Courses

The purpose of the course is to introduce students to advanced CAD techniques while enhancing their design processes by utilizing additional CAD applications. Extending the department's CAD education from 'Designing with Solidworks,' several categories will be offered to explore further CAD applications including Rhino with plug-ins, Cinema 4D, MasterCAM with SolidWorks, unreal Engine, and more. The specific offerings vary year to year. Estimated Materials Cost: $100.00 Major requirement; ID majors only Open to junior and above

The 6-credit Advanced Design studios offer second semester juniors and seniors the opportunity to investigate product, socially responsible, and sustainable design; innovation through science and technology and other topics in contemporary practice. These studios are designed to strengthen the student's ability to conduct research, ideation, material exploration, presentation, and concept validation. Studios meet two days per week. ID juniors and seniors are required to take a total of three advanced studios. Major requirement; ID majors only Open to non-majors pending seat availability and permission of Department. Registration of Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

Turning an idea into a sustainable reality requires a fundamental understanding of business, but the frameworks that guide business principles overlap, complement, and enhance design principles. This course seeks to educate students to understand business as a critical design factor- a defining constraint or liberating perspective along the same lines that other design principles are taught. The guiding principle is that design and business are inextricably linked: Design work is intrinsically linked to business and will always be at the service of business, fulfilling the need for an enterprise (profit or non-profit) whose business model is critical to its survival. Design will find new channels, new outlets, through a more complete understanding of business needs and how businesses see opportunity. Design can and should be considered as critical strategic input for business. The objective of Business Principles: Design and Entrepreneurship is for students to understand basic business vocabulary, to explore how design vocabulary and design processes overlap, complement and enhance business vocabulary, and to understand how design thinking skills can be used to identify and execute business opportunities. Major elective; ID majors only Open to Industrial Design undergraduate students in Fall 2022. Open to non-majors pending seat availability and permission of instructor. Open to Industrial Design graduate-level students in Spring 2023. Open to non-majors pending seat availability and permission of instructor.

A Collaborative Study Project (CSP) allows a team of students to work collaboratively to complete a faculty supervised project of independent study. Usually, a CSP is supervised by two faculty members, but with approval it may be supervised by one faculty member. Its purpose is to meet individual student needs by providing an alternative to regularly offered courses, though it is not a substitute for a course if that course is regularly offered. Permission of Academic Advisor and Department Head is required in advance of posted Registrar's deadline. GPA of 3.0 or higher is required. Register by completing the Collaborative Study Application available on the Registrar's website.

This course is an introduction to conceptual and manual skills that represent necessary steps in design evolution. Students strengthen skills by completion of several processes and exercises. Critical thinking and concept generation is a primary focus, drawing and model making activities help to establish this process. Throughout the course each student will focus on improving communication skills and the ability to project or sell ideas. Estimated Materials Cost: $15.00 Major requirement; ID majors only Registration by Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

The purpose of this course is to expose students to SolidWorks, a widely used solid modeling software program. Students will learn how to translate their hand-sketches into three-dimensional CAD models. Lectures and assignments will focus on the development of form as it applies to plastic part design and assembly. Physical models will be realized through ABS rapid prototyping allowing students to experience true plastic part design. Students should anticipate additional costs for supplies and materials. Major requirement; ID majors only Registration by Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

Graduate Communication Introduction is a studio course about writing and speaking as design tools. We think about writing and speaking in two ways. First as a communication tool and second as a design tool. On the communication side, we address the many ways that writing and speaking surrounds a designed object (as a proposal, as sales copy, as instructions to users, as specs for manufacture, as criticism, etc.). We think about the audiences for those various kinds of communication and how to think about what they want and need. We look at examples of great design communication and we develop and practice our own skills for succinctly explaining our ideas. On the design tool side, we think about the many ways that writing can help clarify and quickly test out ideas. We think about writing as a form of rapid prototyping alongside sketching, model making, etc. We talk about what writing is good at, when other methods might be more useful, and when to combine methods. We explore techniques such as design fiction, scenario planning, and other narrative methodologies that are used in industrial design and related fields. Graduate major requirement; ID majors only Registration by Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

The execution of two assigned design projects provides the framework for a thorough examination of the design process. This structured and intensive studio will focus on the relationship between the implementation of sound design methodologies and successful problem solving in the design process. This first studio experience is intended to provide the methodological infrastructure for the remainder of the M.I.D. thesis experience. Graduate major requirement; ID majors only Registration by Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

Graduate Thesis Communications I is a studio course run in parallel with our sibling studio course which focuses on design research methods. Together, we will spend the fall semester casting about, planning and prototyping towards some kind of design proposal or product for execution in the spring. We think about writing in two ways. First as a design tool and second as a communication tool. On the tool for design side, we think about the many ways that writing can help clarify and quickly test out ideas. We think about writing as a form of rapid prototyping alongside sketching, model making, etc. We talk about what writing is good at, when other methods might be more useful, and when to combine methods. We use writing to help clarify and crystalize the thesis plan. On the communication side, we think about the many ways that writing surrounds a designed object (as a proposal, as sales copy, as instructions to users, as specs for manufacture, as criticism, etc.). We think about the audiences for those various kinds of writing and how to think about what they want and need. We talk about the thesis as a tool for explaining the design but also as a tool for helping you advance your career goals. At the end of the course, you will have a partially complete draft of your thesis. which will set you up for an excellent spring. Graduate major requirement; ID majors only Registration by Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

