What is Industrial Design? Courses, Fees, Top Institutes, Careers & Salary 2025

Industrial Design refers to generating designs for objects, devices, or products that people can use in their daily lives. An industrial designer ensures that the product works or functions efficiently and also has a charming physical appearance. We use so many things in our daily lives, like headphones, watches, beautiful and sleek designed pens, spectacles, sofas, etc., all designed and created by an industrial designer.Small industries like kitchenware and big industries like automobiles, from the process of designing, manufacturing, and packaging, all come under Industrial Design.

We see that in every profession,  trends keep changing or updating as per the current scenario and provide the customer with a new experience. The job of an industrial designer includes planning new ideas, creating designs and then bringing them into a product. As technology is advancing, customers are also getting smarter. It is critical for designers to keep their designs up to date with current trends. There are several options for buyers to buy a certain product. With the upcoming trends and everything on social media, the designer needs to post it on social media so that it reaches the maximum number of people. 

 Industrial design and Product design are frequently misunderstood. There are several significant distinctions between the fields as well as many important similarities. Product design encompasses all of the work that is done from the moment an idea is conceived to the point at which the customer holds the product in their hands.

Conversely,  industrial design is centered on creating ideas and designs for mass-produced goods, usually focused on a single product category like furniture, housewares, or cars. Therefore, it wouldn't be incorrect to claim that Industrial Design includes Product Design.

The counseling process for an M.Des. in Industrial Design varies by institution, but generally involves the following steps:

• Application: Interested candidates apply online with the required information.
• Written test/interview: Shortlisted candidates are called for a written test or interview based on their CEED score.
• Final selection: Candidates are selected based on their CEED score, qualifying exam score, and performance in the written test or interview.

Whether you are eligible to apply for Industrial Design courses would depend on the degree with which Industrial Design is offered as a specialisation. For example, if you want to pursue B.Des in Industrial Design, then you could have studied in any stream to be eligible for the course. However, for BTech with Industrial Design specialisation, you should have completed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as main subjects. 

No, you cannot pursue a UG Diploma in Industrial Design after Class 12. However, you can pursue this course after completing Class 12 with at least 50% marks. 

The admission process for a BDes Industrial Design may vary depending on colleges, however, this is a general overview of the step-by-step admission procedure:

• Eligibility: Check the eligibility criteria for the program. 
• Registration: Register and apply for the program.
• Entrance exams: Choose and prepare for the entrance exams for the program.
• Results: Await the results of the entrance exams.
• Counselling: Participate in the counseling or admission process.
• Admission: Pay the admission fee to ensure the seat.

Preparing for the Common University Entrance Test CUET requires a well-planned strategy and dedicated effort.

Here are some steps you can take to prepare for the exam:

1. Understand the exam structure: Before you start preparing for the CUET it is essential to understand the exam structure. CUET typically includes multiple-choice questions (MCQs) on subjects like English Mathematics, Science, and General Knowledge. Make sure you understand the exam pattern and marking scheme.
2. Create a study plan: Once you know the exam structure, create a study plan that works for you. Decide how much time you can devote to studying each day and allocate time to different subjects based on your strengths and weaknesses.
3. Get study materials: You can find study materials for CUET in various forms, including textbooks, online resources, and study guides. You can also find practice tests and previous year's question papers online to get an idea of the types of questions asked in the exam.
4. Practice regularly: Practice is the key to success in any exam. Regular practice not only helps you improve your knowledge and skills but also helps you manage time better during the exam. Solve as many practice papers and sample tests as possible.
5. Seek help: If you are facing difficulty in understanding a particular concept or topic, don't hesitate to seek help from your teachers, peers, or tutors. You can also join study groups to learn from your peers and get support.
6. Stay motivated: Preparing for any exam requires time and effort. It's important to stay motivated and focused on your goals. Set small achievable goals, track your progress, and reward yourself when you meet your goals.

In summary, preparing for the CUET requires a combination of hard work, dedication, and smart planning. By following these steps, you can improve your chances of success in the exam.

The NIFT entrance exam for Industrial Design courses, with the Creative Ability Test (CAT) and the General Ability Test (GAT), is usually considered difficult and challenging. It's a highly competitive exam, mainly for popular campuses like Delhi and Mumbai. However, some candidates find the General Knowledge (GK) section of the GAT specifically tougher; the CAT is focused on drawing and design skills and requires creativity and innovation. 

Take at least 6 to 12 months to prepare effectively for Industrial Design entrance exams. This will help you go through the entire syllabus, enhance skills, practice sample papers, and mock tests. However, it also depends on individual variabilities.

Of course, there are many Industrial Design colleges offering admission on the merit system. However, it also depends on course type and level. For courses like BDes, MDes, Btech, MTech, etc., the colleges will require you to have a specific entrance exam score, like JEE MAIN. 

The course curriculum includes a curriculum that gives the candidate a broad understanding of this course, making it easy for the candidate to study the subjects. The course curriculum is as follows:

• Design fundamentals
• Culture and design studies
• Visualisation Techniques
• Society, environment and design
• Craft design studies

Yes, several Industrial Design online courses are there that teach how to transform ideas into a design and thereby meet the industry requirements. Some of the best Online Industrial Design programs are mentioned below:

• Product Design: The Delft Design Approach offered by edX.
  
