The Industrial Design concentration is a rigorous program of study that is focused on the conceptual development and realization of products, systems and services.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
The Industrial Design Major at NMU
Studying Industrial Design empowers students to re-imagine existing products, dream up exciting new ones, sculpt unique product shapes, or invent new solutions to pressing challenges of the day, like changing climate or human migration first, by recognizing, then by transforming human needs, purpose or desire into objects for everyday use. Fit for purpose, yet beautiful. Products, practical artifacts, craft objects, mass-produced, limited editions, or one-of-a-kind. Good for the people and nice for the planet.
Flexibility in course selection allows a high level of personalization and affords students a unique learning experience. In pursuit of a degree with the best potential for success, after choosing emphasis, students select additional courses that best reflect their creative interests. Core ID courses are sequential, starting with solid Art and Design Foundations and culminating with a Senior Design Project Exhibit at the museum. Instruction is delivered in studio format, four projects per semester. Experiential learning, known as learning by doing, is in focus, both manual and digital, from pencil, paper, and modeling clay to computer screens and 3D printers.
Self-confidence and ever-increasing proficiency in ideation, concept generation, form-giving, problem-solving, and ergonomics, complimented by design thinking, research, and prototyping, are attained by learning, practice, and fine-tuning. An ongoing quest for design opportunities nurtures imagination, playfulness, creativity, innovation, logical argument, and clarity of communication. The application of materials, colors, textures, and finishes, both physical and virtual, reflects a deep understanding of the human body and psyche.
Advice, demos, and feedback are continuously provided. Learning is assessed by submitting deliverables as part of formal presentations, known as crits or discourse reviews. These represent crucial milestones in student creative development.
By graduation, a comprehensive, pre-professional level portfolio is compiled, highlighting creative skills, design awareness, and innovative product concepts, facilitating ideal positioning in a future marketplace, be it design consultancy, in-house design office, or launching an independent design studio.
A bachelor's degree from NMU also opens doors to further academic pursuits, whether MFA, PhD degrees, or careers in design research, advocacy, or teaching, at home and abroad.
Students Develop Physical and Speculative Solutions for Future Technologies
Click to Learn MoreIndustrial Design Studio
The two Industrial Design studios consist of spaces that allow for formal instruction, individual/collaborative work settings and critiques. This space is designed to be flexible so that it can accommodate a variety of design activities and presentations. The fabrication studio provides a space for students to develop mock-ups and prototypes of their designs.
Within these two spaces, students have access to a range of model making and rapid prototyping equipment for their use. Please be sure to look at the specific requirements for the major. Students are required to take courses in other studio areas as well as Industrial Design. Once the courses have been completed, students will have access to other facilities (Woodworking, Metals & Ceramics) with the professor’s permission.
Equipment:
Dimension 1200 SST 3D PrinterEpilog Laser Engraver 36” x 24”
Techno Isel 20” x 30” x 7” CNC Router
Formech 24” x 24” Vacuum Forming Machine
Combination Machine Lathe / Milling Machine
Drill Press
14” Band Saw
Spindle / Disk Sander
Paint & Spray Booth
Software:
Rhino - 3D ModelingRhinoCAM – CNC Machining
Keyshot – Rendering
Adobe Creative Suite
Students Visual Concepts with Model Making and Rapid Prototyping
Click to Learn MoreIndustrial Design Faculty
click to open/close
Alex Fekete
Assistant Professor
ING Slovak Polytechnic
MFA University of Illinois
Aside from academia, Alex Fekete works as a design consultant and sculpts objects in blown glass. His work appeared in New York Times, Business Week, Times Magazine, GQ and Absolute Sound.
Alex first arrived in the U.S. on a Fulbright Scholarship. After completing his MFA in Industrial Design he was professionally active in Silicon Valley. JAVA Station - the joined effort by M&P and Sun Microsystems - earned several prestigious awards, including Gold IDEA Award and Best Internet Hardware Award. Subsequently, his collaboration with Balanced Audio Technology gathered respect in the high end audio/video industry and also generated awards ranging from Golden Ear to Product of the Year Award.