This course introduces the Graduate Thesis project starting with the development of a research question through secondary research reading methods. This question has its assumptions articulated and verified through experimental making and primary research methods that engage specific audiences for qualitative discourse. Graduate major requirement; ID majors only Registration by Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

History is a powerful tool; a basic understanding of the history of design and familiarity with important design movements and designers is essential for thorough design work. By examining the work of other designers, we are better able to identify our own interests and concerns, and avoid repeating mistakes that have been navigated in the past. This lecture-based class will present the history of Industrial Design in a way that links it to today's studio work, and offers connection points to link past innovation and design activity with future design success. The lectures present a chronological overview of the profession of Industrial Design and its antecedents. Topics discussed will include major design movements, significant designers, manufacturers, and design-related companies, innovations in technology and material use, the development of sales, marketing, and user-focused designing, and the history of design process. Coursework includes extensive reading, in-class presentations based on independent research, projects, and writing. Major requirement; ID majors Registration of Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration. Liberal Arts elective credit for non-majors pending seat availability.

This course will acclimate new graduate students to the shop environment of the Industrial Design Department. The Metal, Wood and Model Shops are invaluable resources, clarifying pragmatic aspects of the design process from general feasibility of manufacturing to the challenges of translating concepts into tangible objects. This course covers excerpted information from both undergraduate courses Wood I and Metals I and emphasizes safety in the utilization of shop facilities. Graduate major requirement; ID majors only Registration by Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

You will be introduced to the fundamentals of footwear design and construction based on two different shoe styles: pump/court/slip-on and derby. During that first project you will develop skills for working with a last, pattern making, sewing, construction and finishing techniques. These skills will be applied to a second project of your own choosing and design. You will gain general understanding of the parameters of the last and its correlation to feet and pattern-making. You will gain general understanding of footwear production. From Sketching demo to Spec Specification Sheet Overview to different construction techniques applied. You will acquire a general understanding of footwear construction and terminology. You will learn basic pattern making skills and how to develop your own ideas/styles using the skills acquired. You will acquire skills necessary to work with the tools/machines on hand (knives, sewing machine, lasting pliers etc.) You will develop the skills necessary for constructing basic cemented footwear from start to finish, applying it to different styles. You will learn about materials used in shoemaking, in particular leather, but also alternative materials. For the second half of the semester (final project) you will apply and experiment using techniques/skills learned on a style of your choosing, incorporating your personal skill set to design and build your own unique footwear project (either a pair or two singles). Open to Industrial Design majors only; juniors and above.

The Independent Study Project (ISP) allows students to supplement the established curriculum by completing a faculty supervised project for credit in a specific area of interest. Its purpose is to meet individual student needs by providing an alternative to regularly offered courses. Permission of Academic Advisor and Department Head is required in advance of posted Registrar's deadline. GPA of 3.0 or higher is required. Register by completing the Independent Study Application available on the Registrar's website.

This course introduces the students to methods, materials, and manufacturing processes that translate design activity into finished goods. A significant portion of downstream design activity is devoted to manufacturing issues - the techniques by which materials are selected, shaped, and then assembled. Students will be evaluated based upon success of weekly field study research assignments and a final exam. Major requirement; ID majors only Registration by Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

This course gives the student a hands-on opportunity to develop design skills through the interaction with industrial materials that have strictly defined properties. Experimenting with these materials and the processes by which they are manipulated and formed promotes innovative thinking, problem solving and idea development. Students will achieve a more precise, professional and sensitive approach to design while broadening their technical skill base. Major requirement; ID majors only Registration by Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

The objective of this course is to develop a more precise, professional and sensitive approach to design while broadening the student's technical base. Precision machine tools such as metal lathes, millers and grinders will be introduced. Logical design and set-up approaches will be discussed. Outside design work will be required with emphasis on engineering drawing and sequence of operations. There will be a strong emphasis on experimenting with the material in order to promote innovative thinking and problem solving. Major elective; ID majors only

The professional internship provides valuable exposure to a professional setting, enabling students to better establish a career path and define practical aspirations. Internship proposals are carefully vetted to determine legitimacy and must meet the contact hour requirements listed in the RISD Course Announcement. Permission of Academic Advisor and Department Head is required.

