Design Degrees Online

The ultimate neighbour-friendly lawnmower, the relaxing crumb-sweeper, or the Tony Blair-imitating mobile phone: all three objects were designed by creative minds with a knack for design and the necessary expertise.

As an industrial designer, you are the architect of products. It is your job to improve existing designs or to surprise the world with your creative ingenuity. Your vision of the future manifests itself in a passion for design, applied design methodology and the nerve to propose change. Industrial designers sketch, develop and help produce industrial products. They are involved in the creation process from its conception to the actual production, taking into account all kinds of technical, socio-economic and human factors.

Industrial Design is a complex profession. Industrial designers are concerned with the design of the sensuous-rem tangible dimension of products. Your designs live as much of the formal coherence as is the underlying knowledge. Industrial designers reflect societal changes and show ways in which new technological opportunities, materials and procedures in implementing innovative products. They set trends in many areas of everyday life, leisure time or work life.

Content of training
Teaches are key competences of the draft in all its formal, aesthetic and linguistic aspects of products. Students acquire comprehensive skills in the presentation in both analog and digital, in the 2-D as in 3-D field. They combine these skills with the ability, sound knowledge of the context / usage, material / construction and production / market orientation in their designs to integrate. The graduates, in addition to the practical knowledge of a theoretical background for the design of industrially manufactured products of the everyday world, as well as technical equipment and related services for a regional to a global market.

Flexible, imaginative, innovative and able to collaborate with other disciplines, industrial designers must respond to rapid commercial and technological change. Increasingly designers are called upon to take a proactive role within industry and become involved in strategic decision making. MA Industrial Design encourages the anticipation and initiation of change in all areas of industrial design: consumer-durable products; capital goods; transport; packaging; sanitary ware; furniture for private, corporate and public environments; architectural space; interface design; design management; and strategies for corporate and governmental development.

The relationships between industrial designer, manufacturer, retailer, purchaser and end-user are continually renegotiated, demanding greater flexibility and a wider knowledge of industry and commerce. Managerial skills are often as important as the engineering and creative skills required to develop design concepts. There is a strong emphasis on self-directed and peer-group learning within the course. This is reinforced by the diverse mix of cultures and backgrounds represented by our students.

Central Saint Martins has long been at the forefront of design education and continues to play a leading role in shaping industrial design as a discipline.

Industrial Design is a field of study that demonstrates ability to design and shape objects and materials by machines on small or large scale basis.

There are three areas of specialization namely: Ceramics, Graphics and Textiles design and specialization in any of the areas commences by second semester of 300 level.

The training deals with conceptualization, designing, shaping, colouring, finishing, decorating, modeling and producing prototypes of products and objects. The interrelationship between art, science and technology makes it possible for Industrial Designers to gain insight into cultural, traditional and contemporary designs to meet the environmental needs.

i. The range of exposure and the scope of the Programmes in Industrial Design are aimed at producing competent, skilled and creative industrialist capable of upholding, sustaining and linking educational experiences to the values and needs of the society.

ii. The programme is also aimed at exploiting the rich cultural and traditional design and production processes to enrich various industries.

iii. To involve institutions in the process of exploiting design and production problems of our National Industries generally and attempt to find solutions to the problems.

iv. To promote the National Industry through original designs and adaptability to meet the fast changing needs of the society.

Completion studies (Prerequisites)
Students who have not been trained as industrial designers will be required to take supplementary courses. The supplementary courses will be concentrated into one day of study a week for a year, and in two concentrated courses during vacations. Every student must complete these courses during the first year of the program. Completion of the supplementary courses will constitute a condition for continuing on to the second year. Tuition for the supplementary courses will be per credit, and separate from the global tuition for the Master’s program.

