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Industrial Design Certificate

The Industrial Design Certificate comprises the coursework of MassArt's undergraduate degree in Industrial Design. The program covers all aspects of industrial design processes and practice. Incorporating research, concept drawing, manufacturing analysis, and material exploration, students develop the ability to design products and systems, effectively creating solutions for consumer products and organizations with an emphasis on responsible design.

Students in the certificate program take classes and participate in professional activities and events with MassArt undergraduates.

UPCOMING EVENTS

 


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Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the Industrial Design Certificate Program are expected to be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes, necessary for successful entry into professional design practice.

  • Ability to design products and systems, including but not limited to a foundational understanding of how products and systems are made; what makes them valuable; how they are developed, realized, and distributed; and how they are related to environmental and societal issues and responsible design
  • Ability to use technologies and tools associated with multi-dimensional design representation, development, dissemination, and application
  • Foundational knowledge of the history of industrial design, including but not limited to the influences of works and ideas on the evolution of design study and practice over time and across cultures
  • Fundamental knowledge of user experience, human factors, applied ergonomics, contextual inquiry, user preference studies, and usability assessments
  • Ability to research, define, and communicate about problems, variables, and requirements; conceptualize and evaluate alternatives; and test and refine solutions, including the ability to synthesize user needs in terms of value, aesthetics, and safety
  • Ability to communicate concepts and specifications in verbal, written, and multiple media at levels ranging from abstraction and sketches, to detailed multi-dimensional, functional, and visual representations
  • Functional knowledge of professional design practices and processes, including but not limited to ethical behaviors and intellectual property issues such as patents, trademarks, and copyrights
  • Knowledge of basic business practices and their relationship to industrial design as well as the ability to investigate and reconcile the needs related to entrepreneurship, marketing, engineering, manufacturing, servicing, and ecological and social responsibility in the process associated with specific design projects
  • Acquisition of collaborative skills and the ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary teams
  • Opportunities for advanced undergraduate study in areas that intensify skills and concepts, and that deepen and broaden knowledge of the profession of industrial design
  • Experience in applying design knowledge and skills beyond the classroom is essential. Opportunities for field research and experience, internships, collaborative programs with professional and industry groups, and international experiences are strongly recommended. Such opportunities to become oriented to the working profession should be supported through strong advising
Curriculum | Course sequence | app requirements | tuition | financial aid | refunds and withdrawals
 

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The Fall application cycle begins on February 1 and ends on June 15.
The Spring application cycle begins on September 1 and ends on November 1.