Choosing your Perfect ID School
There are a lot of considerations you may have when choosing an Industrial Design college program for your studies. Our team reflected on our university experiences and what we wish we would have known. We’ve put together a list of things you may want to consider as you’re narrowing down your options.
Industrial Design College Considerations
Each section has drop down options that you can select, take the time to explore and consider what might be most important to you.
We know the choice can be overwhelming so we’ve created a downloadable checklist with of all the considerations listed below to help you work through what is most important to you.
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Although not all schools offer Industrial Design programs, you may want to consider what type of school would be a best fit for you.
Private School
State School
Small University
Large University
All Women's College
Ivy League
National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) accredited
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Most Industrial Designers have a degree in Industrial Design, however the type of degree may differ. Consider if any of these degrees or specialties may be beneficial for your long term career.
Associates Degree of Industrial Design
Bachelors of Science (B.S.) of Industrial Design
Bachelors of Fine Art (B.F.A.) of Industrial Design
Bachelors Degree in a specific design field (automotive, furniture, etc)
Masters of Science (M.S.) of Industrial Design
Masters of Fine Art (M.F.A.) of Industrial Design
Masters Degree in a specific design field (automotive, furniture, etc)
Minor in Industrial Design
Minor in a design related field
Minor in an engineering related field
Minor in a human sciences or research related field
Certificate or Continuing Education in Industrial Design
Alternative Design-Intensive program (non 4-year college, see Educational Alternatives Section)
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Some universities may have unique offerings to supplement traditional classes that you may want to consider taking advantage of.
Study abroad opportunities
OPT visa acceptance
Offers pre-college courses for high school students
Offers summer courses
Specialized prototyping facilities
Small class sizes
Study groups, tutors, and assistance for learning differences
Accessible for students with disabilities
Remote learning offered
Ability to have an undeclared major
On campus access to mental health and wellness support
Personal access to an academic advisor
Independent study offerings
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Industrial Design is a relatively small field and as such some programs implement caps on the number of students in the program, something that could be both a pro and a con.
Requires portfolio to apply to the program
Program has a review or down selection after a period of time in order to continue
Program requires internships
Selective admission, guaranteed job placements upon graduation
Program requires graduating in 4-6 years
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Because of the small size of the Industrial Design field, you may want to consider what connections and community different schools offer for students.
School has an IDSA student chapter
Area has an IDSA professional chapter
Companies that employee designers near the school
Local community has networking events for designers
Alumni are active with the university
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For Industrial Design in particular, most people consider professional experience to be one of the most educational experiences. You may want to consider a program that encourages gaining professional experience before graduation
Internship opportunities
Co-ops built into the curriculum
Company-sponsored projects
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Some schools also offer Industrial Design degrees as well as specialized minors or classes. If you’re looking for an ID program but have a special interest you may consider looking for a program that offers there classes.
Furniture design
Service design
Transportation design
Footwear design
Color, material, finish design
User experience design
Entrepreneurship
Interaction Design
Design for Sustainability
Business management
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Industrial Design curriculum are often more hands-on than other disciplines. As such, you may want to consider the professional experiences of the staff at different universities.
Educators of ID are practicing design professionals
Educators of ID regularly publish research, speak, and write about design
Educators of ID are leaders within IDSA
Classes have professors instead of only teach assistants
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It may be important to you to consider who your classmates and educators may be and whether or not they represent a diverse population. You may value other other aspects of diversity not listed here as well.
ID classmates & educators that are diverse in gender
ID classmates & educators are diverse in race & ethnicity
ID classmates & educators that are international
School has groups and support of diverse communities (WID, LBGTQIA, and more)
School is an HCBU (look for enrollment to start in Jan 2022 at the first design HBCU: Pensole Lewis in Detroit)
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There are schools all over the country, and abroad, that offer competitive Industrial Design programs. It may be important to you to consider where in the country your ID school is located.
Rural
Suburban
Urban
Does not require a car for basic living
Is close to a major airport
Is near my family
Is international to where I live now
Has several campuses
Offers campus housing
Allows commuter students
Has night and/or flexible class times so that I can work while going to school
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Most Industrial Design degrees are four year programs, however some universities offer different lengths.
2 year
4 year
5 year
Intensive mutli-week
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Like any college decision, cost is a factor when getting an Industrial Design degree. You may want to look into Industrial Design salaries where you want to live and use that as a factor when making a financial decision as well.
Scholarships offered
In-state tuition pricing
Jobs on campus that can support funding
Program that gives flexibility for working while going to school
Financial assistance available
Computer labs and technology available, so that you don't have to supply your own
Assistance that covers supplies and hardware for classes
No car needed for daily life
Low cost if travel is needed to visit friends & family
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Going to college is a big deal and you’re often committing both significant time and money to your education. Beyond looking at the design education offered, you may want to consider what type of lifestyle different schools would offer you.
School where all students are studying creative fields
Multi-disciplinary schools with large range of studies
School is in an area with many colleges nearby
Sports, sororities, clubs, and other groups for building community
School guided by religious principles
A college town
A major city
Many extra-curricular activities
Very safe campus with safety policies and procedures
A recognizable school name where you meet alumni everywhere you go
Access to off campus housing that won't break the bank
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Most ID jobs require a degree in Industrial Design as a prerequisite. However, there are programs that give you skills without a 4 year+ degree.
Offsite is a 12-week online course taught by design professionals and could be a good place to start.
For specific industries such as footwear design there are intensive learning programs such as Adidas S.E.E.D. in partnership with Pensole.
Everyone’s college decision is different and personal to them. There are many schools across the country that offer competitive Industrial Design educations. After reading through some of these considerations, think about which might be a priority to you and make a note on your checklist. Hopefully you’ll be able to use this as you research, apply, and choose your dream Industrial Design school.