The completion courses include:
• Trends and styles in design
• Authorization test for workshop practice
• Basic course in design
• Basic course in drawing
• Course in Computer Design (Solidworks)

Framework of Studies
The M.Des program studies take place over two years: four semesters and they are held at the Bezalel Mount Scopus Campus in Jerusalem. The curriculum has been constructed with a desire to enable students to integrate their studies with their activities as artists and designers. Therefore, the program’s studies have been concentrated into two and half to three days a week each year:
• One day of practical studies – studio courses.
• One day of theoretical studies – courses in theory, research and writing and elective studies.
• Those students who have not been trained as industrial designers will be obligated to take one extra day of study for completion of studies (prerequisites).
It is also important to indicate that the study program requires that the student must allow time for various events that take place during the academic year: organizing and producing exhibitions, participation in seminars and lectures, participation in guest seminars and so forth. Presence in the program courses is obligatory.

Division of studies
The M.Des program may only be divided over four years. A student who is interested in dividing his/ her studies must submit a written request to the teaching committee for approval. For studying in a partial program of study the student will pay tuition per credit.

Conditions for passage from first year to second year
At the end of the first year the grade committee will review the academic status of the students. In order to pass from the first year of study to the second year of the program, the student must fulfill the following conditions:
• A grade of at least 70 in the design labs and the conceptual workshops.
• Completion of all obligations of prerequisite courses.

In light of the student’s result sheet, his/ her portfolio and fulfillment of obligations of completion courses (in the event that the student is required to take these), the committee will determine the student’s continuation of study. Furthermore, it is the committee’s prerogative, if it be necessary, to recommend to the program’s teaching committee to put a student “on probation” for one semester only in the second year of study. At the end of this semester the committee will reconvene and discuss the student’s academic situation. The committee may decide to remove the status of “probation”, to extend it for one more semester or notify the student of termination of his/ her studies.

Final Requirements for the Receipt of a Master’s degree
Every student in the M.Des program must fulfill the following requirements in order to receive a Master’s degree:
• Accrual of 60 academic credits: 44 academic credits in subjects of industrial design and 16 academic credits in courses of theory, research and writing.
• A grade of at least 70 in design labs, conceptual workshops and the final project.
• A grade of at least “55″ in the remainder of the program’s courses.
• An average of at least 70 in all of the program’s courses.
• Fulfillment of all academic requirements as determined in the program’s courses.
• Payment in full of tuition and other compulsory fees as determined by the academy.
• Returning all equipment and books in the student’s possession that belong to the academy.

Excelling in studies
A grade average will include all of the courses that were taken throughout the program.
Summa Cum Laude – will be awarded to a student whose average is over 95.
Cum Laude - will be awarded to a student whose grade average is over 90 or to the top 20% of the first students whose grade average is over 85.

Design Management
Design Management constitutes an important, strategic factor in the global competition among firms in the fields of product and service. Today these firms are well aware that design management must be integrated with the basic business strategy and for this they require constant and continuous advice on design management and its surrounding environment. The role of the design manager, as an external advisor or as manager of the design department, requires knowledge and a deep understanding in the social, cultural and practical disciplines of design as well as extensive and comprehensive knowledge in fields such as strategy, marketing, economic, branding, production, managing development processes, leadership and more. This fact enhances the importance of training a design manager who is in charge of the company’s industrial design and innovation. The design manager’s role includes propelling the company toward visionary and creative future. By connecting the design process to the company’s vision and core values, the design manager leads toward a sustainable competitive advantage.
Guest Lecturers from Abroad