Juniors take two 3-credit Special Topic Design Studios in the Fall semester. Juniors choose one 3-credit option from the "Content" category such as Packaging, Typography, Play, or UI/UX, and the other option from the "Process" category such as Casting, Soft Goods or Prototyping. Students will gain multiple competencies by utilizing techniques and methodologies through practice and process. Each studio meets once per week. Major requirement; ID majors only Open to non-majors pending seat availability and permission of Department Registration by Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

This class will cover basic camera optics and lighting techniques necessary to generate high quality digital images for either print or digital portfolio applications. The focus of the class is to master manual controls on the digital camera such as film and shutter speed settings in conjunction with aperture openings to obtain whatever the desired effect might be to best represent two and three-dimensional objects. Manipulation of natural and artificial lighting is the other main focus of the class. Students will learn the use of fill and bounce cards with sun, tungsten and strobe light sources. The emphasis will be on the strobe lighting studio where through a series of assignments students will learn direct, diffused reflected lighting techniques. Students will be required to participate in the final critique during the final week of the semester. Open to juniors and above.

This workshop teaches the basics of Rhino and introduces students to 3D modeling through an "exploratory process." Recognizing that experts devise many approaches to surface modeling Rhino Workshop: Exploratory Learning for 3D modeling uses four discrete projects each with a specific set of commands and features that will be explored as students fulfill the project's design brief and discover their own operational style. This approach flips the classroom experience - students use tutorials as necessary to identify techniques for basic surface modeling. By the completion of the workshop, students will be able to use Rhino as a design tool in their own design process - using the software to simulate projects in 3 dimensions or exporting 3D files to 2D for presentation purposes. Estimated Materials Cost: $100.00 Open to sophomores and above. Open to non-majors by permission of Instructor.

Philosophically, the ID Department believes that students become better designers when they have an intimate knowledge of a range of natural and synthetic materials. In this course, students will learn about the properties of natural wood and engineered wood-based materials, investigate the related technical processes, and evaluate how this information is both connected to and influenced by the design process. Students will work with materials directly and master skills needed to manipulate these materials. They will develop projects that allow them to engage in the design and development process, promote creativity, problem solving, and the correct use of materials. Facility procedures, safety, and care and use of tools and equipment will be stressed. Major requirement; ID majors only Registration by Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

This course will deal with advanced woodworking processes, including milling and machinery use, laminate and steam bending, plywood and veneer. Techniques in using natural and synthetic materials connected with furniture will be covered. Major elective; ID majors only

The professional internship provides valuable exposure to a professional setting, enabling students to better establish a career path and define practical aspirations. Internship proposals are carefully vetted to determine legitimacy and must meet the contact hour requirements listed in the RISD Course Announcement. Permission of Academic Advisor and Department Head is required.

The purpose of the course is to introduce students to advanced CAD techniques while enhancing their design processes by utilizing additional CAD applications. Extending the department's CAD education from 'Designing with Solidworks,' several categories will be offered to explore further CAD applications including Rhino with plug-ins, Cinema 4D, MasterCAM with SolidWorks, unreal Engine, and more. The specific offerings vary year to year. Estimated Materials Cost: $100.00 Major requirement; ID majors only Open to junior and above

Do you want to design robots as an artist but don't know where to begin? Whether it be concept art for video games or 3D designs for a robot toy, you will get a high-level, introductory guide on how to draw and design robots. The robotics industry is a diverse field with various applications in healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, and more, and robots are a cultural and historical staple for futuristic storytelling in books, movies, and other media. It's important for a designer interested in designing in robotics or fields that may involve robotic visuals to have a basic understanding of how a robot works. We will walk through the basic building blocks of a robot's anatomy, practice designing with context through 2D sketching and 3D making, and analyze real and fictional robots through a lens of function and form. This class will be a mix of lectures, demos, readings and follow-along in-class workshops. Homework will consist of small assignments, projects and a final project at the end. No prior experience is needed, all majors are welcome, and assignments are flexible and can be tailored to the student's craft. Estimated Materials Cost: $10.00 - $50.00

Climate Crisis & Design provides an important opportunity to investigate the multiple intersections of climate change and design. What role should a designer play to maximize their positive impact on the overwhelming challenge of climate change? What balance of breaking into and breaking down existing systems and stakeholders is most tactical? When does effective strategy become manipulation and why does it matter? We explore essential questions like these and many more. This course has four main phases: Illustration, Inquiry, Iteration, and Inspiration. The first phase involves a substantial and collaborative design audit of the state of design and climate, with students researching and presenting on topics such as existing standards, communication strategies, and adjacent social movements. In the second phase, students engage in a design research process toward problem discovery and definition. The third phase takes on this self-defined problem from a prospective view, drawing on techniques of foresight and incremental iteration from the present. The fourth and final phase of the course takes a futuring view, drawing on theories of system design and techniques of backcasting. These two final phases, with their propositional deliverables, will include discussion of audience definition, documentation, and media strategy with the goal of maximizing the strategic reach of these projects in their lives beyond the course. By studying historical context (i.e. Carson, McKibben), contemporary environmental meta-criticism (i.e. Nordhaus & Shellenberger, Latour), primary text artifacts (i.e. Jemisin, IPCC reports, LCAs), theory (i.e. Meadows, Morton) and thought-leading designers (i.e. Orf, McDonough, Ginsberg), students will leave with a well-rounded and interdisciplinary grounding in the state of the conversation and how to create work into its gaps and over its cutting edges. Their research will culminate in four portfolio projects grounded in critical thinking about the most important challenge of our lifetime.

