classes
- Serious: 2 classes
- Leisure: 1 class
All times are posted as PACIFIC STANDARD TIME (PST)
- "Foundation Courses", "Digital classes" & "Workshops" - are open to everyone.
- "Intermediate Courses" - are open to everyone, however some classes require prerequisite courses to be fulfilled or a portfolio review if a student wishes to skip taking the prerequisites.
- "Advanced Courses" – all require portfolio reviews unless prerequisite courses are fulfilled.
It is highly recommended to all new students to start with foundation in order to transition to the intermediate and advanced course with a solid footing. Please refer to section C1 for curriculum details.
In order to skip a prerequisite class, please submit your portfolio link (no attachments) to: info@brainstormschool.com. Please add 'pre-rec wave review' in the subject.
Please note: If your portfolio is rejected for a class that requires prerequisites, you have 2 options: (1) receive school credits for use in future term classes or (2) a cash refund.
Please refer to our policy below in regards to which option you choose.
NO, Brainstorm School classes are non-accredited courses that focus purely on industry standards for building a student's foundation on design fundamentals, and portfolio development. Brainstorm School does not offer direct job placement support; courses are designed for skill enrichment/artistic development.
Classes at Brainstorm School are full of valuable information formatted by the school and instructors to deliver the best experience and education possible. It is very common for students to retake a class 2~3 times to fully absorb the content. Students often acquire different skills and understanding through repeated experience. Students will not master the skills and understanding provided in the class the first time. It takes further practice and development to truly master the skills from each class. Brainstorm School also offers other learning opportunities with workshops and mentorships to speed up the learning curve.
We highly recommend the following program in between terms: brainstormschool.com/content/mentorship
No, Brainstorm School does not offer student visa.
To qualify requests need to be made in writing and according to the schedule below. Eligible Refunds, Transfers, and Credits will be granted with specified fees applied, if the request is made appropriate within the specified time frame. (Fees and schedule are listed below)
Please note: No refunds, only transfers or credits will be allowed after the cut off which is 7 days prior to the registered term.
Refunds:
- A) 100% refund of tuition paid (with a 10% fee deduction) deadline: 21 days prior to term start
- B) 50% refund of tuition paid (with a 10% fee deduction) deadline: 7 days prior to term start
- C) 0% refunds within 7 days prior to the start of the registered term
- D) Refund requests made within 24 hours of registering (proof necessary): $25 fee (registration & storenvy fee not refundable)(does not apply 7 days prior to term start)
Transfers: There is a $50.00 fee per class of all transfers (if there is space available). Transfer requests need to be made before 7 days of term start.
Credits Code: A credit code to use for future terms will be allowed with $50.00 fee deduction per class.
Any request that is made within 7 days prior to the start of the term will not qualify for a refund, only credit code, or transfers.
E) For Installment payments refunds and credits same rules apply.
F) Installment payments cannot qualify for a transfer, only refunds, we will try to expedite the request. Installment plan students will need to purchase the new requested class. Installment payments on the requested class have to be set up before the installment deadline.
For all inquiries regarding refunds, credits and transfers, please email: info@brainstormschool.com
Please note: All requests for refunds & credits can take up to 30 days to process. Transfers are usually within 1-3 days of request, if no pending payments are due.
Please keep in mind that teachers are professionals and people, so professional or personal obligations may cause a delay in your class. In the instance an instructor needs to miss a class(es) we will add or extend the term for that class(es). It is advised to allow about a two week window in each term to accommodate for such occurrences.
Due to the nature of the courses, it is not possible to make-up missed classes. Since we cannot refund missed classes, we strongly advise students to make it to every session in order to get the most from each course.
No, we currently do not offer sit in's.
Scholarships awarded to students before the start of each term, can only be used for the classes that are eligible for scholarship use.
- Please note that our scholarship policy is subject to change each school term.
- Full or partial scholarships cannot be used towards classes that have already been purchased. If a student already registered into a class, and is awarded a scholarship for the same course, then Brainstorm will provide school credits to be used in future term courses.
- The email used to register will be used for corresponding between school and students.
- Scholarship award registration fee: $25.99
3 Payment methods are available:
- A) Wire transfer: $60 transfer fee will be added to total. Wire information available on request
- B) PayPal: PayPal fee will be charged for processing (5%)
- C) Check: email us for information
Installment payment: Email mentorship@brainstormschool.com for more information
Refund: No refunds once the term program has started. 100% refund with request emailed to Brainstorm School up to 30 days prior to mentorship month. Anything within 30 days: 50% refund will be issued. A refund processing fee of 10% will be applied. Refunds will only be for tuition. Fees are not refundable
Credit: No credits will be available for mentorship program
Cancelation: Cancellation request must be submitted to mentorship@brainstormschool.com. Processing will be based on time/date stamp of email.
Materials: Students will be required to provide their own equipment (laptop, desktop, tablet, etc) and have a copy of Adobe Photoshop, in order to complete their assignments.
If you decide to leave the mentorship, you will forfeit your spot and will not be able to return until the following mentorship another open spot is available, as your spot will be filled with one of our wait listed students. Students may also RSVP in advanced.
Your enrollment is not secure until payment is received IN FULL AND you received a confirmation email from Brainstorm School.
Structure: 1.5-2 hours of feedback and critiques on prior weeks homework. Last 1-1.5 hours will be demo, lecture and assigning homework. Classes are live at the time of the class. Homework is approx. 10-15 hours a week. Class capacity: 40-50 students (depending on course type)
Tuition in full is due during time of registration. Once registration is complete, you will receive a receipt email from us. This will serve as your confirmation for registration.
Standard refund policy applies
Brainstorm reserve the right to showcase artwork for marketing purposes only. If you do not wish to have your artwork shared by Brainstorm, notify us by email info@brainstormschool.com.
As you register, you are agreeing to allow Brainstorm record material which may show your image/likeness.
We at Brainstorm aim to provide a safe learning environment. We understand that relationships with others are the basis of trust and a necessity for a wholesome community. We are all citizens of the world and members of our school community. We will participate in creating a positive school environment and have a zero tolerance of any misconduct such threatening acts to the health and safety of others. Students and Staff shall be respectful of school personnel, fellow students regardless of religious, national, ethnic, or social origin. We value diversity. We understand that a safe environment is important for the well-being of the school and art community as a whole. If you are ever feeling threatened, abused or harassed by a student, staff, or teacher please report it to the school directly at info@brainstormschool.com
Please keep in mind that teachers are professionals and people, so professional or personal obligations may cause a delay in your class. In the instance an instructor needs to miss a class(es) we will add or extend the term for that class(es). It is advised to allow about a two week window in each term to accommodate for such occurrences.
All classes are recorded (unless noted on the particular class page) and recordings will remain online and can be watched via stream for the duration of the current term.
All Brainstorm School classes are currently taking place online. We use an online platform called GoToMeeting to host the online classes.
We also use private Discord for a class hub. Approximately 2-5 days before your class starts you will be emailed an invitation link to join the class Discord. The GoToMeeting link and other class information can be found there once you have been verified as a student in your class.
We try to be as accurate as possible when updating the website with the teachers bio and information. However in the entertainment design industry jobs can change quickly and teachers may shift from project or studio. We make every effort to update the website. However also note it our discretions to remove, add or change a teacher for one of our classes. Students should register for the subject matter and not necessarily the instructor teaching.