Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design
BS. IDS, Four-year Degree Program
The Industrial Design Program offers a four-year Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design (BSID) degree. The curriculum is centered on eight semesters of studio/laboratory instruction in conjunction with lecture courses that uniquely draws support from its place within the college, thus offering the student opportunities for discovery within a wide field of explorations. Housed within the School of Design, the program enjoys a rich educational community fostering collaborative scholarship across programs including Bachelor Science in Interior Design, Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, Master of Landscape Architecture, and PhD in Architecture and Design Research programs. Our college contains schools of Architecture, Visual Arts, and Performing Arts as part of a comprehensive land-grant university.
The focus of the first year in the Foundation Program is involved with basic elements of design, addressed visually, conceptually, and haptically. Studies are undertaken in two and three dimensions using various materials and tools. Inquiries are focused on the process of design, discovering, through experiment, methods of working that develop aesthetic judgment and means of self-evaluation. All architecture, industrial design, interior design, and landscape architecture majors study together for the first year.
The sophomore year is a constellation of courses with the studio (IDS 2015 and 2016) at its core. The courses surrounding the studio work hand-in-hand to support the focus of those projects. Students in the first semester of their second year take their first module, a required workshop (IDS 3224) taught by staff in the wood and metal shops of Burchard Hall. Studio professors oversee the intersection of workshop exercises and studio projects. The Materials and Processes (IDS 2034) and Design Visualization (IDS 2065) classes center coursework on the projects in the studio. Students apply information learned in courses such as Human Factors (IDS 2044) Computer-Aided Industrial Design (IDS 2304) in their second semester.
The junior year focuses on learning and applying systematic processes in design. Central to this is an understanding and appreciation of the role of the user in a Human Centered Design approach and the ability to identify and address design opportunities through Design Research (IDS 3514) to both objects and systems. The guiding issues addressed in 3rd year mirror those facing the design profession, and include ecology, material usage, and universal design. Design competencies developed in the junior year focus on methods of experimental modeling and prototype building; the integration of computer technology into the design process; and the development of team problem solving abilities and team design work.
The senior year of the ID program centers on detailed analysis, research and application of the issues of production and marketing to the design of equipment, workspaces and environments, and health related products and services. Building on the previous studios and coursework, students continue with experimental modeling and the construction of full scale, interactive prototypes. Emphasis is placed on the development of independent decision making, often addressing the needs of special populations such as children, people with disabilities, and the elderly. Spring semester is dedicated to student directed Senior Thesis Projects.
The internationally recognized program at Virginia Tech, fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), prepares individuals to enter this dynamic field through a rigorous curriculum and an experienced, dedicated faculty.
The focus of the first year in the Foundation Program is involved with basic elements of design, addressed visually, conceptually, and haptically. Studies are undertaken in two and three dimensions using various materials and tools. Inquiries are focused on the process of design, discovering, through experiment, methods of working that develop aesthetic judgment and means of self-evaluation. All architecture, industrial design, interior design, and landscape architecture majors study together for the first year.
The sophomore year is a constellation of courses with the studio (IDS 2015 and 2016) at its core. The courses surrounding the studio work hand-in-hand to support the focus of those projects. Students in the first semester of their second year take their first module, a required workshop (IDS 3224) taught by staff in the wood and metal shops of Burchard Hall. Studio professors oversee the intersection of workshop exercises and studio projects. The Materials and Processes (IDS 2034) and Design Visualization (IDS 2065) classes center coursework on the projects in the studio. Students apply information learned in courses such as Human Factors (IDS 2044) Computer-Aided Industrial Design (IDS 2304) in their second semester.
The junior year focuses on learning and applying systematic processes in design. Central to this is an understanding and appreciation of the role of the user in a Human Centered Design approach and the ability to identify and address design opportunities through Design Research (IDS 3514) to both objects and systems. The guiding issues addressed in 3rd year mirror those facing the design profession, and include ecology, material usage, and universal design. Design competencies developed in the junior year focus on methods of experimental modeling and prototype building; the integration of computer technology into the design process; and the development of team problem solving abilities and team design work.
The senior year of the ID program centers on detailed analysis, research and application of the issues of production and marketing to the design of equipment, workspaces and environments, and health related products and services. Building on the previous studios and coursework, students continue with experimental modeling and the construction of full scale, interactive prototypes. Emphasis is placed on the development of independent decision making, often addressing the needs of special populations such as children, people with disabilities, and the elderly. Spring semester is dedicated to student directed Senior Thesis Projects.
The internationally recognized program at Virginia Tech, fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), prepares individuals to enter this dynamic field through a rigorous curriculum and an experienced, dedicated faculty.