Prof. Barry M. Katz - a leading scholar in the field of industrial design in the United States. A lecturer in the Department of Industrial Design at Stanford University, California. Head of the Faculty of Design at the College of Design in San Francisco.
Prof. Victor Margolin – Editor of Design Issues - the newspaper on design theory and researcher and publisher in the field of the history of design.
Prof. Alberto Meda – One of Europe’s leading engineers and industrial designers, graduate of The Royal College of Art. Teaches in the Milano’s Polytechnico and the Domus Academy. Received several awards and has numerous international publications.
Prof. David Darling – Graduate of the Royal College of Art in furniture design and holds a PhD. in design education. Chairman and editor of the international organization – DRS – “Research in Design”, as well as an initiator of conferences and seminars on research in design. Teaches at Essex University in England where he is Head of the Division of Design Research.
Prof. Harald Laschke – Industrial Designer. Head of the Advanced Design Division and Corporate Design Manager for Mercedes-Benz- Daimler Chrysler
Prof. Vanni Pasca – Exhibition curator and design theoretician. Head of the Master in Design program at the University of Palermo, Italy.
Prof. Rosanne Somerson – Furniture designer. Lecturer and researcher in the field of furniture design. Serves as head of the academic sector at the Rhode Island School of Design.
Prof. Xavier Costa – Architect. Holds a degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Teaches at two architecture schools in London and at Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania. Serves as the Dean of the Elsava School of Design and is the Curator of Architecture at the Mies van der Rohe Foundation in Barcelona.
Prof. Carlo Vannicola – The Department of Industrial Design, Genoa University, Italy.
Barbara Bloemink, PhD. - Curatorial Director of the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, New York.
Adam Tihany, Arch. – Architect and Designer. Owner of Tihany Design which specializes in the field of hotels and restaurants. Lives and works in New York, Milan, Japan and more.
Dr. Gabriel Klasmer – Visual artist and a senior lecturer at the Royal college of Art, London.
Mr. Marti Guixe – Interdisciplinary designer, internationally known, one of the designers of products and the flag stores of the “Camper” company.
Mr. Guillem Ferrer – formerly the design manager at “Camper”. Spain.
Mr. Daniel Charny – designer, gallery curator for the Aram Gallery of design, and a senior lecturer at the Royal College of Art, London.
Ms. Gesche Joost – senior design researcher, Deutsche Telekom Laboratories, Berlin, Germany.
Georg-Christof Bertsch – Branding expert, owner of a leading firm for Design Management in Frankfurt Germany.
Ms. Barbel van Zanten and Ms. Karen Reddering – researchers and senior consultants from the Research and Development Department at “Philips Design”, Holland.
Mr. Michael Anastassiades – Industrial designer. Graduate of the Royal College of design. Lives and works in London.
Mr. Gadi Amit – President of New Deal Design, San Francisco, California, USA. An industrial designer, and a graduate of Bezalel. Served as Vice President of design at Frog Design in California – one of the largest design companies in the world.
Mr. Noam Toran – Designer and lecturer at the Royal College of Art.
Mr. Assa Ashuach – Industrial designer and researcher of design. Graduate of Bezalel’s Department of Industrial Design and the Royal College of Art

Flexible, imaginative, innovative and able to collaborate with other disciplines, industrial designers must respond to rapid commercial and technological change. Increasingly designers are called upon to take a proactive role within industry and become involved in strategic decision making. MA Industrial Design encourages the anticipation and initiation of change in all areas of industrial design: consumer-durable products; capital goods; transport; packaging; sanitary ware; furniture for private, corporate and public environments; architectural space; interface design; design management; and strategies for corporate and governmental development.

The relationships between industrial designer, manufacturer, retailer, purchaser and end-user are continually renegotiated, demanding greater flexibility and a wider knowledge of industry and commerce. Managerial skills are often as important as the engineering and creative skills required to develop design concepts. There is a strong emphasis on self-directed and peer-group learning within the course. This is reinforced by the diverse mix of cultures and backgrounds represented by our students.

Central Saint Martins has long been at the forefront of design education and continues to play a leading role in shaping industrial design as a discipline.

Industrial designers shape the way our world looks, feels, and works by designing consumer products from cars and computer games to sippy cups and cell phones. If you like to make things, or make things better, our BFA in Industrial Design program is for you. You’ll learn to balance problem solving, aesthetics, and business objectives as you design products for commercial use. And when you graduate, you’ll be completely prepared to meet the challenges of today’s fast-paced product development process.

Make a living AND make a difference.

