Industrial Design - Bachelor of Applied Technology
From the chair that you sit in, to the computer you surf on, to the car you drive or the mp3 player you’re hooked into, industrial design begins with analyzing the connection between the product and the user. A cross between an engineer and an artist – the Industrial Designer thinks and designs in 3D.
In this program, you will learn how to identify and fulfill needs, generate innovative ideas with preliminary sketches and designs, and finally bring your ideas to life through the creation of three-dimensional models and prototypes ready for mass production.
The Industrial Design program at Humber is characterized by a strong “real-world" focus. Assignments mirror professional practice with industry sponsorship of many studio projects. Hands-on studio-centered education is emphasized. Model fabrication in well-equipped workshops allows students to visualize their design solutions. The latest industry software in 3D CAD and Surfacing complements the design process.
In addition to the hands-on component, the applied degree program includes courses in marketing, economics, and design management.
This unique blend of courses gives the graduate a critical edge in both initial job placement and future career advancement.
Graduates of this program can expect to find employment as a senior industrial designer, product designer, or project designer in such diverse fields as furniture, automobile, computer media, sporting gear, and architecture.
Industry Demand
The Industrial Design program at Humber is the first to offer a unique blend of liberal arts, applied science courses, and hands-on experience. This combination gives our graduates a critical edge in both initial job placement and future career advancement.
Some of our industry partners include ABC Group, Autodesk (Alias), Bayer Material Science, Bombardier Recreational Products, Cosmoda, Ontario Science Centre, Research In Motion (RIM), Sertapak, Shape Products, Umbra and Magna International.
Facilities & Equipment
All industrial design students take studio drawing, perspective and computer drawing, rendering classes, and studio classes in which they develop their model-making skills. Our on campus facilities and machines at Humber include:
Model shop for working in wood, metal, plastic or composites
CNC 3 axis milling machine
Two rapid prototyping machines. A dimension ABS plastic RP machine and a Z Corp 3D Color RP machine that can incorporate color and uses starch based powder
Paint booth
Software & Technology
This program's computer facilities include a dedicated computer lab as well as other shared facilities. The lab has an array of peripheral devices including several laser printers, a slide scanner, and a flatbed scanner. The software that we incorporate into our curriculum includes 3D Modelling CAD, Alias, SolidWorks, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Corel Painter.
Student Work
View more of the great work of our Industrial Design students in the gallery below.
Roy Chafey Memorial Award
ABC Group Award
Bayer Industrial Design Competition
Cosmoda Award
Energizer/Humber Industrial Design Competition
Fred and Glenn Moffatt Award of Excellence
Graduate Proficiency Award
Lee Valley Award for Craftmanship
Mollie McMurrich Award
Psion Teklogix Inc. Industrial Design Competition
Teknion Award
Umbra Award
In the Industrial Design Degree program, the focus is on helping students learn to develop problem solving skills around design solutions, and work collaboratively with diverse teams.
Students contribute to product design and development, by combining creative talent with an understanding and knowledge of art, technology and business. In addition to gaining hands-on experience in well-equipped labs, they participate in case studies, research, studio work using advanced computer workstations, and industry sponsored design competitions.
In this 4 year degree program, a Work Term occurs in the summer months (May to August) after 3 years of study. Our students offer skills and capabilities in:
Product Creation / Development, Idea Generation
Sketching / Renderings
Innovation & Design Practices
Research
Model Making
Product & Service Prototyping, Testing and Evaluation
Rapid Prototyping, Market Sampling
Manufacturing Processes, Materials
Photoshop, Illustrator, 3D Studio
SolidWorks, AutoCAD
Patrick Burke B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., Ph.D., P.Eng.
Contact Us
Program Coordinator: Patrick Burke
Email: patrick.burke@humber.ca
Telephone #: (416) 675-6622 ext. 4523
Humber offers Alias Studio Tools for Design Course see details
Canadian International Autoshow. Industrial Design Degree, Transportation Design Course
Watch video (medium res | high res)
Designers are people with the desire – and the talent – to create. Businesses need people who can apply these skills in a number of ways. “In a sea of look-alike products and services, design creates the “Wow!” factor. Managers, facing fierce global competition, look to design for the kind of innovation that generates organic growth, new revenues and wider profit margins.” Business Week
Success Stories
Humber sweeps Design Exchange competition
Danny Pinzin, a third-year Industrial Design student, was the big winner at the awards ceremony. Pinzin’s teams won gold in each category of the competition.
“There were some long nights of graphic design, SolidWorks modeling, and concept writing,” explained Pinzin. “It’s good to know the hard work paid off.” -Danny Pinzin
Industrial Design Student Matthew Law Designs the Car of Tomorrow!
Industrial Design Students at Humber College are hard at work and making waves with a ripple effect that stretches far into the future. 4th year student Matthew Law has designed his version of what the automotive industry will have to offer as far into the future as 2031. [Link]
International Student Design Winners
Tanya Nazywalsky and Alexei Mikhailov, two of Humber's Industrial Design students, rocked the International Student Design competition, winning two GOLD and two SILVER medals
Slavko Nedev, a graduate of the Industrial Design course, decided to get up and go when he converted an average mobile trailer into a portable eye wear business called Mobileyez.
Traveling from place to place, selling glasses to the needy, Slavko manages to keep the prices as low as possible due to the fact that he never has to worry about rent or taxes.
For some pictures of Slavko and his business at work Click Here
Humber College’s Industrial Design bachelor’s degree program is top-ranked among Canadian college industrial design programs in the 2009 Corporate Knights’ “Knight Schools Report”. see link
Humber Industrial Design degree graduate Matthew Finbow competed with students from 18 design schools in 11 countries and placed third in the 2007 World Automotive Design Competition before accepting a position as a full-time designer with one of Canada’s largest automotive parts suppliers.