A Collaborative Study Project (CSP) allows a team of students to work collaboratively to complete a faculty supervised project of independent study. Usually, a CSP is supervised by two faculty members, but with approval it may be supervised by one faculty member. Its purpose is to meet individual student needs by providing an alternative to regularly offered courses, though it is not a substitute for a course if that course is regularly offered. Permission of Academic Advisor and Department Head is required in advance of posted Registrar's deadline. GPA of 3.0 or higher is required. Register by completing the Collaborative Study Application available on the Registrar's website.

An artifact is a human-made object with cultural or historical significance. It can also influence radical change. Artists and designers who make such artifacts are constantly redefining their relationship to the environment and persistently forced to grapple with its consumerist entanglements. Critical Artifact will engage with the blurred lines between art, design and critical theory within the context of diminishing resources and increasing levels of inequity among the common "user." In this studio course, students will delve into the material processes and experiments of industrial design and subvert them to develop alternative languages of object and representation. In this course, we will delve into the ways rapid iteration of physical and digital prototypes can help empower/bolster/strengthen an identified -but often abstract- problem, topic or theory. Students will read and engage with critical design theory, developing their personal point of view to bring into their own practice. Students will gain familiarity through workshops with basic wood shop tools and basic 3D modeling in order to visualize their prototypes. Evaluation will not focus on the fidelity of a final product but on the depth of research and experimentation through continued iteration. The course will also work alongside NOAA (The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) on a collaborative one-week challenge to apply our theories to real world practice. Estimated Materials Cost: $100.00

The purpose of this course is to expose students to SolidWorks, a widely used solid modeling software program. Students will learn how to translate their hand-sketches into three-dimensional CAD models. Lectures and assignments will focus on the development of form as it applies to plastic part design and assembly. Physical models will be realized through ABS rapid prototyping allowing students to experience true plastic part design. Students should anticipate additional costs for supplies and materials. Major requirement; ID majors only Registration by Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

The aim of the course is to open a window on the complex and multifaceted present design environment. A preliminary overview about the major historic design movements will be followed by an extensive description of the design's state of the art together with a spot on the latest trends. Students will be invited to think and tinker, learning how to approach a design project, how to formulate proper research questions and how to use analog and digital prototyping to experiment, validate and communicate their own ideas. They will also initiate a dialogue with forms, functions, and interactions, defining the borders of the design activity and the actual role of designers. The main goal of the course is to get students familiar with the design vocabulary and with the basic tools involved in design processes. Areas covered: Ideas and concepts creation, quantitative and qualitative research, sketch models making, digital fabrication, physical computing, project's narrative and storytelling. Graduate major requirement; ID majors only Registration of Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

In this product design studio, we will dissect an existing product, analyze a market segment, and redesign the product to fit the described market. The methodology used to complete this task will be accelerated, giving students an overview of a typical industrial design process. Students will be exposed to design drawing techniques, foam modeling methods, and the concept of designing for consumers.

The Independent Study Project (ISP) allows students to supplement the established curriculum by completing a faculty supervised project for credit in a specific area of interest. Its purpose is to meet individual student needs by providing an alternative to regularly offered courses. Permission of Academic Advisor and Department Head is required in advance of posted Registrar's deadline. GPA of 3.0 or higher is required. Register by completing the Independent Study Application available on the Registrar's website.

The Independent Study Project (ISP) allows students to supplement the established curriculum by completing a faculty supervised project for credit in a specific area of interest. Its purpose is to meet individual student needs by providing an alternative to regularly offered courses. Permission of Instructor and GPA of 3.0 or higher is required. Register by completing the Independent Study Application available on the Registrar's website; the course is not available via web registration.

The objective of this course is to develop a more precise, professional and sensitive approach to design while broadening the student's technical base. Precision machine tools such as metal lathes, millers and grinders will be introduced. Logical design and set-up approaches will be discussed. Outside design work will be required with emphasis on engineering drawing and sequence of operations. There will be a strong emphasis on experimenting with the material in order to promote innovative thinking and problem solving. Major elective; ID majors only

mold: 1. (noun) a hollow form or matrix for giving a particular shape to something in a molten or plastic state. 2.(noun) a growth of minute fungi forming on vegetable or animal matter, commonly as a downy or furry coating, and associated with decay or dampness. 3.(verb) to work into a required shape or form; shape. 4.(verb) to become or cause to become overgrown or covered with mold. Mold is a "Janus word," a word that is its own opposite-to form and to decay. A mold holds something and makes something, but a mold also unmakes and changes its substrate. We are surrounded by objects made through molding and casting, many of which outlast their purpose or our desire. As artists and designers increasingly consider our environmental impact and how products can adapt themselves into a post-carbon future/circular economy/net-negative world, the duality of mold(s) becomes an urgent space to explore. As artists and designers, how can we embrace and explode this relationship? What are the limits to mold making and casting, and how can we use them or push past them? Through readings and precedent research, we will explore mold(s) in an archaeological, historical, artistic, and design context, then transform our findings into material exploration in iterative making processes. Students will produce a series of experimental works exploring mold(s), and will leave the course with a deeper understanding of production processes, and perspectives on how they might be transformed. Estimated Materials Cost: $50.00 - $250.00

The professional Internship provides valuable exposure to a professional setting, enabling students to better establish a career path and define practical aspirations. Internship proposals are carefully vetted to determine legitimacy and must meet the contact hour requirements listed in the RISD Course Announcement.

