Study at One of the Top Industrial Design Schools or art schools in the United States
Not only is Academy of Art University one of the top industrial design schools in the country, it also is one of the leading interior design schools. Students at industrial design schools learn how to design products such as automobiles and motorcycles, toys, electronics and furniture.
Coursework at industrial design schools teach not only the technical skills needed for a career in industrial design, but the problem-solving abilities that allow them to advance quickly in whichever company they join after graduation. Such coursework includes:
Industrial Design - Classes range from the basic - using colored pencil, chalk pastel and ballpoint pens - to the more high-tech classes that teach a student to design using 2D and 3D vector and raster software.
Transportation Design - Classes teach students to draw, render and build clay models of their automotive designs, both interior and exterior. Students also learn to design with the consumer and brand essence in mind. BMW and GM have both hired graduates from Academy of Art University, one of the leading industrial design schools.
Product Design - Classes cover all aspects of a product's development, from research and design through costing and vendor liaison.
Toy Design - Classes result in realistic final models for a variety of age groups. Graduates from industrial design schools such as Academy of Art University go on to work at big-name toy companies such as Mattel and Hasbro3
Furniture Design - Classes take ergonomics and safety requirements into consideration as well as materials, construction and finishing.
At the Academy of Art University, students can earn degrees at the associate or arts, bachelor of fine arts and master of fine arts levels on campus in San Francisco, Calif., and/or online.
Art School Offers Online MFA Program in Industrial Design
Attending graduate school proves difficult for many. After all, recent graduates tend to put in long hours at the office to gain experience and prove their worth to new employers. Those long hours don't allow for much free time, much less the time required to attend a master of fine arts program on a college campus. Academy of Art University created the online master of fine arts program at its industrial design school with these busy students in mind. A student can now continue his education by taking classes online, never setting foot on the art school's campus.
In the online master of fine arts program, a student hones his mastery of industrial design, learning to better communicate ideas visually. He works independently and in groups with guidance from the professional designers who serve as faculty at the art school. At the mid-point of the program, a student will pitch his thesis idea to a review committee, and once the idea has been approved, he will take part in three semesters of directed study with faculty members at the industrial design school who are in fields related to the student's thesis.
In order for his completed thesis to be accepted, it must have a social or cultural benefit, address economic factors and incorporate technical references. Graduates of the industrial design school's online MFA program can often write their own tickets, with major design firms competing to hire them. Many opt to start their own design firms, though, thanks to the confidence that comes with a master of fine arts degree from a leading art school's industrial design school.
Students who attend the master of fine arts program online also don't have to worry about paying back the higher student loans associated with living on campus. The total cost of a master of fine arts program at the art school is $36,000. Deduct from that living expenses and the total comes down to $22,500, a much more manageable number considering those who hold advanced degrees command higher salaries than those who do not.
Those interested in attending Academy of Art University, an art school online, can request a free information packet at academyart.edu. They also can call 415-274-2200 to request a packet and make an appointment to visit the school. The art school also has an equally strong interior design school for students who would rather focus on interior design - including residential interior design and architecture and commercial interior design and architecture - as a career. Academy of Art University is accredited through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation.