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.
Join us virtually.
Dive into graduate academics and research to expand your future career opportunities.
Latest News
-
February 25, 2021
![A group of smiling students point at their design concept that won the 2020 Hyperspace design challenge.]()
Rochester Public Library to use students' design for project build out
The library was awarded a Play Everywhere grant to execute a redesign of its historic play and reading room based on a concept by a group of Interior Design students.
-
February 17, 2021
![Imagine RIT festival poster with a 3D tiger, and a portrait of the student who created the poster.]()
2021 Imagine RIT winning poster selected
An image showing a tiger emerging from an ocean of pandemic, climbing toward a ray of light, has been selected as this year’s poster for the Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival. The poster was designed by Luke Chen, a second-year new media design major.
-
February 10, 2021
![snow sculpture of the Lincoln Memorial.]()
New Jersey Man Creates 14-Foot Snow Sculpture Of Lincoln Memorial In Front Yard
CBS New York features Robert Schott '81 (graphic design), who creates snow sculptures in his front yard.
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
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, Marla Schweppe, 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...
Innovative Healthcare Design
Mary Golden
A multidisciplinary contingent of faculty and students from RIT is creating innovative healthcare design solutions to improve the quality of medical care and education for some of the most vulnerable...
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.