aim of the study
The study programme (including the BA thesis in the 8th semester) develops the basic professional skills for industrial design: the recognition of opportunities and fields of action, confidence in independent problem solving, sensitivity to quality, communication and management skills, the ability to work in a team and a willingness to take responsibility. Graduates of the Industrial Design study programme are able to initiate and promote design processes in interdisciplinary teams and thus find their way into design studios, agencies or as independent designers.
Study specialisations
Real and future-orientated problems of the complex living environment (material and immaterial products, processes)
Programme and course content
Up to the 4th semester, students acquire technical-scientific, humanities, methodological, creative-visual and media-technical basics in interaction with elementary, conceptual and playful specialised projects. Accompanying supplementary studies (design theory, ergonomics, special media technology, rapid prototyping, etc.) are integrated thematically depending on the focus of the specific projects. The aim is not to produce a finished product design, but to encourage a methodical approach, experimentation and visionary thinking when working on design tasks of low and medium complexity.
From the 5th semester onwards, project topics derived from real problems in the complex living environment (material and immaterial products, processes) are dealt with. Problems and processes arising from high technologies are becoming increasingly important. Students can choose freely between the projects according to their interests and are supervised by lecturers with different specialisations. The entire range of design techniques through to computer-aided design is trained. Internships and studies abroad - supported by university exchange programmes - accompany the course. Students are supported in formulating original solution approaches and concepts in project studies and working on these independently and autonomously in order to increasingly develop their own professional profile.
Prerequisites
General higher education entrance qualification and artistic aptitude. Six-month pre-study internship in wood, metal or plastics processing, graphics, design, model making; craft or commercial apprenticeships with comparable activities can be recognised as pre-study internships.
Professional field
Industrial designers are specialists who plan and design all aspects of industrial and technology-related design tasks (products/systems/processes) and realise them in teamwork with all those involved in the development, manufacture, distribution and service of products. Modern technologies are constantly developing the fields of design and work for industrial designers: in addition to tangible products (consumer goods, machines, plants, systems), digital products and immaterial design concepts (virtual worlds, media scenarios and interactive processes) are becoming more important. The degree programme equips students with the professional skills required to design imaginative and efficient things, systems, spaces and processes.
Degree
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
