Industrial Design Master of Fine Arts Degree
Overview for Industrial Design MFA
Why Study RIT's MFA in Industrial Design
Project-Based Practice: Explore design theory, design history, and human-centered design; conduct unique research that furthers your understanding of the industry and society; and gain hands-on experience in technical competence, analytical thought, sustainability, and transdisciplinary collaboration.
A Hub for Design and Prototyping: Experienced the full capabilities of the seven makerspaces inside the SHED, RIT’s 209,000-square-foot facility that features an abundance of tech, resources, materials, and workspaces for prototype design and development and interactive design installations.
Develop In-Demand Skills: Learn design history and research, studio courses involve extensive design work with respect to sustainability, design process, the meaning of artifacts, and critical analysis. Engage with three-dimensional software for modeling and fabrication.
Collaborate and Create: Share labs, fabrication spaces, and studios spaces with graduate students from architecture, graphic design, integrative design, and more.
Strong Career Connections: Recent grads are employed at Fisher-Price, GE Appliance, Hallmark, Hamilton Beach, Herman Miller, Pepsi, Stryker, Timberland, and more.
Form, function, and experience tell a story of considered design and the best possible outcome. The industrial design master's will enhance your career success by further developing your knowledge in design processes and technology. This project-based program allows you to explore design theory, design history, and human-centered design. You will conduct unique research on various topics of interest, which will further your understanding of the industry and society. As you conclude your studies, you will obtain hands-on experience in technical competence, analytical thought, sustainability, and transdisciplinary collaboration, all key to fueling your career.
RIT’s Master’s in Industrial Design
The industrial design MFA 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 and research, which are common to all graduate students in the School of Design. In addition, studio courses involve extensive design work with respect to sustainability, design process, the meaning of artifacts, and critical analysis. Additional course work using three-dimensional software for modeling and fabrication 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.
-
Affordable Now. Valuable for Life.
Earn your master’s degree without the full price tag. With Master Up you can receive a 30% tuition scholarship for an RIT master’s degree.
-
Discover how graduate study at RIT can help further your career objectives.
On-Campus Open House | November 20
Virtual Admissions Webinars | Recordings available
Virtual Academic Sessions | Recordings available
Careers and Experiential Learning
Typical Job Titles
| Creative Director | Design Consultant | Design Researcher |
| Design Strategist | Package Design Engineer | Product Designer |
| Senior Industrial Designer | User Experience Designer |
Cooperative Education and Internships
What makes an RIT education exceptional? It’s the ability to complete relevant, hands-on career experience. At the graduate level, and paired with an advanced degree, cooperative education and internships give you the unparalleled credentials that truly set you apart. Learn more about graduate co-op and how it provides you with the career experience employers look for in their next top hires.
Co-ops and internships take your knowledge and turn it into know-how. Your art and design co-ops will provide hands-on experience that enables you to apply your artistic capabilities in dynamic professional settings while you make valuable connections between classwork and real-world applications.
Cooperative education, internships, and other experiential learning opportunities are encouraged for graduate students in the MFA in industrial design.
Creative Industry Days
Connect with Design Industry Leaders
RIT’s Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education hosts Creative Industry Days, which connects students majoring in art, design, film and animation, photography, and select computing majors with companies, organizations, creative agencies, design firms, and more. Creative Industry Days are a series of events that allow you to network with company representatives and interview directly for open co-op and full-time employment positions.
Featured Work and Profiles
-
Designing a product with Autodesk
RIT industrial design BFA and MFA students collaborated with Autodesk to develop a project that was presented to a global audience at Autodesk University 2025.
Read More about Designing a product with Autodesk -
Medical Device Designs
RIT students in the Industrial Design (BFA and MFA) and Graphic Design programs showcased the power of industry partnership as they worked with medical technology company Stryker to design home...
Read More about Medical Device Designs -
Kala: Safe Kitchen Tools for Children
Varun Varma Varun Varma ’26 MFA (industrial design) created kitchen tools that help children cook safely alongside the adults in their lives. They were designed for Varma’s thesis research project.
Read More about Kala: Safe Kitchen Tools for Children -
'Tom': Design Language for Object Personality
Mike Minerva Mike Minerva ’26 MFA (industrial design) took a mundane, everyday object — a pencil sharpener — and gave it a mind of its own for his thesis research project.
Read More about 'Tom': Design Language for Object Personality -
DOT-LINE: Sculptural Furniture for Inspired Living
Jannet Loumi Jannet Loumi ’25 MFA (industrial design) brought together play and calm in creative spaces with “DOT-LINE.” The sculptural furniture was designed for Loumi’s thesis research project.
Read More about DOT-LINE: Sculptural Furniture for Inspired Living -
ASOBI: Children’s Toy Design in Every Language
Jeffrey Gibbs Jeffrey Gibbs ’26 MFA (industrial design) created an open-ended building system that allows children to decide how they play. The children's toy design was for Gibbs' thesis research project.
Read More about ASOBI: Children’s Toy Design in Every Language
Curriculum for 2026-2027 for Industrial Design MFA
Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements
Students are also interested in
Admissions and Financial Aid
This program is available on-campus only.
| Offered | Admit Term(s) | Application Deadline | STEM-OPT Visa Eligible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full‑time | Fall | January 15 priority deadline; March 1 standard deadline | No |
| Part‑time | Fall | January 15 priority deadline; March 1 standard deadline | No |
Full-time study is 9+ semester credit hours. Part-time study is 1‑8 semester credit hours. International students requiring a visa to study at the RIT Rochester campus must study full‑time.
Application Details
To be considered for admission to the Industrial Design MFA program, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:
- Complete an online graduate application.
- Submit copies of official transcript(s) (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work, including any transfer credit earned.
- Hold a baccalaureate degree (or US equivalent) from an accredited university or college. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent) is recommended.
- Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
- Submit a personal statement of educational objectives.
- Submit two letters of recommendation.
- Entrance exam requirements: None
- Submit a portfolio. View portfolio requirements.
- Submit English language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic, etc.), if required. Details are below.
English Language Test Scores
International applicants whose native language is not English must submit one of the following official English language test scores. Some international applicants may be considered for an English test requirement waiver.
Duolingo (DET): 130
IELTS: 6.5
LanguageCert Academic: 74
PTE Academic: 60
TOEFL: 88/4.5
International students below the minimum requirement may be considered for conditional admission. Deaf and hard-of-hearing test takers with significant hearing loss do not need to take the listening and speaking sections for the TOEFL and IELTS. Each program requires balanced sub-scores when determining an applicant’s need for additional English language courses.
How to Apply Start or Manage Your Application
Cost and Financial Aid
An RIT graduate degree is an investment with lifelong returns. Graduate tuition varies by degree, the number of credits taken per semester, and delivery method. View the general cost of attendance or estimate the cost of your graduate degree.
A combination of sources can help fund your graduate degree. Learn how to fund your degree
Related News
-
November 10, 2026
RIT students build empathy through design
Multidisciplinary student teams gained co-op and internship experience working on projects for Rochester-area organizations serving people with disabilities.
-
August 11, 2026
RIT alumnus designs footwear and apparel for brand giants, from Adidas to Burberry
Architect-turned-designer Randall Yarborough '13 MFA (industrial design) has used his unique background to make a name for himself as a prominent designer of popular footwear, athletic training products and apparel.
-
July 17, 2026
Design director looks to advance student opportunities in new role
Alex Lobos, director of RIT's School of Design, has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA). In the elevated role, he aims to continue promoting collaborative opportunities between students and industry partners.
