Interactive Product Design
Today’s product designer is a new breed of designer who has the ability to create, integrate, and communicate innovative product designs that entertain, enable, inspire, and transform the way people live.
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Whether designing a fashion accessory, furniture, products for the home or office, consumer electronics, personal care products, mobility or medical devices, the product designer of tomorrow has the ability to design all kinds of products across various industries. Students experiment with new and green materials as well as smart technologies, and integrate fine art processes and design skills with basic functional principles. |
Overview:
Students develop design skills in the two broad product categories of “soft-line” and “hard-line” products. Sequential courses enable students to develop their own unique creative practices and design methodology that utilizes hands-on fine art practices and design skills, technical drawing and rendering skills, computer skills in 2D graphics, and 3D CAD skills for rapid prototyping and fabrication. The goal of the program is to foster the students’ creative visions and design leadership ability to create a new generation of products and experiences for the global marketplace.
Students can learn:
- Furniture Design, Entertainment Design
- Fashion Accessories, Shoe Design
- Home and Office Products
- Cosmetic Packaging, Personal Care
Products - Mobility Design, Sports / Recreation
Products - Consumer Electronics, Medical Products
Additional detailed content is available in the complete Course Description and Curricula (PDF)
| Fall | Spring | |||
| Sophomore Year | IPRD200/201 | Design Studio I/II | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| IPRD220/221 | Integrated Design Studio I/II | 2.0 | 2.0 | |
| IPRD240/241 | Forms & Structures I/II | 2.0 | 2.0 | |
| IPRD250/251 | Visual Communication I/II | 2.0 | 2.0 | |
| IPRD270/271 | Digital Design I/II | 2.0 | 2.0 | |
| ENGL202 | Sophomore English | 3.0 | ---- | |
| AHCS220 | Contemporary Art Survey | 3.0 | ---- | |
| AHCS225 | Product Design History | ---- | 3.0 | |
| LIBS235 | Micro Economics | ---- | 2.0 | |
| Total Credits per Semester | 17.0 | 16.0 | ||
| Descriptions for courses listed in grey boxes are located in the Liberal Arts and Sciences section. | ||||
| Fall | Spring | |||
| Junior Year | IPRD300/301 | Design Studio III/IV | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| IPRD320/321 | Integrated Design Studio III/IV | 2.0 | 2.0 | |
| IPRD370/371 | Digital Design III/IV | 2.0 | 2.0 | |
| IPRD385 | Methods & Materials I/II | 2.0 | 2.0 | |
| *ILMS300 | Integrated Learning Studio | ---- | 2.0 | |
| AHCS310 | Art History Elective | ---- | 3.0 | |
| Art History, English, or Liberal Studies | 3.0 | ---- | ||
| Elective | ||||
| NSCI319 | Anatomy & Ergonomics | ---- | 3.0 | |
| MATH136 | Math for Artists & Designers | 3.0 | ---- | |
| Total Credits per Semester | 16.0 | 18.0 | ||
| Descriptions for courses listed in grey boxes are located in the Liberal Arts and Sciences section. | ||||
| Fall | Spring | |||
| Senior Year | IPRD400/401 | Design Studio V/VI | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| IPRD420/421 | Integrated Design Studio V/VI | 2.0 | 2.0 | |
| IPRD430/431 | Professional Practice I/II | 2.0 | 2.0 | |
| IPRD470/471 | Digital Design | 2.0 | 2.0 | |
| Studio Electives | 2.0 | ---- | ||
| ILML400 | Integrated Learning Lecture | ---- | 3.0 | |
| LIBS 440 | Liberal Studies Capstone Elective | ---- | 3.0 | |
| SSCI210 | Social Studies | 3.0 | ---- | |
| Total Credits per Semester | 15.0 | 17.0 | ||
| Descriptions for courses listed in grey boxes are located in the Liberal Arts and Sciences section. | ||||
Note: IPRD440, Internship class: Though the coursework portion of this class is offered during the fall semester, students are encouraged to participate in an industry internship during the summer between junior and senior years.
| Department Heads | |
| Department Chair, Steve McAdam | |
| Assistant Chair, Michael Kollins |
There couldn't be a better time to be a product designer. Time Magazine (source: www.idsa.org) reported that product design is one of the 15 hottest professions in terms of job growth and compensation.Product design has many of the same advantages as the more traditional creative professions. But the higher demand for product designers across a wider variety of industries means they are generally better compensated and have more employment opportunities. Today, there is an unprecedented demand for a new breed of product designer that has the creativity and skills to integrate technology into various types of consumer products, and to design for different industries. Never before has there been so much opportunity for the product designer to choose not only what to design or who to design for. The BFA in Interactive Product Design provides the graduate with a diverse and rewarding career path that is as wide as it is long. Many types of industries employ product designers, and the list is constantly growing. Moreover, nearly one-third of the Fortune 500 companies employ or use the services of the product designer.
Some of the industries that hire product designers include:
| Home Products Furniture Design Medical Products Office Products Fashion Accessories Sports Equipment Consumer Electronics Cosmetic Packaging |
Transportation Entertainment Personal Care Products Gift Industry Publishing Exhibit Design Packaging |
We are currently establishing relationships with the following companies:
| Alessi Housewares BMW Design Canon Disney Epson Guzzini Herman Miller |
IKEA Intel Nike Nokia Samsung Sony Speedo Westvaco |
See Slideshows of student product designs for furniture, fashion accessories, personal care, sports/recreation, mobility, and consumer electronics.
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9045 Lincoln Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90045
Telephone 310 665 6800