required pathways to general education courses
45 credits (which may be covered by in-major courses)
Pathways Concept 1f — Foundational Discourse: ENGL 1105-1106 Freshman English 6 credits
Pathways Concept 1a — Advanced Discourse 3 credits
Pathways Concept 2 — Critical Thinking in the Humanities: ART 2385, 2386 Survey of Western Art History 6 credits
Pathways Concept 3 — Reasoning in the Social Sciences 6 credits
Pathways Concept 4 — Reasoning in the Natural Sciences 6 credits (no labs required)
Pathways Concept 5f — Foundational Quantitative and Computational Thinking: Math 1014 + Math 1025 or Math 1025 + Math 1026 or Math 1535 + Math 1536 (5f) 6 credits
Pathways Concept 5a — Advanced/Applied Quantitative and Computational Thinking 3 credits
Pathways Concept 6a — Critique and Practice in the Arts: IDS-2114 History of Industrial Design 3 credits
Pathways Concept 6d — Critique and Practice in Design: IDS-2124 History of Modern Industrial Designers 3 credits
required professional courses
79 credits
ARCH 1015, 1016 Foundation Design Laboratory (1st year) 12 credits
IDS 2114 History Industrial Design (1st year) 3 credits
IDS 2124 History of Modern Industrial Designers (1st year) 3 credits
IDS 2015-2016 Industrial Design Lab II (2nd year) 11 credits
IDS 2034 Design Visualization (2nd year) 3 credits
IDS 2044 Human Factors (2nd year) 3 credits
IDS 2304 Computer Aided Industrial Design (2nd year) 3 credits
IDS 3015-3016 Industrial Design Lab III (3rd year) 12 credits
IDS 3124 Materials and Processes (2nd year) 3 credits
Topics in Industrial Design 6 credits
(IDS 3204 Professional Development, IDS 3224 Design Competencies, IDS 3234 Design Theory)
IDS 3514 Design Research (3rd year) 3 credits
IDS 4015-4016 Industrial Design Lab IV (4th year) 12 credits
IDS 4044 Professional Practice & Entrepreneurship (4th year) 2 credits
electives
9 credits
Professional Elective Courses (To be selected from an approved list of courses supplied by the School) 6 credits
Total required for B.S. in Industrial Design: 124 credits
Students from other disciplines may pursue a Minor in Industrial Design.
The minor requires 18 hours, with no less than 6 hours at the 3000 or 4000 level, including a studio offered during the summer. Classes may be taken in any order.
There are no hidden prerequisites in this minor.
The ARCH 1015-1016 prerequisite for Human Factors is waived for minor students.
Student must have an in minor and overall GPA of 2.0 to graduate.
Required Courses:
IDS 2214 IDS Studio for Minors (6 credits)
IDS 3124 Materials and Processes 3
IDS 2044 Human Factors 3
Either of the Following: 3 credits
IDS 2114 History of Industrial Design
IDS 2124 History of Modern Industrial Designers
Choose 3 Credits from the Following Electives: 3 credits
ARCH 3504 Design Related Media
IDS 4974 Independent Study
IDS 3204 Topics in Professional Development
IDS 3224 Topics in Design Competencies
IDS 3234 Topics in Design Theory
The Design + Technology + Creative Expression minor allows students to pursue an interdisciplinary technology-mediated design topic that transcends their own major and integrates liberal arts and design. Through the introductory course, students will be introduced to a collection of technology-mediated and inter- and transdisciplinary approaches to creative work that integrate the liberal arts and design. In the mid-level courses, students will build on that knowledge by exploring three key areas (understand, explore, and materialize) and creative and collaborative uses of technology. In the capstone course, they will then create a product and/or experience that combines their new skills in creative technologies with what they have learned in their majors.
Based on their interests, Industrial Design students select a Role and Industry which comprises their Concentration (example: Industrial Designer in Health Tech, UX/UI Designer in Information Tech, etc).
Minors for Industrial Design Students
Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in a minor that compliments their concentration. Below is a selection of minors recommended for industrial design students.
Engineering Science & Mechanics Minor
Interest Alignment: This minor is valuable for students interested in industrial design and engineering, as it provides technical insight into how products are implemented. It helps build the vocabulary needed to collaborate with engineers and bring designs to production. The program is flexible, offering electives in areas such as biomechanics, renewable energy, and more depending on student interests.
Career Outcomes: Industrial Designer, Design Engineer, Digital Product Designer, Product Manager, Project Manager
Interest Alignment: This minor is valuable for students interested in AI, electronic products, digital prototyping, and UX/UI. Computer Science is a powerful combination with design, enabling students to build and launch a software product before graduating. The skills gained also make it possible to build interactive prototypes for hardware devices.
Career Outcomes: Industrial Designer, Digital Product Designer, Creative Technologist, Product Manager
Interest Alignment: Valuable for students interested in design management and how decisions are made about whether a product should be launched. It will enable designers to make the case for why a product should be developed from a financial perspective, enabling them to collaborate effectively with business colleagues.
Career Outcomes: Industrial Designer, Digital Product Designer, Product Manager, Project Manager, Product Strategist, Business Designer, Product Analyst, Merchandise Planner, Retail Buyer
Digital Marketing Strategy Minor
Interest Alignment: Valuable for those interested in tech-enabled ecommerce brands, and developing storytelling for users across web, mobile, and social platforms. Students will be able to add customer-focused positioning to their design projects, concept marketing campaigns, and show why it will resonate with its users.
Career Outcomes: Industrial Designer, Product Marketing Manager, Product Strategist, Business Designer, Merchandise Planner, Retail Buyer
Interest Alignment: Valuable for those interested in user research, interactive data visualizations, environmental analysis, or public health informatics. Students will be able to apply quantitative methods to understand user behavior, and discover meaningful problems from big data that are design-actionable.
Career Outcomes: UX Researcher, Data Visualization, Digital Product Designer, Market Researcher, Research Analyst, Product Analyst
Sustainable Biomaterials Minor
Interest Alignment: Valuable for students interested in sustainable material selection, especially in packaging and consumer packaged goods. Students will develop a strong toolkit for prototyping with biomaterials, developing their own materials, and rigorously describing materials selection.
Career Outcomes: Industrial Designer, CMF Designer (Color, Material & Finish), Packaging Designer, Structural Packaging Designer
Interest Alignment: For those interested in the intersection of materials and technology especially in health, medical, textile, or electronics applications. Students will be enabled to create projects with advanced materials and future-facing applications like self-cleaning coatings, smart textiles, medical wearables, and sensors.
Career Outcomes: Industrial Designer, Materials Innovation Designer, Medical Product Design, Footwear Designer, CMF Designer (Color, Material & Finish)