Bachelor of Industrial Design
134 total credits required

pratt studios
4th floor
tel: (718) 636-3631
fax: (718) 636-3553

Industrial Design (ID) is a field of artists, designers, and inventors who create the objects we live with every day. Pratt/ID students arrive with a wide range of talents: in math and science, in drawing and painting, in model making and sculpture. All find a home in Industrial Design. Pratt/ID develops students’ individual talents. It might even be called “Individual Design” rather than “Industrial Design.” Opportunities after graduation are as unique and broad as our students themselves. It is an education that opens wide career possibilities.

Pratt/ID alumni are designers, artists, craftsmen, educators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and corporate leaders. This diversity comes from a program of study that allows freedom of choice and specialization. Six studio paths are offered:
• Product: hand tools to future technologies.
• Furniture: chairs to office systems.
• Transportation: hovercraft to hybrid cars.
• Exhibit/Experience: museums to restaurants.
• Table Top: teapots to teaspoons.
• General: a combination of the above.

Students study with faculty professionals with varied backgrounds. They take core courses in the freshman and sophomore years, which provide grounding in drawing, color, 3-D, and problem solving. Junior and senior year students choose studios as their talents dictate. Industrial Design department counselors assist each student with choices.

Pratt/ID offers study abroad exchanges and summer programs in Paris, Barcelona, Copenhagen, and Amsterdam. Students complete two to four semesters of computer studies in high-end workstations 3-D modeling and animation CAD programs. Elective computer courses are available for students who wish to specialize in the electronic medium.

Students who wish to major in industrial design will be reviewed at the end of the freshman year by the department for acceptance.

Pratt/ID maintains strong ties to industry through corporate-supported programs and internships. Fortune 500 companies are regular sponsors of Pratt/ID competitions and studios. With its magnificent collection of museums, libraries, and galleries, New York City is the world’s center for design. Students learn from both the richness of past culture and the cutting edge of contemporary design.

Seniors take a full year of portfolio and professional practices in preparation for career entry. The senior show is an annual showcase celebration for the next generation of Pratt designers.

Pratt’s industrial designers seek to create beautiful forms and products that express their vision as reflected by the people and culture of the times.

highlighted courses

Directed Research I

IND-405

Interdisciplinary study concerning an approved industrial design project with research, design and presentation completed under supervision of faculty is involved. This is offered as a studio elective in the junior and senior years with chairperson and faculty approval.

2.00 credits

Design V (product)

IND-401A

Studios in Product, Furniture and Transportation. In the senior design course, the student is expected to exhibit a full range of professional competence and facility in designing advanced products, environments and component complexes of broad scope. All phases of each problem are brought to a professional level: sketches, renderings, drafting, models, written documentation and photographs.

4.00 credits

Intro to Prototypes

IND-215

This course takes the students through a series of design projects that result in complete, full-size working prototypes. There is an introduction to fabrication techniques in wood, metal, and plastics - the most common materials used to build visual and working prototypes.

2.00 credits

3-D Design I

IND-211

The visual organization of design elements such as line, plane, volume, and the analysis of their abstract relationships and principles of order are studied. The course aims to develop the students aesthetic sense through the creation of abstract visual order.

4.00 credits

Design I

IND-201

Concerned with design from concept to conclusion, this two-part course involves the student in all aspects of the design process, and incorporates skills and knowledge gathered from most of the other courses in the sophomore year. Starting with a series of exercises, students work progressively toward more wide ranging goals. Ideas are developed, drawings are made, models are built, documents are compiled, and presentations are made. Through criticism and analysis, and hands-on experience, students begin to understand the complex process of designing.

4.00 credits

Drafting

IND-151

This is an introductory course that provides the student with fundamental information, understanding, and skills in orthographic projection and isometric projection specific to and concurrent with the practice of drafting for industrial design. Students move from drafting by hand to drafting on the computer.

2.00 credits

3-D Design III

IND-311

The course uses principles of design in the visual organization of design elements, form and space, and analysis of their abstract relationships. The objective is to develop sensitivity to form and space and synthesize this abstract language into functional objects.

2.00 credits

4 Design VI IND-402
2 Space Analysis II or Prototypes: Selected types IND-510 OR IND-516
2 Professional Practice & Portfolio II IND-442
3 Social Science/Philosophy
2 Studio Elective
2 Liberal Arts Elective
15 CREDITS

4 Design V IND-401
2 Space Analysis I or Prototypes IND-509 OR IND-515
2 Professional Practice & Portfolio I IND-441
3 Math/Science
2 Studio Elective
2 Liberal Arts Elective
15 CREDITS

4 Design IV or Transportation Design II
IND-302 OR IND-508
2 3-D Design IV IND-312
2 Production Methods IND-586
2 CAID II: Alias or CAID II: Solid Works/Pro E.
IND-540 OR IND-542
3 World Civilizations II CH-400
3 Liberal Arts Elective
16 CREDITS

4 Design III or Transportation Design I IND-301 OR
IND-507
2 3-D Design III IND-311
2 Production Methods IND-585
2 CAID I: Alias or CAID I: Solid Works/Pro E.
IND-539 OR IND-541
3 World Civilizations I CH-300
2 History of Industrial Design HD-361
3 Liberal Arts Elective
18 CREDITS

4 Design II IND-202
4 3-D Design II IND-212
2 Drawing II IND-146
2 Introduction to Prototypes IND-215
2 Survey of Art: 20th Century HA-216
3 Social Science/Philosophy
17 CREDITS

4 Design I IND-201
4 3-D Design I IND-211
2 Drawing I IND-145
2 Drafting I IND-151
2 Survey of Art: 19th Century HA-215
3 Math/Science
17 CREDITS

4 Drawing II: Figure & General FDC-144
3 3-D Design II FDC-158
3 Light/Color/Design II FDC-164
2 4D Design II FDC-181
3 Survey of Art II HA-116
3 Introduction to Literary & Critical Studies I ENGL-103
18 CREDITS

4 Drawing I: Figure & General FDC-143
3 3-D Design I FDC-157
3 Light/Color/Design I FDC-163
2 4D Design I FDC-180
3 Survey of Art I HA-115
3 Introduction to Literary & Critical Studies I ENGL-101
18 CREDITS

Pro Practice & Portfolio I

IND-441

This course covers professional practice and presentation techniques, including verbalm written, and visual. Participation in design competitions and in developing effective presentations is a strong part of this course. A goal of the course is to develop a complete portfolio designed to best present the student's work in a highly professional and visually interesting manner.

2.00 credits