Contact

James Fathers, Department of Design
The Warehouse, 315-443-2455, jwfather@syr.edu

Faculty

Donald Carr, James Fathers, Denise Heckman, Patricia Johnson, Dianna Miller, Ralf Schneider

Description

Industrial designers develop a wide spectrum of design solutions that meet current demands and anticipate the future needs of society. Their designs must incorporate the effective use of materials and technology, allow for manufacturing constraints, and provide a clear advantage to existing solutions.

The five-year program in industrial and interaction design, which leads to the professional degree, bachelor of industrial design (B.I.D.), is noted for combining theory and practice, taking a process-oriented approach, and focusing on social and environmental responsibility. It is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and exceeds the educational minimums recommended by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA). The program consists of courses in design theory and practice, as well as support courses in the humanities, the physical and natural sciences, and the behavioral and social sciences. The responsive curriculum maintains a balance between technical, aesthetic, and humanistic aspects and keeps pace with the leading edge of design technology by anticipating developments in the field.

Students in the program participate in collaborative projects with business, industry, and government agencies, challenging students with real-life design problems. Industrial and interaction design students have an active chapter of the IDSA, which plans lecture programs, organizes field trips to consultant and corporate design offices, and participates in regional and national meetings of the society.