Design Exploration
Design Exploration
Spend up to a year exploring RIT’s design programs before you declare a major.
Overview for Design Exploration
Design exploration is not accepting applications at this time. However, we encourage you to explore the design majors in RIT’s School of Design, which include 3D digital design, graphic design, industrial design, interior design, and new media design.
If you are passionate about design but are unsure which program best fits your career aspirations the design exploration option is for you. RIT’s School of Design offers majors in 3D digital design, graphic design, industrial design, interior design, and new media design. In the first year, students will work closely with their academic advisor to select courses that best match their interests.
The design exploration option requires the submission of a portfolio. View our Portfolio Requirements for more information.
This program is no longer accepting new student applications.
Featured Work
School of Design Reel
Samples of work from each BFA program in RIT's School of Design — 3D digital design, graphic design, industrial design, interior design and new media design.
Drawing Projects
Emily Glass
A survey of projects by first-year students in Senior Lecturer Emily Glass's Drawing 1 class. The foundations course is an introduction to the visualization of form, thought, and expression through...
100 Hour Project - Bump my Ride
Philip Szrama, Gary Jacobs, Jennifer Indovina
The RIT 3D digital design program created a funky virtual car show for its 100 Hour Project, an annual community-building event that challenges teams of students to make an animation based on a prompt...
Featured Profiles
'Sp(arrows)' Exhibition
Annalisa Barron
"Sp(arrows)" is a two-person exhibition at RIT City Art Space featuring Annalisa Barron and Taylor Kennedy '15 (fine arts studio), whose combined work explores the cathartic relationship of...
Pre-College Portfolio Prep Workshop
RIT's annual Pre-College Portfolio Preparation Workshop offers students an engaging and rewarding experience. The course, taught by our School of Art's drawing and painting faculty, is a visual arts...
The Charrette Workshop
The Charrette is an annual, intensive workshop for RIT College of Art and Design students in Foundation classes. They have one week to create wearable sculpture out of various materials based on a...
Admissions and Financial Aid
First-Year Admission
A strong performance in a college preparatory program is expected. This includes:
- 4 years of English
- 3 years of social studies and/or history
- 3-4 years of mathematics
- 2-3 years of science
- Studio art experience and a portfolio of original artwork are required for all programs in the School of Art.
- A portfolio must be submitted. View Portfolio Requirements for more information.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
100% of all incoming first-year and transfer students receive aid.
RIT’s personalized and comprehensive financial aid program includes scholarships, grants, loans, and campus employment programs. When all these are put to work, your actual cost may be much lower than the published estimated cost of attendance.
Learn more about financial aid and scholarships
Latest News
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April 15, 2024
![A beaded gemstone necklace set against a red background.]()
From pixels to pearls, design student flexes creative versatility
Whether it’s hand-crafting a stool, making a bag in a soft goods class, designing a website, painting, or threading gemstone beads onto metal wire to create her signature necklaces, Tobi Ashiru '25 (industrial design) takes advantage of a wide range of studio courses.
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February 15, 2024
![An overhead view of the MAGIC Spell Studios atrium, where people playlets That Damn Goat.]()
Inside the making of 'That Damn Goat,' RIT's latest video game
Chaos is the only constant in "That Damn Goat," a party, "anti-Covid" video game made by around 60 RIT faculty, students and staff. The project was led by School of Film and Animation faculty Brian Larson (creative director) and Jesse O'Brien (art director).
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August 30, 2023
![Wall signage with College of Art and Design in big, silver letters.]()
New School of Design director, faculty hires ready for 2023-24 academic year
The College of Art and Design welcomes new hires to its faculty roster while longtime faculty Alex Lobos assumes a role as director of the School of Design.
