Why Bachelor of Industrial Design?
Design with a difference.
Excellent design hides in plain sight. When products work as expected, we hardly think about them. It’s only when they are hard to use or prevent us from being able to achieve what we need to do, that we take notice.
Industrial designers create products and environments that are useable by all people, to the greatest extent possible. When crafting designs, they consider many factors including useability, aesthetics, materials, manufacturing processes, cost and sustainability.
View the world from different perspectives and discover how to tackle complex design challenges with creativity.
Overview
Discover how to harness your creativity to solve complex design challenges with our Bachelor of Industrial Design.
Learn how to think like a designer, express your ideas visually and create a vast range of products, systems and services that people use every day. Discover the role human factors, useability, aesthetics, manufacturing technologies, materials and environmental sustainability play in design, production and user experience.
Get hands-on experience using industry-standard tools and techniques to create virtual models of a variety of three-dimensional products. Learn about commonly used materials and the important role material selection plays in the production process. Consider the environmental impact of products throughout their lifecycle – from manufacture and purchase to repair and end-of-life – and how designers can work in more sustainable ways.
Take classes in purpose-built studio and workshop spaces. Learn to use analogue and digital fabrication equipment – including CNC equipment, 3D printers, laser cutters and virtual reality/augmented reality systems – to produce physical models and prototypes of your designs.
Complete a capstone design project and apply your learning to real-world design challenges.
Emerge with the knowledge, skills and expertise to launch your design career.
Key features
Learn how to design products, systems and services that consider ethical, social and environmental responsibilities.- Develop knowledge of design principles alongside a strong, technical design skillset.
- Build a diverse and robust portfolio of professional work throughout your studies.
- Study in purpose-built studio spaces and use industry-standard tools and software to create prototypes.
- Gain professional skills through industry-based projects and completion of a major capstone design project.
- Graduate with the knowledge, skills and expertise to undertake professional work as an industrial designer.
What you'll learn
In the Bachelor of Industrial Design, you’ll complete a range of core courses that provide a comprehensive grounding in key industrial design concepts, theories, principles and methods.
Courses also bring together knowledge from a variety of fields – including art, engineering, ergonomics, User Interface (UI) design, User Experience (UX) design, business, sociology and materials science – and show how these can be applied to enhance your design practice.
Hands-on learning forms an important part of the program. You’ll complete a number of practical design projects throughout your studies to develop and hone your technical and visual communication skills.
In your first year, you’ll complete courses that introduce you to key design theory. Through hands-on projects, you’ll explore two- and three-dimensional forms, shape, and design elements and principles. In others you’ll get up close with industry-standard digital design tools, environments and workflows. Practice drawing using a range of materials and methods to develop your observation, documentation, visual ideation and communication skills. You’ll also examine commonly used materials and manufacturing processes.
In second year, you’ll examine design from historical, contemporary and global perspectives. Explore the role of design in modern societies and reflect on the relationship between mass-consumerism and current environmental and social crises. Consider sustainable approaches to production and manufacturing. Learn about human-centered approaches to design for products, interfaces and services. Discover how products, systems and services can be designed with a user’s specific needs, desires and challenges in mind.
In your final year, you’ll complete a major design capstone project where you’ll develop an innovative, socially responsible and environmentally sustainable solution to a complex design challenge. The Industrial Design Practice course enables you to sharpen your professional skills further by completing design challenges in conjunction with industry partners.
All these experiences come together to ensure you’ll graduate with the knowledge, skills and expertise to thrive in your industrial design career.
What courses you'll study
Complete 144 units comprising:
- 144 units for Core courses
Complete 144 units comprising:
- 18 units from Common core, and
- 126 units for all Program core
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
An Ethically Rich Life
|
Course code
COREX001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Fact or Fiction: Data for Everyone
|
Course code
COREX002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Igniting Change: Ideas to Action
|
Course code
COREX003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Proppa Ways, Future Practice
|
Course code
COREX004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Responsible AI: Bridging Ethics, Education and Industry
|
Course code
COREX005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Ways of Being, Ways of Seeing
|
Course code
COREX006
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Industrial Design Studio 1 - Foundation
|
Course code
ARCH1001
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Industrial Design Studio 2 - Aesthetics and Meaning
|
Course code
ARCH1007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Industrial Design Visualisation
|
Course code
ARCH1008
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Materials and Processes for Fabrication
|
Course code
COMP1012
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Drawing for Art and Design
|
Course code
GRAP1001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Digital Design Principles and Methods
|
Course code
GRAP1004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Industrial Design Studio 3a - Human Centred Design
|
Course code
ARCH2002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Industrial Design Studio 3B - Human Factors and Usability
|
Course code
ARCH2003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Industrial Design Studio 4a - Production and Structures
|
Course code
ARCH2005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Industrial Design Studio 4b - Production and Sustainability
|
Course code
ARCH2009
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Advanced Industrial Design Visualisation
|
Course code
ARCH2015
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Design Perspectives
|
Course code
GRAP1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Principles of UX Design
|
Course code
GRAP2000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Industrial Design Practice
|
Course code
ARCH3002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Industrial Design Production Technology
|
Course code
ARCH3004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Industrial Design Studio 5a - Systems
|
Course code
ARCH3006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Industrial Design Studio 6 - Capstone Project
|
Course code
ARCH3012
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Industrial Design Studio 5b - Service
|
Course code
ARCH3015
