Industrial Design
Industrial Design is the professional service of creating and developing concepts and specifications that optimize the value, function and appearance of products and product systems to the mutual benefit of both user and manufacturer. This service is often provided in the context of a cooperative working relationship with other members of a development group.
Typical groups include management, marketing, engineering and manufacturing specialists. Industrial designers place special emphasis on human characteristics, needs and interests. These require particular understanding of visual, tactile, safety and convenience criteria. Industrial designers combine these considerations with practical concern for technical processes and requirements for manufacture; marketing opportunities and economic constraints; and distribution, sales and servicing arrangements. Industrial designers are guided by the awareness of their obligations to protect and promote public safety and well-being; to respect the environment; and to observe ethical business practices. Augmenting transdisciplinary practices, emerging areas of industrial design include design research and experience design.
Graduates with a Master of Industrial Design have career opportunities in four general areas; corporate design offices in manufacturing companies, design consulting firms, governmental agencies and educational institutions.
Master's Requirements
The Master of Industrial Design degree requires a minimum of
- 48 credit hours for applications with a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design (Track II), or
- 78 credit hours for applications with Bachelor's degrees in an area other than Industrial Design (Track III).
The program generally does not accept transfer credits in lieu of required coursework at NC State. Studio credits presented for elective transfer must be accompanied by a portfolio of work from the courses under consideration.
Student Financial Support
The Department has limited provisions for tuition remission and assistantships. Assistantships are awarded on the basis of student and departmental needs. Assistantship requests should be made to the Department of Graphic Design and Industrial Design and should be submitted with the application for admission (for incoming students) or by advertised deadline (for continuing students).
More Information
Admissions Requirements
Students must make application to the Department of Graphic Design and Industrial Design by January 5. In addition to Graduate School requirements, the Department requires department personal data forms, a digital portfolio of design work, resume, and a statement of intent.
Applicant Information
- Delivery Method: On-Campus
- Entrance Exam: The GRE is required for students whose first degree is not in Industrial Design.
- Interview Required: None
Application Deadlines
- Fall: January 15; Late applications will be considered on a space-available basis.
Faculty
Full Professors
- Audrey Barnes
- Carolina Gill
- Sharon Melissa Bennett Joines
- Tsailu Liu
- Bret Smith
Associate Professors
- Timothy W. Buie
- Russell Flinchum
- Percy Rivera Hooper
- Bongil Jin
- Bryan W. Laffitte
Assistant Professors
- Byungsoo Kim
- Yuanqing Tian
- Kelly Umstead
Emeritus Faculty
- Vincent Foote
- Haig Khachatoorian
Practice/Research/Teaching Professor
- Kathryn Anne Wozniak
Teaching Assistant Professor
- Connor Irwin
Courses
Advanced studies in industrial design. Special emphasis given to problem identification, program formulation and application of advanced design methods. All problems of an individual nature leading to a synthesis of previous design experience.
Prerequisite: Portfolio review
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Analysis of paper, wood, metal and manufacturing processes utilized in production of mass-produced products. Advanced studies in mass production processes and their influence on design and development of products. Emphasis on material search and process selection in relation to product safety, cost, function, human factors, form, finishes and joining methods.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing
Typically offered in Spring only
Analysis of plastics and rubber and related manufacturing processes utilized in production of mass-produced products. Advanced studies in mass production processes and their influence on design and development of products. Emphasis on material search and process selection in relation to cost, product safety, function, human factors, form, finishes and joining methods.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing
Typically offered in Fall only
Track III MID introduction to the theories, methods, and language of industrial design; elementary problems in form and function; and transitional implications of hand-crafted and mass-produced objects, in various materials and media. This course is open to Track III MID graduate students. This course is a prerequisite for ID 522 Graduate Studio II.