Of all the arts, industrial designers may have the greatest influence upon the most people. By blending art and engineering into a singular design, they enhance our everyday world. The palm-fitting curve of your thermos mug, the ergonomics of your car’s interior, or the intuitive controls on your iPod. There, in attending to and perfecting the details of everyday life, lies the beauty of industrial design.

Working Artists

Our Industrial Design graduates become corporate, freelance, and independent designers in settings from small design houses to Fortune 500 companies. They work as product development directors, art directors, interface designers, global consumer product designers, and more.

Industrial design is concerned with the appearance and usefulness of manufactured goods. The industrial designer emphasizes the humanistic qualities of products of mass production with special consideration for comfort, safety and aesthetic satisfaction that they may bring to users.

Industrial designers are frequently required to assist in the planning of a system — as in computer-aided design and/or manufacturing systems, in components for modular office furniture, or in the signage for a large institution. They are also engaged by conceptual research organizations, product planning groups and consumer advisory panels. Industrial design practice, whether in consulting or corporate offices, is nearly always a team effort involving engineering, manufacturing, marketing, advertising and other specialties.

Success Factors

People who are successful in industrial design have visual and kinesthetic/tactile learning styles. Industrial designers must be intrigued by how things work, enjoy putting things together, and not be intimidated by the need to generate alternate solutions to complex problems. Product design involves the synthesis of a variety of diverse requirements and values into a coherent creation. Among such requirements and values are functional suitability, aesthetics, technical performance, economic resources and constraints, social and cultural issues, environmental concerns and human comfort. They must be attentive listeners, possess strong communication skills and be comfortable interacting with many different types of people. Industrial designers must have excellent time- and project-management skills, and must understand business planning. They need to know how to create informative and persuasive proposals and maintain good client relationships.

Career Possibilities

Industrial designers are employed where products are planned for mass production. Since many goods are mass produced, there is a wide range of opportunities. Jobs have traditionally been divided into fields: (1) as a consultant, or (2) on the design staff of a corporation. Furniture, appliances, housewares, electronic equipment, tools, toys and packaging are considered consumer products and nearly always require industrial design services while being developed for manufacturing and marketing. Other items not meant for the consumer market — such as machine tools, medical equipment, business machines and displays — are also designed by industrial designers.

The transportation track within the industrial design program focuses on the design of vehicles and transportation systems. The transportation design track has a very rigorous curriculum with high standards of quality and excellence leading to innovative solutions for transportation design in the broadest sense. This track educates students to contribute to local and global transportation markets that respect diversity in the human community and maintain considerations for the environmental community.

The transportation track utilizes new developments in computer technology and provides opportunities to integrate technology as a means of advancing design. Students solve problems as they relate to transportation and are challenged with developing innovative solutions. Considerations are given to aesthetic appearance and the usefulness of transportation products, with attention to the customer: comfort, functionality, safety, brand identity and overall impact on the environment.

Success Factors

People who are successful in industrial design have visual and kinesthetic/tactile learning styles. Industrial designers must be intrigued by how things work, enjoy putting things together, and not be intimidated by the need to generate alternate solutions to complex problems. Product design involves the synthesis of a variety of diverse requirements and values into a coherent creation. Among such requirements and values are functional suitability, aesthetics, technical performance, economic resources and constraints, social and cultural issues, environmental concerns and human comfort. They must possess strong communication skills and be comfortable in meeting with many different types of people, as well as being attentive listeners. Industrial designers must have excellent time- and project-management skills and must understand business planning.

Career Possibilities

Industrial designers are employed in areas of mass production. Since many goods are mass produced, there is a wide range of opportunities. Jobs have traditionally been divided into two types: (1) as a consultant, or (2) on the design staff of a corporation. Transportation design may include automobiles, hybrid vehicles, semitrailer trucks, trains, airplanes and transportation systems. Special consideration is given to the exterior aesthetic, interior environment, comfort, functionality, safety and customer needs. Transportation industrial designers manage the creation of new concepts through the design process, which includes concept proposal, 3-D development and production release.