Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Bachelor of Design (Industrial Design) at Massey University focuses on designing better and smarter products for everyday life, including products, equipment and furniture.
• The programme is studio-project based, with practical work involving research, concept development, materials, making, modelling and prototyping.
• Students learn to address social, cultural, economic and environmental needs through design and to develop solutions with professional-level presentation and finish.
• Industrial Design study covers both creative and technical aspects, including 3D modelling, CAD, rendering, ergonomics, human-centred design, physical and digital prototyping, sustainability and manufacturing.
• Massey highlights connections with organisations including Fisher & Paykel, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, Formway and Warren and Mahoney.
• Students can progress to the Bachelor of Design with Honours or Master of Design for further design research and advanced practice.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The BDes consists of 360 credits, with the Industrial Design major contributing 135 credits. The major is organised across Parts One, Two and Three, alongside the wider Bachelor of Design core and elective/minor opportunities.

Part One

Students choose at least 15 credits from:

• 198157 Product and Industrial Design 1.1: Materialising Form – 15 credits
  • Sustainable product development
  • Materials exploration
  • Idea generation
  • Visualisation
  • Making
  • Critique
  • Form-giving
  • Problem-solving
  • User experience
  • Affective design

or

• 198158 Product and Industrial Design 1.2: Furniture Design – 15 credits
  • 3D design
  • Making
  • Prototyping
  • Materiality
  • Ergonomics
  • User experience
  • Furniture development and production
  • One-off, batch and mass-production contexts.

Part Two

The Industrial Design courses include:

• 198263 Product and Industrial Design 2.1: Experiential Design – 15 credits
  • Design integration
  • Function and features
  • User experience
  • Contextual issues
  • Design challenges
• 198264 Product and Industrial Design 2.2: Dynamic Workflows – 15 credits
  • Digital and physical 3D workflows
  • CAD modelling
  • Rendering
  • Concept development
  • Output methods
  • Presentation
• 198265 Product and Industrial Design 2.3: Empathy, Impact and Consequence – 15 credits
  • Critical inquiry
  • Responsible design
  • Contemporary industrial-design issues
  • Consumer research
  • Global design contexts
• 198266 Product and Industrial Design 2.4: Product Manufacturing – 15 credits
  • Product development for manufacture
  • Robust design
  • Design for recovery
  • Costing
  • Planning
  • Manufacturing standards
  • Design-and-build projects.

Part Three

Students undertake advanced industrial/product design work through:

• 198358 Product and Industrial Design 3.3: Cultivating Practice – 30 credits
  • Complex design projects
  • Independent practice
  • Multifaceted problem-solving
  • High-quality tangible outputs
  • Professional design development

and select from:

• 198367 Product and Industrial Design 3.1: Navigating Complexity – 15 credits
  • Project scoping
  • Critical positioning
  • Individual/collaborative exploration
  • Advanced design concepts and processes

or

• 198368 Product and Industrial Design 3.2: Future Industries – 15 credits
  • Professional practice
  • Future-facing industrial design
  • Specialist design skills
  • Industry-facing environments
  • Transferable professional skills.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The selected specialisation is:

• Industrial Design

Within Industrial Design, students work across product and three-dimensional design, including:

• Product design
• Furniture
• Appliances and devices
• Sporting products
• Mobility products
• Equipment
• Consumer products
• Manufacturing-oriented design
• Sustainable product development
• Human-centred design
• Digital and physical prototyping

Programme Highlights

• 360-credit Bachelor of Design.
• 3-year standard full-time undergraduate pathway.
• Industrial Design major of 135 credits.
• Wellington-based studio education.
• Practical product-development and prototyping.
• Exposure to materials, manufacturing, ergonomics, user experience and sustainability.
• CAD modelling, rendering and digital/physical workflows.
• Industry-facing projects and professional practice.
• Optional minor of at least 60 credits.
• Opportunities to continue to the Bachelor of Design with Honours or Master of Design.
• Massey reports that students and graduates have achieved recognition in competitions including Dyson, Electrolux, Sony, LG and Red Dot.
• Massey identifies graduate employment in companies and creative organisations including Fisher & Paykel, Apple, Nike, Philips and Weta Workshop.

Career Outcomes

Massey identifies potential career environments including:

• Product design consultancies
• Manufacturing-industry design departments
• Architectural practices
• Social-services departments
• Industrial policy development
• Private corporations
• Public organisations.

Typical progression can begin with roles such as:

• Design assistant
• Junior designer

and can progress into:

• Industrial designer
• Product designer
• Senior designer
• Design manager
• Design consultant
• Manufacturing/design leadership
• Entrepreneur or business owner. 

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The current programme page confirms that Industrial Design is available at Wellington and is open to international students on campus in New Zealand.
• No programme-specific academic entry requirement beyond Massey's general university admission regulations is currently stated.
• A portfolio is not stated as compulsory for admission to this BDes pathway.
• Massey encourages students to undertake a Creative Review after applying/enrolling as an opportunity to receive guidance.
• The current course structure places substantial emphasis on studio projects, physical/digital prototyping, manufacturing and professional practice.
• Course prerequisites and restrictions apply to some Industrial Design courses, so students need to plan their sequence carefully.
• Massey recommends international students apply at least three months before their intended start date to allow sufficient time for application processing, visa arrangements and travel planning.

International Student Visa Requirements

Because Industrial Design is an on-campus programme and the programme page confirms that it is open to international students studying on campus in New Zealand, an international student normally needs an appropriate New Zealand student visa before commencing on-campus study.

For a self-funded international student, the relevant visa is generally the Fee Paying Student Visa.

Immigration New Zealand currently states that applicants need:

• An offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Evidence that tuition fees have been paid, or evidence of an applicable scholarship/approved funding arrangement.
• Evidence of sufficient funds for living expenses or an acceptable sponsor.
• Acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Good health and character.
• Genuine intentions to study.
• Evidence that the applicant can leave New Zealand at the end of the stay.