At CCA, Industrial Design is more than form and function—it’s about imagining new systems, shaping behavior, and building sustainable futures. We teach design as a tool for solving real-world problems with empathy, creativity, and purpose. Whether you’re passionate about climate resilience, social equity, emerging tech, or everyday objects that bring joy, our program gives you the skills and mindset to design for impact.

Our curriculum is rooted in life-centered design, the circular economy, and entrepreneurial thinking. You’ll start with foundational courses in drawing, digital prototyping, and materials exploration, then move into hands-on studios that challenge you to think critically and design across scales—products, services, systems, and experiences. Through advanced 3D modeling, digital storytelling, and cutting-edge tools like 3D printing, sensors, CNC, textiles, and creative technologies, you’ll develop a portfolio that blends craft and innovation.

Our faculty are not only educators—they're practicing designers, startup founders, craft builders, sustainability experts, and AI design leaders. You’ll learn from people who’ve launched products with corporate brands, to startup founders and design consultants from the Bay Area–who are actively shaping the next generation of design practice. You’ll get personal mentorship and guidance every step of the way.

Our new curriculum emphasizes collaboration across disciplines, cultures, and technologies. You’ll work in CoLAB Studios alongside students from other majors, tackling open-ended challenges with industry partners and community organizations. By your final year, you’ll have completed a fully researched, prototyped, and tested design solution that’s portfolio-ready and career-launching.

You’ll leave CCA with more than just a degree—you’ll graduate as a creative leader equipped to thrive in a world that’s constantly changing. And you’ll join a growing network of alumni shaping design for the better—from Bay Area startups to global innovation teams.