Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design
The emerging context of education in the explosion of digital information technology can be summarized as accessible, flexible, virtual, ubiquitous, connected, collaborative, authentic, and learner-centered. The education model for the Hines College's ID program focuses on addressing a new structure of learning by connecting and integrating design knowledge in new, useful, and meaningful ways to engage our students. This conceptual frame for understanding the world can further be linked to design education and practice.
Recognized as one of the best design programs in the nation, the Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design program focuses on cultivating the best talents and training for innovation leaders through a human-centered technology design curriculum. Incorporating a human perspective into research and design, the program prepares students with systematic research and design principles and methods, advanced design skills and techniques, and cutting-edge technologies. Through rigorous learning and training in design studios, our students are highly competitive, earning international top design awards every year.
This degree program is a four-year curriculum with a minimum 132 semester hours, including the University’s required core curriculum and 19 hours of elective courses. Because of the mutual and overlapping bonds of architecture, interior architecture, and industrial design, the programs share a common first-semester curriculum.
Freshmen
Fundamental design skills including visual thinking, digital sketching, basic modeling, and prototyping. Design studios focus on simple objects, hands-on making, and emphasizing a humanistic, human-centered, design thinking, nonlinear, open-ended approach to design.
Sophomore
Exposure to the basic concept of human-centered design, a methodology placing the user at the heart of the design process. It seeks a deeper understanding of users' needs, behaviors, and experiences to create effective solutions catering to their unique challenges and desires. Studies focus on advanced materials, basic manufacturing processes, and simple problem-solving through a systematic design process, transitioning from abstract reasoning to design reality.
Junior
Development of creative design thinking and problem-solving based on human-centered design with an emphasis on the physical interaction between objects and the human body, including appropriate human factors, form language, and technology. Integrating diverse design methods and techniques to develop technology-driven products for the near future. Emphasis on systematic design development with information, interaction, human factors, and interface design. Learn and apply quantitative and qualitative research methods.
Senior
Focus on advanced problem solving through systematic research, design, and experimentation with an emphasis on interdisciplinary learning through complex design problems in medical, aerospace, and other industries. The senior thesis project is designed to investigate a complex and significant issue in the real world through a professional process: a research proposal, design research, concept generation, proof of concept, design development and experimentation, design finalization, professional presentation, and optional publication.
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