render of student project: massage therapeutic device

Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design

Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design

Our programs are recognized as Human-Centered Technology Design STEM degrees.

Georgia Tech’s School of Industrial Design distinguishes itself through its commitment to the end-user and its multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving. Through rapid prototype iteration and a focus on people, industrial design students gain valuable practice in human-centered design and research-driven problem solving.

Our school is significantly different from other ID programs. For us, industrial design operates at the intersection of design, technology, and business. We combine Georgia Tech's rigorous scientific approach with our design traditions and development. Integration with other disciplines and our own teaching and research labs motivate students to solve problems and imagine design solutions that anticipate the future.

Creating Real-World Products that Improve Lives

Senior Lecturer and Undergraduate Program Coordinator Kevin Shankwiler discusses what makes Georgia Tech industrial designers extraordinary. The program places a unique emphasis on understanding the people and the context for whom we are designing. This human-centered perspective, guiding the creativity of conceptualizing product ideas and the practical manufacturing know-how, makes the Georgia Tech Industrial Design student incredibly strong.

Join Our Community

Program Catalog & Requirements

Undergraduate Admissions

Portfolio Guidelines

Application Deadlines

The Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design program is a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) degree - CIP code 11.0105. STEM designation makes our international students eligible to apply for a two-year OPT extension, as well as STEM-specific scholarships.

First-Year Admission Deadlines   |   Transfer Admission Deadlines

 

For a list of academic program requirements and electives, please refer to the BSID Course Catalog.

Year 1 - FallHoursYear 1 - SpringHours
ID 1011 Industrial Design Fundamentals I2ID 1012 Industrial Design Fundamentals II2
ID 1101 Intro to Industrial Design I1ID 1102 Intro to Industrial Design II1
ID 1401 Intro to Graphic Communication I1ID 1402 Intro to Graphic Communication II1
ID 1418 Intro to Sketching & Modeling I1ID 1419 Intro to Sketching & Modeling II1
ID 2202 History of Modern Industrial Design3CS 1315 Intro to Media Computation3
ENGL 1101 English Composition I3ENGL 1102 English Composition II3
MATH 1551 Differential Calculus2MATH 1552 Integral Calculus4
Social Science Elective3 Wellness Requirement2
 16 17

 

Year 2 - FallHoursYear 2 - SpringHours
ID 2023 Industrial Design Studio I3ID 2024 Industrial Design Studio I3
ID 2101 Digital Design Methods3ID 2102 3D Modeling2
ID 2325 User-Centered Design Methods3ID 2320 Human Factors in Design3
MATH 1553 Linear Algebra 2ID 2510 Intro to Smart Products3
PHYS 2211 Physics I4ID 2242 Art History II3
  Lab Science Requirement4
 15 18

 

Year 3 - FallHoursYear 3 - SpringHours
ID 30-- Junior Design Studio I4ID 30-- Junior Design Studio II4
ID 3302 Materials & Processes II3ID 3301 Materials I3
Industrial Design Elective3ID 4206 Culture of Objects3
Industrial Design Elective3Industrial Design Elective3
Social Science Elective3Free Elective3
 16 16

 

Year 4 - FallHoursYear 4 - SpringHours
ID 40-- Senior Design Studio4ID 40-- Senior Design Studio4
Industrial Design Elective3Industrial Design Elective3
Social Science Elective3Social Science Elective3
Free Elective3Humanities Elective3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
 16 16
student lighting project, blue light with smiley face

First Years, Sophomores: Unconventional Artists

First-year industrial design students begin their academic career by diving into classes that build core design skills. Students learn to sketch, model, design, and visually communicate in studio courses taught by ID faculty and industry experts. Lecture classes introduce students to the history of industrial design, and the breadth of career opportunities afforded by the discipline. With this broad learning in their first year, our students are well-positioned to be skillful, creative problem solvers.

As sophomores, ID students connect to research, expand their digital design skills, and build fundamental skills in smart product design – a hallmark of our program.

student project: DART bike

Junior Year: Research-Driven Specializations

Our program offers three distinct tracks, each targeting a unique aspect of design innovation. The Product Development and Innovation track delves into advanced design and manufacturing, emphasizing parametric modeling, 3D scanning, advanced materials, and digital manufacturing for diverse product applications. The Health and Well-Being track adopts a proactive stance in design research, focusing on universal design and the creation of innovative products and services in wellness and health ecosystems. Meanwhile, the Interactive Product Design specialization explores the realm of "smart" products and next-generation wearables, employing body scanning, sensor-based technologies, and soft-goods design to push the boundaries of interactive product development.

student project: wash bus for the unhoused to enable them to wash their clothes

Senior Year: Creative Problem-Solving

In our classrooms, senior students engage in an expansive exploration of their roles in product and service systems design, brand and experience design, and design entrepreneurship. Collaborative studio work often involves prestigious Atlanta clients like Coca-Cola, Emory Healthcare, the CDC, NCR, MailChimp, Chick-fil-A, and Porsche, providing real-world experience. Senior students culminate their learning in a capstone design project, applying their comprehensive skills to solve significant problems. Many opt for interdisciplinary collaboration with engineers, combining design problem-solving with functionality to create effective, real-world solutions.

Beyond the Studio

The School of Industrial Design also offers one of Georgia Tech's most popular minors, and our students are among the highest percentage of those participating in study abroad programs and internships.

A student holds up a product sketch while giving a presentation.

Minor

Students can learn to creatively solve problems within their major study as well as design fundamentals.
A Makita saw prototype.

Co-Op & Internships

Georgia Tech has a strong co-op culture, and we have strong industry ties here at the School of Industrial Design.
Students studying abroad sit on stone stairway in Barcelona, Spain.

Study Abroad

Learn the many ways that industrial design students can gain an international design education through Georgia Tech.

Undergraduate Academic Support

Troy Whyte

Troy Whyte

Academic Advisor, School of Industrial Design
Kevin Shankwiler

Kevin Shankwiler

Senior Lecturer, School of Industrial Design, and Undergraduate Program Coordinator

Have a Question for Us?

 
If you can't find the information you were looking for, we'll get you to the right place.
Contact Us