At the Kentucky College of Art + Design (KyCAD), creativity has never been confined to a canvas—and now, neither are our programs. Next academic year, KyCAD is launching six Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees, each built for students who want to shape the future of art, design, and culture.

From wearable sculpture to 3D-printed inventions to the power of scent, these new programs push the boundaries of what an art education can look like. Here’s a first look at the degrees redefining creative study in Kentucky—and beyond.

Body Art: The Human Body as a Living Canvas

For students who see skin, movement, and form as storytelling tools, KyCAD now offers the first-ever BFA in Body Art in the U.S.
Explore tattoo design, piercing, digital art, body painting, sculpture, and fashion—all while diving into the ethics, history, and cultural impact of body modification. This program is built for boundary-breakers who want to use the human body to spark dialogue, identity, and social change.

Digital Fabrication: Where Art Meets Engineering

If you love 3D printing, laser cutting, or building things that feel like the future, the BFA in Digital Fabrication brings art and technology together.
Learn tools like Adobe Creative Suite, CAD software, CNC milling, and circuit-based design. You’ll prototype, test, and create functional works with precision—while learning sustainable methods that reduce waste. It’s hands-on, high-tech, and built for makers who want to turn ideas into real-world innovations.

Experimental Fashion: Wearable Art that Pushes Limits

Fashion isn’t just clothing—it can be protest, performance, spectacle, or sculpture.
The BFA in Experimental Fashion explores the space where garments become art forms, blending techniques from theater, costume, sculpture, and design. Use both industry-standard tools and DIY methods to imagine new possibilities for the body in motion. If you see fashion as a statement, this is your runway.

Film: A New Approach in a Growing Industry

With Louisville emerging as a national film hub—supported by $75M in state incentives and new sound stages coming by 2027—KyCAD’s new BFA in Film arrives at the perfect moment. Here, students take creative control from day one. Learn to direct, shoot, edit, write, and produce while blending narrative and experimental approaches. Whether you’re interested in cinematic storytelling or pushing the medium itself, this program gives you the tools to develop your authentic voice.

Graphic Design: Design for a Changing World

The BFA in Graphic Design prepares students to shape culture through visual communication. Explore typography, layout, storytelling, AI-driven tools, and the full Adobe Creative Suite while learning design thinking and human-centered design. This program empowers students to create work that’s not only visually compelling, but socially impactful.

Olfactory and Sensory Arts: Creativity You Can Smell

KyCAD is introducing one of the country’s most unique creative degrees: the BFA in Olfactory and Sensory Arts, centered on the art and science of scent.
In partnership with American Perfumer, students learn fragrance formulation, packaging design, and sensory storytelling. Explore how scent shapes emotion and how smell can be used in fashion, film, wellness, and immersive technology. It’s an entirely new way of thinking about design—and the senses.

And Still at Our Core: Studio Art

Alongside these new offerings, KyCAD continues to cultivate boundary-pushing artists through our foundational BFA in Studio Art.
Students explore painting, sculpture, installation, digital art, performance, sound, socially engaged practice, and more. With collaborative studios and interdisciplinary exploration, this program is for artists who want the freedom to experiment and redefine what art can look like today.

A Future Built on Creativity, Innovation, and Possibility

With these new programs, KyCAD isn’t just expanding—we’re reimagining what an art and design college can be. Each degree empowers students to explore emerging fields, challenge conventions, and create work that resonates in the real world.

Ready to shape the future of art and design?
Your journey starts here.

‍