Academics

School of Industrial Design

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In the School of Industrial Design’s STEM-designated program, you’ll turn visions of the future into real objects—both physical and digital. Art meets science as you design everything—from transportation vehicles to consumer products—with empathy, logic, and creativity. You’ll collaborate with brands like GM, NASA, and CamelBak, graduating with a portfolio that proves you’re industry-ready.

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Fast Facts

    More To Know

    As an Industrial Design student, you’ll join a creative community focused on craftsmanship, innovation, and professional growth.

    On campus, you’ll work in professional-grade studios with drafting tables, workstation labs running the latest Adobe and Autodesk software, a VR Room for virtual design, and a full 3D print lab. Our fabrication spaces include laser cutters, water jet cutters, and both 3-axis and 5-axis CNC machines, so you can bring complex ideas to life. You’ll also have access to heavy-duty sewing machines, professional paint booths, and a wide range of fabrication tools for prototyping and model making.

    If you study remotely, you’ll connect to our high-performance workstations online. You’ll use the same Adobe and Autodesk tools as on-campus students, from anywhere in the world.

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    Undergraduate
    AA
    AAS
    BFA
    Certificate
    Graduate
    MA
    MFA
    Other
    Upskill Classes
    Pre-College

    Student Experience

     

    We host guest speaker events throughout the year featuring designers and leaders from top global brands. These sessions take place in our Collaboration Room and stream live, giving you a direct line to professionals and new industry trends wherever you are in the world.

    Careers

    Our facilities, faculty, and industry partnerships—combined with hands-on training in generative AI—are all built to help you create a portfolio that won’t just compete, it will captivate.

    • Clay Modeler
    • Digital Modeler
    • Footwear Designer
    • Experience Designer
    • Product Designer
    • Toy Designer
    • Transportation Designer
    • UX/UI Designer

    Student Work

    See More Student Work

    Omar Trejos

    CAMELBAK TRUBOTTLE Ernest Lardizobal and Chenyang Xiao

    Ernest Lardizobal

    Online Learning

    Our STEM-designated, flexible, online industrial design education offers AAS, BFA and MFA degrees. You’ll be taught by the same instructors—using the same curriculum—as on-campus students as you build a market-ready portfolio in product and automotive design. With the Academy’s online platform, powered by Brightspace, classes are built for interaction and critique. Instructional videos, audio slideshows, and digital resources keep your learning sharp, while discussions promote networking with classmates. Online students are encouraged to participate in collaboratives; all you need is good internet speed and the ability to Zoom into the San Francisco classroom. You’ll graduate with a portfolio that highlights your talents and demonstrates your career readiness.

    Online Learning Program

    Study with Industry Professionals

    View Faculty

    Facilities

    In our facilities, you’ll turn your ideas into reality. You’ll sketch in 3D with AI, model with advanced tools and 3D printers, and even restore vintage cars—all under one roof in the Industrial Design building.

      3D Printers

      The 3D printing lab is where form meets possibility. Prototype wearables. Print anything from small-scale models to oversized prints. Create mock-ups, displays, and presentations that bring ideas into view—flat or fully dimensional.

      Metal Shop

      The metal shop expands what’s possible. Explore material expression, test techniques, and master fabrication processes. With lathes, mills, grinders, rollers, and formers at hand, you’ll craft precision parts and bring bold ideas into form.

      VR Stations

      Virtual Reality Workstations

      The VR room takes design off the screen and into space. Step inside your 3D models to set proportions, test directions, and refine colors, materials, and finishes—all in one immersive environment. Present your final design in context, fully realized.

      spray boot for Industrial Design students

      Spray Booth

      Our custom-built negative pressure spray booth is large enough for a full-sized automobile. It is a space built for scale, precision, and finish.

      Wood Shop

      Wood Shop

      Our wood shop is built for precision and practice—outfitted with band saws, drill presses, jointers, planers, miter saws, panel saws, shapers, and table routers. Four SawStop table saws reinforce our commitment to craft and safety.

      Large Format printers

      Large-Format Printers

      Our in-house technicians support you in producing high-resolution, large-format presentation boards on cutting-edge printers—bringing clarity and impact to your work.

      industrial design tablet drawing

      Workstations

      Work on Dell workstations linked to Wacom Cintiq interactive displays, running the latest software—regularly updated, always ready. Tools built for precision.

      COMPANIES THAT EMPLOY OUR STUDENTS

      Hasbro, Samsung, Adidas, and NASA logos
      Ford, The North Face, GM, and Nike logos
      Jaguar, Kohler, and FCA logos

      Students & Alumni

      Always Creating. Always Moving Forward.

      At the Academy, creativity doesn’t pause at graduation; it accelerates. Our students leave with portfolios that speak louder than résumés, catapulting them into creative careers.

      This is where passion meets purpose—on campus, in studios, and on global stages.

      Our alumni are out there now winning awards, leading teams, and shaping culture.

      Read More Success Stories
      Michael Canty

      Michael Canty

      “Academy of Art was a great school. I loved the car museum, and being able to build my own clay models and get hands-on experience was incredibly valuable. As a veteran, only part of my schooling was covered. Still, thanks to the Academy’s Yellow Ribbon Program, I was able to receive additional funding to continue my education. I had the privilege of learning from the legendary Tom Matano, and every one of my instructors pushed me to think deeper and become a better designer.”

      BFA Industrial Design Alumni, Design Manager at Lincoln Motor Company

      Kelsy Avalos-Feehan

      Kelsy Avalos-Feehan

      “The Academy offered a company-sponsored class that gave me valuable skills I can use in body work, clay modeling, and painting. I’d highly recommend the Academy, especially for its hands-on learning experience. The instructors are incredibly supportive and help connect you with the right people in the industry. Industrial Design can be a cutthroat field, so building those connections early on is one of the biggest reasons I encourage others to study here.”

      AA Automotive Restoration, Creative Clay Sculptor Intern at General Motors

      Danny Castaño

      Danny Castaño

      “I’ve had such a great experience at the Academy. The skills I’ve gained are invaluable, and the feedback from my instructors has helped me grow so much. I’ve also met people I know will be lifelong friends. A highlight was taking a Cadillac-sponsored class and learning directly from their designers about what they look for when hiring.”

      BFA Industrial Design Student, Winner of best-in-class Cadillac project

      Beau Oyler

      Beau Oyler

      “My experience at the Academy was really good because it was so intense and so demanding. I knew I needed to be at a school that would push me harder than I would ever push myself, and that’s exactly what it did.”

      BFA Industrial Design Alumni, Founder/Owner of Enlisted Design

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