History of CAD
The College of Designs and Arts at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University is a pioneering institution in its field, and it is the first college of designs and arts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This college was established under its current name to develop the previously existing Colleges of Education for Girls. On 27/12/1428 AH, the High Council for Education approved the restructuring of the Colleges of Education for Girls affiliated with Riyadh University. The College of Education for Home Economics and Art Education was split into two separate colleges: the College of Home Economics and the College of Designs and Arts.
On 6/5/1432 AH, the High Council for Education approved the amendment of the departments within the College of Designs and Arts to become:
1. The Department of Painting and Printmaking.
2. The Department of Sculpture.
3. The Department of Interior Design.
4. The Department of Graphic Design and Digital Media.
5. The Department of Innovation and Product Design.
Additionally, the "Clothing and Textile Department" was transferred from the "College of Home Economics" to the "College of Designs and Arts" and its name was changed to the "Fashion and Textile Design Department". A new department named "Art History Department" was also established within the College of Designs and Arts. However, the following three departments were not activated: (The Department of Sculpture, The Department of Innovation and Product Design, and The Art History Department).
On 4/1/1438 AH, the Minister of Education approved the merger of three departments within the college (The Department of Printmaking and Painting, The Department of Sculpture, and The Art History Department) into one department named the Department of Visual Arts. Additionally, the name of the Department of Innovation and Product Design was changed to the Department of Product Design. Consequently, the departments of the College of Designs and Arts became:
1. The Department of Visual Arts.
2. The Department of Graphic Design and Digital Media.
3. The Department of Interior Design.
4. The Department of Product Design.
5. The Department of Fashion and Textile Design.
In 1441 AH, the college admission process was changed from being college-specific to direct admission into programs. New programs were introduced:
- Film Making and Animation.
- Photography.
These programs began accepting students from the academic year 1442 AH.
In 1444 AH, additional programs were introduced:
- Cinematic Production.
- Performing Arts.
These programs began accepting students from the academic year 1445 AH.
In 1445 AH, based on Article 24 of the Higher Education Council and Universities System, and in implementation of the Council of Universities Affairs Decision No. (2/16/45) dated 14/2/1445 AH, which included in its first clause the adoption of the comprehensive academic restructuring of universities attached to the decision, including Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, a new department was established comprising several programs. Currently, the College of Designs and Arts includes 6 academic departments and 9 educational programs under its new identity as follows:
- The Department of Graphic Design and Digital Media.
- The Department of Interior Design.
- The Department of Visual Arts.
- The Department of Product Design.
- The Department of Fashion and Textile Design.
- The Department of Cinema and Theater Arts.
