The Industrial Design Program prepares students to be creative, practical, user-centered, aesthetics-focused, problem-solving, and opportunity-exploring designers, design strategists, or design leaders.
The NC State University Industrial Design Program is one of the top professional programs in this discipline in the country. The program offers Bachelor of Industrial Design (BID) and Master of Industrial Design (MID) degrees, both accredited by The National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
Students learn and practice design in a studio environment very similar to that of professional design offices. Students methodically study human physical and cognitive interaction with artifacts and services in order to discover user experience insights and then create innovative solutions to design problems. The dynamic and sophisticated balance of form, function, innovation, and practicality are constantly debated and articulated throughout the journey to better design.
Finally, a Home
Over the past 40 years, the Industrial Design program at NC State has grown into one of the highest-ranked ID programs in the U.S. Its graduates go on to be designers at companies like IBM, Adidas, and Under Armour. Its faculty partner on grants from the NIH to tackle human centered design for maternal and fetal medicine. Finally, the program will be moving to a dedicated space where they can work collaboratively and creatively.
The Industrial Design faculty have joined NC State University from prestigious institutions around the world, each bringing years of experience in design, research, innovation, and education. The graduates from the program are enhancing the quality of life experiences with the creative design of products, services, branding, and communication systems for companies such as IDEO, Nike, Volvo, IBM, Toshiba, Dell, Pentagram, PepsiCo, RKS Design, Microsoft, The Smithsonian, Adidas, Hasbro, Target, and Bosch.
Industrial design is the professional service of creating and developing concepts and specifications that optimize the function, value, and appearance of products and systems for the mutual benefit of both user and manufacturer. Industrial designers develop these concepts and specifications for the user and manufacturer through the collection, analysis, and synthesis of data, often within the context of cooperative working relationships with other members of a development group such as management, marketing, engineering, and manufacturing specialists. They then communicate their clear and concise recommendations through drawings, models, and verbal descriptions that embody all relevant design criteria determined by the group.
The industrial designer’s unique contribution emphasizes those aspects of the product or system that relate most directly to human characteristics, needs, experiences, and interests. This contribution requires specialized understanding of visual, spatial, and tactile senses as well as product safety and convenience criteria. Industrial designers are experts in anticipating psychological, physiological and sociological factors and perceptions that influence users of products and services. Industrial designers also maintain a practical concern for the technical processes and requirements for manufacturing; marketing opportunities and economic constraints; and regulatory requirements relevant to good design.
In addition to supplying concepts for products and systems, industrial designers are often retained for consultation on a variety of problems that have to do with product and organization identity systems, development of communication systems, interior and exhibit design, advertising devices and packaging, and other related services. Their expertise is often sought in a wide variety of administrative arenas to assist in developing industry standards, regulatory guidelines, and quality control procedures to improve manufacturing operations and products. Industrial designers are guided by a professional obligation to protect the public safety and well-being, to respect the environment, and to observe contractual and ethical business practices.
🎮✨ An arcade cabinet. A puppet show. A dying theater.
Add five design students with different skills and endless creativity, and you get Maestro’s Theatre, a playable masterpiece that turned heads at Super Magfest.
Crafted with limited resources and limited time, this retro-inspired game blends physical fabrication, digital storytelling and a whole lot of heart. Read the full story on how they brought it to life at the link in bio....
@wknc881`s Eye on the Triangle sits down with @ncstate Professor of Landscape Architecture @kofiboone to talk Empty Pedestals — a new book he co-edited with fellow design professor M. Elen Deming that explores how design can reshape public memory, confront injustice and reclaim space.
From environmental justice to community storytelling, Boone breaks down how designers are responding to the legacy of Confederate monuments — and why what comes next matters just as much as what came down.
From markers to modeling clay, foam core to Figma — Design Camp has evolved, but the creativity and chaos (the good kind) remain timeless.
Were you a camper back in the day? Maybe you still have a portfolio, a lifelong friend, or a questionable design decision or two. We want to hear your story.