Typically offered in Fall only
Track III MID continued introduction to the fundamentals of product development and design with emphasis on analytical and intuitive approaches to problem solving, technical skills, manufacturing, and structural considerations in design of simple products/systems. This course is open to Track III Master of Industrial Design graduate students.
Typically offered in Spring only
Track III MID introduction to the ideation process of conceiving, developing and recording ideas two-dimensionally. This course is open to Track III Master of Industrial Design graduate students. This course is a prerequisite for ID532 Product Visualization II.
Typically offered in Fall only
This is an advanced course which expands the ideation process of conceiving, developing and recording ideas two-dimensionally, placing greater emphasis on the creative development and recording of the design process. This course is open to Track III Master of Industrial Design graduate students. Successful completion of ID 531 Product Visualization I is a prerequisite for this course.
P: ID 531
Typically offered in Spring only
Track III MID introduction to the computer as a design tool for generating and manipulation of two-dimensional raster and vector imagery; techniques in two-dimensional concept rendering; 2D applications for design and production of presentation documentation; and an introduction to basic 3D digital techniques. This course is open to Track III Master of Industrial Design graduate students and is a prerequisite for ID 542 Product Digital Techniques II.
Typically offered in Fall only
Methods and techniques for developing 3D digital models and presentations that are compelling, unique, and relevant in the creative process of Industrial Design. Students begin to strategically integrate 3D digital technology as part of the larger curriculum relative to studios and support classes and are encouraged to look beyond current conventions to find new means of creating digital artifacts. This course is open to Track III Master of Industrial Design graduate students.
P: ID 541
Typically offered in Spring only
ID 551 equips students with the knowledge, skill development and experience necessary to turn a two-dimensional drawing into a three-dimensional prototype through hands-on techniques. Students will develop fluency in fabricating physical form models and functional prototypes at a range of speeds and with degrees of realism that complement the process of product development.
R: Track III Master of Industrial Design graduate students
Typically offered in Fall only
This course is an introduction to the spectrum of human physical and cognitive capabilities as they relate to user interaction with designed products and environments. Emphasis is placed on designers making conscious design decisions regarding useful, usable, and desirable product, systems, and service attributes.
P: Graduate Standing
Typically offered in Spring only
This course examines research methods used in industrial design for the development of products, services, systems, and experiences. The course addresses research in multiple phases of the design process including problem definition, generative, and evaluative phases. Emphasis is placed on matching the attributes of methods with the research needs of designers to ultimately define and validate design requirements.
R: Graduate standing; Non-majors by permission only.
Typically offered in Fall only
A seminar course designed to assist students in preparing groundwork for the final project to be conducted in design studio.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing
Typically offered in Fall only
F,S. Topics of current interest to program/option offered by faculty in the School. Subjects offered under this number normally used to test and develop new courses.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Final project for graduate students supervised by members of their graduate advisory committees.
Prerequisite: ID 581
Typically offered in Spring only
Special problems in various aspects of industrial design developed under the direction of faculty member on a tutorial basis. Students should complete Graduate Independent Study Proposal form prior to registration.
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing or Permission of the Instructor
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Seminars on subjects of current interest in industrial design which are presented by persons not part of regular faculty.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Teaching experience under the mentorship of faculty who assist the student in planning for the teaching assignment, observe and provide feedback to the student during the teaching assignment, and evaluate the student upon completion of the assignment.
Prerequisite: Master's student
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
For students in non-thesis master's programs who have completed all credit hour requirements for their degree but need to maintain half-time continuous registration to complete incomplete grades, projects, final master's exam, etc.
Prerequisite: Master's student
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
For students in non-thesis master's programs who have completed all credit hour requirements for their degree but need to maintain full-time continuous registration to complete incomplete grades, projects, final master's exam, etc. Students may register for this course a maximum of one semester.
Prerequisite: Master's student
Typically offered in Spring only
For students in non thesis master's programs who have completed all other requirements of the degree except preparing for and taking the final master's exam.
Prerequisite: Master's student
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer