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Industrial Design (formerly Industrial and Interior Design) MFA
Program overview
The master of fine arts degree in industrial and interior design is for career enhancement or redirection. The educational experience is project-oriented, requiring research into design methods and technologies. Cross-disciplinary collaboratives provide an experiential dimension.
The first year of study includes seminar courses in design history, issues, research, theory, and methods, which are common to all graduate students in the School of Design. In addition, studio courses involve extensive design work with respect to environmental issues, the meaning of artifacts, and critical analysis. Extensive course work using three-dimensional software for product modeling and animation fills out the program.
In the second year students conduct research and develop a thesis project, which is presented in a graduate thesis exhibition or presentation, and is documented in a written thesis report.
Curriculum
Industrial design, MFA degree, typical course sequence (semesters), effective fall 2013
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| IDDE-701 | Design Laboratory I | 6 |
| IDDE-703 | Function of Form | 3 |
| IDDE-705 | 2D Ideation and Visualization | 3 |
| VCDE-701 | Design History Seminar | 3 |
| IDDE-702 | Design Laboratory II | 6 |
| IDDE-704 | Form of Function | 3 |
| IDDE-706 | Integrated Design Visualization | 3 |
| Open Grad Elective | 3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| IDDE-790 | Thesis: Research and Planning | 6 |
| VCDE-711 | Design Theory and Methods Seminar | 3 |
| CIAS Design Elective | 3 | |
| IDDE-890 | Thesis: Implementation and Evaluation | 6 |
| CIAS Design Elective | 3 | |
| Open Grad Elective | 9 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 60 | |
Career Outcomes
Job TitlesProduct designer, package designer, toy designer, furniture designer, exhibit designer
FunctionsDesign products to be manufactured for consumer use. Create concept for new products. Sketching, modelmaking, interacting with clients and engineers on manufacturing and logistics.
Recent EmployersNew Balance Athletic Shoes, Robert DeFelice & Associates, Graco Children's Products, Xerox Corporation, Fisher Price