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CAD Academy Classes Enrolling Now CalL 1-800-529-4763

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WELCOME TO NEW APPROACH CAD ACADEMY

TAKE YOUR CAD FROM ORDINARY TO EXTRAORDINARY!!

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Unlock your creative potential with courses from our New Approach CAD Academy!

Our innovative classes teach you the art of cutting-edge jewelry design, harnessing industry leading software like MatrixGold and ZBrush. Learn problem solving skills through project-based lessons in our dynamic learning environment – providing you a competitive advantage!

Our revolutionary CAD program will take you beyond ordinary (cookie cutter) designs, allowing you to add creativity & uniqueness to each piece of work.

Using both dynamic commands (parametric) and Rhino 3D’s surface modelling commands, you will learn to design extraordinary jewelry in the MatrixGold environment. Add ZBrush and the possibilities are limitless – unlocking your fullest design potential. We aim to produce CADsmiths, as all too often, CAD designers don’t know how to make proper jewelry. It’s a huge problem for our industry but we are here to fix that and provide you with an educational experience that is second to none.

“I learned about the New Approach School from a jewelry industry friend. I wanted to add to my repertoire of CAD tools and techniques and I took a 2 week intensive CAD course in the summer of 2022.

This was a very valuable course, taught by a highly accomplished Maestro of CAD Chris Mendola. He exposed me to techniques and strategies that I have now incorporated into my personal system of CAD operations. The presentation and instruction was clear, concise and Chris was very attentive and thorough with each and every participant. It is obvious to me that the curriculum is exceptionally well thought out and it is presented in a fully equipped, gold standard classroom setting.

The New Approach School is a haven of information and professionalism with a roster of Master craftsmen passionate about the jewelry arts and dedicated to instructing and sharing their valuable tools and techniques to enhance the journey of each and every jewelry maker that they encounter. In short, a dedicated and masterful team of instructors in an exceptional academy.”

Sir Zoltan David Jewelry Artist Extrodanaire

CAD Academy Course Offerings:

MATRIXGOLD ESSENCE

NO PREREQUISITE

This is a 2 week intensive course that introduces the MatrixGold dynamic toolset along with powerful Rhino 3D principles needed to begin modeling well-constructed jewelry.

Learn the essence of MatrixGold and so much more as we add powerful Rhino 3D concepts to the mix. Explore Dynamic (parametric modeling), Clayoo, and SubD toolsets, while creating several real-world CAD projects. We will also cover rendering and 3D printing to help you get your CAD models out to the marketplace.
SCHEDULE

Monday:
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday – Friday:
 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

  • February 5 - 16, 2024
  • May 6 - 17, 2024
  • July 8 - 19, 2024
Tuition: $2,995

MATRIXGOLD SUBSTANCE

PREREQUISITE - MATRIXGOLD ESSENCE

This is a 2 week course that explores the intermediate MatrixGold toolset needed to continue modeling jewelry in 3D.

Take the next step and dive deeper into MatrixGold using powerful Rhino 3D tools. Learn to model more sophisticated designs such as trellis, french-cut, fish-tail, and pave settings while exploring more complex parametric modeling, Rhino 3D, and SubD tools. You will also learn to integrate organic work from other programs such as Clayoo and ZBrush.
SCHEDULE

Monday:
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday – Friday:
 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

  • February 19 - March 1, 2024
Tuition: $2,995

MATRIXGOLD ABSOLUTE

PREREQUISITE - MATRIXGOLD SUBSTANCE

This is a 2 week course that explores advanced modeling techniques in MatrixGold using Rhino 3D and SubD commands.

 

More Information Coming Soon!

 

 
SCHEDULE

Monday:
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday – Friday:
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

  • More Information Coming Soon!
Tuition: $2,995

ESSENTIAL ZBRUSH

NO PREREQUISITE

This is a 2 week course that explores the principles needed to create organic and sculpted custom models for the jewelry industry.

Learn to manipulate and digitally sculpt on your jewelry models as if it were clay. Make your digital jewelry stand out by giving them a unique “hand-made” look using a multitude of brushes and masks to sculpt intricate designs onto your jewelry. 

We also cover Keyshot rendering techniques to make your jewelry designs stand out in social media posts.
SCHEDULE

Monday:
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday – Friday:
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

  • March 4 -15, 2024
Tuition: $2,995

DYNAMIC CAD

NO PREREQUISITE

This is an 6 week course that teaches the MatrixGold/Rhino 3D/ZBrush/Keyshot toolsets and principles needed to create well-constructed CAD production and rendering models for the jewelry industry.

Learn to think completely outside the box with parametric modeling, NURBS surface modeling, SubD modeling, and Mesh sculpting modeling all while producing a multitude of jewelry models and refining your CAD skills. Learn MatrixGold, ZBrush, Keyshot and other third-party programs giving you a better hybrid approach to modelling. We also cover advanced rendering techniques, 3D printing, and production standards.
SCHEDULE

Monday:
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday – Friday:
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

  • More Info Coming Soon
Tuition: $8,985
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INSTRUCTOR:

CHRISTOPHER MENDOLA

Chris is a published 3D artist/art director who has created thousands of 3D models, illustrations, and animations for books, videos, magazines, and commercials. His collaborative work with NASJ spans a whopping 25 years and now we are pleased to announce his full-time position as director and instructor of our new and transformative CAD program.

Chris is a master CAD artist with over 30 years of 3D CAD experience that covers multiple platforms and industries. With his uniquely rich wealth of experience, he is steeped in knowledge and his students will greatly benefit from his state of the art instructions.

Chris and wife Gina are proud grandparents and members of New Middleton Baptist Church. They love their pets, spending time with family, and traveling to the mountains.

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