Antonio Bailon Borja is Executive Director of the School of Industrial Design at the Academy of Art University. A graduate of the university’s School of Industrial Design, he earned his BFA in 2004 and has built a career spanning professional practice, design education, entrepreneurship, and academic leadership.
Before returning to the Academy of Art University, Antonio worked as a creative designer for General Motors and as a freelance industrial designer. He has taught Design Drawing, Transportation Design, and Digital 3D Modeling, and has developed interdisciplinary collaborations with industry partners including General Motors, NASA, Samsung, Audi, and Jaguar.
Antonio is also Co-Founder of FLO AI, an AI startup focused on advancing creative workflows for designers through emerging technology. This work reflects his broader commitment to integrating innovation, design thinking, and new tools into both professional practice and education.
As Executive Director, Antonio has led efforts to integrate emerging technologies such as rapid prototyping, generative design, and AI into the curriculum while expanding partnerships with companies including Vizcom, Gravity Sketch, Adobe, and Autodesk. His work centers on strengthening the connection between academia and industry and preparing the next generation of designers for a rapidly evolving profession.
