The late Richard Welsh founded NewSchool of Architecture in 1980. NewSchool was primarily focused on architecture and construction management undergraduate and graduate degree programs until 2008 when NewSchool was acquired by Laureate Education Inc. Laureate's global network of design schools helped form a strong collaboration between NewSchool and Domus Academy School of Design in Milan, Italy. The collaboration lead to the creation of the Domus Academy School of Design at NewSchool which introduced several new design degrees including Interior Architecture & Design, Product Design, Design Studies and Media Design. In 2016, the schools partnered to launch a Global Design degree where students study two years in Milan and two years in San Diego.