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.
The hits keep coming this week! Join us for— Denied Momentum: How Facing Every Pivot Builds Not Just Our Character, But Our Joy—by David Bulfin @bulfin. David is an @ncstatedesign alum, former BOLTGROUP Design Director, skate deck manufacturer, amateur racing driver, and now full-time LEGO Designer in Billund, Denmark.
David has built a career on resilience and adaptability across industries and continents — and believes every design challenge has equal dignity.
🗓 Thursday, April 9 · 4:30 PM 📍 Burns Auditorium 🔓 Open to all
Hey GXD! Tuesday 4/7 we’re welcoming Dana C. Gierdowski to the College of Design for a conversation every designer needs to hear: “You Are Not the User: Unpacking the Research Process at Lenovo.”
Dana leads product research on Lenovo’s UX Design Research team, working across hardware, software, and emerging design. She’s also a NC State alum (PhD, Communication, Rhetoric, and Digital Media) — so this is a homecoming of sorts.
Pull up and learn what rigorous user research looks like at scale.
Thrilled to host Jason P. Belaire, FIDSA—@belworldcreative—here at @ncstate_gxid @ncstatedesign for what promises to be a powerful discussion. (Now in the Rotunda!)
Jason’s new PRIMAL EMPATHY™ framework — fresh off its SXSW debut — challenges us to rethink how we approach empathy in design, moving beyond surface-level rhetoric toward research-backed, human-centric practice. This is a must-attend for anyone working at the intersection of design, technology, and human connection.
Join us!
📍 The Rotunda (50 Pullen Rd., 3rd Floor) ⏰ Wednesday, April 8th @ 4:30 PM 🎟️ Public keynote — all are welcome.
Congratulations @zandermeister and @diego.renau_ on winning the #IDSASMA here at @ncstate_gxid @idsa_ncsu! Many thanks to our judges Mary Lee Cater, Sam Patterson, Prassad Joshi and Alyssa Weathers. And to @idsa_rdu and @kim.byungsoo! See you in Atlanta #IDSASDDC...
Today is NC State’s Day of Giving — and gifts to our Graphic & Experience Design and Industrial Design Funds for Excellence make a real difference: 🔴 Scholarship dollars that keep students here. 🔴 Conferences where they find their people. 🔴 Guest critics who push their thinking. 🔴 Visiting designers working at the edges of the field.
That access shapes careers. And it doesn’t happen without us!
🔗 Link in bio to give today. Check your affiliations when you do — it helps unlock challenge funds.
Huge thanks to @tri.uxpa for collaborating on this event with Director of UX for Volvo Trucks, Richard Hughes. His thought-provoking talk on the future of UX challenges us to think beyond interfaces and toward the deeper, more human relationships we’re designing for.
The energy was fantastic, the conversations kept going long after the talk, and the after-party at the WXYZ Rooftop didn’t disappoint.
Proud the @ncstate_gxid could be home to moments like these. Already looking forward to the next one!
Around this spring break week? Join @tri.uxpa & @ncstate_gxid @ncstate_mgxd for: From Interfaces to Relationships – The Future of UX Design with Richard Hughes, Director of UX at Volvo Trucks!
He will explore how UX design is evolving beyond interfaces into shaping meaningful relationships between people and technology.
🗓 Date & Time: Thursday, March 19, 2026 | 5:45 PM – 8:30 PM 📍 Location: Brooks Hall, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC Networking: WXYZ Rooftop Lounge, Aloft Raleigh Hotel (2100 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27607)
Event Highlights: - Discover how technology is shifting from interfaces to ongoing, human-centered experiences. - Learn how designers can create empathetic, elegant experiences that adapt and respond over time. - Q&A session with Richard Hughes, followed by networking with UX professionals.
💡 Bonus: Free parking after 5 PM. Visitor Parking available.
🎟 Registration: This is a free, in-person event. Spots are limited, so register early! Waitlist available if the event fills up. https://lnkd.in/e5KxxwWY
In honor of women’s history month, tonight’s #FemTech Panel & Showcase brought together NC State Industrial Design faculty and alumni who are designing for women’s health and wellbeing — from reimagining menstrual care to pioneering custom-fit wearables and pelvic health innovation.
So proud of our panelists — Paula León, Jabria Oliver, Abby Scheer, Dr. Yuanqing “Ching” Tian, and moderator Kelly Umstead — for sharing their work and inspiring the next generation of human-centered designers.
Happy B-Roll Friday! Audrey, Ching, and Emma got to spend a portion of this week at the IDSA Women in Design Conference in Denver, CO. Had to go selfie mode to commemorate such a great couple days of learning and building community 🤓 #industrialdesign #idsa #womenindesign...