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Integrated Studio A
|
Course code
GRAP3000
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
 |
Course name
Digital Design Principles and Methods
|
Course code
GRAP1004
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Drawing for Art and Design
|
Course code
GRAP1001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Industrial Design Studio 1 - Foundation
|
Course code
ARCH1001
|
Units
12
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Industrial Design Studio 2 - Aesthetics and Meaning
|
Course code
ARCH1007
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Industrial Design Visualisation
|
Course code
ARCH1008
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Materials and Processes for Fabrication
|
Course code
COMP1012
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Design Perspectives
|
Course code
GRAP1002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Principles of UX Design
|
Course code
GRAP2000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Industrial Design Studio 3a - Human Centred Design
|
Course code
ARCH2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Industrial Design Studio 3B - Human Factors and Usability
|
Course code
ARCH2003
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Industrial Design Studio 4a - Production and Structures
|
Course code
ARCH2005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Industrial Design Studio 4b - Production and Sustainability
|
Course code
ARCH2009
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Advanced Industrial Design Visualisation
|
Course code
ARCH2015
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Industrial Design Production Technology
|
Course code
ARCH3004
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Integrated Studio A
|
Course code
GRAP3000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Industrial Design Studio 5a - Systems
|
Course code
ARCH3006
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Industrial Design Studio 5b - Service
|
Course code
ARCH3015
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Industrial Design Studio 6 - Capstone Project
|
Course code
ARCH3012
|
Units
12
|
|
Course name
Industrial Design Practice
|
Course code
ARCH3002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
Career outcomes
Graduates of this degree will qualify to work as industrial designers. With your versatile design knowledge and technical skillset, you’ll be able to pursue dynamic careers across a variety of industry sectors. Some industrial designers choose to focus their expertise on a specific product category – like consumer electronics. Whereas others may prefer agency roles that allow them to work on lots of different kinds of projects.
You could work in a government infrastructure department, designing inclusive, community play spaces that enable children of all ages and levels of ability to play alongside their peers. Maybe you’ll work in the packaging industry, utilising natural materials to create more sustainable types of packaging such as edible, single-use cutlery. Or perhaps you’ll work in a design consultancy firm, working on a wide range of client projects that span across multiple industries.
Whatever your area of interest, career paths are available in a wide range of areas including:
- Consumer goods and electronics
- Assistive technology
- Car and car interior design
- Children’s toys and furniture
- Custom fabrication
- Furniture design
- Fashion and footwear
- Heavy equipment design
- Homewares and soft furnishings
- Injection moulding
- Machinery and equipment design
- Product packaging
- Stage, set and prop design
- Transportation design
- User Experience (UX) design
- Wearable technology
- Web and e-commerce interface design.
Industry trends
The push for businesses to implement more sustainable operating practices has exploded significantly in recent years and is showing no signs of slowing down. Consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious and are willing to hold companies to account on this issue. In fact, most consumers indicate they are willing to pay more for products from a company they perceive to be socially and environmentally responsible. Similarly, businesses that have implemented sustainability initiatives report seeing significant cost savings from these investments on top of returning higher profits (Oracle, 2024).
The global sustainable packaging market was valued at approximately US$310 billion in 2023 and is expected to exceed $518 billion by 2030, as companies race to adopt green packaging solutions (Fortune Business Insights, 2024).
The demand for industrial designers with the expertise in sustainable approaches to materials, manufacturing and product packaging is only expected to increase alongside these figures.
Ready to apply?
Your study experience and support
Adelaide University sets you up for success in your studies – and your social life. You’ll have access to work placement and internship opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events with guest speakers and more. Our campuses are equipped with purpose-built facilities including lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform with personalised study information and resources.
You’ll have everything you need to live well and thrive during your studies, with health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and modern student lounges. Get involved in campus sport or join our student clubs that will connect you to your passions – and the people who share them.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit your individual requirements and budget, with options ranging from dedicated student accommodation to private rentals. One of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has lots of leafy parks, gardens and social hubs – and some of the highest living standards globally. No matter where you are in Adelaide, you’re only a short distance from beaches, vineyards, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and parklands. Visit the accommodation web page to find out more.
Student services
We’re here to support you on your student journey. Adelaide University offers a range of support services and facilities, including:
- Career advice and mentoring services
- Personal counselling
- LGBTQIA+ support
- Academic support
- Fees and finance help
- Security services
- Accommodation services
- Common rooms
- Prayer rooms.
You’ll also have unlimited access to our dedicated student support hub. Visit in-person or online, or contact our friendly team by phone. We can assist you with anything study-related including enrolment, identification cards, timetables, fees and more.
Your campus
You'll be studying at one of our renowned campuses, accessing cutting-edge facilities and contemporary study spaces.
Study hours
Your courses will require a combination of different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Aside from your classes, you’ll also need to allocate additional time for independent study. This may include assignments, readings, projects and contributing to online discussion forums. As a rough guide, full-time studies may require 12-26 hours of class time and 14-18 hours of independent study per week.
Assessment
During your studies at Adelaide University, you’ll complete a mixture of practical, professional and research-based learning. Your assessment types will vary depending on the degree you’re studying, but may include:
- Case studies
- Essays and assignments
- Examinations
- Group projects
- Internships and placements
- Practicals
- Presentations
- Reports and project documentations
- Research projects
- Workplace and classroom contributions.
