Industrial Design

Paul T. Skaggs, Chair
265 CTB, (801) 422-6300

Admission to Degree Program

Admission to the foundation level in the industrial design program is gained through an application process. Special enrollment limitations for degree programs will be applied. Please see the School of Technology advisor (250 SNLB) for specific details.

After completion of the foundation level courses as a pre-industrial design major, students may apply for BFA (bachelor of fine arts) candidacy and entrance to the industrial design professional program.

The Discipline

Industrial design is a blend of art and technology. It focuses on making industrially produced objects that make a specific and appropriate human connection through aesthetics, satisfying needs, and providing meaning. Industrial design requires skills in problem finding and defining, creativity, aesthetics, and idea visualization and communication. Industrial design requires knowledge of human culture and values, product development processes and players, and an understanding of how things work and are made.

Career Opportunities

Industrial designers specialize in areas such as consumer products, sports and medical equipment, toys, exhibits, furniture, consumer electronics, user experience and design research.

Learning Outcomes

After completing the industrial design curriculum, graduates should be able to:

• Articulate, apply and critique the application of aesthetic principles
• Understand and apply principles of structured creativity/innovation
• Understand how to evaluate creative ideas
• Understand the basics of how things work and how things are made
• Understand human needs as they relate to products and services
• Communicate ideas both visually and verbally
• Apply basic business practices as they relate to industrial design
• Discuss the basics of design history and identify contemporary issues in industrial design
• Sythesize and apply learning outcomes in the context of a diverse range of design problems

The industrial design program also participates in the interdisciplinary animation degree with the Visual Arts and the Theatre and Media Arts departments. For more information about this degree and its requirements, please see the Visual Arts section of this catalog.

General Information

Pre-Major Enrollment

Students applying for the pre-industrial design program must be accepted to Brigham Young University before being considered for the major.

The four pre-industrial design foundation courses must be taken concurrently in either fall or winter semester. Enrollment in these courses is limited. In order to enroll, students must apply and be accepted.

Applications for the pre-industrial design foundation courses must be returned by August 1. Individuals will be notified one week after the deadline and will be informed which semester (fall or winter) they may enroll in foundation courses.

Application forms are available from the School of Technology Advisement website. Go to http://sot.et.byu.edu/advisement, then click on Applications and Forms.

Note: Acceptance to the pre-industrial design program cannot be deferred. Individuals who are accepted must register for the foundation courses for their assigned semester. Failure to do so will require reapplication to the pre-industrial design program for the year the student plans to attend.

Professional Degree Program Enrollment

Admittance into the professional level of the industrial design program is based on three criteria: overall grade point average for the foundation courses, a panel review of a student portfolio, and a student professionalism score. A portfolio is a collection of work based on foundation courses and weighted higher than grade point average and professionalism score.

Portfolios and professional level applications are to be submitted for review by April 25th. Individuals will be notified within a week of the decision of the review committee.

Students accepted into the professional level are permitted to enroll in specified courses at the next academic level. Students who have not been accepted in the program may apply again the following year. Students may only take the foundation courses one time.

Transfer Students

Transfer students applying for admission to the pre-industrial design program must follow the same requirements as students currently enrolled in BYU.

Department Probationary Status

Students can be placed on probationary status for the following:

1. Inadequate academic performance. For example, receiving a D or E grade in major courses.
2. Unprofessional attitude and lack of commitment.
3. BYU Honor Code violations.