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

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

This course introduces the Graduate Thesis project starting with the development of a research question through secondary research reading methods. This question has its assumptions articulated and verified through experimental making and primary research methods that engage specific audiences for qualitative discourse.

Enrollment is limited to Graduate Industrial Design Students.

Major Requirement | MID Industrial Design

This course introduces the Graduate Thesis project starting with the development of a research question through secondary research reading methods. This question has its assumptions articulated and verified through experimental making and primary research methods that engage specific audiences for qualitative discourse.

Enrollment is limited to Graduate Industrial Design Students.

Major Requirement | MID Industrial Design

This course introduces the students to methods, materials, and manufacturing processes that translate design activity into finished goods. A significant portion of downstream design activity is devoted to manufacturing issues - the techniques by which materials are selected, shaped, and then assembled. Students will be evaluated based upon success of weekly field study research assignments and a final exam.

Enrollment is limited to Junior Industrial Design Students.

Major Requirement | BFA Industrial Design

This course introduces the students to methods, materials, and manufacturing processes that translate design activity into finished goods. A significant portion of downstream design activity is devoted to manufacturing issues - the techniques by which materials are selected, shaped, and then assembled. Students will be evaluated based upon success of weekly field study research assignments and a final exam.

Enrollment is limited to Junior Industrial Design Students.

Major Requirement | BFA Industrial Design

This course concludes the Graduate Thesis through iterative prototyping, application and verification that positions and delivers a human-centered, discipline-engaging proposal that will be communicated through an exhibition format, product, product prototype and a final Graduate Thesis document.

Enrollment is limited to Graduate Industrial Design Students.

Major Requirement | MID Industrial Design

This course concludes the Graduate Thesis through iterative prototyping, application and verification that positions and delivers a human-centered, discipline-engaging proposal that will be communicated through an exhibition format, product, product prototype and a final Graduate Thesis document.

Enrollment is limited to Graduate Industrial Design Students.

Major Requirement | MID Industrial Design

You will be introduced to the fundamentals of footwear design and construction based on two different shoe styles: pump/court/slip-on and derby. During that first project you will develop skills for working with a last, pattern making, sewing, construction and finishing techniques. These skills will be applied to a second project of your own choosing and design. You will gain general understanding of the parameters of the last and its correlation to feet and pattern-making. You will gain general understanding of footwear production. From Sketching demo to Spec Specification Sheet Overview to different construction techniques applied. You will acquire a general understanding of footwear construction and terminology. You will learn basic pattern making skills and how to develop your own ideas/styles using the skills acquired. You will acquire skills necessary to work with the tools/machines on hand (knives, sewing machine, lasting pliers etc.) You will develop the skills necessary for constructing basic cemented footwear from start to finish, applying it to different styles. You will learn about materials used in shoemaking, in particular leather, but also alternative materials. For the second half of the semester (final project) you will apply and experiment using techniques/skills learned on a style of your choosing, incorporating your personal skill set to design and build your own unique footwear project (either a pair or two singles).

Elective

You will be introduced to the fundamentals of footwear design and construction based on two different shoe styles: pump/court/slip-on and derby. During that first project you will develop skills for working with a last, pattern making, sewing, construction and finishing techniques. These skills will be applied to a second project of your own choosing and design. You will gain general understanding of the parameters of the last and its correlation to feet and pattern-making. You will gain general understanding of footwear production. From Sketching demo to Spec Specification Sheet Overview to different construction techniques applied. You will acquire a general understanding of footwear construction and terminology. You will learn basic pattern making skills and how to develop your own ideas/styles using the skills acquired. You will acquire skills necessary to work with the tools/machines on hand (knives, sewing machine, lasting pliers etc.) You will develop the skills necessary for constructing basic cemented footwear from start to finish, applying it to different styles. You will learn about materials used in shoemaking, in particular leather, but also alternative materials. For the second half of the semester (final project) you will apply and experiment using techniques/skills learned on a style of your choosing, incorporating your personal skill set to design and build your own unique footwear project (either a pair or two singles).