  
• Ultimate Guide to Product Design: Design Thinking Approach by Udemy.
  
  
• Introduction to CNC Router Furniture Design by Daniel Romero.
  
  
• Introduction to 3D Design and Printing by Augustin Arroyo.
  
  
• 3D Printing and Design for Architecture Models by Augustin Arroyo.
  
  
• Designing Products of the Future by Cecilia Tham.

Some core MDes Industrial Design subjects included in Indian curriculum are:

• Framework of Design
• Design and Innovation Methods
• Communication and presentation skills
• Product Interface & Design
• Form and Aesthetics
• Computer Aided Product Detailing
• Applied Ergonomics
• Adv Mat Processes & Die Design

Here are some popular books recommended for Industrial Design students in India:

• The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman.
• The Laws of Simplicity by John Maeda.
• Thinking: Objects Contemporary Approaches to Product Design by Tim Parsons.
• An Industrial Design Guide Vol. 01: Understanding the Science of Product Design by Neville Songwe Jr and Carmen Andrisani.
• Product Design and Developmen by Karl Ulrich and Steven Eppinger.

Courses with Industrial Design as a specialisation are offered in regular mode of education as these are technical courses that require the students to learn practical aspects of subjects along with hands-on learning. The coursework includes theoretical subjects, practical subjects and project work. Though the theoretical subjects are conducted in classrooms the practical subjects are usually conducted in labs with specialised step-by-step guidance, monitoring and evaluation.

Here are some top Industrial Design college options offering the best placement opportunities in India:

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body of the institute/exam.

Yes, there are a few popular options for distance colleges in India offering Industrial Design course:

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body of the institute/exam.

No, in order to work as an Industrial Engineer you should have completed BTech or B.E. with Industrial Engineering as a specialisation. However, you can explore other career options after completing Industrial Design.

Yes, you can work as a UI/UX Designer after completing Industrial Design course. Although industrial design may be more concerned with tangible goods, the knowledge and abilities gained in these domains are frequently applicable to UX design as well. Design thinking is a problem-solving methodology that is particularly applicable to UX design, and it is a skill that industrial designers are frequently expertise in. The ideas of User-Centered Design (UCD) are widely applicable to both industrial and UX design. 

The scope of this course is tremendous and keeps expanding with the need for professionals in this field. Industrial Design focuses on the process of how designs are made and sent for production to get better results. The main aim of industrial design is to make products beneficial for the consumer as well as the manufacturer. The fresher in this field gets hired in various job roles and is paid simultaneously.

It is very important for the candidate to study the subjects so that it helps the students to enhance their knowledge about the subject and also enhance their skills. The design industry is one of the main fields that use the services to maximum use. The scope of this field keeps growing and provides career opportunities to the students.

The scope of this course is huge as it opens the door to many opportunities in various industries, such as becoming an Industry Designer. The candidate should be updated about the current trends going on in the market and work simultaneously. Hence, the scope of this course is very wide depending on the candidate's performance.

An Industrial or a Product Designer works on designing, creating and testing of new products that are mass produced. For example, cars, refrigerator, air conditioners etc. They have to analyse and determine a product's function, aesthetics, cost and time to produce while designing these products.

An Industrial Designer uses both; artistic capability and engineering knowledge to conceptualize and execute the process of making a product. Following are the qualities and attributes of a successful industrial designer:

• Ability to recognize and meet consumer tastes and demand.
• Ability to innovate according to market trends
• Ability to understand the target audience
• Ability to visualize a product and be creative in its design
• Proficiency in using virtual illustration software such as Autodesk Sketchbook or Adobe Photoshop to create 2D drawings of products and must also be able to use surface modeling and solid modeling software such as Autodesk Alias and Computer-Aided Three-Dimensional Interactive Application (CATIA) to build digital models and renderings.

A career in Product/Industrial Design would typically require a Bachelors (B.Des) or a Masters (M.Des) degree in product design. After successful completion of the course, you can work as Designers, Business director, Project manager or Senior designer in various design firms and manufacturing companies.

The main goal of industrial design is to create environments, systems, and products that balance usability, aesthetics, and usefulness. It requires working in tandem with engineers, marketers, and producers on a range of scales, from small goods to enormous systems. On the other hand, the design and planning of large-scale structures, such buildings and physical spaces, is the main focus of architecture.

Architects collaborate closely with other experts such as engineers, clients, and urban planners, taking into account spatial usefulness, aesthetics, and the demands of residents and communities. Architecture is bound by building laws and zoning regulations,  whereas industrial design is frequently subject to product safety standards. Both disciplines demand innovative approaches to problem-solving, but industrial design is primarily concerned with products, whereas architecture has a larger impact on the built environment. Read Architecture and Planning.

In every profession, certain trends keep updating, giving the customer a new experience. Talking about the job of an industrial designer, the job of an industrial designer is exciting as it consists of planning new ideas, creating designs and then bringing them into a product.

With the advancement of technology, and customers getting smarter, the designers need to keep the customers updated with the new trends. There are many options for the buyers to buy a certain product. With the upcoming trends and everything coming up on social media, the designer needs to post it on social media so that it reaches a maximum number of people. 

Some of the upcoming trends are:

• Emotion has been and will be paramount
• Energy Efficient Design is the Way
• Big Data To transform Industrial Design
• Advanced Tools with Designs, etc.