Industrial Design

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Industrial designers design products for people to use. Their creative and practical input into the design and development of manufactured products provides the link between the manufacturer and the consumer. Graduates will have a range of professional design skills, underpinned by a sound theoretical base, which will enable them to make a positive contribution to the profession on graduation and to continue to develop as design thinkers and practitioners.

design process

When designing a product Industrial Designers take into account social responsibilities, ecological requirements, functionality, materials, manufacturing, aesthetics, marketing and ergonomic/user centred needs in providing innovative and creative solutions to identified design problems.

In the development of a design Industrial Design students follow the same process as that adopted in a professional design studio. That comprises a combination of traditional hand generated techniques and various computer digital methods. The general process that leads to the embodiment of a new design generally involves research, concept development, concept refinement, form study, computer digital verification and finally a digital and or physical model. Industrial Designers provide us with unique and positive glimpses into the future. They add value to the users experience when engaging with products on a number of emotional and functional levels to make a contribution to the advancement of design and society.

what do industrial designers do?

industrial designers are responsible for providing solutions to the following aspects of a design problem

function: does it do what it is meant to do
aesthetics: is it visually suited for its purpose and target market
usability: how easy is it to use
manufacturing: what is it made from and how is it made
marketing: is it what its target market want and need
cost: is it priced within it’s target markets price range
management: what resources are needed to design it
social considerations: does it have a positive benefit to society
environmental considerations: it’s effects on the environment

ID-Image-Phil-Rose

course information

Industrial Design offer a 3-year Bachelor of Industrial Design degree and a post graduate 2-year Master of Industrial Design degree. The Industrial Design course consists of a core of specific industrial design units, a number of elective units, and a range of interdisciplinary units shared with students from Architecture, Graphic Design, Interior Design and Landscape Architecture.

A major component of our core industrial design units is based on design projects. These projects help develop and fine tune students design skills. Teaching design skills is a recognised strength of our course which starts in first year with teaching basic design skills aimed at developing 3D design talents and sensitivity. As the course progresses towards the third year the projects become more complex reflecting what is expected in the real world. In third year the focus is on industry-based project work where students work with Industrial Designers from industry. These projects provide students with a good understanding and first hand experience of the real world.

The Master of Industrial Design course provides students with a high level of research expertise in Industrial Design over a broad spectrum of topics together with the opportunity for an intense and professional work experience program.

To view an example of the ID design process please click here.

To view more students work please click here.

career opportunities

Industrial design graduates have a large choice of employment opportunities ranging from the traditional design manufacturing companies and design consultancies; where the variety of design work can include medical equipment, electrical product, sporting equipment and transport solutions to less traditional areas such as games animation, marketing, furniture design, shop fit-out design, graphic design, packaging, teaching/education, information technology, public service, play ground equipment design, exhibition design and signage.

Opportunities are also expanding into other fields such as design management and the design of services and systems where the skills, knowledge and the design approach are valued in both the identification of the design opportunities and solution and communication of the design proposals. Students also have the opportunity to proceed to a Master of Industrial Design.

course knowledge and skills

2D & 3D design knowledge & skills- Flair for Innovation & Creativity

Design Communication skills

Freehand drawing/sketches & rendering
Graphic presentation
Engineering Drawings
3D digital design
Computer Aided Design (CAD)- Pro/engineer, 3D Studio Max, Rhino, Sketching pads
Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) & Rapid Prototyping (RP)
2D digital design
Graphics software- Photoshop, illustrator, Flash, Director
Photography
Web page creation

User Centred Design/ Ergonomics

Marketing

Manufacturing

Plastics & Composites Technology
Metals Technology

Design Management

Exhibition design

Furniture design

Ability to work collaboratively with other professions-

Engineering, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Graphic Design

Social and Environmental awareness & sensitivity- (must be well informed)

Future needs, social contribution, sustainability, transport etc.

student resources

Studios
2 CAD labs each with 20 PCs complete with extensive range of design and office software.
Fully equipped Workshop
Photographic labs
Library
Shop
Refectory, Cafeterias / Restaurants
Bank
Post Office
Medical Centre
Recreation / Sporting facilities
Hairdresser