In today's fast-paced digital world, the dynamics of product design have been notably influenced by digital visualization and rendering. Visualizing your imagination with the potential of real-time photo-realism is not just a possibility, but the desired skill set in everyday product design. This skill set gives you the opportunity to put your thoughts into a tangible creation with the ability to tweak the finer details in real time. In this five-week course, students will be equipped with a toolbox of techniques with Keyshot 3D to visualize 3 dimensional models from CAD with photo-realistic materials. The conversion of this skill requires deeper understanding of materials, textures and the environment which we will cover through interactive exercises in the class. Through iterative practice, students will be able to create materials and environments as we see in the real world. Focusing on attention to detail with ocular and tactual senses will help the students create this real but unreal product visualization experience. This immersive visual experience will be amplified by learning cinematic video animations of the products that this class will cover. Estimated Materials Cost: $0.00

This course is for industrial design graduate students in their final year to work independently on their graduate thesis. The instructor serves an advisory and support role in all projects. Students must submit for instructor agreement, a written proposal for work planned and the criteria for evaluation. Course meetings are arranged individually, and / or with the group as needed. Graduate major elective; ID graduate thesis students only Registration by Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

This course will deal with advanced woodworking processes, including milling and machinery use, laminate and steam bending, plywood and veneer. Techniques in using natural and synthetic materials connected with furniture will be covered. Major elective; ID majors only

=STUDENT INTO A PRE-APPROVED ID STUDIO COURSE which is taken at the exchange school. Successful completion of the course will result in a "T" grade once receipt of the official transcript from the partner school has arrived at Registrar's Office.

The purpose of the course is to introduce students to advanced CAD techniques while enhancing their design processes by utilizing additional CAD applications. Extending the department's CAD education from 'Designing with Solidworks,' several categories will be offered to explore further CAD applications including Rhino with plug-ins, Cinema 4D, MasterCAM with SolidWorks, unreal Engine, and more. The specific offerings vary year to year. Estimated Materials Cost: $100.00 Major requirement; ID majors only Open to junior and above

The 6-credit Advanced Design studios offer second semester juniors and seniors the opportunity to investigate product, socially responsible, and sustainable design; innovation through science and technology and other topics in contemporary practice. These studios are designed to strengthen the student's ability to conduct research, ideation, material exploration, presentation, and concept validation. Studios meet two days per week. ID juniors and seniors are required to take a total of three advanced studios. Major requirement; ID majors only Open to non-majors pending seat availability and permission of Department. Registration of Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

Designers draw upon countless tools and approaches to communicate stories, convey meaning and explain complexity. While many of our everyday experiences are mitigated through screens and devices, we still inhabit a physical world that engages our senses. In this course, we will explore how to use artifacts and sensory experiences to engage audiences and create unique and memorable interactions. Students will develop objects and installations over the course of the semester based on a series of prompts. An emphasis will be placed on the technical aspects of displaying original work using a variety of materials and techniques. Opent to ID majors only; seniors and graduate-level students. Open to ID sophomores and juniors pending seat availability and permission of instructor.

In this seminar students will be invited to reflect on the state of the art of machine learning environments and how these emergent technological frameworks will change, enhance or detour the design discipline and its practice. The class will be based on weekly readings and discussions followed by design experiments and little projects to test assumptions and speculate on possible future scenarios. Estimated Materials Cost: $40.00 Open to graduate ID majors only. Open to non-majors and undegraduate students pending seat availability and permission of instructor.

Turning an idea into a sustainable reality requires a fundamental understanding of business, but the frameworks that guide business principles overlap, complement, and enhance design principles. This course seeks to educate students to understand business as a critical design factor- a defining constraint or liberating perspective along the same lines that other design principles are taught. The guiding principle is that design and business are inextricably linked: Design work is intrinsically linked to business and will always be at the service of business, fulfilling the need for an enterprise (profit or non-profit) whose business model is critical to its survival. Design will find new channels, new outlets, through a more complete understanding of business needs and how businesses see opportunity. Design can and should be considered as critical strategic input for business. The objective of Business Principles: Design and Entrepreneurship is for students to understand basic business vocabulary, to explore how design vocabulary and design processes overlap, complement and enhance business vocabulary, and to understand how design thinking skills can be used to identify and execute business opportunities. Major elective; ID majors only Open to Industrial Design undergraduate students in Fall 2022. Open to non-majors pending seat availability and permission of instructor. Open to Industrial Design graduate-level students in Spring 2023. Open to non-majors pending seat availability and permission of instructor.

