Industrial Design (BS) at Georgia Institute of Technology

Undergraduate education in industrial design at Georgia Tech leads to the Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Design that is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The undergraduate program prepares students for a career in design practice as well as for graduate education in industrial design and in other related fields. The School of Industrial Design at Georgia Tech offers the only industrial design degree program in the University System of Georgia.

Industrial design is the professional practice of creating products that enhance the function, usability, value, and appearance of products, services, systems, and experiences with the goal of benefiting the user, manufacturer, community, and the environment. Industrial design education prepares students to design systems and tangible artifacts including, consumer and recreational products, business and industrial products, medical and computer equipment, transportation and environments, as well as user experience and interfaces. Both generalist and specialist, industrial designers tend to be part artist, part entrepreneur, and part engineer.

Cross-disciplinary education is the primary focus of the four-year industrial design program. The university education provides:

1. an understanding of the arts (liberal and visual arts), technology (engineering and sciences), humanities (sociology and psychology), and management (marketing and branding),
2. a collaborative and shared education through an emphasis on the design studio, and
3. an opportunity to periodically participate in real-life design projects through sponsored studio projects.

The undergraduate program offers a well-rounded course of study with an emphasis on critical thinking, basic design, design skills, and design communication. There are 6 industrial design studios after the first-year suite of introductory design classes. The industrial design studios focus on a sequential learning path which begins with form making to product design to post design that involves development and manufacturing. Design projects stress developing a broad education through an exposure to academic and professional considerations. The School encourages students to develop a diverse background in order to expand individual talents and respond to emerging opportunities in the field. Faculty members are scholars and design practitioners, giving students the opportunity to learn about both.