Study Industrial Design at UNSW
What is Industrial Design?
Industrial Design is a creative and impact-driven field focused on designing innovative products, services, and systems that improve how people live, work and interact. At UNSW, Industrial Design is taught through a human-centred lens, integrating sustainability, systems thinking, and real-world experience. Students gain critical design skills that prepare them for careers in product design, user experience (UX), and design innovation.
Why Study Industrial Design at UNSW?
When you study Industrial Design at UNSW, you’ll be inspired and challenged to use insightful and strategic product design that leads to a better quality of life. Our programs blend creative exploration with strategic thinking, helping you design for social, environmental and technological impact.
Through practical studio classes and theoretical courses, you’ll explore design thinking and methodologies. You’ll build professional skills in drawing, ideation, making and prototyping while learning about materials, manufacturing technologies, sustainability and user interaction.
As part of our creative Arts, Design & Architecture community, you’ll be encouraged to collaborate across disciplines and gain professional experience. Additionally, you can take advantage of programs that support entrepreneurship and innovation. Through our strong industry links, you’ll be able to gain real-world professional experience and connect with design leaders. As a graduate of Industrial Design, you’ll also be eligible for membership with the Design Institute of Australia (DIA).
As part of the Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture (ADA), you’ll learn from leading practitioners, makers and thinkers. Our academics bring real-world experience and research expertise into every project, connecting you with global design conversations and industry challenges.
You’ll study in UNSW ADA’s Creative Spaces. These vibrant hubs are designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. These purpose-built facilities include state-of-the-art design studios, workshops and exhibition areas equipped with the latest tools and technology. Here, you’ll experiment across disciplines, exchange ideas and work alongside peers in architecture, art, media and design.
What Skills Will You Gain?
Studying Industrial Design at UNSW equips students with an industry-ready skill set that blends creativity, technical skills, and critical thinking. You will learn to apply design research methods and prototyping to solve real-world challenges. You will also use creative problem-solving and systems thinking to create meaningful, human-centred design outcomes. Through practical studio-based learning, you will build confidence in taking ideas from concept to completion. You will refine form, function and user experience while considering sustainability and social impact.
Collaboration is central to design practice. You will work across disciplines, from engineering to the arts, learning to communicate effectively with teams and diverse audiences. You will develop skills in visual, digital and written communication to express complex design ideas clearly and persuasively.
By graduation, you will possess the skills to design for manufacturing, service environments and emerging technologies. You will also understand the historical and social contexts of design, helping you make informed, ethical decisions in your practice. These skills prepare you for professional design roles and provide flexibility to influence future products, system design and experiences.
Careers in Industrial Design
Industrial design UNSW, opens up a range of careers that blend innovation and creativity with technology, manufacturing and business. Your understanding of and experience across the entire design process will prepare you for success in various industries, including technology, healthcare, consumer products, transportation and sustainability.
Potential industrial design careers include:
- Product designer or design engineer within a consultancy or an in-house team designing consumer products, transport, scientific, medical, furniture, lighting, sports, telecommunications, wayfinding, point-of-purchase display and more
- 3D product modeler, renderer, or visualiser
- Computer-Aided Design (CAD) draftsperson
- Colour, Materials and Finishes (CMF) designer
- Product branding, product development, and marketing strategist
- Packaging design technologist
- User experience and interaction (UX/UI) designer
- Ergonomist or human factors engineering specialist
- Service designer
- Systems designer
- Industrial design manager
- Technical product manager
- Chief design officer
- Designer-maker
Explore Design Degrees at UNSW
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We offer the below undergraduate courses with a specialisation in industrial design:
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Design / Education (Secondary)
- Bachelor of Design / Media
- Bachelor of Commerce / Design
We offer the below undergraduate courses with a minor in industrial design:
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The Bachelor of Industrial Design (Honours) is an additional year of advanced, practice-based study. You will deepen your understanding of industrial design and strengthen your skills through a major research or design project. Focus areas include innovation, creativity, business and production knowledge, and developing strong connections with industry.
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You can develop further expertise in design through the following postgraduate programs
- Graduate Certificate in Design
- Graduate Diploma in Design
- Master of Design
- Graduate certificate in Visualisation, Simulation & Immersive Design
- Master of Visualisation, Simulation & Immersive Design
Design is a key component in a range of postgraduate programs, including the Master of Architecture, the Master of City Planning, and the Master of Landscape Architecture. For the complete list of opportunities, search ‘design’ in our Degree Finder.
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Postgraduate research through a PhD or Master of Philosophy (MPhil) will deepen your expertise and help you develop a broad intellectual sophistication, research, and professional skills that are prized by employers. You’ll have access to first-rate facilities and world-class supervisors at the forefront of their fields in fine arts. Find out more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Industrial Design
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Industrial Design is a specialisation within the Bachelor of Design. You can apply for design-focused degrees via the UNSW How to Apply page.
This page outlines:
- Entry requirements for domestic and international students
- Key dates and admission deadlines
- Step-by-step instructions for submitting your application
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Industrial designers create and refine the products we use every day. They combine creativity, technical expertise, and human-centred thinking to develop solutions that are functional, sustainable, and enhance user experiences. They do this by:
- Developing ideas that balance user needs with manufacturing and business goals
- Exploring materials, technologies, and production methods
- Focusing on improving quality of life through superior design
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Industrial design adopts a broad, systems-based approach, shaping products, services, and experiences that enhance how people live and interact.
Product design, on the other hand, takes a more focused approach, concentrating on developing and delivering specific items to market. It involves:
Understanding consumer and market needs
Creating innovative product concepts
Collaborating with industry partners to bring new ideas to life
Industrial design includes this process but also considers sustainability, human factors, and the broader social impact of design.
For example:
When a UNSW student designed Hullbot, a robot that cleans ship hulls, the focus of product design was on the robot itself. Its shape, sensors, and performance. Industrial design took a broader view, considering how the robot reduces fuel use, benefits the environment, and fits into the global shipping industry as a sustainable system. -
No, you don’t need to be an expert at drawing. You will develop sketching and visualisation skills during your studies.
At UNSW, drawing is taught as a tool for thinking and communication, not as an artistic test. You’ll learn to use sketching to explore, explain and refine ideas rather than produce perfect artwork.
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Students innovate on real-world design challenges that explore creativity and sustainability.
Projects often involve:
Researching user needs and design opportunities
Developing prototype concepts through sketching
Testing and refining ideas for practical use
Collaborating with industry partners on professional briefs
These experiences prepare you to design meaningful products, services and systems that respond to social and environmental challenges.