A Collaborative Study Project (CSP) allows a team of students to work collaboratively to complete a faculty supervised project of independent study. Usually, a CSP is supervised by two faculty members, but with approval it may be supervised by one faculty member. Its purpose is to meet individual student needs by providing an alternative to regularly offered courses, though it is not a substitute for a course if that course is regularly offered. Permission of Academic Advisor and Department Head is required in advance of posted Registrar's deadline. GPA of 3.0 or higher is required. Register by completing the Collaborative Study Application available on the Registrar's website.

In this class, students will explore meaningful ways of making connections and interactions through human sensory experiences, mobility and gestures, by using physical computational tools. Students will investigate and discover new opportunities in Internet of Things and Wearables by developing their own research inquiries through a discursive approach for deconstruction and reconfiguration of our cognitive behaviors and communication patterns. In order to study and challenge the idea of connectivities in digital technologies, students will begin with two basic physical computational tools- MODI and Arduino, and other parametric software like TouchDesigner and Grasshopper. After several experiments with low-fidelity prototypes, students will generate scenarios in renderings and/or a video to visualize user experiences and/or an immersive environment. Open sophomores, juniors and seniors in Industrial Design. Open to non-majors pending seat availability and permission of instructor.

This course is a continuation of Design Principles (ID-2464) with an emphasis on problem solving and design process and skills. Major requirement; ID majors only Registration by Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

Design Science is an applied framework for thinking, planning, and innovating processes. It is as pertinent to architecture, design, and engineering as it is to addressing collective issues facing humankind in this century. Essential elements exemplify the Design Science approach: driven by whole systems thinking, it is a comprehensive process; future-oriented, it is anticipatory; it is aligned with nature in that it embodies nature's underlying principles; subject to rigorous testing and empirical confirmation, it is science-based. "Comprehensive, Anticipatory, Design Science" - each term reflects a crucial aspect of the method. In the 3-credit Design Science Workshop, students will learn about this philosophical design methodology through engaging with a collection of curated readings, lectures, videos, objects, observations, discussions, hands-on investigations, and projects. Through storytelling, the professor will introduce systems thinking and anticipatory thinking concepts applied in design science by select luminaries and thought leaders, living and deceased. Through reflection, students will consider how they might incorporate these ways of thinking when planning designs, buildings, services, experiences, and more. During the workshop, students will utilize the Nature Lab's Teaching Collection and Equipment and the Loeb Design Science Teaching Collection, a resource replete with books, articles, and 2D and 3D visualizations of nature's mathematical structures. They will observe, record, and explore these patterns in drawings, photos, and models. The experience will culminate in each participant synthesizing their learning by making their own 2D and 3D visualizations inspired by nature's organizing design principles. Open to sophomores and above.

The purpose of this course is to expose students to SolidWorks, a widely used solid modeling software program. Students will learn how to translate their hand-sketches into three-dimensional CAD models. Lectures and assignments will focus on the development of form as it applies to plastic part design and assembly. Physical models will be realized through ABS rapid prototyping allowing students to experience true plastic part design. Students should anticipate additional costs for supplies and materials. Major requirement; ID majors only Registration by Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

The Disruptive Devices course allows people with any level of digital competency to create a Smart Device: a physical interactive object that is controlled by a mobile smartphone application. The learning is divided into three stages of complexity: introductory intermediate and advanced. You will be encouraged to attempt all three stages but you will be successful and able to build an impressive interactive Smart Device at any level. Introductory Level: Easy The introductory level uses a M5Stick microcontroller that is visually programmed using Blockly. This platform allows you to easily create a mobile phone app to control a physical 'smart' device. Intermediary Level: Beginner to Intermediate The intermediary level uses Arduino Grove components that are again visually programmed but this time using blokdots (and Figma). This platform allows you to easily connect a mobile phone app to a physical 'smart' device. The second part of this level introduces the Arduino Integrated Development Environment that allows more complex prototyping. Advanced Level: Intermediate to Difficult The advanced level builds on the previous level but introduces rudimentary HTML and JavaScript to create the mobile phone based app. It also switches to Adafruit components that are adapted, tested and then transferred to a web-based printed circuit board manufacturing facility EasyEDA. This approach allows you complete control over the design of the Smart Device. Main Course Objective The main objective of the course is to learn how to quickly create amazing interactive Smart Devices. The secondary objective is to learn several different platforms and understand their benefits and shortcomings. Open to sophomores and above.

