Industrial Design
From electronics, transportation, furniture, lighting, toys, medical devices, a vast variety of consumer goods, and color, materials & finishes (CMF) to system design, UX interfaces for digital products, the constantly evolving field of industrial design offers opportunities and challenges for designers to make a significant impact on the betterment of the human condition and our planet.
"Industrial Design is a strategic problem-solving process that drives innovation, builds business success, and leads to a better quality of life through innovative products, systems, services, and experiences. Industrial Design bridges the gap between what is and what’s possible. It is a trans-disciplinary profession that harnesses creativity to resolve problems and co-create solutions with the intent of making a product, system, service, experience or a business, better. At its heart, Industrial Design provides a more optimistic way of looking at the future by reframing problems as opportunities. It links innovation, technology, research, business, and customers to provide new value and competitive advantage across economic, social, and environmental spheres."- WORLD DESIGN ORGANIZATION (WDO)
THE BID PROGRAM
The NASAD accredited Industrial Design program is a BID: Bachelor of Industrial Design. The BID is an academic experience that adheres to the strict educational standards of the Industrial Design Society of America (IDSA).
Kean student Rachel Marie Thompson poses with her winning design at the national Formica Student Innovation Competition.
“From the time I started at Michael Graves College to the moment I graduated, I was surrounded by hard working, competitive driven, and innovative students. I can confidently say my takeaway from Kean includes being more innovative, thinking out of the box, conceptualizing ideas at the drop of the hat, finding design in unique places and how to have a backbone for harsh, but helpful, feedback on countless design projects. I am so thankful for all my experiences and the lifetime of mentors I will continue to have from Kean.”
Other programs you might be interested in
“My time as an industrial design student at Kean University was an inspiring journey of creativity, innovation, and problem-solving. Kean's program nurtured my passion for turning ideas into tangible, functional, and beautiful products. From sketching concepts to prototyping, the skills I gained continue to shape my career, allowing me to design a future full of endless possibilities. I’m grateful for the memories, the learning, and the foundation throughout my Kean experience.”
Beyond the Studio Classroom
The Robert Busch School of Design faculty believes in learning that extends far beyond the classroom and campus. Students are provided opportunities to become a globally oriented designer by:
- Building a professional network through participation in the programs and events of the Industrial Design Society of America (IDSA)
- Gaining real-world experience through a required internship or practicum
- Attending local, regional and national seminars, workshops and portfolio reviews with professional designers
- Entering regional, national, and international competitions
- Collaborating across disciplines on real-world projects with occupational therapists, medical students, historians, local governments, veterans, and non-profit organizations
- Studying abroad at our campus in Wenzhou, China anytime and/or travel to Rome, Italy for the spring semester junior year (& hop to Milan for the international Industrial Design expo Salone di Mobile
- Create a professional portfolio and participate in career launch event: Michael Graves College Senior Portfolio Review
In Collaboration
The world renowned ALESSI corporation invited students from the Michael Graves College Industrial Design program to their headquarters in Omegna, Italy to learn about their ideation and working process. The students were then given a creative brief and challenged to design a product for Alessi. See the results exhibited in April at the 2024 Salone di Mobile, Milan, Italy!
International Contemporary Furniture Fair
For the past three years, Kean has been one of an elite group of colleges and universities nationwide to be invited to display student work at ICFF, a major global design show.
Nonprofit Collaboration
Industrial design students collaborate on projects with nonprofits and other outside partners, including the still-in-development Mobile STEM Cabin project for Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey.
“At Kean University’s Industrial Design program, where ideas took shape as visions and then became reality, I not only honed my skills and embraced my passion but also found a supportive design community. The professors are a well of knowledge, and it was within this environment that I found my path. I had been undecided about my career direction, but once I encountered industrial design, my purpose became crystal clear. In this journey, I forged valuable connections to the design world, learning to shape the world by purposefully blending form and function, igniting my creativity to design the future we all aspire to live in.”
Careers
A career in industrial design offers a wide range of challenges and opportunities. Here are some of the career sectors in industrial design:
- Design Engineering
- Design Management
- Design Research
- Design Strategy
- Education and Academia
- Entrepreneurship
- Packaging Design
- Product Design
- Sustainability and Social Impact
- User Experience (UX) Design
#1
New Jersey industrial and product design colleges ranking by Universities.com
Top 10
Nationally ranked by College Values Online
Accreditation
Founded in 1944, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) is an organization of schools, conservatories, colleges and universities with approximately 352 accredited institutional members. It establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials for art and design and art/design-related disciplines, and provides assistance to institutions and individuals engaged in artistic, scholarly, educational and other art/design-related endeavors.
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