Elective

Get ready to immerse yourself in Senior Studio, determine the independent project you will work on, and create a robust portfolio project at RISD over the semester with the support of the faculty lead and an external advisor/expert. Utilize the shops, apply your skills, conduct design research, and develop, design, and communicate your ideas.

Senior Studio is a juried six-credit course for second-semester senior industrial design students with a solid academic record of success, those who have demonstrated the ability to conduct qualitative and quantitative design research, iterate ideas, explore solutions, validate concepts through testing, think critically, effectively communicate verbally and in writing, and present and document work.
Students must be self-motivated, organized, capable of directing their own design decisions, and able to create and adhere to a work schedule. They must also be committed to making tangible deliverables and to attaining and providing evidence of third-party validation of design solutions through user testing.

The faculty lead will host an info session mid-semester, provide an information sheet and application guidelines, and answer any questions. Interested students can apply.

During Wintersession, students will meet remotely for a second info session, develop a project proposal and timeline, and review the proposal in an individual remote meeting with the faculty lead.
Students will be encouraged to apply for grant funding (e.g., ID Health & Wellness Design Fund and the Marc Harrison Sustainability Fund), submitted by mid-to-late January, in time for review, approval, and tool and material purchases. 

The spring studio will meet twice weekly. Students must work independently and rigorously on their projects throughout the semester. Students will present their work to a broader audience twice, at mid-semester and during Studio Review Week.

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

The 6-credit Advanced Design studios offer second semester juniors and seniors the opportunity to investigate product, socially responsible, and sustainable design; innovation through science and technology and other topics in contemporary practice. These studios are designed to strengthen the student's ability to conduct research, ideation, material exploration, presentation, and concept validation. Studios meet two days per week. Junior and Senior Industrial Design Students are required to take a total of three (3) advanced studios.

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Preference is given to Junior, Senior or Graduate Industrial Design Students.

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

Recent advancements in materials science have opened unprecedented opportunities for invention. By manipulating materials at the molecular level, researchers are fundamentally transforming the properties of matter, leading to exciting new possibilities for designers. This course takes a materials-driven approach to explore how these emerging technologies can serve as catalysts for design innovation, offering students a chance to rethink our relationship with materials.

Throughout the course, we will investigate a range of responsive materials (smart materials and biomaterials) that react dynamically to changes in their environment. These materials can alter their color, shape, stiffness, fluidity, or even generate electricity or emit light. Unlike conventional materials, responsive materials often behave in ways that are akin to living organisms, demonstrating observable changes when stimulated. This unique capability has propelled designers to explore new realms of innovation. What might you invent with them?

The first part of the course will consist of many quick, ungraded projects, each focused on a different type of responsive substance. These exploratory exercises are designed to encourage profound, adventurous experimentation and inspire original ideas. In the final four weeks, each student will propose and create a project that synthesizes some of the knowledge and insights gained through prior investigations.

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

The 6-credit Advanced Design studios offer second semester juniors and seniors the opportunity to investigate product, socially responsible, and sustainable design; innovation through science and technology and other topics in contemporary practice. These studios are designed to strengthen the student's ability to conduct research, ideation, material exploration, presentation, and concept validation. Studios meet two days per week. Junior and Senior Industrial Design Students are required to take a total of three (3) advanced studios.

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Preference is given to Junior, Senior or Graduate Industrial Design Students.

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

Clay has been used to make objects for over 20,000 years. It has unique inherent properties with a broad application of use. This course introduces students with the principals involved in the design and production of functional ceramics objects for tabletop applications and interior spaces. We will employ plaster mold-making and ceramic slip casting techniques since this is the preferred method of manufacturing ceramics for both design studios and industry. Students will design at least five distinct objects and produce multiple editions of each in response to specific project assignments. Innovation and expression will be encouraged. Each project will go through an iteration process to promote refinement of design. This course not only focuses on prototypes but also on completed glazed and fired pieces. The production variations make it possible for students to produce surprisingly refined and resolved work.

