At University of Advancing Technology (UAT), we take CAD personally. Why? Because it’s in our DNA.
Flashback to 1983: A small classroom in Tempe, Arizona. Ten students. Two visionaries—Dr. Dominic Pistillo and his wife, Ann—teaching computer-aided design before most people had even heard of it. They called it the CAD Institute, and it was one of the first of its kind.
Back then, CAD wasn’t just a tool—it was a signal. A hint that the future wouldn’t be hand-drawn; it would be digitally engineered. The Pistillos saw it coming and made a bold move: build an institution that evolves with technology itself.
Fast-forward to today: That humble CAD classroom is now UAT—a fully accredited private university pioneering education in:
Still small by design, but powerful by intent. Still built on what’s next.
National CAD Day isn’t just a nostalgic holiday. For UAT, it’s a reflection of:
How we were founded
Why digital design still drives our degrees
What our students build in the 3D lab, maker space, and robotics arena
It’s not just about where we started. It’s about the mindset we instill in every future-forward creator who walks through our doors.
What Hasn’t Changed:
Tight-knit community
The belief that education should be as agile as innovation
Students from all over the U.S. are building future tech today
A campus that looks more like a startup than a lecture hall
Programs that evolve faster than job descriptions do
If you're wired for design thinking, digital tools, and future-first ideas—UAT is your launchpad.
CAD was where it all started. Now we’re asking:
What will you build next?
So on this National CAD Day, maybe it’s time to sketch your next move.
National CAD Day is celebrated annually on August 2 to recognize the role of Computer-Aided Design in engineering, manufacturing, architecture, and innovation.
CAD is foundational to designing prototypes, parts, and systems that students build, test, and refine using 3D printers, CNC machines, and robotic tools.
Students work with Fusion 360 —an industry-standard platform for digital modeling and fabrication.
CAD is essential in robotics, engineering, manufacturing, product design, industrial automation, and aerospace.
UAT was originally founded as the CAD Institute in 1983 by Dr. Dominic and Ann Pistillo, training students in the then-cutting-edge field of computer-aided design.
🧭 Come tour the campus.
🖨️ Peek into the 3D print lab.
🎮 Ask us how students graduate with published games and built prototypes.
Or just click Apply.
Because the future doesn’t build itself.
But here? It kind of does.