School of Design
School of
Design
Overview
The School of Design is ranked among the best, with Business Week naming it one of the top 10 design schools in the country. Effective design combined with creativity and professionalism are the school’s tenets. Using both technological and theoretical approaches to find solutions to design problems, students work with award-winning faculty who are creatives, critical thinkers, and innovative problem-solvers. Students have access to state-of-the art laboratories and computer facilities as well as the Cary Graphic Arts Collection and the entire archive of renowned designers Massimo and Lella Vignelli, housed in RIT’s Vignelli Center for Design Studies.
6
Number of designs from the industrial design program’s Metaproject senior studio that are currently in production through various companies.
12
Our Fab Lab is equipped with 12 3D printers - in addition to laser cutters, CNC routing devices and other technology - to complete submitted projects by students, faculty, and staff.
20
Faculty are professional members or affiliates of more than 20 national, international, and local organizations.
Latest News
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January 20, 2022
![A student presents a Hyperspace project using a poster, model and rendering as visuals.]()
Interior Design program partners with Syracuse airport to shape new concessions area
RIT Interior Design students prepared design packages for a pre-security food and beverage lounge for Syracuse Hancock International Airport, which plans to install the concessions area based on the students' designs.
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January 18, 2022
![A screenshot of a scene from "Sonic the Hedgehog 2."]()
Recent alumnus works on 'Sonic the Hedgehog 2' as lighting artist
Edward Ro '21 (3D Digital Design) completed a co-op at visual effects giant MPC (Motion Picture Company), where he has continued full-time work after graduating in December.
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January 13, 2022
![side-by-side portraits of Tomicka Wagstaff, Tanvi Asher, and Stephanie Paredes.]()
Three RIT community members named finalists for the ATHENA International Young Professional Award
Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and its Women’s Council have named three RIT community members as finalists for the 2022 ATHENA International Young Professional Award, which recognizes emerging female leaders in the 30- to 45-year-old range who demonstrate excellence, creativity, and initiative in their business or profession and serve as a role model for young women.
Featured Work
New Media Design Portfolio Showcase
How can design do good? From games, apps and installations, students from the New Media Design program create exciting new experiences.
Portfolio Showcase
Visual Communication Design MFA students to dive deep into emerging and future design, technology, interaction and motion trends.
3D Digital Design Reel
A compilation of student work from the last few years.
Featured Profiles
Building a Virtual Production Curriculum
Supported by a $275,000 MegaGrant from Epic Games, MAGIC Spell Studios has brought groundbreaking research and filmmaking techniques to RIT.
Medical Device Designs
RIT students in the Industrial Design (BFA and MFA) and Graphic Design programs showcased the power of industry partnership as they worked with medical technology company Stryker to design home...
Design Research
Adam Smith, Alex Lobos
Research in design is unique at RIT’s College of Art and Design. We discover new ways of solving problems in an environment brimming with endless possibility. Not only do students have...
Undergraduate Programs
Innovative and creative design solutions that enrich the ways in which people live, work, and play is the emphasis of the school’s undergraduate programs. The school offers BFA programs in 3D digital design, graphic design, industrial design, interior design, and new media design.
Graduate Programs
The School of Design offers two MFA programs and an MS program. The MFA in visual communication design focuses on all areas of design, including graphic design, user experience/interaction design, design studies, motion graphics, and 3D digital design. The MFA in industrial design includes seminar courses in design history and research and studio courses focusing on sustainability and design process. Meanwhile, the MS in integrative design establishes a variety of creative design thinking techniques in multiple areas.
Minors and Immersions
Student Resources
For internal College of Art and Design resources such as academic information, forms, FAQs and more, visit inside.cad.rit.edu. For information about academic advising, visit here.