Support Food Security and Student Success at MassArt
Emily Blair, Sculpture and History of Art ‘26, found her creative home at MassArt, where the facilities are unlike anywhere else.
View story
Industrial Design Faculty & Department Administrators
MassArt Industrial Design student Rachel Buckley shares how scholarship support empowers her as a nontraditional student.
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 BFA ’25
Emily Blair, Sculpture and History of Art ‘26, found her creative home at MassArt, where the facilities are unlike anywhere else.
View story
MassArt illustration student Natalie Morris (BFA ’26) shares how scholarships are helping her pursue her dream of becoming a professional artist.
View story
This year’s MassArt Common Good Awards Honorees will receive custom, inscribed ceramic awards by Sam Kim, a MassArt alum transforming slipcasting into unique artistry.
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.
The MassArt community came together this Fall at the public opening of The Clown in Me Loves You at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, featuring the work of Alumna Nancy Callan BFA ‘96 Glass.
View story
Agata Stadnik, BFA' 04, MFA '09, recently wrote and illustrated her first children’s book, Walking to School Adventure.
View story
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.
The Industrial Design studios include spaces dedicated to fabrication and modeling.
In the Industrial Design BFA program, we’re dedicated to nurturing holistic, human-centered designers. We invite you to become a problem-solver who blends artistry with functionality.
You’ll build a strong foundation in skills like concept sketching, rendering, and prototyping, and gain experience with computer-aided design (CAD). You’ll also explore materials, manufacturing processes, ergonomics, and sustainability—ensuring your designs are functional, thoughtful, and ready for the real world.
Here, you’ll not only develop your design abilities but also gain the confidence to shape a better future.
MassArt Industrial Design students showcase their innovative projects at the annual Spring ID Show and Awards, open to all.
The Industrial Design studios include spaces dedicated to fabrication and modeling.
You’ll learn to sketch, prototype, and create products that enhance everyday experiences, all while focusing on the needs of real people around the world. Engage in hands-on projects that address pressing societal needs, from sustainable solutions to intuitive consumer products.
Through collaborations with industry professionals and alumni, you’ll learn how to communicate your ideas clearly, incorporate feedback into your work, and develop solutions that meet real-world needs. Our partnerships with leading organizations across Greater Boston give you hands-on opportunities to apply your skills, expand your network, and better understand the many paths within industrial design.
A cornerstone of the program is your Senior Thesis—a two-semester capstone that allows you to dive deeply into your interests and develop innovative, self-directed work that reflects your creative and professional goals.
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.
You’ll leave MassArt not only with hands-on design and technical skills, but also the confidence to present your ideas, communicate their value, and make your work matter in professional settings.
MassArt’s industrial design program graduates are making an impact shaping products, services, and experiences at top brands across a wide range of industries.
Product Designer, UX/UI Designer, Industrial Designer, Sustainability Designer, Furniture Designer, Exhibit Designer, Interaction Designer, Prototyping Specialist, 3D Modeler
Bose Corporation, Hasbro, Shark Ninja, TJX Companies, Inc., TOMY, Vibram, Signify, AVI Boston, Invention City, MCGARRY & Sons, Infra Boston, and more.
New Balance, Nike, Google, Bose, Shark Ninja, Reebok, and Apple, Microsoft, Hasbro, Bose Corporation, Stanley Black & Decker, among others.
MassArt’s Industrial Design studios offer dedicated spaces, 3D printers, model shops, and advanced fabrication labs for hands-on learning.
Learn MoreAs an Industrial Design student, you won’t just learn how to design products—you’ll learn how to design with purpose. You’ll explore how art, engineering, design, and business come together to create solutions that are functional, beautiful, and grounded in real human needs. You’ll sharpen your product design and concept development skills while also thinking about how your ideas can be manufactured, brought to market, and made sustainably.
Along the way, you’ll create work that doesn’t just solve problems, but also improves the way people live, work, and interact with the world.
See how MassArt’s Industrial Design program turns ideas into products, systems, and experiences.
In our program, students are not just trained in practical design skills; they also engage in forward-thinking discussions about social and environmental impacts.James Read Chair and Professor, Industrial Design
MassArt’s Industrial Design studios offer dedicated spaces, 3D printers, model shops, and advanced fabrication labs for hands-on learning.
Learn More