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.
Gratitude for our amazing alumni, students, faculty and staff—everyday. Especially thankful to Mike, Laura and their beautiful family and colleagues for the amazing surprise for our first year #Industrialdesign students! @lautdesign...
Innovation across disciplines is hard—and it just might be the answer to so many pressing challenges. Just ask our @ncstate_gxid students participating in the GXD + ID #interdisciplenary collaboration with @lenovo. Here’s a sneak peak of the incredible work they have created this semester...
Love outdoor gear? Want to learn more about adventuring and design?
Join us: ⏰4:30PM, Wed Nov. 19 📍Lampe 123 🍿Light bites provided! . . Dr. Sean Michael, @thegeardoctor, holds a joint appointment Utah State University as Professor of Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning, and of Outdoor Product Design & Development. He teaches and researches the history of vehicle-based adventure travel, and the evolution of outdoor gear. Michael’s roots in the outdoors began in the 1970s, and he continues to modify and make his own gear. His outdoor products experience includes retail sales and trip leadership, along with independent product testing and reviews for the past 12 years. His graphic illustrations have been published in Climbing Magazine, along with Eric Horst’s How to Climb 5.12. Michael’s outdoor pursuits include cycling, rafting, snowboarding, mountaineering and vehicle-based exploration.
He has served as an industry critic and consultant since 2000, with brands including Klim, BFGoodrich, Warn Winches, Cabelas and Alpinestars and as brand Ambassador for Expion360, Mountain Khakis and EcoFlow. Dr. Michael’s long-term field testing have been featured in numerous publications, including ADVrider, Offroad.com, and BMWMOA Owners News. He and his wife are instructors in adventure travel, and his classes and talks have helped educate audiences at Overland Expo, SEMA, and Outdoor Retailer in topics including solar power, overland trailers, E-bikes and remote travel throughout Baja Mexico.
💫That’s a wrap on this year’s regional NC & VA #ID #portfolioreview! The talent, the conversations, the connections—that’s what it’s all about. Huge thanks to our friends at @jmu_id & @idsajmu for hosting @idsa_ncsu Gratitude to all the reviewers, speakers & volunteers! 🙏
Positive Change Through Design | Aly Khalifa is a designer and engineer who believes in using innovation as a force for good. An alum of both the @ncstatedesign and the @ncstateengr —he helped launch early sustainability campaigns on campus—setting the stage for a career centered on positive-impact projects at every scale, from statewide bicycle highways to equipment for the U.S. Cycling Team.
He credits much of his path to the foundations he gained at NC State, where he learned user-centered empathy and creative entrepreneurship. Since then, he’s founded multiple ventures, including SPARKcon (a creative festival in downtown Raleigh) and Gamila, a gourmet product company acquired by Seventh Generation.
In recent years, Aly has focused much of his work on addressing ocean plastic. He co-founded the Oceanworks materials platform, partnered with Australia’s Plastic Collective to develop community-based recovery systems, and contributed to the Verra Plastic Credit methodology. This work ultimately led him to collaborate with sustainability pioneer William McDonough, serving as CTO of his innovation practice and helping Fortune 100 companies advance their environmental goals.
Aly remains actively involved with NC State—as a Visiting Professor, Social Entrepreneur in Residence, member of the Design Leaders Council, past Art2Wear Chair, and current member of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Board.
Through this talk, Aly will share some of his stories and lessons in a career attempting positive change through design....
