Juan Noguera Headshot

Juan Noguera

Assistant Professor, Design

School of Design
College of Art and Design
Graduate Director, Industrial Design
jcnfaa@rit.edu
585-475-2199
Office Location
BOO-4616

Juan Noguera

Assistant Professor, Design

School of Design
College of Art and Design
Graduate Director, Industrial Design

Bio

Juan Carlos Noguera is an Assistant Professor of Industrial Design, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate studios on product development, digital workflows, and design for manufacturing. His work explores how emerging technologies, especially AI, generative tools, and digital fabrication, can enhance creativity while remaining grounded in craft, ethics, and human-centered practice. Noguera collaborates with engineers, artisans, and industry partners on projects ranging from soft robotic exoskeletons and medical devices to traditional craft. At RIT he is actively involved in curriculum innovation, helping students integrate AI-driven visualization, prototyping, and research into their design process. His scholarship and creative practice have been presented in international venues, and he regularly mentors students on projects that connect design, technology, and social impact. Noguera holds a deep commitment to collaborative learning and to expanding access to advanced design tools for diverse communities as an educator and designer.

jcnfaa@rit.edu
585-475-2199
Personal Links
Personal Website

Currently Teaching

IDDE-207
ID Digital Drawing
3 Credits
This course builds foundational visualization skills by integrating analog sketching with digital drawing tools for industrial design communication. Students will explore vector- and raster-based software to create compelling concept presentations, digital renderings, and product visualizations. Emphasis is placed on developing professional workflows that combine storytelling, digital craftsmanship, and presentation design to effectively communicate design intent.
IDDE-212
Integrated Computer-Aided Design
3 Credits
This course introduces students to the integration of computer-aided design (CAD) tools with traditional analog methods for effectively communicating ideas in three dimensions. Emphasis is placed on developing proficiency in digital modeling, rendering, and technical documentation while examining how digital and physical processes complement each other within the industrial design workflow. Students apply these skills to produce digital and physical artifacts that are functional, visually compelling, and aligned with professional standards.
IDDE-599
Industrial Design Independent Study
1-6 Credits
Industrial Design Independent Study provides students the means to study in a specialized area with an individual faculty member. With the assistance of their faculty advisers, students will propose a course of study. Students must obtain permission of an instructor and complete the Independent Study Permission Form to enroll. A 3.0 or higher GPA required.
IDDE-607
Technology Studio
3 Credits
This course explores the use of computer-aided design (CAD) and other related technologies as tools for designing, modeling, visualizing, simulating and fabricating design solutions. Emphasis is given to the combination of digital and analog technologies, and the workflows for using them effectively in design process.
IDDE-665
Experimental Studio
3 Credits
The course focuses on implementing advanced, newly developing ideas in industrial design. The specific sub-topic for this course will vary. As a result this course may be repeated. The subtopic is determined by the instructor. Potential topics may include the creation of exhibits, consumer products, sustainable design, analog and digital fabrication, furniture, interior landscapes, vehicle design, medical and healthcare design, inter-disciplinary design, etc.
IDDE-698
Industrial Design Internship
1-6 Credits
The Industrial Design Internship provides students the option to work in the industrial design field. Students must obtain permission of an instructor and complete the Internship Permission Form to enroll.
IDDE-790
Thesis: Research and Planning
6 Credits
The first of a two-course thesis sequence, the focus of this course is on establishing content, planning, scheduling, and research seeking innovative solutions through the process of concept development, ideation, and in-process evaluation. Final articulation of the project is approved by a faculty committee, presented in a graduate thesis show and accompanied by a written document that addresses how the theories and methods used in the project impact the current and future state of design in society.
IDDE-799
Industrial Design Independent Study
1-6 Credits
Industrial Design Independent Study provides students the means to study in a specialized area with an individual faculty member. With the assistance of their faculty advisers, students will propose a course of study. Students must obtain permission of an instructor and complete the Independent Study Permission Form to enroll. **NOTE: Student must have a minimum 3.0 GPA **
IDDE-887
Industrial Design Part-Time Co-op
0 Credits
Cooperative Education will provide Industrial Design students with hands-on experience in their field, directly related to a student’s major with an established studio or related business. Students will need to apply for co-ops, and interview as part of the selection process, based on available positions posted by the Co-op and Career Services Office, or found through the students’ own research. In programs where co-op is a degree requirement, students must obtain permission of their program or graduate director prior to enrollment. Co-ops are typically paid work experience, and can be part-time (150-479 total hours within the term), or full-time (480+ hours within the term). Co-ops may be one or two consecutive terms - fall, spring, or summer – with department permission.
IDDE-890
Thesis: Implementation and Evaluation
6 Credits
The second of a two-course thesis sequence, this course focuses on continued concept development of a thesis, concluding with the implementation and retrospective evaluation of chosen design problem. Solution is presented in a public exhibition, complemented by a written articulation of how the theories and methods employed in the project impact the current and future state of design in society.
IDDE-892
Continuation of Thesis Industrial Design
1 Credit
The Industrial Design Continuation of Thesis course provides student additional semester(s) to complete their thesis research, project, and thesis document.

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Featured Work

Renderings of a chair designed for kids.

Artificial Intelligence in Design

Juan Noguera

RIT industrial design MFA students, under the guidance of Assistant Professor Juan Noguera, investigated the role artificial intelligence (AI) can play in improving the design process. 

View More about Artificial Intelligence in Design