Prior to the merger, the academic center served as a college for training designers, integrating education studies into its programs.
The Haifa School of Design, named after Neri Bloomfield and formerly WIZO Canada, It is the leading professional and academic institution for higher education in art in northern Israel.
The academy was founded in 1971 by the international WIZO organization to train professional artists and art teachers.
Initially, the academy shared a building with the WIZO High School of Art in the neighbourhood of Upper Hadar.
The building's interior was designed in a modern and dynamic style whereas its exterior blends with the character of other old structures in the German Colony.