When you’re considering RISD — one of the most demanding and expensive art schools in the world — it’s fair to ask: what do RISD graduates actually do after they leave Providence? The answer spans an extraordinary range of careers, from co-founding billion-dollar companies to winning MacArthur Fellowships, directing films, and leading global design studios. This post breaks down what RISD graduates careers look like in practice — and what you can realistically expect.
RISD’s Approach to Career Outcomes
RISD does not train students for a single career path. The school’s philosophy centers on developing rigorous creative thinkers who can translate their skills across industries. RISD graduates careers tend to reflect this: the alumni list includes fine artists, entrepreneurs, animators, architects, fashion designers, and educators in roughly equal measure.
As of 2024, RISD alumni have collectively received 11 MacArthur Fellowships, 9 Emmy Awards, 7 Guggenheim Fellowships, and 3 Academy Awards — a remarkable concentration of recognition for a school with roughly 2,000 undergraduate students.
Notable RISD Alumni and Their Careers
RISD’s most famous graduates give a sense of the breadth of outcomes possible:
Business & Entrepreneurship
- Brian Chesky & Joe Gebbia — co-founders of Airbnb, both RISD Industrial Design graduates (2004)
Graphic Design & Visual Art
- Shepard Fairey — artist and activist, creator of the iconic Obama “Hope” poster (BFA 1992)
- Tobias Frere-Jones — typography designer responsible for fonts used globally (BFA 1992)
- Jessica Walsh — designer and founder of &Walsh creative agency (BFA 2008)
Film & Animation
- Seth MacFarlane — creator of Family Guy (BFA 1995)
- Gus Van Sant — film director (Good Will Hunting, Milk) (BFA 1975)
- Michael DiMartino & Bryan Konietzko — co-creators of Avatar: The Last Airbender (both BFA 1996/1998)
Fine Art
- Kara Walker — internationally acclaimed artist known for large-scale silhouette installations (MFA 1994)
- Jenny Holzer — conceptual artist, MacArthur Fellow (MFA 1977)
- Dale Chihuly — founder of studio glass as a fine art form (MFA 1968)
Where Do RISD Graduates Typically Work?
Beyond the most prominent alumni, RISD graduate careers span a wide range of industries and roles:
- Design studios and agencies — product design, branding, graphic design, environmental design
- Technology companies — Apple, Google, Meta, and other tech firms actively recruit RISD industrial and graphic design graduates
- Fashion industry — design houses, creative direction, brand development
- Architecture firms — RISD’s architecture program produces graduates who practice globally
- Film, animation, and game studios — Pixar, Disney, DreamWorks, and major game studios recruit from RISD’s film and animation programs
- Museums and institutions — curatorial roles, design departments, educational programs
- Academia — many RISD graduates go on to teach at art schools and universities worldwide
- Independent practice — a significant number of RISD graduates build their own studios, galleries, or creative practices
RISD’s Career Support
RISD Careers (the school’s career center) provides resources including portfolio reviews, career workshops, alumni mentorship programs, and recruiting partnerships with major companies and studios. The school’s location in Providence — 50 minutes from Boston and 3.5 hours from New York — keeps graduates connected to two major creative industry hubs.
The RISD alumni network is active and tends to be remarkably collaborative, with graduates regularly hiring and mentoring fellow RISD alumni.
A Note for Korean Students
Korean graduates of RISD occupy an unusually strong position in both US and Korean markets. In Korea, RISD’s reputation as the top art school in the US is well understood in design, fashion, and creative industry circles. Korean alumni have gone on to leading positions at major Korean companies, international design firms, and academic institutions.
If you are a Korean student considering RISD, know that your degree will carry significant weight when you return — and that the alumni network, while smaller than some Korean-specific programs, includes motivated professionals across many industries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the most common career for RISD graduates? A: RISD graduates pursue a wide range of careers. The most common paths include professional design practice (graphic, industrial, interior), fine arts and exhibition, architecture, film and animation, and education. There is no single dominant path.
Q: Did the founders of Airbnb really go to RISD? A: Yes. Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia both studied Industrial Design at RISD and graduated in 2004. They met as roommates at RISD and later co-founded Airbnb.
Q: Do RISD graduates get jobs at big companies? A: Yes. Companies including Apple, Google, Nike, IDEO, Pentagram, and major film studios actively recruit RISD graduates. Industrial design and graphic design graduates in particular have strong industry placement.
Q: Is RISD worth it for a career in animation? A: RISD has a respected film/animation/video (FAV) program and notable alumni in animation. That said, CalArts is generally considered the strongest animation program in the country. RISD is an excellent choice if you want a broader art education with strong animation offerings — not a narrowly animation-focused program.
Q: How do Korean RISD graduates do in the Korean job market? A: Very well. RISD’s name recognition in Korean design, advertising, and fashion industries is strong. Many Korean graduates return to positions at major Korean companies, international firms with Korean offices, or founding their own studios.
Royal Blue Art & Design는 압구정에 위치한 유학미술학원으로, 19년간 한국 학생들의 RISD, Parsons, CalArts 등 미국 최상위 미술대학 입시를 도와왔습니다. [상담 문의하기 →]