An extremely fascinating area, industrial design has gained prominence over the last few years, given the greater importance given to design in almost anything. This area is not just a matter of creativity but understanding many sound scientific principles, not to mention understanding properties of materials. It has a wide range of application from the commonest to the most intricate of products. The emphasis varies a great deal among universities and hence be sure you are getting into the place of your choice.

The University of Houston’s new Master of Science in Industrial Design degree program “acts as a catalyst for innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable growth with an emphasis on interdisciplinary studies. Committed to leadership in innovation, breakthrough integrative design, and commercialization of technology and design, the graduate program advocates a new form of design knowledge merged from theory and practice, and forged with connections to the medical, energy, aerospace, computer, and entertainment industries” (http://www.uh.edu/architecture/programs/graduate-programs/industrial-design/).

The MS in Industrial Design from the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce at Philadelphia University has four areas of focus:

  • Informing design through creative research into user needs.
  • Working closely with business, engineering and other disciplines to design platforms and systems- not just isolated objects.
  • Designing intelligent products for the “internet of things,” integrating hardware, software and electronic interactivity.
  • Understanding and designing for global societies.

(http://www.philau.edu/msinddesign/)

Carelton University School of Industrial Design offers a Master of Design programme which is a “research program for candidates with prior design training or professional experience” (http://www.id.carleton.ca/).

The Masters Programme Industrial Design Engineering at the University of Twente in September and February (https://www.utwente.nl/en/education/master/programmes/industrial-design-engineering/). The Florence Design Academy offers a Master of Industrial Design “in traditional and modern graphic design, 3D graphics, 3D animations and virtual-enviroment” (http://www.florencedesignacademy.com/m_industry_eng.html).

The Scuola Politecnica di Design offers a Master’s Course in Industrial Design and says that “Today designing products means dealing with both their ideation and their feasibility addressing their entire lifecycle according to a sustainable logic” (http://www.scuoladesign.com/master/industrial-design-master/).

Central Saint Martins in the UK offers an MA in Industrial Design which “enables you to pursue your studies whilst also undertaking part-time employment, internships or care responsibilities” (http://www.arts.ac.uk/csm/courses/postgraduate/ma-industrial-design/).

Bournemouth University too offers an MA in Industrial Design and says that “You may have come from, or have a wish to enter, a broad and diverse range of creative design industries: from graphics and packaging to product, exhibition and furniture, or to transport and spatial design” (https://www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/study/courses/ma-industrial-design).