Industrial Design Faculty & Department Administrators
As a nontraditional student, scholarship support ensures that Rachel can continue building the skills and confidence to create innovative designs and realize her entrepreneurial ambitions.
As giving season approaches, please consider making a gift of any amount to support unique and innovative changemakers like Rachel, so they can complete their education and make their mark on the world.
Having any kind of scholarship support means the world to me because I really want to be here… I’m on the right path and I’m doing what I was meant to do.Rachel Buckley ’25 BFA Industrial Design
Photo courtesy of Sam Kim
On Saturday, December 7, 2024, community members gathered to honor individuals fostering positive change at the second annual MassArt Common Good Awards.
In keeping with the tradition of honoring each recipient with a unique award, this year’s honorees recieved custom-made, inscribed ceramic pieces by Korean-American artist and designer Sam Kim, a 2018 graduate of MassArt’s Industrial Design and Ceramics program. Kim’s innovative approach to slipcasting transforms a process traditionally used for mass production into one that creates distinctive, one-of-a-kind pieces.
Kim discovered his passion for ceramics while studying Industrial Design at MassArt, where he was drawn to clay’s malleable and moldable nature. His work seamlessly blends the precision of industrial design with the expressive possibilities of clay, resulting in pieces that are both functional and visually dynamic.
Slipcasting, a process involving liquid clay poured into molds, serves as the foundation of Kim’s practice. He challenges its conventional use by carefully layering and stacking molds to ensure each piece is unique. His aesthetic is defined by what he terms “offsets”—intentional slants and geometric contours that combine curves with sharp cuts. These features add movement and tension to his work, transforming a traditionally uniform process into a method for creating truly personal and distinctive objects.
In addition to his artistic practice, Kim co-founded Slow Hands Studio in Lowell with his studio partner, Leena Cho. Together, they have built a creative space dedicated to producing thoughtfully designed ceramics and exploring new possibilities in the medium. Outside the studio, Kim draws inspiration from his everyday rituals, whether brewing the perfect cup of coffee, cycling through the city, exploring new technologies, or playing video games.
Kim’s work has been featured in exhibitions such as Lines of Korea, Cultural Context, and the State of Clay Biennial. His custom-designed pieces for the MassArt Common Good Awards reflect his dedication to craftsmanship and his vision for pushing the boundaries of ceramic design.
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At MassArt, MFA students and alumni uncover their unique curatorial styles through hands-on experiences and courses like Curatorial Practice. Catherine LeComte Lecce’s exhibition, Matrescence, explored the profound and often overlooked transformations of motherhood.
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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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