Exhibition design is a powerful and unique medium that connects audiences not only to content, but to personal meaning. Exhibits are informal multi-sensory learning environments that blend entertainment, information, emotion, space, and object, in order to create novel experiences for audiences. Exhibition design is at its most effective when it is multi-disciplinary and when created in collaboration with teammates and the audience. In this 3-credit course, (building on insights from science and children's museums, as well as installation art), we will explore a variety of exhibition modes, materials, and methods in order to gain a greater understanding of the technical and conceptual underpinnings of exhibition design. In addition, we will investigate ways to meaningfully connect to, and advocate for, the audience. In doing so, students will gain a deeper understanding of exhibition practices that will prepare them for designing objects and experiences that cultivate connections and share important stories, while beginning to develop a sense for creating coherent large-scale projects that require multiple deliverables and areas of research. In this pursuit, We will also explore the conceptual and thematic underpinnings of exhibition design through research into both didactic and open-ended design approaches, immersion, and representation. Additionally, we will delve into the research, development, prototyping, and fabrication of objects, spaces, and experiences in order to serve our intended audience, and pursue our design interests.

Graduate Communication Introduction is a studio course about writing and speaking as design tools. We think about writing and speaking in two ways. First as a communication tool and second as a design tool. On the communication side, we address the many ways that writing and speaking surrounds a designed object (as a proposal, as sales copy, as instructions to users, as specs for manufacture, as criticism, etc.). We think about the audiences for those various kinds of communication and how to think about what they want and need. We look at examples of great design communication and we develop and practice our own skills for succinctly explaining our ideas. On the design tool side, we think about the many ways that writing can help clarify and quickly test out ideas. We think about writing as a form of rapid prototyping alongside sketching, model making, etc. We talk about what writing is good at, when other methods might be more useful, and when to combine methods. We explore techniques such as design fiction, scenario planning, and other narrative methodologies that are used in industrial design and related fields. Graduate major requirement; ID majors only Registration by Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

This required studio continues the explorations you began in Graduate Studio One. Again, you are challenged through a series of projects to purposefully locate your personal position within contemporary industrial design practice. The projects will introduce you to a variety of issues, application methodologies and audiences associated with the "industrial design" process that will equip you with a critical understanding of the field that can direct a practical means of applying your ideas. At the end of the semester, your deliverable is an exhibition piece resulting from a final self-directed project. This concluding project is a personal, insightful and original synthesis of your semester's activities and clearly communicates your maturity in problem solving design approaches. Graduate Studio Two is offered as part of the Graduate Industrial Design core curriculum in conjunction the required Graduate Shop Orientation and Graduate Communications courses. Graduate major requirement; ID majors only Registration by Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

Graduate Thesis Communications II is a studio course run in parallel with our sibling studio course which focuses on completing your thesis. Together, we will spend the spring semester finishing the thesis and thesis book that you proposed at the end of Graduate Thesis Communications I. We continue to think about writing as a design tool and as a communication tool. For this course, we put more emphasis on the communication aspect. Together, we will continue to refine and strengthen the manner by which you explain your thesis to yourself and others. We will think about audience, voice, structure, and form. We will explore different ways of communicating the same idea in different contexts and mediums (visual, oral, written). We will examine how to share our work and with whom. At the end of the course, you will have a complete thesis. Major requirement, ID graduate students only Registration by Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

This course concludes the Graduate Thesis through iterative prototyping, application and verification that positions and delivers a human-centered, discpline-engaging proposal that will be communicated through an exhibition format, product, product prototype and a final Graduate Thesis document. Graduate major requirement; ID majors only Registration by Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

History is a powerful tool; a basic understanding of the history of design and familiarity with important design movements and designers is essential for thorough design work. By examining the work of other designers, we are better able to identify our own interests and concerns, and avoid repeating mistakes that have been navigated in the past. This lecture-based class will present the history of Industrial Design in a way that links it to today's studio work, and offers connection points to link past innovation and design activity with future design success. The lectures present a chronological overview of the profession of Industrial Design and its antecedents. Topics discussed will include major design movements, significant designers, manufacturers, and design-related companies, innovations in technology and material use, the development of sales, marketing, and user-focused designing, and the history of design process. Coursework includes extensive reading, in-class presentations based on independent research, projects, and writing. Major requirement; ID majors Registration of Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration. Liberal Arts elective credit for non-majors pending seat availability.

This course will acclimate new graduate students to the shop environment of the Industrial Design Department. The Metal, Wood and Model Shops are invaluable resources, clarifying pragmatic aspects of the design process from general feasibility of manufacturing to the challenges of translating concepts into tangible objects. This course covers excerpted information from both undergraduate courses Wood I and Metals I and emphasizes safety in the utilization of shop facilities. Graduate major requirement; ID majors only Registration by Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

This course is intended to introduce basic sewing skills and soft goods construction techniques in bag making and soft product design. Students will learn how to operate standard industrial sewing machines and create three-dimensional products from flat patterns. Fabric and notion selection for product performance will be taught as students learn to prototype and create final models of bags and soft products. Access to a portable sewing machine is suggested, as the eight industrial machines will be shared. You will be given some basic sewing supplies, but will need to purchase additional materials based on your class projects. Open to ID majors only; sophomores and above. Open to non-majors pending seat availability and permission of instructor.

