Our faculty are active professionals who practice in their fields while they teach. They are dedicated to ensuring that you reach your potential and give you one-on-one instruction in your studio classes.

Our department maintains a special relationship with the Syracuse community through the activities of our various student groups (including chapters of professional design organizations) that continually work on projects with not-for-profit agencies as well as funded research design collaborations. All design programs are housed in The Warehouse, SU’s newly renovated building in downtown Syracuse that allows our students and faculty to benefit from a city atmosphere and interactions with local design firms. Take a video tour of The Warehouse.

We also encourage our students to reach beyond the local community and study abroad at one of the University’s many international centers, including Florence, Italy, and London, England.

Integral to our curricula are opportunities to acquire career development skills critical for professional designers. Professional practices are addressed in many of our courses, while visiting and resident designers provide unique insight into their respective disciplines. Internships provide invaluable experience in a real-world setting. Undergraduate students may choose to minor in entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises, which is offered through SU's Martin J. Whitman School of Management and includes coursework in essential business tools.

Design students present their portfolios each spring at events held at Lubin House, SU’s satellite location in New York City. Fashion design majors present their senior collections at the annual on-campus fashion show and may have their collections selected for the annual New York City fashion show.