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Industrial Design Faculty & Department Administrators

Designing Her Future: How Scholarship Support Fuels Rachel Buckley’s Entrepreneurial Dreams

MassArt Industrial Design student Rachel Buckley shares how scholarship support empowers her as a nontraditional student.

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MassArt Industrial Design student Rachel Buckley shares her dreams of becoming an entrepreneur and 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
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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.

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A smiling person with short dark hair, wearing a black tank top, necklaces, and a wide belt, stands in a well-lit MassArt studio. Art supplies and tools are visible around the room. MASSART GIVING TUESDAY and student success are highlighted in the top right corner.

Making Loving Art: MassArt Student Natalie Morris Shares Her Story

MassArt illustration student Natalie Morris (BFA ’26) shares how scholarships are helping her pursue her dream of becoming a professional artist.

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Natalie Morris, a MassArt student, smiles in an art-filled workspace. With curly hair, hoop earrings, and tattoos of a spiderweb and skull with a bow, her student story shines. MassArt Giving Tuesday is in the corner.

Ceramicist & Alum Sam Kim Creates One-of-a-Kind Awards for MassArt’s 2024 Common Good Award Honorees

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.

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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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A Joyful Reunion of Art and Community: MassArt Alumna Nancy Callan at the Fuller Craft Museum

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.

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A group of thirteen people pose and smile in front of a blue exhibition wall reading NANCY CALLAN KATHERINE GRAY and CLOWN IN ME LOVES YOU at Fuller Craft Museum, celebrating work by MassArt Alumna Nancy Callan at the art gallery.

Fearless Creativity: MassArt Alumna Shares Lessons on Blending Design, Teaching, and Storytelling

Agata Stadnik, BFA' 04, MFA '09, recently wrote and illustrated her first children’s book, Walking to School Adventure.

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A woman with shoulder-length light brown hair, wearing a light pink shirt, stands outside in front of green foliage, holding up a children’s book titled Walking to School Adventure, ready to share her love of teaching and storytelling.

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.

Check out What Our Students are Making

Industrial Design

Featured Work

Industrial Design

Faculty

Judith Anderson

Professor, Industrial Design

Aiden Budnick

Administrative Assistant II, Animation

Frank Criscione

Assistant Professor, Industrial Design

Lars Fischer

Professor, Design Innovation

Michael Le

Vising Assist. Professor, Industrial Design

Neil Madramootoo

Adjunct Professor, Industrial Design

Yolanda McLean

Administrative Assistant, Design Departments

James Read

Chair, Design Innovation

Heather Reavey

Associate Professor, Industrial Design

Industrial Design

BFA

Dive into the exciting world of Industrial Design at MassArt, where your ideas can spark innovation and change lives.

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.

What You’ll Learn

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.

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

Career Outcomes

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.

A person in a workshop stands at a table organizing sheets of sandpaper. The background evokes an industrial design vibe with tools like clamps and a saw neatly arranged on the wall. Shelves hold various supplies, reminiscent of design studios, creating a well-equipped workspace.
Industrial Design Studios

MassArt’s Industrial Design studios offer dedicated spaces, 3D printers, model shops, and advanced fabrication labs for hands-on learning.

Learn More

Industrial Design

Industrial Design

Learn how to transform your innovative design ideas into real-world products and experiences. 

As 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.

Made at MassArt

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
A person in a workshop stands at a table organizing sheets of sandpaper. The background evokes an industrial design vibe with tools like clamps and a saw neatly arranged on the wall. Shelves hold various supplies, reminiscent of design studios, creating a well-equipped workspace.
Industrial Design Studios

MassArt’s Industrial Design studios offer dedicated spaces, 3D printers, model shops, and advanced fabrication labs for hands-on learning.

Learn More
18 UNIQUE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS. A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY.
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621 Huntington Ave,
Boston, MA 02115

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