Industrial Design Courses
ID 2582-01
WKSHP: BUSINESS AND DESIGN: VALUE FROM YOUR DESIGN
SECTION DESCRIPTION
Business and Design is a series of three one credit workshops. Students are encouraged to to take all three workshops, but each workshop is offered as standalone.
In Workshop 1: ID 2580 - Business Fundamentals (Concepts) students will develop and understand fundamental business concepts and explore the link between design and business through introductions to business models; marketing and finance; and entrepreneurial approaches. Students will engage and respond to readings, case studies, lectures, short written assignments.
In Workshop 2: ID 2581 - Where Design Creates Value for Business (Application of Concepts), students will learn how to analyze and articulate key drivers of value creation and value capture through the investigation of a design product or project they would like to bring to market. Work will include: analysis of a chosen business and then developing those business ideas through design, as well as public presentations and pitches.
In Workshop 3: ID 2582 - Creating Value from Your Design (Linking student work to business) students will develop skills that will further their understanding on how to communicate the value of one’s work and portfolio and how to develop these ideas into business plans. After a brief introduction to business planning and entrepreneurship students will develop and present business plans for their own existing design proposals.
Elective
ID 305G-101
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND DESIGN, CONCERNS, AND OPPORTUNITIES
SECTION DESCRIPTION
Design, from craft to industrial production, has always been double chained to its tools. The innovation in production methods as well as the introduction of new materials and techniques have often represented massive changes and disciplinary mind-shifts. Since a few years the study of AI, in all its forms, is going through a new spring suggesting that we should expect a rapid implementation of those tools into any activity and consequently any aspects of our daily life. As any new technology, before being fully domesticated and adopted smoothly by the majority, there is a moment in time in which multiple “beta-versions” are tested and evaluated in its opportunities and risks. The commentary around Artificial Intelligence is highly vaste and spans from deep enthusiasm to harsh critique. Aligning with RISD’s idea of “Critical Making”, students will explore new questions and challenge existing assumptions mixing experimental making with critical thinking.
Estimated Cost of Materials: $100.00
Elective
ID 3775-101
[RE] PURPOSE
SECTION DESCRIPTION
Tackling an economy of overconsumption by creating sustainable and responsible practices through the “unlearning” and “relearning” of how we think about using materials. RE(Purpose) is a course of hands-on making, where we will help create circularity in design, by using found materials in meaningful
ways. As a studio-based course, with quick exercises to inform the process, students can explore how to prototype their passion project using repurposed material relative to their environment. Generations of craft communities internationally and domestically, rely on the complete utilization of materials to sustain a livelihood - so how can we as artisans and designers practice new methods of utilizing found or local materials while creatively manipulating them to execute design ambitions? Exploring and pushing the boundaries of our conditioned notions of materials, can we make textiles rigid, and make the concrete break with purpose?
Elective
ID 3780-101
AIR MATERIALIZED
SECTION DESCRIPTION
Inflatable structures (aka “pneumatic structures”) are broadly used in the human-computer interaction research field and realms of art and design. In this course, students will explore fabrication techniques such as a universal bending mechanism that creates programmable shape-changing behaviors with paper, plastics and fabrics, as well as a origami structure to make inflatables with various materials. Furthermore, academic paper related to inflatable products, educational kits, sculptures, and experiences will be assigned to students to read each week. In general, it will include a mix of lectures, workshops, independent research, and the development of unique, personalized, tangible objects. The class will culminate in a final project catering to students’ individual interests and desired outcomes.
Elective
ID 3785-101
COMEDY OF CHARACTERS
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This course enables students to expand and push their independent interests and work to create dynamic, inventive objects that utilizes comedy to provoke critical discourse. We will be pulling from discursive design precedent and blurring the lines between one off commentary and collectibles as well as potentially long standing or permanent interventions in perceptions and form language. While grounded in industrial design practices, we will pull from graphic design, architecture, and jewelry among other fields; and how comedy can be an effective tool to get large concepts and issues across. This will be highlighted through storytelling, text, imagery and form language. This can be used to promote and highlight societal commentary, injustices, questions and observations, and adaptability of function. The ambiguity and transparency of the subject matter is up to you, as well as the way it engages the user or viewer. These will be experimented with as a class with bodily interventions and alterations in existing forms. We will be covering themes in surreal humor, observational comedy, and satire. Students will utilize their existing studio practice to create objects of engagement and adaptability and explore. Students will explore playing this scale and context in a comedic lens to amplify their fine art or design process to target messages or critiques they choose. This is intended to be a bridge and exploratory process of the student’s own work and ethos but also be broken up with discussions, lectures, group check ins, and making demonstrations for students to add new techniques to their practice. Students enrolled will foster collective support and camaraderie and critique their own practice and modes of presentation by the learning outcomes from each other and through the comedic lens. They can reframe how their work can be presented and the interventions they can utilize in their subject matter of choice moving forward.
Elective
ID 3786-01
DIGITAL FABRICATION: CNC MACHINING
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This 3-credit class is an introduction to computer-controlled machining. You will learn each aspect of the model-to-machine workflow and at the end of the course be able to design for CNC machining, and operate and mill parts using the CNC machines in the ID Metal Shop. Time spent in class will be technical and process oriented, focusing on proper machine setup, operation, and troubleshooting of toolpaths created in CAM software.
Initial assignments will focus on the use of the built-in facing wizards, engraving metal, and using CAM software to create GCODE files for both 2D and 3D parts. Later course assignments will transition to being projects of your own design. We will be learning in the context of machining metals, but working with other mediums like plastics, wood, and waxes will be possible for individual projects.
You will need to draw on some basic CAD knowledge and some machining skills; specifically the interpretation of control drawings, and the selection of appropriate tooling and workholding techniques. As a result ID 2452 - Metals II is a prerequisite/co-requisite for this class.
Elective
ID 3787-01
CNC MACHINING: WOOD-BASED APPLICATIONS
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This 3-credit elective course, offered by the Industrial Design department, focuses on foundational 2D and 3D milling techniques using the Camaster Panther 4x4 CNC router table. The course is open to students from any department, who meet the course prerequisites/co-requisites , or equivalent, as determined by the instructor.
Students engage in hands-on assignments that progressively build their skills throughout the course. These include designing and producing a flat pack stool using 2D profiling, creating 2.5D models for mold-making applications, executing a multisided operation assignment for a full 3D object, and culminating in a final portfolio piece that demonstrates individual creativity and proficiency in CNC machining.
The course's learning outcomes include mastering an understanding of machining principles, utilizing CAD and CAM software, and Designing within the limitations of machinery. The course aims to equip students with practical skills and knowledge essential for utilizing CNC machining tools in diverse design applications. The course's process-oriented approach ensures students acquire skills beyond just design mastery, seamlessly aligning with real-world CNC workflows. This holistic perspective prepares them for professional design and fabrication.
Elective
LAEL 1038-01
HISTORY OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
SECTION DESCRIPTION
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.
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Preference is given to Sophomore Industrial Design Students.
Major Requirement | BFA Industrial Design
LAEL 1038-01
HISTORY OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
SECTION DESCRIPTION
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.
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Preference is given to Sophomore Industrial Design Students.
Major Requirement | BFA Industrial Design
LAEL 1038-02
HISTORY OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
SECTION DESCRIPTION
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.
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Preference is given to Sophomore Industrial Design Students.
Major Requirement | BFA Industrial Design