Master of Design (Industrial Design)

This industry relevant postgraduate qualification will give you with a competitive advantage when seeking professional employment.

As a design student you will practice your skills in our world-class design studios and workshops that boast digital fabrication equipment such as:

• laser cutters
• CNC routers
• 3D printers
• industry-standard motion-capture and virtual reality systems

You will also benefit from:

• our strong industry links when you embark on industry placements
• our award-winning teaching staff

Our teaching staff are professional designers, so the curriculum is industry-relevant and mostly practical in nature. You will also work alongside world-class researchers in design1.

As Australia's university of enterprise:

• we are ranked in the top 10 in Australia for employer satisfaction2
• we are the largest university in South Australia with more than 31,000 students
• we are No.1 in Australia for quality education3

We are fast becoming a renowned centre of innovation and enterprise in the sectors that will drive Australia's future, including smart manufacturing. It's a very good time to choose UniSA for your postgraduate study.

1 Results in Design Practice and Management - 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)2 QILT: 2018 Employer Satisfaction Survey, Overall Satisfaction Indicator - National Report 3 2019 THE University Impact Rankings

Human centred research and design thinking processes as applied to industrial design problems is at the core of your experience. It involves using various techniques to investigate design problems, come to a deep understanding of the context, and then develop and implement innovative and appropriate solutions for the problem. Emerging materials, processing technologies and sustainability are also key focuses, and you will develop an advanced understanding of product design and graduate with the ability to develop and design:

• physical products
• systems
• interfaces

You will also acquire:

• high level design thinking skills using a variety of methods and processes
• high level technical skills needed for digital prototyping and the development of 3D design
• the ability to use knowledge of existing and emerging materials and processing technologies for high and low volume manufacturing
• the ability to work through complex industrial design problems
• cognitive skills needed to review and analyse research

This degree comprises design research studio classes, research methods and a selection of electives.

Job prospects in this field are looking good, with growth in employment nationally expected in the coming years through to November 20201.

Careers to consider:

• industrial designer: develop concepts and designs for manufactured products, such as cars
• furniture designer: develop design concepts, experiment with different materials, liaise with clients and build sample models for either mass produced furniture prototypes or one-off exclusive pieces
• product designer: use your design skills to make existing products more effective

1Australian Government Department of Employment, Occupational Employment Projections 2015