Bachelor of Design in Industrial Design Major

Bachelor in Industrial Design Major

All our majors commence upon completion of our Foundation Year requirements.

An Industrial Design degree evaluates and delivers cultural, economic, historic, ecological, social, technical, and symbolic value. You’ll learn about the way we communicate with others, find pleasure, comfort, and safety in activities and products, and how we overcome our physical and psychological limitations. Industrial design combines theory and process with practical knowledge, preparing you to develop a relevant, personal design practice of your own.

The Industrial Design program is rigorous and hands-on emphasizing an understanding of human needs. Through research and user-centred methodology, you will learn to interpret needs and desires in aesthetic, material, and ergonomic terms. You will explore and prototype in real time and space, choosing to be a generalist or specialist as you progress. Areas of specialization include household or recreational products, electronics, medical and health design, hardware,soft products, ceramics, exhibitions, furniture, material production, and research in sustainability.

FOUNDATION

15 CREDITS PER SEMESTER

• FNDT 108 Creative Processes
• FNDT 165 Core Interdisc Studio
• Foundation Studio Elective

Choose ONE of:

• FNDT 160 Core Media Studio I
• FNDT 161 Core Design Studio I
• FNDT 164 Core Visual Arts Studio I
• HUMN 100 Academic Core I
• HUMN 101 Academic Core II

SECOND YEAR

15 CREDITS PER SEMESTR

• COMD 200 Core Studio in COMD
• COMD204 Typographic Comm
• COMD 210 Core Studio in COMD
• Elective, any subject/level
• DHS 201 Design Culture II
• SOCS 202 Eco Perspective in Design

THIRD YEAR

15 CREDITS PER SEMESTER

• COMD 300 Core Studio in COMD
• COMD 310 Core Studio in COMD
• SOCS 309 Design Research
• Critical Studies Elective 300 level

FOURTH YEAR

15 CREDITS PER SEMESTER

• COMD 400 Core Studio in COMD
• COMD 410 Core Studio in COMD
• Studio Elective 200/300/400 level
• Elective, any subject/level
• SOCS 411 Professional Practice
• DHIS 400 Design Futures

Your studies will focus steadily in this field over the last three years of your four year degree. Upon completion you will achieve the undergraduate degree and designation, Bachelor of Design, Majoring in Industrial Design (BDes, IndD). See the Admissions section about application information for undergraduate, international, transfer, and aboriginal students.

The program aims are to:

• equip graduates with core industrial design competencies, including knowledge of rigorous design process, hand drawing, traditional and emerging modelling techniques, and presentation skills, and incorporate the use of practice-based exploration in design research projects and curriculum;
• prepare students to address issues of sustainability by practicing and applying design for sustainability, in an approach that encourages product-service-systems, design activism, new economic models, and growing our capacity for alternative material generation and processing;
• engage students in creative, strategic, and critical design thinking to actively synthesize social, cultural, technical, and commercial knowledge in order to formulate potent design responses;
• prepare students with a contextual understanding of industrial design practices within the creative and commercial sectors so they may enter these competitive skills and knowledge-based economies;
• foster a strong and supportive industrial design community in Vancouver, BC, Canada and abroad through reciprocal learning and research opportunities, innovative business and entrepreneurial relationships, and other networks.

We offer flexible continuing studies programs for anyone that wants to learn new creative skills, build their portfolio, and advance their career path. Choose from dozens of individual courses and workshops, or sign up for one of our full or part-time certificate programs.

Undergraduate students are also welcomed to expand their breadth of learning by taking Continuing Studies courses outside their degree program. To get started, browse our available programs online today.

Inspiring job titles of our recent graduates

Industrial Design Contractor, Accessories Design Manager, Packaging Specialist, Partner and Creative Director, 3D Sculptor/Designer and CNC Machinist, Manager of Engineering/Design/Drafting, Owner/Designer, Design Strategist, Curator/Producer

Dynamic employers that have recruited our recent graduates

TEDx, Mountain Equipment Co-op, ArcTeryx, IKEA, Norco Bicycles, Apple, Aritzia, Skidmore, Owings & Merrilll Architects, WhiteWater West Industries Ltd.