This course is an introduction to conceptual and manual skills that represent necessary steps in design evolution. Students strengthen skills by completion of several processes and exercises. Critical thinking and concept generation is a primary focus, drawing and model making activities help to establish this process. Throughout the course each student will focus on improving communication skills and the ability to project or sell ideas.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $15.00

Enrollment is limited to Sophomore Industrial Design Students.

Major Requirement | BFA Industrial Design

The purpose of this course is to expose students to SolidWorks, a widely used solid modeling software program. Students will learn how to translate their hand-sketches into three-dimensional CAD models. Lectures and assignments will focus on the development of form as it applies to plastic part design and assembly. Physical models will be realized through ABS rapid prototyping allowing students to experience true plastic part design. Students should anticipate additional costs for supplies and materials.

Enrollment is limited to Sophomore Industrial Design Students.

Major Requirement | BFA Industrial Design

This hands-on course offers students the opportunity to design cast metal objects. The Investment Casting process and result is much different than experiences students may have working with sheet metal or machined metal. Student projects scope may vary from projects that exist more on the craft side, with the development of single cast objects, or students may choose to develop castings that are a part of a larger system of non-cast components representing a consumer product. Each student will complete the course with castings produced at a local foundry. It gives students a chance to work with professionals in the field to produce castings for each student.

Design processes students engage with during the course include conducting and framing research; establishing design criteria and design drivers; explore iteration rough sketches; build CAD simulations; possibly 3D printing/CNC and or shop related mold making or fabrication processes such as working with the wax-injector and vacuum chamber in the model shop. The goal for all students will be to produce sets of wax master patterns to be provided to the foundry. After the castings are produced secondary metal work and cleanup of the raw castings will be necessary (bronze, silver, gold, possibly aluminum). As an instructor my goal is to expose students to the investment casting manufacturing process due to its sustainable qualities of producing objects that are: durable and offers the opportunity for ornate detail and complexity within metal artifacts. Typically objects with beauty and durability do not end up in the landfill as quickly as many other consumer products that don’t have these qualities.

The ID department will cover the cost of up to $100 for each student’s foundry costs. If students want to develop castings over the $100 the remaining balance would be the student’s responsibility to pay the foundry directly for those additional costs. There will be additional costs for materials depending on what students want to develop that will not be paid for by the ID department. Some of those additional costs might be for things like rubber mold kits, high resolution 3D prints, plywood for use with the CNC router and so on. It will really depend on each student’s budget and what they plan to design that could affect the cost of pre-casting design development and fabrication activities for each student.

Major Requirement | BFA Industrial Design, MID (2.5yr): Industrial Design