👀👉 Visit the link in our bio to: 📣 Share your favorite Design Camp memories with us! 🎈 And join us this summer for special alumni events celebrating 45 years of design magic....
“It was such a big deal for me to come here. I never thought I was good enough. But I was a late bloomer.”
🎓 Big shoutout to Industrial Design senior Xzavier Taylor, representing the College of Design in @ncstate’s #NCState25 graduate stories roundup. From sketchbook to spotlight, he’s one of five grads reflecting on the journey that got them here.
📖 Read Xzavier’s story (and meet the other standout grads) at the link in our bio....
Meet Valerie Ryba, who will be walking the stage with the designers of #NCState25 this week to receive her Bachelor of Architecture. 🎓❤️
"I came to architecture through the stories of my parents, who grew up on the South Side of Chicago. Hearing and seeing the housing conditions they experienced opened my eyes to the way entire communities can be left behind by systems meant to serve them. I saw architecture as a way to change that — to create spaces rooted in dignity, safety, and beauty for people who are too often overlooked.
Over time, my understanding of design deepened. I began to see the nuance — the tradeoffs, the complexity, and most importantly, the value of listening. That clarity was reignited in my current studio with Matt Griffith, whose approach to design — thoughtful, patient, and deeply human — reminded me why I fell in love with this work in the first place. It’s not just about building; it’s about creating meaningful, functional spaces that improve people’s lives.
This journey has never been a solo one. At NC State, I’ve been surrounded by incredible opportunities and communities that have shaped me. One of the most transformative experiences was pursuing the Outdoor Leadership Minor. The instructors and peers I met through that program helped me grow both personally and professionally. They taught me how to lead, how to listen, and how the outdoor world and the built world can inform and enrich one another.
The Caldwell Fellows program has been another grounding force. Through its emphasis on reflection, authenticity, and servant leadership, I’ve learned to move through this world with greater intentionality. The Caldwell community —students, mentors, and alumni — has offered me perspective and support through both uncertainty and growth. Finally, I owe everything to the people who’ve walked beside me. To my family, whose sacrifices made this journey possible. To my friends, who reminded me to laugh and breathe. And to my partner, George — thank you. Your steady belief in me, especially on the hardest days, carried me through. You’ve been my rock and my joy."...
We’re mourning the loss of Professor Vince Foote — a legendary designer, mentor, and educator whose 40-year teaching career at NC State shaped generations of design thinkers.
Vince wasn’t just an outstanding teacher (though he had the awards to prove it). He was a force — hilarious, unshakable, and deeply invested in the success of his students.
As Professor Audrey Barnes put it: “He empowered generations of NC State design students to believe that not only we could be, but that we should be the leaders of the future. That our ideas mattered regardless of who we were or where we came from.”
To Vince, students weren’t just learners — they were his legacy. As he liked to say, “You are my portfolio.”
And his portfolio? It’s full of bold thinkers, mavericks, educators, leaders and friends who carry his lessons with them every day.
We invite our community to read more about Vince’s life and lasting impact at the News link in our bio. And if you`re ever near Player’s Retreat, raise a glass for him....
This year, Art2Wear reimagined what a fashion show could be — trading the traditional runway for something far more intimate, experimental and alive.
In its 24th year, Art2Wear: Revive transformed @ncstategreggmuseum into a living, breathing showcase of wearable art. Designers imagined their models and looks as stationary exhibits, inviting the audience to slow down, look closer and truly engage with the stories embedded in every stitch, seam and silhouette.
Each room was a portal into the minds of NC State student designers — a series of distinct visions tied together by a shared spirit of innovation and craft. From intricate handwork and sustainable practices to cutting-edge materials and boundary-pushing silhouettes, every piece reflected what it means to revive: to question, reimagine, and give new life to ideas through design.
Art2Wear is more than a show — it`s a platform for future thinkers to challenge convention and connect with the community. Thank you to everyone who made this year’s event unforgettable....
