Program Overview

Introduction to Industrial Design

The Industrial Design program at Western Washington University prepares students for careers in design, innovation, and product development. Students learn creative problem-solving methodologies, design research, drawing skills, model making and prototyping techniques, materials, design software, manufacturing processes, user research, ergonomics, form development, and design theory.

Why Consider an Industrial Design Major?

The Bachelor of Science Degree program in Industrial Design prepares graduates to begin work as practicing designers in corporate, consulting, or entrepreneurial positions. Industrial Design is a professional service of creating and developing concepts and specifications that optimize function, value, and appearance of products and systems for the mutual benefit of both the user and the manufacturer.

Student Resources

• Department website: Engineering and Design
• Department advising:
  • Program Director: Jason Morris
  • Pre-Major Advisor: Robin Mills
• Degree Works: Current students should also log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
• Career Services Center: Connect major to a career
• Sample Careers:
  • Staff Designer for a corporation that manufactures electronics, furniture, outdoor gear, etc.
  • Design Consultant working in a small design firm that consults with a variety of manufacturers
  • Entrepreneur developing new products and creating businesses

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process)

Declaration of Major requires the submission of a portfolio which, in the judgment of the faculty, offers evidence of a candidate’s potential for success within the program.

Entrance Portfolio Requirement

A portfolio is a collection of an applicant’s best work, revealing the applicant’s interests and presented as professionally as possible. Applicants should submit work from high school/university courses, professional work, or self-initiated projects.

Entrance Portfolio Submission Format

To apply for admission to the pre-major, an individual must submit a portfolio according to the format and content guidelines listed on the Industrial Design website.

Sophomore Portfolio Review

The sophomore portfolio review is held once a year during the third week in March and takes place after the pre-major courses have been successfully completed. Students will be selectively admitted as Industrial Design majors based on their performance as pre-majors.

Requirements (141-146 credits)

Industrial Design Core: 61 credits

• ENGR 101 - Engineering, Design, & Society (3 credits)
• ENGR 115 - Innovation in Design (4 credits)
• ID 110 - Industrial Design Foundation 1 (4 credits)
• ID 120 - Industrial Design Foundation 2 (4 credits)
• ID 130 - History of Industrial Design (3 credits)
• ID 210 - Sophomore Industrial Design 1 (4 credits)
• ID 220 - Sophomore Industrial Design 2 (5 credits)
• ID 230 - Sophomore Industrial Design 3 (5 credits)
• ID 240 - Two-Dimensional Design for Industrial Designers (4 credits)
• ID 310 - Perspective and Rendering 1 (4 credits)
• ID 320 - Industrial Design CAD Skills (4 credits)
• ID 330 - Advanced Industrial Design CAD Skills (4 credits)
• ID 340 - Perspective and Rendering II (4 credits)
• ID 380 - Materials for Design (5 credits)
• MFGE 231 - Introduction to Metal Manufacturing Processes (4 credits)

Professional Practice Series: 34 credits

• ID 350 - Junior Industrial Design I (5 credits)
• ID 360 - Junior Industrial Design II (5 credits)
• ID 370 - Junior Industrial Design III (5 credits)
• ID 410 - Senior Industrial Design I (5 credits)
• ID 420 - Senior Industrial Design II (5 credits)
• ID 430 - Senior Industrial Design III (5 credits)
• ID 440 - Industrial Design Internship (4 credits)

Supporting Courses: 46-51 credits

• ART 109 - Visual Dialogue (3 credits)
• COMM 101 - Fundamentals of Speech (4 credits)
• DSGN 310 - Principles of Interaction Design (3 credits)
• Art Studio - one course from:
  • ART 230 - Form and Space (5 credits)
  • ART 280 - Time and Motion (5 credits)
  • ART 304 - Figure Drawing and Issues of the Body (5 credits)
  • ART 305 - Experimental Drawing (5 credits)
  • ART 306 - Mixed Media on Paper (5 credits)
  • ART 320 - Painting I (5 credits)
  • ART 322 - Painting II (5 credits)
  • ART 324 - Figure Painting (5 credits)
  • ART 331 - Sculpture-Wood (5 credits)
  • ART 332 - Sculpture - Metals (5 credits)
  • ART 340 - Ceramics I (5 credits)
  • ART 350 - Printmaking I (5 credits)
• Art History - four courses from:
  • A/HI 210 - History of Architecture (3 credits)
  • A/HI 211 - History of Western Art I: Prehistory to the Middle Ages (3 credits)
  • A/HI 212 - History of Western Art II: Renaissance to Modernity (3 credits)
  • A/HI 240 - Visual Culture in Western Europe in the 19th Century (3 credits)
  • A/HI 241 - Visual Culture in Western Europe and America in the 20th Century (3 credits)
  • A/HI 250 - Arts of Africa pre-1900 (3 credits)
  • A/HI 270 - Visual Culture in South and Southeast Asia (3 credits)
  • A/HI 271 - Visual Culture in East Asia (3 credits)
  • A/HI 301 - Modern Art and Modernism (5 credits)
  • HUMA 273 - Art and Society in China and Japan (5 credits)
  • DSGN 111 - Design View (3 credits)
  • DSGN 211 - Foundations of Visual Communication (3 credits)
• Math - one course from:
  • MATH 115 - Precalculus II (5 credits)
  • MATH 118 - Accelerated Precalculus (5 credits)
• PHYS 114 - Principles of Physics I (5 credits)
• PHYS 115 - Principles of Physics II (5 credits)
• Business - one course from:
  • COMM 318 - Professional Communication (5 credits)
  • ENTR 246 - Entrepreneurship and Innovation Foundations (4 credits)
  • IBUS 370 - Introduction to International Business (4 credits)
  • MGMT 311 - Introduction to Management and Organizational Behavior (4 credits)
  • MKTG 380 - Principles of Marketing (4 credits)

University Graduation Requirements

• General University Requirements
• Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
• 180 Minimum Total Credits
• 60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
• Residency Requirement
• Minimum Grade Requirements
• Final Quarter Requirement

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s major or minor courses, and supporting courses for majors and minors.

Accreditation

The Industrial Design program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), 11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21, Reston, VA 20190.