All programs Apply

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.

A group of innovation advisors at an art exhibition in a spacious gallery. They are observing a bicycle display and some hanging art pieces. The space is modern and well-lit, with large windows and high ceilings.

MassArt Industrial Design students showcase their innovative projects at the annual Spring ID Show and Awards, open to all.

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.

The Industrial Design studios include spaces dedicated to fabrication and modeling.

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.

Expand all

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.

Career Paths

Product Designer, UX/UI Designer, Industrial Designer, Sustainability Designer, Furniture Designer, Exhibit Designer, Interaction Designer, Prototyping Specialist, 3D Modeler

Career Development

Internships

Bose Corporation, Hasbro, Shark Ninja, TJX Companies, Inc., TOMY, Vibram, Signify, AVI Boston, Invention City, MCGARRY & Sons, Infra Boston, and more.