Academy of Art University is home to the School of Interaction & UI/UX Design, which provides five programs led by creatives who are working professionals in the San Francisco Bay Area. Undergraduate programs include an AA, BFA, and certificate in Interaction & UI/UX Design. All options provide opportunities to intern at major tech companies such as Google, X (formerly known as Twitter), LinkedIn, PayPal, Eventbrite, Facebook, and GoPro.
In addition, Interaction & UI/UX Design students enjoy the use of state-of-the-art classrooms; the high-end Motion Graphics Lab; Computer Labs equipped with the latest software, digital workstations, and new media technology; and virtual and augmented reality studios featuring the latest equipment and emerging technologies.
Across programs, Interaction & UI/UX Design students will explore User Experience, Motion Graphics, Product Design, Technology (programming), and Visual Design. The curriculum for BFA students will also delve into design strategies and web design. This 120 credit hour program is the most popular option for students seeking a fine arts degree.
Course example for the BFA program include Design Technology: Digital Publishing Tools; User Experience 1 and 2; The Art of Influencers; Web Design 1 and 2; Design Technology: Visual Design Tools; Programming and Culture; Visual Storytelling: Editing Fundamentals for Short-Form Video Content; History of Graphic Design; Short Copy for Campaigns; Visual Design 1 and 2; History of Gaming; Motion Graphics 1 and 2; History of Comics: International and Alternative Comics; and Topics in World Art.
Halfway through the BFA program, students will complete a Midpoint Portfolio review worth three units. In semester seven, students will complete Collaborative Project: Automotive UI, also worth three units. In this course, Interaction & UI/UX Design students collaborate with Industrial Design students to address challenges in UI/UX within the automotive industry.
During the eighth and final semester of the program, students will have the opportunity to complete the Corporate Sponsored Project course, the Senior Project course, and a final portfolio. Past corporate sponsors have included NASA, Jaguar, Blizzard Entertainment, Walt Disney, GM, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati. Students also have the opportunity to work with the student-run ad agency Young & Hungry (Y&H). Past Y&H clients have included Ubisoft, BMW, Goodwill, and Habitat for Humanity.
Graduates of the Interaction & UI/UX Design BFA program at Academy of Art University are prepared to pursue positions with corporate sponsors and many other companies across the San Francisco Bay Area, and throughout Silicon Valley, the U.S., and around the world. Examples of companies that have hired Academy of Art graduates include Tesla, Google, IBM, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Ancestry.
Established in 1929 and serving more than 7,000 students, Academy of Art is one of the nation’s largest private art and design schools. Family-owned and divided into 22 schools, Academy of Art University provides more than 125 degree programs across 40+ areas of study. Programs lead to the AA, BA, BFA, BS, B. Arch, MAT, MA, MFA and M. Arch degrees. The Academy of Art is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).