These 3 U.S. schools have great industrial design programs
Quick Fact
Industrial Design (ID) refers to product designs that are based on engineering, aesthetic and economics studies. From traditional industrial products to the latest UX/UI experience design, ID covers a wider range of products that people usually imagine.
*Industrial Designers Society of America: Industrial Design is the professional service that enhances the “physical appearance, functionality and manufacturability” of a product in order to extend its overall lasting value and experience for both the manufacturer and end-users.
What is the difference between industrial design and product design?
Many students who are new to the industrial design major wonder: Why are some courses listed under industrial design while others are listed under product design? What are the differences between them? Which major should we declare? In fact, not only the students — even many design professionals still can’t see eye to eye when it comes to industrial design vs. product design.
The most straightforward difference between the two is that industrial design emphasizes the understanding of industrial foundation and product feasibility, while product design focuses more on products’ visual design and user experience. However, the two share the same goal: to discover market opportunities, determine the problems, develop appropriate solutions to the problems and test the solutions with real users.
The best industrial design schools in the U.S.
More and more students are interested in industrial/product design and choose this major when applying for colleges. Today, we will introduce you the best industrial design schools in the U.S. The list is not in particular order and aims to discuss the unique opportunities and curriculum of each college. Hopefully this list will be helpful for students who are going to apply for the major this year.
1. Carnegie Mellon University
To many people’s surprise, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is one the oldest design programs in the U.S. The Carnegie Technical School offered classes in design as early as 1915, and in 1936 awarded its first Industrial Design degree. CMU now offers a Bachelor of Design program (BDes) with three complementary tracks in productions, communications and environments.
BDes emphasizes interdisciplinary studies and human-centered design. Beside fundamental theory courses, it offers students with expertise in the following design field: furniture, digital and mobile equipment, medical and sports equipment, clothing and soft goods, industrial products and equipment, household appliances, etc. Many graduates from BDes go on to positions in leading companies and consulting firms, such as IDEO, FCA Fiat Chrysler, VW/Audi, Google, IBM, Apple and Microsoft.
With school funding, two junior CMU students, Robert Managad and Yoon Young Kim, worked together on improving game experience for people with disabilities. During the quarantine, they successfully developed two product models for Nintendo Switch: a model for the handle and a model for the Switch body. They were invited and sponsored by the local design association to further study the user experience of Nintendo products.
2. Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is one the top design schools in the United States and its industrial design degree is well-recognized by the design industry. RISD’s industrial design program emphasizes the integration of traditional industrial values and up-to-date technology and trends. Students also have an opportunity to do challenging studio projects to better understand visual and 3D vocabulary through hands-on work.
RISD also offers plenty of collaborative projects, such as Product Design and Development program with MIT studio, the Brown | RISD Dual Degree Program (BRDD) with Brown university, etc. Large corporations such as NASA, Massachusetts General Hospital, Samsung, Progressive, Kimberly Clark, Timberland also offer program for RISD students, helping student cultivate practical experience and secure a job after graduation.
In 2019, Michael DiTullo, RISD class of 1998, won the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) Personal Recognition Award. Previous individuals who received this award include Chief Design Officer of Apple Inc., Jony Ive, famous industrial designer Raymond Lowey and Eva Zeisel. After graduating from RISD, Michael had worked for Google, Nike and Honda before opening his own studio. After 20 years of hard work, he finally won the highest award in the design industry.
Application link:
https://www.risd.edu/academics/industrial-design/undergraduate/
3. Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute is one of the top design schools in the United States as well. The industrial design program at Pratt is set to prepare students to become professional designers of the 21st century, capable of tackling momentous changes. Faculty members in Pratt are all professional educators and designers, many of them have their own companies or are winners of renown awards in the industry. Students can absorb the cultural diversity and richness of New York City, and the faculty also leads students to immerse in this center of modern design.
Charles Pollock might be the most famous alumnus of Pratt Institute. After graduating from Pratt, Charles became a furniture designer in New York City. In 1963, Charles created the most notable office chair Pollock Chair, which is now still in production. His design concept and ideas have appeared in many TV series such as Mad Men, and his works are collected in The Met archive.
Application link：
Takeaway
If you’re into industrial design, we hope that this article is helpful to you when choosing your own college. Each school has its strengths and specialties, so it’s very important to evaluate comprehensively and find the best fit for you.
