This course gives the student a hands-on opportunity to develop design skills through the interaction with industrial materials that have strictly defined properties. Experimenting with these materials and the processes by which they are manipulated and formed promotes innovative thinking, problem solving and idea development. Students will achieve a more precise, professional and sensitive approach to design while broadening their technical skill base.

Enrollment is limited to Sophomore Industrial Design Students.

Major Requirement | BFA Industrial Design

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to advanced CAD techniques for 3D modeling and rendering. Extending the department's CAD education from 'Designing with Solidworks,' multiple industrial design projects will be taught primarily using Rhino and Grasshopper. In this course, students will become familiar with polygonal Meshes, NURBS surfaces & solids, SubD surfaces and Voxel volumes. Additionally, the workflow of setting up physically based materials, texture mapping and lighting to communicate designs via digital renderings will be taught. Students will also be able to explore connections with other programs (e.g. Blender, Nomad Sculpt, KeyShot, Zbrush etc.) if desired. The specific offerings vary year to year.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $100.00

Major Requirement | BFA Industrial Design

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to advanced CAD techniques for 3D modeling and rendering. Extending the department's CAD education from 'Designing with Solidworks,' multiple industrial design projects will be taught primarily using Rhino and Grasshopper. In this course, students will become familiar with polygonal Meshes, NURBS surfaces & solids, SubD surfaces and Voxel volumes. Additionally, the workflow of setting up physically based materials, texture mapping and lighting to communicate designs via digital renderings will be taught. Students will also be able to explore connections with other programs (e.g. Blender, Nomad Sculpt, KeyShot, Zbrush etc.) if desired. The specific offerings vary year to year.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $100.00

Major Requirement | BFA Industrial Design

In this course, we will explore a series of making skills with a focus on prototyping for physical artifacts. We will utilize 3D modeling, 3D printing, simple DC and AC circuits, laser cutting, and sewing to aid in translating concepts to physical form through mocking up functioning objects in various prototyping methods (i.e. lamps, soft goods). Students with little or no prior experience are encouraged to join, with the intent of aiding in deeper explorations of creating and problem-solving. 

These rapid prototyping skillsets are crucial in the product design process as they enable designers to quickly materialize their ideas and concepts. By learning these prototyping processes, students enhance their ability to visualize, test, and validate their ideas, taking them to the next level. Prototyping allows for iterative design, where concepts can be rapidly created, evaluated, and refined. This iterative approach empowers students to communicate their ideas effectively, make informed design decisions, and to create more considered outcomes.

Elective