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Maddie Johnson-Harwitz, '25 BFA, Industrial Design Camp Stove, 3D Modeled Render, 2023
Brian Ferreira, '25 BFA, Industrial Design Sam: Health Monitoring, 3D Modeled Render, 2023
A white and chrome espresso machine.
Kurt Kindermann, '24 BFA, Industrial Design 8C Espresso Machine, Keyshot Rendering, 2023
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Industrial Design

Studios

Industrial Design students have access to our Auxiliary Fabrication Studio, Model Shop, and a studio space within a collaborative work environment.

The Industrial Design studios, located on the tenth floor of the Tower building, are well-equipped with resources that mimic a professional workspace, giving our students a hands-on learning experience. Here are some of the primary resources you will use:

  • Dedicated Studio Space: Each student gets their own studio space, a place to work independently that also encourages collaboration and teamwork.
  • Classroom-Studio Integration: Many classes are taught right in the studio, providing a real-world work environment experience.
  • Computer Lab: Our computer lab is equipped with industry-standard computers and the latest design software. These computers are connected to Cintiq computer drawing screens, allowing students to work digitally, a critical skill in modern design.
  • 3D Printers: We have six 3D printers for rapid prototyping, allowing students to bring their digital designs to life and experiment with different ideas.
  • Model Shop: This is where students can build physical prototypes of their designs, learning to work with various materials.
  • Soft Goods Development Area: This space is dedicated to projects involving fabrics and soft materials, providing students with a wide range of design possibilities.
  • All-School Workshop and Fabrication Labs: These facilities offer advanced manufacturing technologies like laser printing, water jet printing, CNC milling, and plasma cutting. Students can experiment with different materials and techniques, which is essential for their growth as versatile designers.

With these resources, you will be well-prepared for success in the professional world, with practical skills and hands-on experience with cutting-edge tools and technologies used in the industry.

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Industrial Design

Featured Work

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Industrial Design

Faculty

Judith Anderson

Professor, Industrial Design

Gregory Cook

Adjunct Professor, Industrial Design

Frank Criscione

Assistant Professor, Industrial Design

Lars Fischer

Professor, Design Innovation

Neil Madramootoo

Adjunct Professor, Industrial Design

Yolanda McLean

Administrative Assistant, Design Departments

James Read

Chair, Design Innovation

Heather Reavey

Associate Professor, Industrial Design

Alice Stanne

Administrative Assistant, Design Departments

Laura Woolpert

Visiting Lecturer, Industrial Design
All programs Apply

Industrial Design

BFA Program

Create impactful products and experiences that combine eye-catching design, performance, safety, and efficiency.

Industrial Design at MassArt is dedicated to nurturing holistic, human-centered designers. Our BFA program equips students to create impactful solutions for products, services, and environments across diverse industries and non-profit sectors. You will develop essential skills such as concept sketching, rendering, and prototyping and gain experience with computer-aided design (CAD) and the importance of Manufacturing and material processes, ergonomics, and human factors in design.

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Through collaborations with industry professionals and alumni, you’ll receive invaluable critique and guidance, preparing you for the transition into the field. Our partnerships with leading organizations in and around Boston allow you to apply your skills in real-world settings, expand your professional network, and deepen your understanding of the industrial design profession.

A cornerstone of our program is the Senior Thesis project, a two-semester capstone that empowers you to delve deeply into your design interests and produce innovative, self-directed work that reflects your individual creative vision and professional aspirations.

Featured Work
Maddie Johnson-Harwitz, ’25 BFA, Industrial Design Camp Stove, 3D Modeled Render, 2023
Farid Mokarimanshadi, Industrial Design FORALL, Furniture, 2019
Alexander Bandazian, Industrial Design Sunshower Light Therapy, Model, 2015

Graduate with skills and expertise that prepare you to succeed as an accomplished industrial designer.

An Industrial Design education from MassArt prepares you to design products, services, and experiences that people around the world use every day. Here are just some of the concepts, skills, and career opportunities that our students gain during their time here.

Industrial Design is a multifaceted discipline that combines art, science, and technology to improve the human experience through well-designed products. At MassArt, we prepare the next generation of designers to face the challenges of our rapidly changing world, remaining at the forefront of innovation through thoughtful, human-centered design solutions.

Alumni Success

MassArt’s industrial design program graduates are making significant impacts across a wide spectrum of industries, working with internationally recognized brands such as Nike, Google, Bose, Shark Ninja, Reebok, and Apple. Our curriculum emphasizes visual and verbal communication, ensuring you can effectively explain the value of your designs to business partners, communities, and individuals.

BFA Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the Industrial Design BFA program are expected to be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes, which are necessary and part of successful entry into professional design practice.

  • The history of industrial design, including the influence of various works and ideas on the evolution of design study and practice over time and across cultures.
  • User experience, human factors, applied ergonomics, contextual inquiry, user preference studies, and usability assessments.
  • How the products and systems you design are developed, realized, and distributed; what makes them valuable; and how they’re related to environmental and societal issues and responsible design.
  • Professional design practices and processes, including ethical behaviors and intellectual property issues such as patents, trademarks, and copyrights.
  • Basic business practices and their relationship to industrial design as well as the ability to investigate and reconcile needs related to entrepreneurship, marketing, engineering, manufacturing, servicing, and ecological and social responsibility in the process associated with specific design projects.

  • Designing products and experiences that perform specific tasks and solve predetermined problems.
  • Using technologies and tools associated with multi-dimensional design representation, development, dissemination, and application.
  • Researching, defining, and communicating about problems, variables, and requirements in the design process; conceptualizing and evaluating alternatives; and testing and refining solutions, including the ability to synthesize user needs in terms of value, aesthetics, and safety.
  • Communicating concepts and specifications in verbal, written, and multiple media at levels ranging from abstraction and sketches to detailed multi-dimensional, functional, and visual representations.Collaborating and working effectively in interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary teams.

  • Field research and experience
  • Internships
  • Collaborative programs with professional and industry groups
  • International experiences
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