The Independent Study Project (ISP) allows students to supplement the established curriculum by completing a faculty supervised project for credit in a specific area of interest. Its purpose is to meet individual student needs by providing an alternative to regularly offered courses. Permission of Academic Advisor and Department Head is required in advance of posted Registrar's deadline. GPA of 3.0 or higher is required. Register by completing the Independent Study Application available on the Registrar's website.

The Independent Study Project (ISP) allows students to supplement the established curriculum by completing a faculty supervised project for credit in a specific area of interest. Its purpose is to meet individual student needs by providing an alternative to regularly offered courses. Permission of Instructor and GPA of 3.0 or higher is required. Register by completing the Independent Study Application available on the Registrar's website; the course is not available via web registration.

This course introduces the students to methods, materials, and manufacturing processes that translate design activity into finished goods. A significant portion of downstream design activity is devoted to manufacturing issues - the techniques by which materials are selected, shaped, and then assembled. Students will be evaluated based upon success of weekly field study research assignments and a final exam. Major requirement; ID majors only Registration by Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

This course gives the student a hands-on opportunity to develop design skills through the interaction with industrial materials that have strictly defined properties. Experimenting with these materials and the processes by which they are manipulated and formed promotes innovative thinking, problem solving and idea development. Students will achieve a more precise, professional and sensitive approach to design while broadening their technical skill base. Major requirement; ID majors only Registration by Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

The objective of this course is to develop a more precise, professional and sensitive approach to design while broadening the student's technical base. Precision machine tools such as metal lathes, millers and grinders will be introduced. Logical design and set-up approaches will be discussed. Outside design work will be required with emphasis on engineering drawing and sequence of operations. There will be a strong emphasis on experimenting with the material in order to promote innovative thinking and problem solving. Major elective; ID majors only

The professional internship provides valuable exposure to a professional setting, enabling students to better establish a career path and define practical aspirations. Internship proposals are carefully vetted to determine legitimacy and must meet the contact hour requirements listed in the RISD Course Announcement. Permission of Academic Advisor and Department Head is required.

U/I - U/X interfaces are applied towards several digital graphic formats: smart phone ios/Android; tablet/watch; Windows OS/Mac OS; or custom sized interfaces for products like ATM machines or car dashboards. The instructor's professional design practice currently focuses on UI/UX design and future forecasting towards corporate strategies to best take advantage of the digital transformation many large corporations are being faced with at this time. Students learn methodologies and tools around smartphone app design development. Areas of design process include: research and app concept definition; conduct low-fidelity brainstorming and exploration around the users; future forecasting through speculation of user stories; journey mapping explorations; develop app aesthetic, develop navigation systems; develop app branding; and at the end build high-fidelity prototypes incorporating app navigation interaction. No prior knowledge of UI/UX development is required. Students build working prototypes of cellular interfaces that function and navigate. Coding experience is not necessary for this course and will not be taught. Students that have coding experience that may use those skills for app prototypes developed along with Adobe XD. Requirements: a laptop running Adobe Creative Suite and a RISD student Adobe Cloud. For Spring 2023: Section 02 open to graduate-level only; undergraduate students by permission of instructor.

In this hands-on course, students will learn the basics of Processing, an open-source coding language that combines computer programming with form, motion and interaction. Students will learn the fundamentals of Processing to create interactive graphics and visualize data in a collaborative workshop setting. By the end of the four-week module, students will have learned to design, implement, and trouble-shoot their code, providing a solid foundation that will allow them to continue their learning after the class ends. Students will be required to participate in the "laptop farm" group exhibition on the final day of the semester. Open to juniors and above.

This workshop teaches the basics of Rhino and introduces students to 3D modeling through an "exploratory process." Recognizing that experts devise many approaches to surface modeling Rhino Workshop: Exploratory Learning for 3D modeling uses four discrete projects each with a specific set of commands and features that will be explored as students fulfill the project's design brief and discover their own operational style. This approach flips the classroom experience - students use tutorials as necessary to identify techniques for basic surface modeling. By the completion of the workshop, students will be able to use Rhino as a design tool in their own design process - using the software to simulate projects in 3 dimensions or exporting 3D files to 2D for presentation purposes. Estimated Materials Cost: $100.00 Open to sophomores and above. Open to non-majors by permission of Instructor.

Philosophically, the ID Department believes that students become better designers when they have an intimate knowledge of a range of natural and synthetic materials. In this course, students will learn about the properties of natural wood and engineered wood-based materials, investigate the related technical processes, and evaluate how this information is both connected to and influenced by the design process. Students will work with materials directly and master skills needed to manipulate these materials. They will develop projects that allow them to engage in the design and development process, promote creativity, problem solving, and the correct use of materials. Facility procedures, safety, and care and use of tools and equipment will be stressed. Major requirement; ID majors only Registration by Industrial Design Department, course not available via web registration.

This course will deal with advanced woodworking processes, including milling and machinery use, laminate and steam bending, plywood and veneer. Techniques in using natural and synthetic materials connected with furniture will be covered. Major elective; ID majors only