Industrial design involves the research and design of the whole range of consumer and capital products used by people. These are as diverse as telephones and transportation, kitchen appliances and exhibition systems. Ideally, the industrial designer works as part of a team involving engineering, production and marketing. The industrial designer initially concentrates on establishing the concept as a marketable, producible, useable and socially responsible product; and subsequently details the human factors (ergonomics), appearance (style) and mode of operation. Frequently the designer becomes involved in the corporate image of companies and their products as well as the graphics of the product's packaging and the associated retail support systems.

The Bachelor of Industrial Design Program provides academic education and practical experience leading to professional qualifications in industrial design. It requires full time attendance for four years. There are two central goals. The primary goal is to equip students with the theoretical and practical knowledge, skills and techniques needed for the design, documentation and administration of design and product development. The second more general goal is to provide students with an all-round problem-solving education. In achieving these goals students will be avle to direct their skills in more specialist areas, such as marketing and design management, according to their particular interests. Core l ectures and practical sessions cover theoretical knowledge in the following areas:

1. Industrial Design Studio
2. Visual Communication of Design (Computer aided and manual methods)
3. Technology (Engineering materials and manufacture)
4. Marketing
5. Ergonomics
6. Design Management
7. Design Theory and Process
8. Design History

*These electives need to be approved by the Program Director.

The Bachelor of Industrial Design degree may be awarded with Honours based upon the quality of performance in the program. However to be eligible for Honours consideration students need to complete the optional final Design Project IDES4352.

1. The degree of Bachelor of Industrial Design is awarded at either Pass or Honours level after the successful completion of a minimum of 192 units of credit.

2. To fulfil these requirements, students must complete:
• 144 units of core courses, being all those prescribed in the faculty regulations for this program.
• 24 units of open electives, selected in accordance with the faculty regulations for undergraduate study in the Faculty of the Built Environment,
• 12 units of Major Project Elective or other approved Industrial Design Electives (approved by the Program Head).
• 12 units of General Education in accordance with University requirements.

3. The standard duration of the program is 4 years consisting of 8 semesters of full-time study (24 units of credit per semester).

4. In final year, students who have achieved a credit average in all design studio courses (IDES1031; IDES2161; IDES3221; IDES3222; and IDES4291 or equivalent courses as approved by the Head of Program) and who have thus established a sound conceptual basis for developing a highly resolved final design can select to enrol in the Major Project Elective course. The Industrial Design Program Director can override that selection for students having a strong case. Other students must take the equivalent units of credit in courses selected from a specified list of "Special Industrial Design Studies" electives list, approved by the Industrial Design Program Director.

5. General Education courses may not be taken before a student enters Year 2 of the program.

Refer to General Education

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html

The program prepares students for professional and executive employment in areas involving the research, design and development of new manufactured products. Whilst it is anticipated that most graduates will be initially employed in an industrial design capacity either in manufacturing companies or consultancies, it is likely that some graduates may subsequently choose to specialize in aspects of marketing, engineering, product management or design management.

The Degree of Bachelor of Industrial Design from the University of New South Wales is recognised by the Design Institute of Australia.