Founded in 1907, California College of the Arts (CCA) is noted for the interdisciplinarity and breadth of its programs. It offers studies in 21 undergraduate and seven graduate majors in the areas of fine arts, architecture, design, and writing.

CCA educates students to shape culture through the practice and critical study of the arts. The college prepares its students for lifelong creative work and service to their communities through a curriculum in fine art, architecture, design, and writing.

Industrial Design
Students envision not only new generations of products, but also new services and businesses, from broad ecological, commercial, and cultural perspectives. To facilitate such far-reaching work, they receive a foundation in anthropological research, material culture, and whole-systems thinking. They work individually and as teams and make the most of CCA's proximity to Silicon Valley and its wealth of technology.

Visits from top designers, a lively lecture series, ongoing collaborative projects, internships, and a wealth of study-abroad options complement the program. Regular industry-sponsored projects have brought Gaia&Gino, Mattel, Pantech, Samsung, Timbuk2, Tupperware, and other innovative companies to campus to work with students on projects of mutual interest. The goal is to assist our students in bringing ecology, culture, and technology together for the benefit of
the consumer, the community, and the environment.

CCA students have exhibited their projects at the Milan Furniture Fair, the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, and the International Home and Housewares Show. Our graduates work for top design firms in California, New York, and beyond. Current students have won national recognition in I.D. magazine's Annual Design Review and Student Design Review, the Industrial Designers Society of America's International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) competition, and the International Housewares Association Student Design Competition.