The School of Design and Arts is known for its contributions to the field of industrial design. Established in 1984, it is one of the earliest design institutions in China to develop a specialized system for industrial design disciplines. 

Currently, the school has seven departments that offer a wide range of programs. These departments are industrial design, visual communication design, environmental art design, cultural heritage, sculpture, traditional craft art, and art theory research.

The school offers various levels of education, including undergraduate, master's, doctoral, and international student programs. The industrial design discipline was recognized as a key specialty in Beijing in 2009. It was also designated as a key specialty by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in 2012. The school has authorized points for master's degrees in design and industrial design engineering, as well as doctoral degrees in design.

The school focuses on enhancing artistic quality and innovative design concepts. It promotes the deep integration of military and civilian sectors through the strategies of "design culture inheritance" and "military product design characteristics".

The school aims to meet the needs of national major strategies and being at the forefront of world design and education development while emphasizing the effective combination of scientific research, teaching, and social services.

It has a teaching and research structure that integrates departments, laboratories, and research institutions. The school has also established a discipline construction and talent cultivation system with an international perspective and cultural awareness, emphasizing the parallel development of design and art.

The school has two campuses and a total of 472 undergraduate students, 727 master's students, and 71 doctoral students. Students from the school have achieved significant accomplishments in such fields as industrial design, accessibility design, interaction design, visual communication, and more.

The school focuses on interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation, aiming to create a contemporary and cutting-edge design and art education structure. It strives to become a world-class design and art institute.