Industrial Design BFA

Department of Art and Design

Industrial Design image

Program Director: Prof. Denis Feigler, Ph.D.; 973-655-2091

Industrial Design BFA: The Big Picture

The Bachelor of Fine Arts, (BFA) in Industrial Design is a 120-credit pre-professional degree program that is designed to develop students’ critical thinking, research and creative problem solving ability in relation to optimizing the aesthetic, technological and human aspects of industrial design. The rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum provides the focus for students to learn to become visionary thinkers and socially responsible designers. Instead of a foundation year students are immersed immediately into their Industrial Design coursework from the very first day of classes. The intense pace and settings of our classes mimic an actual workplace environment. The coursework reflects the highest standards of the profession, which is emphasized by our partnerships with manufacturing companies and design firms.

Industrial design students are motivated and passionate about their major. They cannot stop being designers, or think about design, or read about design. They are curious about how things are made, how they look and how they work. Students also understand the importance of being detail-oriented and accept criticism. They are lateral thinkers, and they never tired of doing research, developing, and refining of their concepts. Industrial design students understand that this progression is a calling and it comes with responsibilities. They also deepen their understanding of business processes and professional practices.

Our alumni begin their design careers upon graduation at various design forms, or corporate clients, or further their studies at the graduate level.

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The Industrial Designer?

Industrial designers conceptualize and develop the aesthetic form, surface texture and function of every product imaginable. Successful product brands are designed to satisfy the user’s aesthetic and emotional needs, while addressing essential ergonomic, manufacturing and technical requirements. Industrial designers (product designers) generally work in research and development teams of manufacturing firms with other professionals to create and improve products by developing feasible design solutions for a range of design problems. They also work for design firms and assigned to multiple projects, often of different nature. Teamwork drives this interdisciplinary creative profession, which relies on the knowledge and awareness of psychology, sociology, science, technology and business. The profession is constantly evolving as new technologies emerge and new design philosophies born..

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What You Will Study

As an industrial design major, your multi-disciplinary curriculum will include coursework in free hand and digital sketching, multimedia presentation, model making, problem solving, human factors; technology; 3-D digital modeling, design history, professional practices, marketing, and advertising theory. Upperclassmen study engineering principles, design theory, research methods, as well as business practices, ongoing portfolio development. Advanced design studio classes include the development of a complete project argument and technical documentations. Collaborating with industry partners, seniors concentrate on thesis their two-semester projects. A seven-credit internship requirement provides invaluable hands-on experience that serves many students as a bridge toward a career in industrial design.

Small classes that range from 14-18 students ensure personalized attention.

For complete Industrial Design BFA course requirements and descriptions, go to:

Industrial Design Portfolio

Do not rely only on the assignments you completed for your art classes in high school. They may not be appropriate for this major. Consult with your teachers and ask them to advise you.

Your portfolio is a mirror of who you are as a designer. Since Industrial Design is a highly interdisciplinary profession, your approach to presenting yourself and your work must take this factor into consideration. The portfolio communicates your interest, demonstrates your enthusiasm for the profession and gives evidence of your readiness to start your industrial design studies. We encourage you to include a selection of your most recent projects, which best represent your ideas and your visions, while also demonstrating a range of essential skills necessary to be successful in the major.

 

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Our Faculty

You will study with our outstanding full- and part-time faculty and world-renowned professionals who visit the campus and host student visits at their ID studios in New York and New Jersey. Guest speakers from the fields of patent law, tool design, mechanical engineering, architecture, the sciences, and other business areas provide additional critical professional insights to your understanding of the field. 

Click the links below to learn more:

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Studio Facilities

The Department of Art and Design occupies several on-campus buildings, housing fully-equipped studios for all art areas, including a recently renovated complex for Industrial Design. 

For more information, go to: 

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Student Work

Successful industrial design students are creative, lateral thinkers and problem-solvers, who recognize the difference between good and bad design. Motivated and committed, they welcome challenges, criticism, advice and guidance in order to develop a strong project portfolio. They rely on excellent time-management skills in order to produce a wide range of products, prototypes, and environmental installations, which are exhibited in campus galleries.

Visit our Student Work Gallery:

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Careers in Industrial Design and Professional Resources

Industrial designers find work in product development for manufacturing companies like Black & Decker, Ford, Adidas, or Whirlpool or for design consultancies such as Curve ID, Frog Design, IDEO, or Design Continuum. They also find work in such non-traditional fields as interior space planning, environmental design, the heavy machinery industry, the cosmetics industry, and the motion picture business. Our graduates have secured full-time positions at companies such as Movado, Marchon Eyewear, MZ Berger & Company, Pac Team America, Toys ‘R’ Us, EK Success and regional design consultancies.

Sample career areas include:

  • Transportation (automotive, aeronautic, marine)
  • Sports Products
  • Fitness Equipment
  • Fashion Accessories
  • Home Appliances
  • Electronics
  • Furniture
  • Lighting
  • Medical Equipment
  • Office Equipment
  • Entertainment Products, Toys, and Games
  • Communications
  • Multimedia Equipment
  • Packaging
  • Exhibition Display
  • Tools and Machinery

Please visit the links below for additional information:

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Accreditation

Montclair State University’s Art and Design programs are among the region’s most competitive, and meet the rigorous standards of the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD).

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Apply Now

To apply to the Art and Design Industrial Design BFA program, or to any of the Department of Art and Design programs, please visit Department Admissions. 

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