Art & Design For All

Build Your Portfolio

Your portfolio is your calling card. At the Academy, everything you create is designed to make it shine. From runway shows and gallery exhibitions to industry collaboratives where you’ll network with professionals, you’ll graduate with real work for real clients. It’s not just practice, it’s preparation. And it proves you’ll be ready from day one.

Industry Collaboratives

At the Academy, you don’t have to wait until graduation to make art work. We bring industry into the classroom—literally. In our collaborative classes, you’ll team up with working professionals and Academy faculty to tackle real projects for real brands.

You’ll learn to work in teams that mirror the collaborative structure and production pipelines of the professional world—a crucial skill for any creative career.

Your portfolio? Packed with relevant, high-impact work. Your network? Already growing. Your skills? Industry-tested and career-ready.

Watch the video to see how students are building their futures one collaboration at a time. Many have already turned these opportunities into internships and jobs with our partners.

Find out More

Fashion Show

The Runway Fashion Show is where Academy fashion designers debut collections that turn heads and launch careers. These aren’t student projects. They’re runway-ready looks that rival what you’ll see in New York or Paris.

This high-energy night brings together industry insiders, top designers, and global fashion press. And for many grads, it’s more than a showcase—it’s a game-changer, leading to real job offers and internships.

Watch the video to see highlights of our fashion show.

Fashion Shows

StudioX

At the School of Animation & Visual Effects, collaboration goes pro in our in-house production studio, StudioX. You’ll work on films headed to top-tier festivals like Sundance, SXSW, and Tribeca, earning real credits before you graduate.

As part of a StudioX visual effects team, you’ll master the full production pipeline and build a portfolio that speaks volumes.

Check out the films our students have already worked on. What better way to stand out than with credits on a theatrical or streaming release?

Production Hub

Production Hub (PHUB) is where collaboration meets impact. This cross-disciplinary class brings together students with diverse skill sets to create high-end content for real-world clients—think documentaries, PSAs, branded content, educational media, and more.

Past partners include the San Francisco Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard, Alameda County Paramedics, SF Sheriff’s Department, Project Read, the Independent Living Resource Center, and the San Francisco Film Commission.

PHUB projects have won awards, screened at festivals, been featured on local news, and spotlighted across government social channels. It’s real work with real reach.

NxtUp

NXTUP is the culminating event of the year for our Schools of Entertainment. It is a full-scale film festival and awards showcase judged by notable working professionals from across the entertainment industry.

This is where talent gets seen. Past winners have landed mentorships, casting calls, and new creative opportunities in film and television.

It’s more than a festival. It’s a launchpad.

Spring Show: Unveiling Artistic Excellence

Expect to be inspired. Spring Show is a dynamic showcase of standout portfolio work from graduating students across all 22 Academy schools.

But it’s more than an exhibition; it’s a springboard for career opportunities. Industry professionals from around the globe attend in person and online, looking to connect and hire emerging talent. For many students, Spring Show is the moment that sparks internships, job offers, and the start of a creative career.

Visit Spring Show 2025

Advisory Boards

Our Advisory Boards comprise top-tier industry professionals who partner with our faculty twice a year for an in-depth review of our curriculum and student work. Together, they assess what’s working, what needs refinement, and where we can continue to push forward.

These insider perspectives help us stay ahead of the curve, ensuring our programs teach and align with the skills today’s employers want, and prepare our students to lead in tomorrow’s creative industries.