Industrial & Product Design
Designing physical products people use every day.
Industrial design focuses on designing physical products, furniture, electronics, tools, consumer goods, that balance form, function, manufacturability, and user experience. It sits between art, engineering, and human-centered design.
Studio projects move through the full design process: research, sketching, 3D modeling, prototyping, and testing, often using both digital tools (CAD) and physical model-making, since a good industrial designer needs to think in both digital and physical space.
Typical courses you might take
- ✓Design Fundamentals
- ✓Sketching & Ideation
- ✓3D Modeling (CAD)
- ✓Materials & Manufacturing Processes
- ✓Human Factors & Ergonomics
- ✓Prototyping & Model-Making
- ✓Design Research Methods
- ✓Senior Design Studio
Sample four-year plan
Illustrative, not a registration planOne possible way these courses could be sequenced alongside general education and elective credit. Real programs vary in order, pacing, and prerequisites by school, use this to get a rough sense of the arc, not to plan actual registration.
- ✓Design Fundamentals
- +General education requirement
- ✓Sketching & Ideation
- +General education requirement
- ✓3D Modeling (CAD)
- +General education requirement
- ✓Materials & Manufacturing Processes
- +Free elective
- ✓Human Factors & Ergonomics
- +Free elective
- ✓Prototyping & Model-Making
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Design Research Methods
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Senior Design Studio
- +Capstone, thesis, or culminating project (common in many programs)
Skills you'll build
This major might be a good fit if you...
- ★Enjoys both creative design and technical problem-solving
- ★Curious about how everyday objects are designed and made
- ★Comfortable moving between digital modeling and physical prototyping
- ★Interested in how design affects how people use things
Common minors & double-major pairings
Mechanical Engineering · Business Administration · Graphic Design
Roles this major could lead to
Factual, day-to-day descriptions from our Career Role Encyclopedia, not a guarantee this major leads to any specific job.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Industrial & Product Design major?
Designing physical products people use every day.
What courses do Industrial & Product Design majors take?
Typical coursework includes classes like Design Fundamentals, Sketching & Ideation, 3D Modeling (CAD), among others, see the full course list above for this major's typical lineup.
What skills do you build in a Industrial & Product Design program?
Industrial & Product Design coursework typically builds skills like Product sketching and ideation, 3D CAD modeling, Prototyping and model-making, Understanding materials and manufacturing constraints.
Is Industrial & Product Design a good major for me?
It tends to be a good fit if signals like "Enjoys both creative design and technical problem-solving" or "Curious about how everyday objects are designed and made" describe you. See the full "good fit if you..." list above for more.
What can you do with a Industrial & Product Design degree?
Majors in this field often go on to roles like Product Designer, Industrial Designer. See our Career Role Encyclopedia for more, a major shapes what you study, not a guarantee of any specific job.
What other majors pair well with Industrial & Product Design?
Common minor or double-major pairings include Mechanical Engineering, Business Administration, Graphic Design.
How is Industrial & Product Design different from Mechanical Engineering?
They're related but distinct. Industrial & Product Design: Designing physical products people use every day. Mechanical Engineering: Designing machines and physical systems, from engines to robots. Use the compare tool to see courses and skills side by side.
How long does it take to earn a Industrial & Product Design degree?
Most bachelor's degrees, including this one, are designed to be completed in about four years of full-time study. Exact timing depends on your school, course load, transfer credit, and any changes of major along the way.
Printed from majoratlas.com/majors/industrial-product-design