The First half of the semester will focus on two projects. The first will be the design and production of a drinking cup with handle, and the second will build on that with a larger form. We will also do an initial mold-making project to become familiar with the process and a subtractive method for model making.
The second half of the semester will be devoted to designing a collection of interrelated pieces. This will provide a chance for students to dive more deeply into form and function, build on the skills acquired during the first half of the semester and to pursue individual areas of interest. Two or more of the objects in the collection will be selected for production and then developed and refined to finished pieces.

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

The 6-credit Advanced Design studios offer second semester juniors and seniors the opportunity to investigate product, socially responsible, and sustainable design; innovation through science and technology and other topics in contemporary practice. These studios are designed to strengthen the student's ability to conduct research, ideation, material exploration, presentation, and concept validation. Studios meet two days per week. Junior and Senior Industrial Design Students are required to take a total of three (3) advanced studios.

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Preference is given to Junior, Senior or Graduate Industrial Design Students.

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

This studio will explore the objects and possibilities that arise from using additive manufacturing as a method for serial production. The semester will start with a mapping of the range the current 3d printing technologies, their strength and weaknesses, and continue to speculate about the future of these technologies and their incorporation in production facilities, from the small workshop to the large factory. What kind of potentials do these technologies offer? How can they be employed to make objects different than the ones possible in traditional manufacturing? How can they be combined with other materials and methods of making to expand the range of object potentials?

This is inherently a making studio aiming for enticing tangible outcomes that allude to broader theoretical possibilities. It will incorporate learning about and testing materials, technologies, field trips, speculative scenario building and more. Final projects could be conducted in groups or individually, and their particular focus will be up to the studio participants. Outcomes could include full-scale furniture pieces, micro-objects, speculative factory plans and illustrations, prototypes of new technologies to name but a few.

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

The 6-credit Advanced Design studios offer second semester juniors and seniors the opportunity to investigate product, socially responsible, and sustainable design; innovation through science and technology and other topics in contemporary practice. These studios are designed to strengthen the student's ability to conduct research, ideation, material exploration, presentation, and concept validation. Studios meet two days per week. Junior and Senior Industrial Design Students are required to take a total of three (3) advanced studios.

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Preference is given to Junior, Senior or Graduate Industrial Design Students.

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

“In taking precautions against thieves who cut open satchels, search bags, and break open boxes, people are sure to cord and fasten them well, and to employ strong bonds and clasps; and in this they are ordinarily said to show their wisdom. When a great thief comes, however, he shoulders the box, lifts up the satchel, carries off the bag, and runs away with them, afraid only that the cords, bonds, and clasps may not be secure; and in this case what was called the wisdom (of the owners) proves to be nothing but a collecting of the things for the great thief.”
– Zhuangzi 475 BC

This class will look at design from a multitude of perspectives: tracing philosophical trajectories of design to address the idea that designers are not to be trusted; and that perhaps the very concept of “the designer” has more in common with the trickster, the pickpocket, and the sab-oteur with its ability to coax effects from the world, rather than imposing effects on it by the application of force alone. The Ancient Greeks even had a dedicated term, Métis, for this dimension of design, which is implied where extraordinary effects are elicited from unpromising materials, linking the construction of artifacts with daring military stratagems, programs of seduction, insidious courtly intrigues and even the ability of foxes and rats to evade capture and control. Through a series of design workshops, thematic design briefs, readings and (mis)readings alongside discussions from external guests this class will examine the larger cultural meanings, material context and philosophical underpinnings of design: from basic language and semiotics–to cinema and fiction–to relatively small-scale industrial products and large-scale infrastructural and ecological systems.

Learning Outcomes: Skills in applying a broader knowledge and theory to design(ing), demonstrating elastic thinking to address design problems at any scale, storytelling and presentation; film-editing, photography, art-direction and advanced concept prototyping.

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