Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design
The Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design program at LTU is a NASAD-accredited, professional baccalaureate degree. The project-centered curriculum at its core focuses on sustainability, ergonomy, user experience, product psychology, business case assessment, entrepreneurship, leadership, packaging, and cultural geography. Structurally, the industrial design program is designed to facilitate cross-disciplinary projects and create opportunities to collaborate with industry professionals on the design and development of product concepts during all four years of the core curriculum. Our facilities, which include dedicated studio space and cutting-edge printing and fabrication labs, support our students’ pursuit of these initiatives.
So conceived, LTU’s Industrial Design program offers many unique opportunities in and out of the classroom, including interdisciplinary opportunities within the Colleges of Architecture and Design, Engineering, and Management and the chance to participate in company-sponsored projects throughout your academic career. In all aspects, the program is designed to uphold LTU’s long-standing commitment to theory and practice, providing you with a better understanding of how products are creatively designed to solve the most critical issues facing our society today.
Featured Alumni
Alyssa Melotik
BS in Industrial Design
I'm a designer at Ford working on various programs from current day to far-future products. Within those teams we work holistically on understanding trends, context, and branding, all the way through storytelling, ideating, and developing final exterior and interior products.
Q: Tell us a little about your background.
A: I started at LTU in Architecture and after taking courses for a year I stumbled upon Industrial Design. I had no idea what it was before then, but when I walked through upperclassmen projects I felt the need to switch majors. The idea of being able to impact people on a more personal level was and still is one of the most inspiring aspects of ID. You don't have an opportunity to get as hands on in research and design as you do anywhere else. So today, that's why I enjoy working at Ford so much. We put research first - asking real people real questions and translating those inputs to something bigger. I don't have too much time spent in the field as I've graduated in 2018 but so far I'm learning every day and I couldn't ask for more.
Q: What made you choose to attend Lawrence Tech?
A: I was interested in design and architecture stood out as something creative that interested me. I heard of LTU having one of the best programs in the area so I visited and something just clicked when meeting the professors, touring the campus, and just the overall spirit in general. On top of that, there just happened to be a lacrosse team starting that year and I was able to earn a scholarship. It just sort of fell into place and LTU seemed like the best fit.
Q: For those who might be interested in Industrial Design, do you have any advice?
A: Overall you want to find that perfect combination of being good at something and doing what you love. A lot of the time things you're good at might not be what you love, and vice versa. It can take a while to figure that out so don't be discouraged if you haven't found that thing yet.
Beth Steenwyk
BS in Industrial Design, 2018
I'm a designer and researcher fascinated by systems, the future of food and sustainability. Currently I work at Rivian designing and researching systems and products related to electric adventure vehicles. Before that I worked at OXO, REI, Vectorform and Altair Thinklabs.
Q: Tell us a little about your background.
A: I grew up a very creative kid, spurred by being homeschooled and having a little more time to work on my own projects than some of my neighbors. I wrote a lot of stories, made a lot of projects that supported my hobbies, drew constantly. But I didn't really begin to develop any of those skills until I got to college and started in ID.
Q: What made you choose to attend Lawrence Tech?
A: I started at LTU in the architecture and interior programs and ran cross-country on the inaugural team. Something didn't feel right to me in architecture so I switched to architectural engineering. That wasn't right either so I was looking for other a better fit the summer between my freshman and sophomore year. I Googled "Art that Helps People" and stumbled upon Industrial Design. Within a month of the fall semester, I had fallen in love with the people-focused process and never turned back.
Q: For those who might be interested in Industrial Design, do you have any advice?
A: For sure, two things: 1. Try everything you get a chance to in college. Industrial design teaches you a valuable process that can lead you into a variety of more specialized disciplines, like UI, UX, design research, strategy design, environmental design, retail, rapid prototyping, or more traditional ID. Try to get as many internships or learning opportunities as you can while in college. These 3-6 month stints give you a taste of the real world and the more experience you have from school, the better you can determine what aspect you want to pursue after graduation! 2. Care. Realize that in design, you are in the unique position of getting to shape the physical world around you and it's your responsibility to shape it well.
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Admissions + Curriculum
Admission into the Industrial Design program follows the University’s admission criteria. Portfolios are not required for admission.
For specific Industrial Design program questions, contact the Chair of Design, Philip Plowright, at pplowrigh@ltu.edu or the Industrial Design Director, Bilge Nur Saltik, at bsaltik@ltu.edu or click the links below.
For general questions about admissions, our programs or the college, please contact Alice McHard at amchard@ltu.edu, 248.204.2835.
Total Semester Credit Hours: 121
First Semester
First Semester
First Semester
Second Semester
| Course # | Subject | Cr Hrs |
|---|---|---|
| COM 2103 |
Technical and Prof. Communication |
3 |
| IDD 3523 |
Professional Practice |
3 |
| BIO/PHY/CHM/GLG/FSC/PSC |
1000-4000 level Nat. Sci. elective |
3 |
| IDD 3823 |
User Experience and User Interface Design |
3 |
| DES 3623 |
Multi-Disciplinary Design |
3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 15 | |
| SUMMER | ||
| DES 4530 |
Internship |
0 |
First Semester