Alex’s affair with glassblowing started during graduate studies and has continued since. Minimalist Glass Objects he creates found residence in public and private collections in U.S. and EU.
He was born in Bratislava, then-Czechoslovakia.
Industrial Design Courses
click to open/closeAD 209 Industrial Design: Foundations
4 credit hours
Offered: Fall, Winter
Studio format introduction into ideas becoming useful objects. Skill building in ideation, iteration, formgiving, and hands-on craftsmanship. Emphasis on playfulness, imagination, creativity, innovation, clear communication, and design awareness.
AD 311A Industrial Design: Virtual Modeling + Prototyping
4 credit hours
Offered: Fall, odd numbered years
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or instructor permission.
Intro to virtual modeling and product form sculpting intertwined with digital fabrication and rapid prototyping. Skill building focuses on 3D printing, laser cutting, and CNC milling alongside hands-on clay shaping, model-making, NURBS, and vector graphics handling.
AD 311B Industrial Design: Body - Space and Comfort
4 credit hours
Offered: Fall, even numbered years
Prerequisite: AD 101 or AD 209 or instructor permission.
Studio format exploration of body influence on product form and vice versa. Body mechanics and measurements are complemented with study of behavior, rituals, needs and desires. Sensory qualities of physical materials explored with focus on the visual and tactile.
AD 311C Craft Fusion
4 credit hours
Offered: Winter, even numbered years
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing.
Studio format fusion of craft and industrial design bridging human touch and serial production. Skill building in methodologies and hands-on techniques, ranging from traditional to experimental, with the aim of creating unique forms and practical objects that have potential for limited edition commercial release.
AD 411A Industrial Design: Forming Future
4 credit hours
Offered: Winter, odd numbered years
Prerequisite: AD 303 or concurrent enrollment, AD 311A or AD 311B or instructor’s permission.
Critical inquiry mixed with creative exploring, making and discussing. Culminating in proposing and executing thoughtful, applicable and sustainable design solutions. Focus on community, compassion, climate challenge, shared future and AI integration. Client-side deliverables and presentation materials skill building bridges to the post-graduation professional environment.
Industrial Design FAQ
click to open/closeFive classes make me a designer?
The courses are demanding. Technical skills are taught throughout each of the five courses and expected to be utilized and refined through short/long term projects assigned in the courses. There are also additional courses required in other studio areas that will broaden your portfolio and enhance your design process and presentation skills. Included in these requirements are Drawing, Graphic Communication, Electronic Art, Metals, Ceramics, Woodworking, and Manufacturing Process.
What degree should I pursue?
For job placement within the design industry it is a typical requirement that you have your Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (BFA). It is also mandatory for you to have your BFA if you decide to pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree. A BFA provides for more studio credit hours than a BA or BS degree. The BA and BS degrees provide you with the option to pursue a minor in addition to their major in Industrial Design.
What is the difference between a BFA and BS or BA degree?
The BFA degree includes 40 credits in liberal studies with 87 credits in Art and Design. This degree includes the most art and design classes with a studio emphasis.
The BS and BA degrees include 40 credits in liberal studies and 63 credits in the School of Art and Design, plus a 20 credit minor out side of the School of Art and department. The BA requires a language minor, the BS includes all other minors not in language. These degree choices allow a studio art major to diversify their knowledge with another discipline.
Will I need to submit a portfolio for admission?
There is no portfolio requirement for admission into the introductory (100 and 200 level) Art and Design courses. However, a faculty led portfolio review is conducted for students at the 300 levels in order to determine continuation in the program of study.
Are there scholarships for incoming freshman?
The school offers the High School Freshman Scholarship (four $1000 awards) that is available each year with applications due in April.
See the web for details
Scholarship Information
More Questions?
Please write Professor Alex Feketeafekete@nmu.edu
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