School of Graphic Design

Collaboratives & Internships

Group of people posing together at an event and three smartphone screens displaying an app interface.

At the School of Graphic Design, real-world starts now. You’ll work on sponsored projects with major brands—Adobe, Apple, NBCUniversal, VinFast, The Hershey Company, and more—bridging classroom learning with professional execution. From creative brief to client pitch, you’ll work through the whole process: brainstorming, building, refining, and presenting to real clients. These aren’t just class projects. They’re live challenges with real stakes.

You’ll sharpen your strategy, hit deadlines, collaborate across disciplines, and deliver ideas that land. By the time you graduate, you’ll have a portfolio that demonstrates you don’t just understand how the industry works—you’re already working like you’re in it.

    Three smartphone screens displaying an art university app with event listings, map, and job board features.

    Apple

    Working directly with Apple, students redesigned the Academy of Art University mobile app while learning Swift technology. From concept and wireframes to final design, they presented their work at Apple’s campus. The collaboration highlighted innovation and creativity, with one student team earning recognition in the Global Creative Graduate Showcase.

    Group of people presenting in a conference room, with a screen showing

    Adobe

    Through a sponsored collaboration with Adobe, students took part in a project celebrating the launch of Adobe Firefly. Using the new AI-powered software, they concepted and produced original TV commercials, blending technology and storytelling in bold new ways. Students presented their final work to Adobe executives at the company’s campus, earning high praise for their creativity and innovation.

    Broadcast studio set with a large screen reading

    NBC Universal

    As part of a special partnership with NBCUniversal and Athletic Brewing Company, students developed branded campaigns celebrating the Paris Olympics and NBC’s athlete partnerships. The project challenged them to create integrated concepts promoting both brands across sports, entertainment, and culture. Students pitched their campaigns to NBC and Athletic Brewing executives, earning high praise for their fresh creative ideas and strategic storytelling.

    A woman speaks at a conference titled Future Agency at the Academy of Art University.

    CBS

    With CBS as an industry partner, the Future Agency studio class focused on the future of immersive news broadcasting using AR, VR, and emerging AI tools. The project included direct engagement with CBS executives as students developed concepts that pushed storytelling and technology forward. Students presented their final work at CBS’s San Francisco offices, sharing their vision for next-generation broadcast experiences.