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 have gone into 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.
Dozens
In the last few years alone, our design programs have partnered with dozens of companies for students to complete sponsored projects.
Latest News
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July 22, 2026
Classroom collaboration leads to student internship at Church & Dwight
After Gavin Komoda '28 (industrial design) built connections during a program-wide collaboration with Church & Dwight, he was offered an internship in the product engineering department of the consumer goods company.
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July 17, 2026
Design director looks to advance student opportunities in new role
Alex Lobos, director of RIT's School of Design, has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA). In the elevated role, he aims to continue promoting collaborative opportunities between students and industry partners.
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June 30, 2026
RIT graduate's City of Rochester logo design carries enduring legacy
Lee Green's design of the beloved "Flower City/Flour City" logo is the centerpiece of a new documentary celebrating the impact of Rochester's 50-year-old visual mark. Free, public screenings of the film are scheduled into the fall.
Featured Work and Profiles
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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.
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Portfolio Showcase
Visual Communication Design MFA students to dive deep into emerging and future design, technology, interaction and motion trends.
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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...
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3D Digital Design Reel
A compilation of student work from the last few years.
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Innovative Healthcare Design
Mary Golden A multidisciplinary contingent of faculty and students from Rochester Institute of Technology, along with a number of industry partners, are delivering life-saving, innovative healthcare design...
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NBA Event Designer
Gary Mack ’93 (Interior Design) is a leader in the creation of immersive experiences for major sporting events around the world. As the associate director of creative strategy and production for the...
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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.
Student Resources
For internal College of Art and Design resources such as academic information, forms, FAQs and more, visit myRIT. For information about academic advising, visit here.