Industrial Design

An ID student displaying their project

At a Glance

Degree Type

Bachelor of Science

Total Credits

141-147 credits

Accreditation

NASAD accredited

Links

Catalog

Admissions

Advising

Contacts

Lisa Ochs

Pre-major Advisor

Jason Morris

Program Director 

Program Overview

The industrial design program prepares graduates to begin working as practicing designers in corporate, consulting, or entrepreneurial positions.  It is a Bachelor of Science degree accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Industrial design students are taught problem-solving methodologies, marketing principles, usability research, drawing skills, three-dimensional model-making techniques, materials, form theory, color application, manufacturing processes, ergonomics, and design principles.

In Western's Industrial Design program 97% of its graduates are working in industrial design or related design fields. Our alumni are professional designers at Nike, HP, Mountain Hardwear, Specialized Bicycles, Sonosite, Microsoft XBox, Ziba, Burton, Dakine, Intel, Boeing, Pensar, GE, Transition, Intermec, 3M, Proteus, Gillette, Expedia, Valve, Tactile, MSR, TEAGUE, Cascade Designs, Hasbro/Wizards of the Coast, Astro, and many more.

The Industrial Design program is different than other schools in that it is a Bachelor of Science  housed in the Engineering & Design Department. This means that we have access to amazing manufacturing facilities: CNC, waterjet cutters, laser cutter, FDM 3D printing, composites lab, injection molders, extruders, milling machines, welding, CNC routers, paint booths and all the standard shop equipment that you need to make anything you can imagine. 

Jolee Nebert

A few days after graduation, Jolee flew to Paris to work for Adok on their augmented reality project. She then became Chief Industrial Designer of Adok in San Francisco. Currently, she is the Senior User Experience Designer at Epic in Wisconsin.

Jolee Evans, Outstanding Graduate 2016

Professional Credibility

The ID faculty have professional design experience and bring that perspective to the classroom. Professor Morris was Principal of Tool, Inc. a consulting firm in the Boston area. Professor Oslapas was a designer at Haworth Office Furniture in Michigan.  

The Industrial Design program is accredited through the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). To learn more about NASAD and their accreditation, visit www.nasad.arts-accredit.org.

Dylan Willis photo

“The Industrial Design community reaches well beyond the school, with alumni remaining connected to the program. This involves mentorship from industry professionals and internships being offered to current Western students.”

Dylan Willis, Class of 2022

Connect with us

Student

“Being a part of the Industrial Design program has been a game changer. I'm thankful for the hands on learning experience and tight knit bond I made with my peers and professors.  This program really sets you up for success after graduation.  You will leave school with a portfolio of work and a skill set that enables you to gain a job in the industry.  It makes all the countless hours of hard work pay off."

Jo Bloomfield, Class of 2021