School of Industrial Design

We Make Art Work

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Turn bold ideas into real-world design.

In our STEM-designated Industrial Design program, you’ll create everything from transportation vehicles to consumer products that blend art and engineering—with empathy, logic, and creativity.

On campus or online, you’ll take on real-world challenges alongside students from Architecture, Interior Architecture, Game, Graphic Design, and Interaction UX/UI. Industry sponsors set the brief. You deliver bold solutions.

Work hands-on in professional studios with 3D printers, VR tools, and CNC machines—or connect remotely to the same high-performance software used by GM, NASA, and CamelBak. With VR, generative AI, and client collaboration built into your process, you’ll move from concept to creation with confidence—graduating with a portfolio of professional-quality work that’s ready for the industry.

Join us: On campus in San Francisco, online, or virtually via Zoom (select classes)

Companies that Employ Our Students

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.

See More Success Stories

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

“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

“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

“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

Facility Highlights

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.

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

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

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.

Workstations

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